Michael Grinfeld
is an associate professor at the Missouri
School of Journalism and an adjunct associate
professor in MU's School of Law. Grinfeld,
who studies media effects on conflict and
dispute resolution processes, teaches courses
in writing; journalism and conflict; and
media, law, and the courts. He is also a
senior fellow at the law school's Center
for the Study of Dispute Resolution, where
he collaborates on projects relating to
media and conflict/dispute resolution. Emphasizing
topics in law and medicine, Grinfeld is
a contributing editor for California
Lawyer and Psychiatric Times
magazines. His work has also appeared in
other magazines, including House Counsel,
Global Journalist, Medicine &
Behavior, Parenting, Healthcare
Business, Geriatric Times, and
the Forensic Echo. Before coming
to MU in 2001, he was a reporter with the
Los Angeles Daily Journal. Prior
to turning to journalism, Grinfeld was a
lawyer for 16 years, specializing in civil
litigation.
George
(Brick) Johnstone, Ph.D. Health Professions
Brick Johnstone
is a neuropsychologist and professor and chair
of the Department of Health Psychology at
the University of Missouri-Columbia. He received
a B.A. in Psychology/Art History from Duke
University and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
from the University of Georgia. Johnstone
has authored or coauthored numerous peer-reviewed
publications and is currently on the editorial
review boards of The Clinical Neuropsychologist
and The Journal of Clinical Psychology
in Medical Settings. Dr. Johnstone was
coeditor of the book Rehabilitation of
Neuropsychological Disorders: A Practical
Guide for Rehabilitation Professionals and
Family Members. He has been appointed
by the governor to serve on the Missouri State
Committee of Psychology and is past president
of the Missouri Psychological Association.
Johnstone hopes the fellowship will allow
him to better understand the impact of religion
and spirituality on health and to improve
the health outcomes of people with chronic
health conditions and disabilities.
L.
Scott Smith, Ph.D., J.D. Law
Scott Smith is an attorney
who, while actively practicing, was certified
by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
in commercial and consumer law. He received
his B.A. in government from the University
of Texas in Austin, his M.Div. from Austin
Presbyterian Theological Seminary, his Ph.D.
in philosophy of religion from Columbia University,
and his J.D. from Texas Tech University. In
addition to practicing law, Smith has served
as an adjunct professor, a hospital chaplain,
and a parish minister. He has written numerous
articles and columns regarding law, morality,
and philosophy, with publications in such
periodicals as the Texas Bar Journal,
Journal of Individual Psychology, and
the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. His
current research interest is the relationship
between religion and state. While at the Center,
he will describe and analyze the various ways
in which the term "religion" has been jurisprudentially
defined in the United States. He hopes eventually
in his research to chart a constructive course
that the U.S. Supreme Court may take in its
adjudication of cases involving issues concerning
religion.
2004 JUNIOR FELLOWS
Ryan
DeBoef Law
Ryan DeBoef
is pursuing a J.D. from the University of
Missouri's School of Law and is an associate
member of the Missouri Law Review. He received
a bachelor's degree in Public Administration
and Government from Evangel University in
Springfield, Missouri. DeBoef has completed
a clerkship at a Springfield law office, interned
for the Greene County, Missouri, Prosecuting
Attorney's Office, and interned at the Springfield
office of former Senator John Ashcroft and
Senator Christopher Bond. During the fellowship
DeBoef hopes to examine the extent to which
American law has successfully accommodated
the country's increasing religious diversity
and to become more acquainted with religion's
effects on society.
Tonya
Eddy Nursing
Tonya Eddy
is pursing dual master's degrees as a Nurse
Educator and as a Perinatal Clinical Nurse
Specialist at the University of Missouri's
Sinclair School of Nursing. During her 15
years' experience in the field of obstetrics,
Eddy has provided health care to culturally
and religiously diverse populations, and this
firsthand experience with diversity led to
her interest in the Center's fellowship. As
a volunteer health consultant in Springfield,
Missouri, she taught birthing and lactation
assistance classes and promoted prevention
of sexually transmitted diseases among Wiccans.
In Saline County, Missouri, which has experienced
dramatic increase in its Hispanic population,
Eddy helped produce and distribute health
information to Spanish-speaking residents.
She has also gained insight into the sensitivities
of other groups during her work as a staff
nurse.
Bret
Glass Health Professions
Bret Glass
received a B.A. in Psychology from the University
of Missouri-Columbia and is currently pursuing
an M.A. in Counseling Psychology at MU. He
has worked in a variety of settings within
the mental health field and continues to pursue
interests in authentic cultivation, creative
empowerment, humanistic existentialism, the
philosophy of functionality, and contemplative
psychotherapy. Glass hopes the fellowship
provides an opportunity to explore and to
learn about the diversity of humanity.
Ross
Todd Journalism
Ross Todd
is pursuing an M.A. in journalism from the
Missouri School of Journalism, and he is particularly
interested in reporting about religion. Todd
received a B.A. in Religion and English from
Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. As a
Lilly Intern for Religious Life while at Centre
College, he created a speakers' series called
"This I Believe." The series, which included
speakers from diverse religious traditions,
encouraged students to increase dialogue and
confront misunderstandings that occur among
people from different faith communities. During
two years with AmeriCorps*VISTA, he helped
develop programs for high-school dropouts
in St. Louis. Todd has worked as a reporter
for the Columbia Missourian and is
a contributing writer for Vox magazine.
A blog about faith, values and spirituality in the media, from CORP faculty, staff and friends.
ReligiousLife@MU A blog about religious life at the University of
Missouri-Columbia.
Curious about how religion affects your profession? Click on your discipline for some ideas.
Michael
Grinfeld, J.D.
L.
Scott Smith, Ph.D., J.D.
Ryan
DeBoef
Tonya
Eddy
Bret
Glass
Ross
Todd
