Our Faculty & Staff

The Hartford Institute staff represents a group of scholars who study the social scientific dynamics of religious groups, trends in religious organizations, and changes in the US religious landscape. Each of us teaches, does research, and writes on a diverse set of religious topics. We also network, consult, and engage in collaborative research with many denominations, scholars, and independent organizations nationwide.

Allison Norton

Allison Norton is Director of Hartford Institute for Religion Research and Associate Professor of Migration Studies and Congregational Life at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. She is also the Project Director of the Pastoral Innovation Network of New England (PINNE)and a Co-Investigator for the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations project. Norton specializes in African Pentecostalism and the dynamics of migrant congregations in the United States. Her co-directorship of the Doctor of Ministry program at Hartford International University gives her a firsthand glimpse into how clergy across denominations have responded to the pandemic and the changing nature of congregational life. Learn more about Allison Norton’s work.

Joyce Chang

Joyce change is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Her research centers Asian Americans in broader conversations about race, assimilation, and belonging, with particular attention to the role of religion in shaping attitudes toward race, gender, and inequality. Her broader research interests include gender ideologies, social stratification, and racial and ethnic minority congregations.

Joyce earned her PhD in Sociology from Baylor University, an MA in Theology and Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a BA in Communication and Religion from the University of Southern California.

In her spare time, you can find Joyce hunting down some local coffee or traveling to visit friends.

Charissa Mikoski

Charissa Mikoski is an Assistant Professor of Research at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. She specializes in quantitative data analysis and survey management. Her PhD is from Purdue University and focuses on the sociology of religion. Charissa holds a BA in Sociology from Westminster College and an MS in Sociology from Purdue University.

Her past research experiences include roles with the Pew Research Center, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and The Confirmation Project.

Grego Peña-Camprubí

Grego Peña-Camprubí, PhD (he/él) is a scholar-educator committed to transformative teaching and community-engaged research. A mixed-methods researcher, he brings over four years of experience leading ethnographic studies, designing national surveys, and analyzing large-scale qualitative data. Since 2023, he has served as a research consultant with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), specializing in quality assessment for theological education. In this role, Grego has translated stakeholder-driven research into actionable insights across educational, nonprofit, and religious sectors. He is skilled in participatory evaluation, IRB navigation, and producing impactful publications and reports.

His academic work centers on lived experience, spirituality, and LGBTQ+ Catholicism, and he has been an active member of the AAR Gay Men and Religion Unit since 2023.

Outside of research, Grego is an avid swimmer, climber, and skier. He lives in Oakland, CA.

Tracy Simmons

Tracy Simmons is the Communications Specialist for HIRR.

She is also the Executive Director of FāVS News, a digital journalism start-up covering religion news and commentary the Greater Northwest. Tracy is an award winning journalist specializing in religion reporting and digital entrepreneurship. She has worked as a multimedia journalist for more than two decades and has written for publications across New Mexico, Texas, Connecticut and Washington. She is an active member of the Religion News Association.

Scott Thumma

Scott Thumma is Professor of Sociology of Religion at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace and is the former Director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. He is the principal investigator for the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations project.

Throughout his 35-year career, he has participated in many congregational study projects and national religion research efforts. He has written widely on the subjects of megachurches, gay religious life, congregational dynamics, and nondenominational churches. He has published three books (Gay Religion, Beyond Megachurch Myths, and The Other 80 Percent: Turning Your Church’s Spectators into Active Participants), many research reports, and managed over a half-dozen websites. Learn more about Scott Thumma’s work.

Sheryl Wiggins

Sheryl Wiggins is the Administrative Assistant for the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.

Emeriti Institute Staff

• Carl Dudley
• Adair Lummis
• David Roozen

Former Institute Staff