Jesse Smith

Jesse M. Smith is a Professor of Sociology at Western Michigan University's Department of Sociology. His work focuses on secularity, religion, social deviance, identity, and qualitative methods. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder (2013), an M.A. in Sociology from the same institution (2009), and a B.S. in Behavioral Science from Utah Valley University (2005).

Smith’s research employs a social psychological lens to explore topics like secularization, nonreligious identity formation, and collective behavior. He has authored/co-authored books such as Goodbye Religion: The Causes and Consequences of Secularization (NYU Press) and co-edited Secularity and Nonreligion in North America (Bloomsbury). His articles appear in journals like the Sociology of Religion, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, and Qualitative Sociology.

His recent work examines themes such as the sociopolitical implications of secularization, gender dynamics in religious disaffiliation, and the paradox of secular religiosity. Smith actively mentors graduate students and serves on the board of the Humanist Mutual Aid Network, reflecting his commitment to applied sociology and community engagement.

Notable contributions include analyzing apostasy narratives, institutional secularization trends, and the intersection of nonreligious identity with modern cultural challenges.