Erika B. Seamon, Ph.D.
Curriculum Vitae
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ERIKA B. SEAMON, Ph.D.
American Studies Program
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Office: (202) 687-6555 / Mobile: (202) 680-3197 / ebs9@georgetown.edu
UNIVERSITY-LEVEL TEACHING EXPERIENCE
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, Washington, DC
American Studies Program and Department of Theology
(2009 to 2015)
Challenge students to examine critical concepts tied to identity, nature, agency, and memory in early cultural constructions of
racial, religious, and gender-based narratives depicted through American history, literature, art, and material culture.
American Civilization I: 17th & 18th c.
American Civilization II: 19th c.
overall evaluation (most recent)
5.00/5
4.91/5
Direct American Studies seniors in completing their thesis projects. Developed overall guidelines for thesis projects, including
requirements, templates, timelines, and overall expectations, as well as a two-semester course including assignments,
workshops, and lectures aimed at helping students develop crucial research, analysis, writing, and project-management skills.
American Studies Senior Seminar I
American Studies Senior Seminar II
4.92/5
5.00/5
Designed portfolio of courses to engage students in the role of religion in American public life, to challenge constructed
divides between public-private and secular-religious spaces, and to explore how legal and societal conceptions of religious
liberty and diversity intersect with race and gender.
Religion and the Supreme Court
Religion in American Political Life
Religion(s) in American Society
5.00/5
4.90/5
4.47/5
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, Chicago, IL
(2000)
Associate Adjunct Professor, Booth Graduate School
TEACHING AWARD
The 2015 College Academic Council Teaching Award, Georgetown College
(one award is granted each year based on student nominations)
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
Overall Guidelines and Detailed Expectations for American Studies Senior Thesis Requirement
Two-Semester Course Curriculum for Senior Thesis Seminar
Doyle Engaging Difference Faculty Fellowship for American Civilization I Course
Curriculum-oriented Field Trips for American Studies Majors
NEW COURSE DEVELOPMENT
Religion and the Supreme Court (new American Civilization IV course for American Studies)
Religion in American Public Life (new Theology elective, cross-listed with American Studies)
Religion(s) in American Society (new Theology elective, cross-listed with American Studies)
Erika B. Seamon, Ph.D.
Curriculum Vitae
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PUBLICATIONS
Book:
Seamon, Erika B. Interfaith Marriage in America: The Transformation of Religion and Christianity. New
York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.
Book Chapter:
Seamon, Erika B. “The Dangers of Conflating Secular People and Secularism.” In Secularism on
the Edge: Rethinking Church-State Relations in the United States, France, and Israel, ed. Jacques
Berlinerblau, et.al., 71-81. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:
Seamon, Erika B. “Dialogue with Non-Believers and Cultures: John Paul II, Atheism, and the
Implications for Non-Belief and Nones.” [forthcoming in Horizons]
Seamon, Erika B. “Protecting Religious Liberty: A Comparative Analysis of the Educational
Philosophies of Thomas Jefferson and John Courtney Murray, SJ.” Journal of Church and State 54,
no. 4 (Autumn 2012): 551-580.
Seamon, Erika B. “A Healthy Tension? The Encounter of Religious Society and Secular Law in
American Political Life.” Forum Mission 8 (2012): 132-154.
Seamon, Erika B. “Enduring Questions: Comparing the Educational Visions of Thomas
Jefferson and Horace Mann.” Confluence: The Journal of Graduate Liberal Studies (Fall 2011).
Other Publications:
Seamon, Erika B. “A Leap of Faith: Interreligious Marriage in America.” Co-edited with
Chester Gillis. Berkley Center Report. Washington, DC: Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and
World Affairs, Georgetown University, 2008.
Seamon, Erika B. “Is History Repeating Itself? Comparing the 1785 Virginia Assessment Battle
to the 2004 D.C. School Voucher Debate.” Master’s Thesis. Georgetown University, 2005. 272
pages.
Seamon, Erika B. “Nuclear Weapons Today: Does the U.S. Public Understand the Debate?”
Georgetown University Writing Across the Curriculum 2, 2004.
Papers/Presentations/Lectures:
Seamon, Erika B. “Interfaith Marriage in America: Transforming Religion and Families.” Paper
Presentation. Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. Washington, DC, April 2014.
Seamon, Erika B. “Contemporary Challenges to American Secularism.” Panel participant and
moderator. Secularism on the Edge Conference. Washington, DC, February 2013.
Erika B. Seamon, Ph.D.
Curriculum Vitae
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Seamon, Erika B. “Religion Beyond the Boundaries: Redefining Religion Through the Lens of
Interfaith Marriage.” American Academy of Religion Annual Conference. San Francisco, CA,
November 2011.
Seamon, Erika B. “Historical Perspectives on the Shifting Contours of American Religion.”
Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies. Baltimore, MD, November 2011 and May 2012.
Seamon, Erika B. “Interfaith Marriage in America’s Religious Communities.” Lecture series for
Program for Jewish Civilization. Georgetown University, Washington, DC, November 2011.
Seamon, Erika B. “Religion and Politics in the U.S.A.” Three-part lecture series for Fund for
Innovation in Public Diplomacy, a State Department program for Moroccan scholars. Georgetown
University, Washington, DC, presented series in both November 2010 and March 2011.
Seamon, Erika B. “The Anonymous American: Comparing Karl Rahner’s ‘Anonymous
Christianity’ to Robert Bellah’s ‘American Civil Religion.’” Engaging Particularities VI Conference:
New Directions in Comparative Theology, Interreligious Dialogue, Theology of Religions and Missiology.
Boston College, Boston, MA, March 2008.
In the News:
National Public Radio (NPR), “Special Series: Losing Our Religion,” (interview), January 2013.
JTA The Global Jewish News Source, (article citations), August 2013.
Voice of America, (in-person interview), December 2011.
New York Times, (multiple citations), 1997-1998.
EDUCATION
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, Washington, DC
Ph.D., Religious Studies (with distinction)
Concentration:
Religion and American Culture
Dissertation:
Pluralism and Interfaith Marriage in America
Committee:
Chester Gillis, Peter C. Phan, and José Casanova
M.A., Religious Studies
M.A.L.S., Social and Public Policy (summa cum laude)
Teaching Certification through the Apprenticeship in Teaching Program
MIAMI UNIVERSITY, Oxford, OH
B.S., Business Administration (magna cum laude)
Tel Aviv, Israel – Study Abroad, Religions and the History of Israel
London, United Kingdom – Study Abroad, Culture and the European Union
Erika B. Seamon, Ph.D.
Curriculum Vitae
FELLOWSHIPS/SCHOLARSHIPS
Doyle Engaging Difference Faculty Fellowship
Full Scholarship and Assistantship Recipient for Doctoral Studies
Marshal Award Recipient for Liberal Studies
Invited Author for Writing Across the Curriculum Publication
OTHER RESEARCH & TEACHING EXPERIENCE
BERKLEY CENTER FOR RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS, Washington, DC
Faculty Adviser, Junior Year Abroad Network
Instructor, Qualitative Research Methodologies
Director, Undergraduate Fellows Project, Interfaith Marriage
KUCZMARSKI & ASSOCIATES, Chicago, IL
Executive-level presentations and teaching workshops
Curriculum design and workshop development
Research design and management
SERVICE
American Studies Program Advisory Board Member
Mita Prize Selection Committee Faculty Leader
Faculty Adviser to American Studies Students
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Studies Association (ASA)
American Academy of Religion (AAR)
REFERENCES
Furnished upon request
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