Eric L. Wright

Sociologist

I completed my graduate work in Political Sociology and earned my PhD from Indiana University in 2020. I am interested in using the skills I've developed as a researcher and award-winning instructor to further progressive political efforts and generally make the world a better place.

Since early 2021, I've been working as a data analyst with Nexleaf Analytics to partner with countries "to ensure they have the data they need to build lasting solutions that improve the health of people." As a member of the Clean Cooking and Medical Equipment teams, I'm conducting mixed-methods research to determine how effectively our sensor technology is being used and how satisfied users are with the programs.

My main area of academic research is at the intersection of religion and politics, with a particular focus on conservative groups. My dissertation focuses on the ways that evangelical Protestants' political attitudes have changed since they began their transition into the Republican Party in the 1970s, along with the subsequent effects this has had on the attitudes of non-evangelical Republicans. I've also done work in the areas of social movements, health policy implementation, legal demography, education, social psychology, and criminology.

I've taught Religion and Society, the Sociology of Sport, Mental Illness, and the Introduction to Sociology, and have developed preps for other courses related to Political Sociology, Social Movements, and Power and Ideology.

You can reach me via email at: ericwrightsoc [at] gmail.com.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Wright, Eric L. 2020. "Book Review: The Evangelical Crackup? The Future of the Evangelical–Republican Coalition." Teaching Sociology 48(1):82-84.

Steensland, Brian and Eric L. Wright. 2014. “American Evangelicals and Conservative Politics: Past, Present and Future.” Sociology Compass 8(6):705-717.

Moller, Stephanie, Neena Banerjee, Martha Cecilia Bottia, Elizabeth Stearns, Roslyn Mickelson, Melissa Dancy, Eric Wright, and Lauren Valentino. 2014. “Moving Latino/a Students into STEM Majors in College: The Role of Teachers and Professional Communities in Secondary Schools.” Journal of Hispanic Higher Education.

Exum, M. Lyn, Diana Bailey, and Eric L. Wright. 2014. “False positive and false negative rates in self-reported intentions to offend: A replication and extension.” Journal of Criminal Justice 42(1):1-9.