James Davison Hunter

Career

Hunter began his career at Westmont College as assistant professor of sociology during 1982–1983. He then moved to the University of Virginia, where he taught as assistant professor of sociology from 1983 to 1989. He then became professor of sociology and religious studies from 1989 to 1994. He held the position of William R. Kenan Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies from 1994 until 2003, before becoming LaBrosse-Levinson Distinguished Professor of Religion, Culture, and Sociology Theory with appointments in the department of sociology and the department of religious studies. Since 1995 he has also served as executive director of the university's Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture.

In 2004 the White House nominated Hunter to serve on the National Council of the National Endowment for the Humanities, a position he has held since confirmation by the Senate. He has also served on boards for the Pew Charitable Trusts and the National Commission on Civic Renewal. Since 2011, James D. Hunter has been a member of the board of the Peace Research Endowment. Over the years, his research findings have been presented to audiences on National Public Radio and C-Span, at the National Endowment for the Arts, and at dozens of universities and colleges across the nation including Harvard, Columbia, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, and the New School for Social Research.

Teaching

While serving as the LaBrosse-Levinson Distinguished Professor of Religion, Culture, and Social Theory at the University of Virginia, Hunter has taught a variety of courses to both graduate and undergraduate students. His offerings include courses such as "Sociology of Culture," "Modernity/Post-Modernity," "Discourse and Democracy," "Politics and Culture," and "Sociology of Religion," among others.