Leaders and the Blessed: Student Religious Identity Negotiation at the University of Michigan by Jessica Yvonne Joslin A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Higher Education) in The University of Michigan 2019 Doctoral committee: Professor Lisa Lattuca, Chair Professor Sarah Fenstermaker Professor Jacqueline Mattis Clinical Professor Betty Overton Jessica Y. Joslin
[email protected] ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1406-5457 © Jessica Y. Joslin 2019 To the forty-five students who generously shared their lives with me for this research. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As I acknowledge in this dissertation, I both study religion and am a religious person. Some consider this fertile ground for bias that risks weakening my objectivity. I could write extensively on my own thoughts on that matter, including whether neutrality is a worthy or achievable goal; but in brief, I’ll simply say I do not share that view. When talking with the students in this study, shared faith commitment allowed for our relationships to be built on a foundation of trust, intimacy and connection. I was gifted a precious window into the lives of 45 diverse and brilliant students. Their voices and stories accompanied me throughout each stage of the writing and analysis process, and were a steady source of inspiration. Through their kind sharing, and learning about their faith, hopes, concerns and dreams, I saw new depths of my own belief. For that, I am ever grateful. As they transition on to life beyond Michigan, I hope – indeed, I pray – that their faith continues to provide them comfort and guidance as they lean in to life’s big questions.