معرفی
Elise Leal is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Whitworth University, specializing in American religious history, women’s and gender history, and the history of childhood/youth in the 18th and 19th century U.S. She joined the faculty in 2018. Her research examines intersections between cultural formation, religious practices, and social reform, particularly focusing on the Sunday school movement’s role in shaping child-centric religious communities.
Education:
- Ph.D., Baylor University (2018)
- M.A., Texas State University (2013)
- B.A., Regent University (2011)
Research Interests: Dr. Leal investigates how belief systems (religious, gender, age-based) influenced social change. Her current project uses childhood studies to analyze the Sunday school movement’s impact on Protestant faith formation and youth leadership networks. She emphasizes teaching students to analyze historical interactions between ideas, identities, and cultures.
Grants & Awards:
- Robert L. McNeil Jr. Research Fellowship (2019)
- Weyerhaeuser Center Research Fellowship (2019)
- Nominated for Baylor’s Outstanding Dissertation Award (2019)
- Sidney E. Mead Award (2017)
Teaching & Mentorship: Leal’s courses focus on historical methods and interdisciplinary analysis. She has advised numerous student research projects, though specific advisee names are not listed in the provided text.
Publications: Her work bridges religious and social history, with key publications in Church History and edited volumes like Every Leaf, Line, and Letter. She has contributed peer reviews on topics ranging from colonial racial dynamics to early American biblical culture.
