Gastón Espinosa is the Arthur V. Stoughton Professor of Religious Studies at Claremont McKenna College, a leading scholar in the study of Latino religions, religion and politics, and American religious movements. He has held prestigious visiting positions, including as a Visiting Scholar in the Department of Politics at Princeton University and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Münster, Germany. His leadership extends across the Claremont Colleges, where he chaired the Religious Studies Department and the intercollegiate Religious Studies Program. Education: Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara Master's, Harvard University Master's, Princeton Theological Seminary Fellow, Dartmouth College His research focuses on American Religions , Latino Religions , Religion and Politics , Pentecostal/Charismatic Movements , and Religion and Civil Rights . He has pioneered large-scale national survey research on Latino religious and political life, directing eight major surveys since 1998, including the landmark Hispanic Churches in American Public Life study funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts. His work bridges theology, sociology, and political science, with a strong emphasis on civic engagement and social justice. His publications reveal a consistent focus on the intersection of faith, identity, and power. From studies on William J. Seymour and the origins of Pentecostalism to analyses of Latino Muslims and the religious dynamics of presidential elections, his scholarship explores how religion shapes public life, particularly within marginalized communities. His books, published by Harvard, Duke, Oxford, and Columbia University Presses, are foundational in the field. Scientific Awards and Honors: National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellowship Dartmouth College César Chávez Dissertation Fellowship Princeton Woodrow Wilson Charlotte W. Newcombe Fellowship Yale Pew Program Summer Fellowship Huggins-Quarles Award (OAH) California Council for the Humanities Grant UC Santa Barbara Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award Gould Center Grant Distinguished Visiting Professor, Münster University Espinosa has secured significant research funding and directed major projects, including a $1.3 million Pew-funded initiative and the ongoing Latino Religions and Politics National Survey . He has advised or mentored numerous students, though specific names are not listed. His influence extends through public scholarship, with over 200 presentations at institutions like Harvard, Yale, and the BBC, and frequent citations in major media such as the Los Angeles Times and NPR . He is currently finalizing a new book, Latino Religions and Politics in American Public Life , and serves as co-editor of The Columbia University Press Series in Religion and Politics , shaping the next generation of scholarship in the field.
