Michael McLaughlin

Michael McLaughlin is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Religious Studies and Director of Undergraduate Research at the University of Missouri's College of Arts and Science. He joined MU's faculty in 2023 after completing his PhD in American Religious History at Florida State University, building on his earlier education at Claremont School of Theology (MA) and University of Minnesota (BS in Astrophysics).

His research examines the entanglements of religion and race in the United States, with particular focus on how American religious identities challenge racial categories. His current project analyzes religion's role in Black revolutionary movements, exploring how organizations from the UNIA to the Black Panthers leveraged religious frameworks for organizational support and ideological development.

McLaughlin's publications demonstrate interdisciplinary breadth, spanning religious studies, American history, psychology, and astrophysics. Recent works explore spatial analysis of religious identity, psychological assessment instruments, and critical reviews of political-religious scholarship. His research consistently engages themes of racial justice, revolutionary politics, and religious expression.

Awards and Honors:

• Best Paper Award, FSU Religion Symposium (2023)
• Finalist for FSU Research Award (2022)
• Finalist for FSU Teaching Award (2021)
• FSU Service Award (2020)
• Multiple travel grants (AAR, Mormon History Association)

He has advised undergraduate research programs and diversity initiatives, including serving as faculty advisor for FSU's Gender Odyssey Transgender Housing Coalition. McLaughlin teaches courses on Religion in America, Religion and Race, and Religion and Culture.