Dr. Tricia Bruce

Dr. Tricia Bruce (she/her), Director

Dr. Tricia Bruce is a sociologist with a passion for using the tools of social science to build understanding, empathy, and a bridge across difference. She has devoted her career to researching the social dimensions of religion in society – always with an eye to sharing that research with wide audiences. She is the author or editor of four books (and a fifth, forthcoming!) as well as articles in the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Science Advances, and more. Her books and reports have won awards from the Catholic Press Association, the American Sociological Association, and the Religious Research Association, and her insights have been featured in documentaries, podcasts, and international talks and news. A former tenured professor, Dr. Bruce is also actively involved in professional associations: currently, as President-Elect of the Association for the Sociology of Religion and past Chair of the Religion Section of the American Sociological Association.

As a parent of two middle schoolers and active community member in her current hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, Dr. Bruce knows personally the immense value Springtide Research Institute brings by listening deeply to young people.

She is thrilled to join Springtide as Director at a pivotal time in its growth and development, poised to move toward an even bigger impact and purposeful engagement with the “now” and “next” of our shared social world.

Download Dr. Tricia’s Introduction / Bio

Photo by Deja Hodges Photography.