“Sociology is an exciting and dynamic field that provides opportunities for both grappling with complex ideas at an academic level, and considering how to live in the world and help contribute to human flourishing at a pragmatic level."
— Dr. Katie Steeves, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Pursuing greater potential
While taking a Sociology 101 class in university, Dr. Katie Steeves recalls, she immediately felt “at home” within a discipline that provided ways of addressing the important social issues she had been thinking about.
She eventually completed a double major in English and Sociology at Crandall University, and got her first research experiences in Sociology writing a thesis for the honours program in Sociology.
“The part of the project that I am most excited about is that it involves Trinity Western undergraduate research assistants. ...I was so impactfully mentored in my undergraduate Sociology program – now I have the privilege and honour to begin the journey of mentoring others.”
Through this process, Katie’s thesis supervisor and mentor, Sociology professor Dr. Sam Reimer, saw great potential in Katie to pursue graduate studies and become a university professor.
“I had previously imagined being an elementary or high school teacher, but had really enjoyed research and the opportunities to interact with and envision someday teaching more complex theories and ideas," she said.
Initially, it was the mentorship of her undergraduate and graduate professors at both Crandall and McMaster universities that inspired Dr. Steeves towards Sociology—yet, what inspires her today are the people she works with in research and teaching.
“The more sustaining passion and motivation continues to come from the outstanding research participants and students that I have the privilege of working with day to day,” she said.
Understanding religion, gender and church leadership in Canada
Dr. Steeves is currently part of two exciting research projects that contribute to our understanding of religion, gender and church leadership in Canada.
The first project is connected to a larger collaboration across several universities in Canada and the Flourishing Congregations Institute located within Ambrose University.
“If you are thinking about Sociology, jump in! Take a few Sociology classes, talk to a sociology major or professor and see if you can find others doing work in an area where your passion and calling also overlap."
Dr. Steeves is part of a group of researchers specifically looking at case studies in churches across Canada to investigate how flourishing happens.
To date, the project has involved gathering qualitative data through field observations and interviews at a few B.C. congregations identified by the team as flourishing, she explains.
“Working with churches on this project is exciting as it allows them to showcase what is going well in the hopes of helping encourage other congregations on the practical level, as well as contributing to further nuancing our understanding of ‘flourishing’ on a Sociological level,” she added.
Her second project is supported by a SSHRC Insight Grant, which furthers her PhD dissertation work on the experiences of Canadian women in Christian clergy positions.
Looking at how gender norms affect women clergy
This project seeks to gain a more in-depth understanding of how norms surrounding gender, religiosity and leadership are navigated by women clergy in their daily lives, as well as how feminist theorizing might be used more broadly in Sociology of Religion to nuance our understandings of religious leadership experiences, Dr. Steeves explained.
Practically speaking, Dr. Steeves will provide a detailed narrative literature review to examine if and how feminist theory has been informing Sociology of Religion research on church leadership, as well as conduct several qualitative interviews with women clergy.
One of the highlights of her projects is working with TWU students, and being able to participate in the mentorship that was the spark for her own journey into scholarship.
“The part of the project that I am most excited about is that it involves Trinity Western undergraduate research assistants,” she said.
“This feels a bit like coming full circle for me – as I was so impactfully mentored in my undergraduate Sociology program – now I have the privilege and honour to begin the journey of mentoring others.”
Grappling with complex ideas, while contributing to human flourishing
For anyone thinking about pursuing Sociology in university or as a life vocation, Dr. Steeves offers these words of encouragement.
“Sociology is an exciting and dynamic field that provides opportunities for both grappling with complex ideas at an academic level, and considering how to live in the world and help contribute to human flourishing at a pragmatic level,” she began.
“If you are thinking about Sociology, jump in! Take a few Sociology classes, talk to a sociology major or professor and see if you can find others doing work in an area where your passion and calling also overlap," she said.
"Join the adventure – I do not think you will regret it.”
About TWU’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Through its many and diverse areas of study, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences provides multiple perspectives on the question, “What does it mean to be human?” Studying the humanities and social sciences will help increase your understanding of the ideas, events, languages, social structures, religious beliefs, and processes that have shaped individuals and societies in the past and present.
Learn more about your options at TWU's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
See also—TWU’s Dr. Katie Steeves awarded a federal grant to research women in leadership within religious institutions in Canada:
TWU News
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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