Edward C. Polson

Education

PhD, Baylor University
MA, Baylor University
MSW, Baylor University
MDiv, Baylor University
BA, Mississippi College

Research Interests

• Civil Society
• Organizations
• Religion
• Diversity
• Civic Engagement

Selected Publications

Oxhandler, H. K., Polson, E. C., & Selman, S. (in press). Religion and spirituality in MSW programs’ implicit and explicit curricula: A national survey of faculty. The Journal of Social Work Education.

Oxhandler, H. K., Polson, E. C., & Moffatt, K. M. (in press). The religious/spiritually integrated practice assessment scale for educators: A national survey of social work faculty. The Journal of Social Work Education.

Polson, E. C., & Scales, T. L. (2020). Good Neighbor House: Reimagining settlement houses for 21^st century communities. Social Work & Christianity, 47(3), 100-122. doi: 10.34043/swc.v4713

Oxhandler, H. K., Moffatt, K. M., Polson, E. C., &Pooler, D. K. (2020). The religious and spiritual beliefs and practices of MSW program leaders across the United States. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, 39(3), 324-344. doi: 10.1080/15426432.2020.1760179

Polson, Edward C., and Gillespie, Rachel (2019). The bridging activity of multiracial congregations. Religions 10(3), 1-14. doi: 10.3390/rel10030204

Polson, Edward C., Kevin D. Dougherty (2018). Worshiping across the color line: The influence of congregational composition on Whites’ friendship networks and racial attitudes. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity doi: 10.1177/2332649218757804

Polson, Edward C. (2015). Putting civic participation in context: Examining the effects of congregational structure and culture. Review of Religious Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s1364401502234

Polson, Edward C. (2014). Social diversity and civic engagement: The effects of social and ethnic heterogeneity on the community involvement of American congregations. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/0899764014548424.

Jang, Sung Joon, Byron R. Johnson, Young-Il Kim, Edward C. Polson, and Buster G. Smith. (2014). Structured voluntary youth activities and positive outcomes in adulthood: An exploratory study of involvement in scouting and subjective well-being. Sociological Focus, 47(4), 238-267.

Background

Edward Polson joined the Baylor Social Work faculty in 2014. Dr. Polson’s research interests include community engagement; civil society; the intersection of religion and civic life; social work education, and the integration of clients’ religion and spirituality in social work practice. Dr. Polson has been involved in applied research projects with nonprofit organizations in Texas, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.