Research Interests

My research investigates the formative power of preaching and public discourse in shaping civic identity, ethical imagination, and social structures—particularly within communities historically impacted by racial injustice and theological distortion. At the center of this inquiry is the development of Evangelical Emancipatory Homiletics™, a framework that integrates biblical theology, social ethics, and rhetorical clarity to foster individual and communal transformation.

I am especially interested in how preachers like Francis James Grimké employed Pauline theological constructs to subvert entrenched hierarchies and articulate a theologically grounded case for justice, dignity, and reconciliation. My research asks: How can the moral and rhetorical patterns found in scripture inform contemporary practices of public leadership, especially in contexts marked by polarization, inequality, or epistemic fragility?

To address these questions, I draw on interdisciplinary methods, including historical theology, homiletics, African American religious history, and policy analysis—particularly in the areas of macroeconomic ethics and structural justice. My work often centers on the ways moral formation occurs through narrative, communal rituals, and prophetic speech—whether from pulpits, civic platforms, or educational spaces.

At the Harvard Graduate School of Education, I am expanding this work to explore the pedagogical, institutional, and policy implications of emancipatory discourse, particularly in educational settings that serve structurally excluded populations. I am also investigating how concepts such as convexity (perspectival clarity) and theological echo (ancient wisdom) can inform leadership development, civic renewal, and international education policy.

My overarching aim is to develop frameworks that clarify the role of spiritually and ethically grounded communication in advancing equity, healing social divisions, and strengthening democratic resilience across global contexts. This work contributes to the development of D2P2: Dignity-Driven Policies and Practices—a framework for designing ethical systems across education, economics, and civic leadership.