THE BASICS

Chris is a PhD candidate in History and an Andrew W. Mellon Engaged Scholar Initiative Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. His work examines the intersections of religion, medicine, gender, and sexuality in the modern United States.

THE DISSERTATION

Chris’ dissertation, “To Cure a Sinful Nation: ‘Conversion Therapy’ and the Making of Modern America, 1920 to Today,” documents the history of therapeutic and counseling practices aimed at “curing,” “changing,” “redeeming,” “restoring,” or “repairing” someone’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Drawing from material in over thirty archives, interviews, and ethnographic research, “To Cure a Sinful Nation” underscores how proponents of conversion therapy have historically highlighted the importance of “traditional family values,” as evidenced by their passionate belief in, and powerful rhetoric about, the primacy of Judeo-Christian morality and the nuclear family.

BEFORE TEXAS

Chris has worked as a boarding school teacher, academic advisor, and museum educator. From 2011 to 2014, he was an EdD student in the Program in Social Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also served as the Associate Student Teaching Coordinator (2012-2013) and then as the Student Teaching Coordinator (2013-2014) for pre-service Master’s students.

THIS WEBSITE

Explore to find out more about Chris’ work, research interests, and educational and professional experience.