R Wood

Richard L. Wood

President, Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, University of Southern California
Chapter Member: Los Angeles Unified SSN
Areas of Expertise:

Connect with Richard

(213) 740-2311

About Richard

Wood writes about the role of religion in democratic life, especially the role of faith communities in advancing the common good and the interests of middle class, working class, and poor communities. His book Bridging Social Divides (co-authored with Brad R. Fulton, due out in 2026 from Oxford University Press) offers an organizational-level approach to addressing the fragmentation of American civil society and politics. Wood has collaborated to advance strategic thinking within several of the national faith-based community organizing networks (the PICO National Network, Gamaliel Foundation, Industrial Areas Foundation, DART, and the InterValley Project). He serves as co-editor of the Cambridge Series on Social Theory, Religion, and Politics. During 2010-2011, Wood served as the President of the UNM Faculty Senate, working with other faculty, staff, student, administrative, and regent leaders in re-imagining and re-funding the university’s academic mission.

Contributions | No Jargon Podcast | Member Spotlight | In the News | Publications

Contributions

How Community Organizations Can Build National Networks

Key Findings Brief,

In the News

Quoted by Rachel Whitt UNM Newsroom, October 5, 2017.
Research discussed by Aaron Hilf, in "UNM Professor’s New Book Explores American Racial Divide," Inside UNM, December 16, 2015.
Research discussed by Aaron Hilf, in "UNM Researcher Travels East to Track Pope Francis’ Visit," UNM Newsroom, October 2, 2015.
Quoted by Olivier Uyttebrouck in "Pope’s Visit Excites Faithful in New Mexico," Albuquerque Journal, September 22, 2015.

Publications

"Public Catholicism" in The Future of American Catholicism, edited by Timothy Matovino and Patricia Killen, (Columbia University Press, forthcoming).
Argues that while the American Catholic church draws on an impressive institutional presence in American public life, internal church dynamics undermine its potential influence in deepening democracy and justice in American society.
"Higher Power: Strategic Capacity for State and National Organizing" in Transforming the City: Community Organizing and the Challenge of Political Change, edited by Marion Orr, (University of Kansas Press, 2007), 162-192.
Offers a case study of the PICO National Network’s success in projecting political power from below into state- and national-level political arenas, in favor of public policy that favors working families.
Faith in Action: Religion, Race, and Democratic Action in America (University of Chicago Press, 2003).
Shows how specific organizing practices and specific dimensions of religious culture can foster democratic civic engagement and successful organizing.