Sociologist. Author. Researcher. Speaker.

Tricia C. Bruce, PhD, is a Senior Research Fellow with the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, a 2026-2027 Affiliate of the Center for the Study of Religion & Society at the University of Notre Dame, President-Elect of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, and a seven-time marathoner. She has served as President of the Association for the Sociology of Religion, a papal-appointed consultor to the Vatican’s General Secretariat of the Synod, and a tenured professor. She is the author of numerous award-winning books, articles, and reports in the sociology of religion and U.S. Catholicism.

Happenings


  • AAR Panel on Applied Religious Studies

    Great to connect with emerging scholars from the American Academy of Religion for a virtual panel on “Bridging Academy with Community.” Organizer Hans Gustafson brought together a great set of panelists with diverse experiences connecting their work on religion to… Continue reading

    AAR Panel on Applied Religious Studies
  • ASR & Synodality in Commonweal

    The Symposium on the Future of Catholicism, held alongside the meetings of the Association for the Sociology of Religion (ASR), features centrally in an article written by Catholic journalist Heidi Schlumpf for Commonweal. Schlumpf draws out ways that synodality matters… Continue reading

  • ASR 2025 in Chicago!

    Wonderful to gather in Chicago with colleagues and new connections for the 2025 meetings of the Association for the Sociology of Religion (ASR). I was honored to serve as ASR’s 2024-2025 President, delivering this year’s Presidential address. The gathering also… Continue reading

    ASR 2025 in Chicago!
  • Forum on the Future of Catholicism at ASR 2025

    As current President of the Association of the Sociology of Religion (ASR), I’m thrilled to be co-organizing a forum within this year’s ASR conference on “The Future of Catholicism: Roots and Trajectories.” Thanks to the University of Southern California’s Institute… Continue reading

  • SSSR Webinar –From Francis to Leo XIV: Looking into a Post “Who Am I to Judge” Catholic Church

    Prompted by insightful (and award-winning!) analyses by my doctoral student Lucas Sharma, SJ, the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR) hosted a webinar inviting reflections on transitions in the papacy, attitudes toward homosexuality, and the priesthood. The full… Continue reading

    SSSR Webinar –From Francis to Leo XIV: Looking into a Post “Who Am I to Judge” Catholic Church
  • Guest Panelist on “Inside Tennessee”

    I was back in the studio with WBIR as a panelist for the Sunday morning show “Inside Tennessee” this week, contemplating the election of Pope Leo XIV and future of the Catholic Church. While much remains to be seen regarding… Continue reading

    Guest Panelist on “Inside Tennessee”
  • Interview on the Election of Pope Leo XIV

    Everything is new and little is known — but what an exciting moment to be a sociologist of religion attentive to changes in the US and global Catholic Church. Having shared space, croissants, and company with Cardinal Robert Prevost during… Continue reading

    Interview on the Election of Pope Leo XIV
  • RRA Spotlight on Applied Social Science Research in Catholic Contexts

    The Religious Research Association (RRA) does much to support scholars connecting work to applied contexts, extending the relevance of research to policy and practice. I enjoyed the opportunity to share some of own experiences bridging scholarship to application in a… Continue reading

    RRA Spotlight on Applied Social Science Research in Catholic Contexts
  • Mourning Pope Francis

    We knew the day would come eventually — and how perfect that it came on Easter Monday — but the death of Pope Francis broke my heart, all the same. I treasure the opportunity I had to interact with him… Continue reading

    Mourning Pope Francis
  • Four-Part Series on My Experience of the Synod on Synodality

    My four-part essay series reflecting on my experience as Consultor to the global Synod on Synodality is live, posted on the newly debuted “Engaging the Divides” forum for USC’s Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies. Across the collection, I contemplate and… Continue reading

    Four-Part Series on My Experience of the Synod on Synodality