Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
James Howard Hill, Jr. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies. He holds a B.A. from Criswell College, a M.T.S. from Southern Methodist University, and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. Hill, Jr. teaches courses and conducts research in black studies, religious studies, visuality studies, cultural studies, and the politics of popular culture. His scholarship has received recognition and support from The Heidelberg Center for American Studies (Heidelberg, Germany), The Henry Luce Foundation (Sacred Writes), the Forum for Theological Exploration, The Louisville Institute, Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion, Social Science Research Council (SSRC), and the Mellon Cluster Research Fellowship in Comparative Race and Diaspora studies. Hill, Jr. is currently completing a manuscript that examines how the relationship between Michael Jackson, (Anti-)Blackness, and the politics of popular culture destabilizes modern notions of the proper location of religion, and religion itself. His public commentary on issues of race, popular music, sports, politics and religion can be read in Black Agenda Report, The Syndicate, Black Perspectives, and The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs among other outlets.
