Laura Olson, Ph.D.

• Olson, Laura R., Ben Gaskins, and Kevin R. den Dulk. 2027. Religion and Politics in America: Faith, Culture, and Strategic Choices, 7th ed. New York: Routledge.

• Zrinščak, Siniša, Marko Veković, and Laura R. Olson. 2026. “Religion and Politics in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.” Political Theology. DOI: 10.1080/1462317X.2026.2617781.

• Olson, Laura R. 2025. “E Pluribus … Pluribus? Politics, Polarization, and Prospects for Covenantal Pluralism in the United States.” Review of Faith & International Affairs. DOI: 10.1080/15570274.2025.2571317.

• Taydas, Zeynep, Laura R. Olson, and Jeffrey A. Fine. 2025. “How Religious Affiliation and Race/Ethnicity Shape Presidential Policy Approval.” Politics and Religion18(4): 467-492.

• Taydas, Zeynep, and Laura R. Olson. 2022. “Divine Influence: Religious Foundations of American Foreign Policy Attitudes.” Social Science Quarterly 103(4): 907-925.

• Olson, Laura R. 2016. “Movement Commitment among Progressive and Conservative Religio-Political Activists in the United States.” Politics and Religion 9(2): 296-308.

• McCarthy, Angela Farizo, Nicholas T. Davis, James C. Garand, and Laura R. Olson. 2016. “Religion and Attitudes toward Redistributive Policies among Americans.” Political Research Quarterly 69(1): 121-133.

• Smith, Lauren Edwards, Laura R. Olson, and Jeffrey A. Fine. 2010. “Substantive Religious Representation in the U.S. Senate: Voting Alignment with the Family Research Council.” Political Research Quarterly 63(1): 68-82.

• Olson, Laura R., and Adam L. Warber. 2008. “Belonging, Behaving, and Believing: Assessing the Role of Religion on Presidential Approval.” Political Research Quarterly 61(2): 192-204.

• Olson, Laura R., Wendy Cadge, and James T. Harrison. 2006. “Religion and Public Opinion about Same-Sex Marriage.” Social Science Quarterly 87(2): 340-360.

“Attitudes about Socio-moral Issues among Religious and Secular Youth,” Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, October 2026.

“Religion and Authoritarian Attitudes in Today’s Balkans,” European Consortium for Political Research (Kraków, Poland), September 2026.

“Religion and Preference for Nondemocratic Government among Christian Ukrainians after the Crimean Incursion,” Swedish Political Science Association (Växjö, Sweden), October 2025.

“Divided Loyalties: The Politics of Allegiance to the Patriarch of Moscow in Belarus and Ukraine,” Politology of Religion Biannual Conference (Belgrade, Serbia), May 2025.

“Explaining Religious Cleavages in U.S. Foreign Policy Attitudes.” CEEISA-International Studies Association International Conference (Rijeka, Croatia), June 2024.

“Religion and Attitudes about Renewable Energy Policy in 20 Countries,” Studies on Climate Change and Environmental Discourse Interuniversity Research Centre, Università degli Studi di Napoli L’Orientale (Italy), June 2024.

“Why Donald Trump Is Selling Bibles,” Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade (Serbia), April 2024.

“Religion and Spirituality in a Frightening World: A Conversation with Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers,” Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, online, October 2020.

“Gender and Religion at the Polls: Bridging Divides,” Rice University, online, September 2020.

“Religion as an Instrumental Political Tool,” University of Turku (Finland), February 2020.

“Explaining Belonging: The Strength and Salience of Religious Identification,” Richmond, the American International University (Italy), June 2017.

“Measuring Religion,” Summer Seminar on Religion and the Social Sciences, Harvard University, June 2016.

• Fulbright U.S. Scholar-Italy, 2020, 2025.
• Susanne Hoeber Rudolph Outstanding Scholar Award, American Political Science Association Religion & Politics Section, 2022.
• Fulbright Inter-Country Travel Grant-Finland, 2020.
• Global Religion Research Initiative International Collaboration Grant, 2020.
• American Academy of Religion Collaborative International Research Grant, 2020.
• University Research, Scholarship, and Artistic Achievement Award, Clemson University, 2020.
• Award of Excellence in Student Engagement, Clemson University College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences, 2020.
• Global Religion Curriculum Development Grant, 2017.
• Global Religion Research Seed Money Grant, 2017.
• American Institute for Foreign Study-Richmond University Rome Summer Faculty Fellowship, 2017.
• Senior Scholar Award of Excellence in Research, Clemson University College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences, 2017.
• Centennial Professorship, Clemson University, 2013-2015.
• “Difference Maker” Award, Clemson University Housing and Residential Life, 2009-2014.
• Jack Shand Research Grant, Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, 2000, 2010, 2012.
• William Horlick High School (Racine, WI) “Graduate of Distinction” Alumni Award, 2006.
• American Political Science Association and Pi Sigma Alpha Award for Outstanding Teaching in Political Science, 2004.
• Clemson University Board of Trustees Award for Faculty Excellence, 2004.
• Fluor Daniel Student Government Excellence in Teaching Award, Clemson University, 2003.
• Summer Stipend Grant, The Louisville Institute, 2001.
• Emerging Scholar Award for Excellence in Research, Clemson University College of Business and Behavioral Science, 2000.
• Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Princeton University Center for the Study of Religion, 1999-2000.

• American Political Science Association
• Midwest Political Science Association
• Southern Political Science Association
• International Studies Association
• Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
• Association for the Sociology of Religion
• European Consortium for Political Research

• Editor-in-Chief, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 2012-2017
• President, Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, 2020
• President, Women’s Caucus for Political Science-South, 2010
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program National Screening Committee for the United Kingdom, 2025
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program National Screening Committee for Italy and Portugal, 2023-2024
• Conference Program Chair, Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, 2005
• Book Review co-editor, Politics and Religion, 2007-2011
• Public Religion Research Institute Board of Directors, 2011-2018
• Religious Research Association Executive Board, 2011-2015
• Southern Political Science Association Executive Council, 2005-2008
• Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Executive Council, 2005-2008, 2018-2021
• Social Science Quarterly editorial board, 2018-Present   
• Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion editorial board, 2003-2011, 2019-Present
• Co-editor, University Press of Kansas book series on American religion, politics, and law, 2018-Present      
• Southern Political Science Association Journal of Politics Editor Search Committee, 2023-2024
• Southern Political Science Association Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession, 2008-2009
• Southern Political Science Association Membership Development Committee, 2007-2020
• American Academy of Religion Committee on the Public Understanding of Religion, 2002-2004
• College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Program reader, table leader, and consultant, 1997-2014