Laura Alexander

Laura Alexander is an Associate Professor in Religious Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, specializing in Religion and Human Rights. She holds the inaugural Goldstein Family Community Chair in Human Rights and contributes to interdisciplinary research through her work in comparative religious ethics, immigration studies, and just war theory.

• Education: PhD in Religious Ethics (University of Virginia), M.Div. and B.A. (University of Chicago)

Her research explores intersections between religious traditions and contemporary human rights challenges, including:

• Religion and immigration policy
• Postcolonial critiques of Christian realism
• Sikh and Christian responses to refugee crises
• Responsibility to Protect (R2P) frameworks
• Land and food sovereignty in indigenous contexts

Recent publications analyze feminist and postcolonial theological perspectives, sanctuary practices as religious mandates, and cross-tradition hospitality models during humanitarian crises.

• Scientific Awards: Goldstein Family Community Chair in Human Rights (first recipient)

Dr. Alexander's teaching emphasizes civic engagement and career development, with courses covering war ethics, public health, and interreligious dimensions of human rights. She co-chairs the Religion and Human Rights Program Unit at the American Academy of Religion and organizes community initiatives like Human Rights Week and essay contests.