Tricia C. Bruce, PhD

Sociologist. Author. Researcher. Speaker.

Tricia C. Bruce, PhD, is a Senior Research Fellow with the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, a 2025-2026 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 five-time marathoner. She served previously as President of the Association for the Sociology of Religion, a papal-appointed consultor to the Synod on Synodality, 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

  • Roe vs. Wade at Forty

    My interview with Knoxville’s WBIR TV Station about the cultural impacts of Roe vs. Wade, 40 years later. Continue reading

  • “Mobilizing Ideas” Dialogue on Religion & Activism

    Ziad Munson, Rhys Williams, Grace Yukich, and I were invited to participate in this month’s essay dialogue for “Mobilizing Ideas,” a blog hosted by the Center for the Study of Social Movements (University of Notre Dame). The focus? Religion and… Continue reading

  • The value of the undergraduate writing center

    Every writer can benefit from an active reader. Undergraduate writing centers provide an immense (and often underused) resource for students in every stage of the writing process. Kudos to the Debby Ellis Writing Center of Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX… Continue reading

  • Rise of the “Nones”

    A new report out from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life highlights the continued increase in the percentage of the U.S. population that claims no religious affiliation (now at 19.6%). Even among these so-called “nones,” however, the majority… Continue reading

  • NSF Funding and Student Collaboration

    Support from the National Science Foundation will facilitate collaboration with Maryville College students on my research this year. A new article from the college’s website highlights some of the great opportunities that grant awards including my own have created for… Continue reading

  • Is Your Diocese Represented in the National Survey of Personal Parishes?

    There is still time to complete and submit diocesan surveys with information regarding local personal (i.e. non-territorial) parishes. Non-responding dioceses should soon receive an additional mailed hardcopy from CARA. A PDF version of the survey may be found here. Surveys… Continue reading

  • Participating in the National Survey of Personal Parishes?

    The National Survey of Personal Parishes recently went out to representatives from Catholic dioceses around the United States. This research is sponsored by The Louisville Institute and National Science Foundation and has been distributed by the Center for Applied Research… Continue reading

  • Survey stuffing day!

    My national survey on personal (non-territorial) parishes is in its final stages of preparation for dissimination. Georgetown University’s CARA (the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) has been an exceptional partner in this process. Above, student intern Mason takes… Continue reading

  • Support from the National Science Foundation

    The National Science Foundation has recently awarded my project, entitled “Formal Responses to Increasing Diversity within Social Institutions.” Together with funding from The Louisville Institute, this generous support will enable me to carry out a national survey and follow-up case… Continue reading

  • Gender, Family, and the Workplace

    Yahoo’s new CEO Marissa Mayer just joined the ranks of a very small number of women at the top of Fortune 500 companies (19, to be exact). And at six months pregnant, she is a visible and public reminder of… Continue reading

engaging A Sociological Perspective

Reach out for media, speaking, or research queries.

Contact Me