Todd Nicholas Fuist

Todd Nicholas Fuist serves as Assistant Professor of Sociology at Illinois Wesleyan University, where he contributes to both teaching and research within the Sociology department.

Dr. Fuist's research program centers on the complex intersections of religion, politics, identity, and sexuality, with particular attention to how cultural frameworks motivate socio-moral action. His scholarly interests include:

• Religion and political activism
• Cultural influences on moral decision-making
• Identity formation in political contexts
• Social movements and collective action
• Sexuality and socio-political engagement

His work demonstrates expertise across sociology, political science, and religious studies, with publications appearing in respected journals such as the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Politics and Religion, and Social Movement Studies.

Fuist has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between religious identity and progressive political engagement through his co-edited volume 'Religion and Progressive Activism: New Stories about Faith and Politics' with Ruth Braunstein and Rhys H. Williams. His ongoing engagement with Mobilizing Ideas, the blog of The Center for the Study of Social Movements at the University of Notre Dame, further demonstrates his active participation in contemporary scholarship on social movements and collective action.