Tobin Shearer, Presidential Fellow 2006-2008
History and Religion

> How would you describe your research in 1 or 2 sentences?

I am researching the interactions of white and African-American Mennonites in the middle three decades of the twentieth century in order to examine issues of religious purity.

> Can you explain that a little further?

I am fascinated about the historical story of a religiously marginal group interacting with a racially marginal group.  Mennonites in the U.S. have long thought of themselves as racially egalitarian and yet the narrative I have unearthed in the course of reading through thousands of archival documents and conducting dozens of oral history interviews reveals that, despite the best of intentions, the white Mennonite community's commitment to separation from the society around them interfered with their equally strong commitment to extending their religious community beyond the color line.  In short, Mennonite purity interacted with racial purity to undermine evangelical and service initiatives.  I then bring this story into conversation with the work of Mary Douglas in order to argue that purity is not the ethically neutral cultural value presented by Douglas, but rather can become a dangerous and damaging influence. My work thus brings together historical method and theological interpretation to explore anthropological application.

> How did you decide to enter your field, and what brought you to your topic?

Before returning to the academy, I worked for fifteen years in social service administration and anti-racism education.  The last nine of those years I co-founded and directed an anti-racism training organization that worked with church-based colleges, mission agencies, and denominational offices to develop long-term plans for dismantling institutional racism.  I originally sought to return to graduate degree in order to spend more time in the classroom as an educator.  In the course of preparing classes and field exams, I discovered that I also enjoy the challenging and creative process of research.  Along with other historians that I hang out with, I get very excited when I come across an unexpected photo, letter, or memo in a dusty archive.  Rather than resisting my inner-nerd, I decided it was time to claim it.

> Who is your advisor?

In the religion department I work with Dr. Cristie Traina.  Dr. Josef Barton provides direction from the history department.  Together they provide sterling direction to my work as co-chairs of my dissertation committee.

> What are your interests outside of research?

I love to teach and am active in the programs of the Searle Center for Teaching Excellence.  I also am an avid runner, help coach my son's soccer team, enjoy cooking (I, along with my teenage sons, do all the cooking in our house), and read science fiction and spiritual classics (what a mix!) whenever I get the chance.  I am also a member of a small, racially-integrated Mennonite congregation on the south side of Chicago.
 
> What are your future plans?

I plan to teach in a university setting in either a department of history or religion and pursue ongoing research into the intersection of race and religion in the U.S.