Penny A Edgell

Penny A Edgell is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) and affiliated with the Life Course Center. Her work focuses on religious, nonreligious, and spiritual dynamics in contemporary American society, with emphasis on gender roles, cultural sociology, and social controversy frameworks. She contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through research on social structures and religious/ethical systems.

• Key research themes: Religious Studies, Nonreligion, Spirituality, Gender Role Analysis, Cultural Sociology
• Active in NSF-funded projects and cross-institutional collaborations (Clark University, Wabash College, Louisville Institute)

Recent publications cover:

• Religion and gender equality attitudes
• Evolution of Critical Race Theory in public discourse
• Nonreligious wellbeing models
• 21st-century religious reconfiguration

Scientific awards include:

• Institute for Advanced Study Faculty Fellowship (2010)

Active grants examine American religion, public knowledge frameworks, and affective cultural structures. She participates in national workshops on religious boundaries, social interaction, and bioethical debates.