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2021 Call for Participants

American Examples seeks applications for participants in its newly designed 2021 program. AE consists of three four-session workshops, each with its own focus: research, public scholarship, and teaching. Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, the workshops will be held virtually. Each workshop will take place across two two-hour sessions each Saturday and Sunday afternoon over two weekends.

The AE Steering Committee is closely monitoring the COVID situation and leaves the possibility of in-person meetings possible should conditions nationally and in Alabama improve. However, we are planning to move forward with a completely virtual program this year.

The Workshops

Research- February 26-27, March 6-7 2021: A collaborative discussion of chapter length works in progress that will lead to the publication of an edited anthology of participants’ chapters with the University of Alabama Press.

Public Scholarship- May 8-9, 15-16: An introduction to a number of digital tools for building public digital projects and presenting research to larger publics through digital platforms.

Teaching- October 16-17, 23-24: A collaborative and engaging series of discussions and activities that will equip participants with new methods and pedagogy for teaching courses on religion in America.

 For more information on the workshops see our About page.

 Participant Qualifications

American Examples seeks applications for participants from any untenured scholar who studies so-called “religion in America,” very broadly conceived. Applicants must have at least reached ABD status in their Ph.D. program. Ph.D candidates, non-TT instructors, adjuncts, scholars in libraries and alt-ac careers, and independent scholars are especially encouraged to apply. Thus, applicants can range from ABD Ph.D. students to tenure-track Assistant Professors. Likewise, scholars from a variety of disciplines including (but not limited to) religious studies, history, sociology, anthropology, English, and literature are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to applicants who have not published a monograph and to those off the tenure track. Applicants from communities underrepresented in the academy are especially encouraged to apply.

Participant Requirements

Participants in the program are required to have a chapter length research project prepared to pre-circulate to the other workshop participants in early 2021. They should also be prepared to do light preparatory reading or writing before and after the other two workshops. After the teaching workshop, for example, participants should submit a syllabus for a class on religion in America that will be added to our public AE syllabus database.

Application Materials

Applicants to participate should send the following to AE Director Michael Altman via email at michael.altman@ua.edu. Applications are due October 31, 2020.

  • 2-page CV
  • Abstract of research project (no more than 1 page)
  • A cover letter that expresses your interest in American Examples and answers the following question: Why would someone who studies religion in a geographical space outside of “America” be interested in your work? What would they find useful or interesting about your project?

Applicants who are ABD should have their advisor email the AE director a brief note verifying their ABD status.