Political Science PhD

Abigail
Vegter

Curriculum Vitae

About me

My name is Abigail Vegter and I am currently an assistant professor of political science at Berry College. I graduated with my PhD in political science in the spring of 2021, concentrating in the subfields of American politics and public policy with a minor in research methodology. I love to teach and my classrooms reflect a deep appreciation for and commitment to the liberal arts. I center my courses around empowering my students to engage with material critically, express ideas creatively and effectively, and work alongside one another intentionally, recognizing that these skills are the building blocks of citizenship. It is my hope that my students leave my classroom more energized and equipped to engage the world around them.

I also maintain an active research agenda focusing on religion and politics, gun politics, public opinion, political behavior, and policy attitudes in the United States. I have published broadly on both religion and politics and gun politics in a variety of academic journals and books, though my scholarship extends beyond these areas of interest as well. The diversity seen in my work exemplifies my commitment to approaching diverse political and societal problems with a variety of methodological and disciplinary tools. 

When I’m not teaching or researching, you can find me drinking copious amounts of coffee, hanging out with my husband and son, or exploring whatever city I find myself in. I’m especially happy when those three things are happening at the same time. We love to talk to anybody and everybody about politics, religion, and college sports, clearly making us excellent dinner guests.

I am extremely passionate about my vocation and my community. I am energized by new ideas, new people, and new ways to make a difference in the world around me.

Experience

Teaching Experience

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS/TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Berry College | Assistant Professor | Rome, GA | 2021-

·  American National Government

·  Urban Politics

·  Social Science Research Methods

·  Religion and Politics in America

·  Public Opinion and Political Participation

·  First-Year Seminar

Ashland University | Honored Visiting Faculty: Masters in American History and Government Program | Ashland, OH | 2022-

·  American Political Parties

·  Political Rhetoric

Johnson County Community College | Adjunct Professor | Overland Park, KS | 2019 -

·  Political Theory, Co-Taught with Dr. Taylor Tidwell

·  Introduction to American National Government

·  Introduction to Public Policy

·  Introduction to Political Science

Calvin University | Visiting Instructor | Grand Rapids, MI | 2019-2021

·  Ideas and Institutions in American Politics

·  Theories of the Policy Process

·  Social Studies Methods

·  Urban Politics

·  Public and Non-Profit Administration

University of Kansas | Graduate Instructor | Lawrence, KS | 2019-2021

·  Introduction to Public Policy

·  Introduction to U.S. Politics

University of Kansas | Graduate Teaching Assistant | Lawrence, KS | 2018-2019

·  Political Science Methods of Inquiry

·  Introduction to U.S. Politics

University of Kansas | Guest Lecturer | Lawrence, KS | 2018

·  Introduction to U.S. Politics

Calvin College | Teaching Assistant | Grand Rapids, MI | 2016

·  Foundations of Political Science Research

Research Experience

CONSULTING

            Research Associate | Williams Consulting | 2021

With Roman Williams

Lilly Endowment-funded Called to Lives of Meaning and Purpose Initiative

Program Evaluation

RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS

University of Kansas | Lawrence, Kansas | 2017-2021

With Donald Haider-Markel

Gun Ownership and Political Participation

Gun Owner Identity

Religion and LGBTQ+ Related Attitudes

LGBTQ+ Legislative Politics

With Margaret Kelley

Religion and Gun Ownership

Calvin College | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 2014-2017

With Kevin den Dulk

Water Politics

Visual Sociology, Church, and Public Life (With Roman Williams)

3rd Edition of Challenges of Pluralism (2017)

6th Edition of Religion and Politics (2018)

Challenges of the Next Presidency Lecture Series

With Mikael Pelz

State Policy Regimes and Charter School Performance (2015)

Scholarship

Forthcoming Books

· Vegter, Abigail. Faith and Firearms: Religion’s Entanglement with Guns in America. Temple University Press.

· Wald, Kenneth D., Allison Calhoun-Brown, Ryan Burge, and Abigail Vegter. Religion and Politics in the United States. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Journal Articles

· Vegter, Abigail, Andrew R. Lewis, and Cammie Bolin. 2023. “Which Civil Religion? Partisanship, Christian Nationalism, and the Dimensions of Civil Religion in the United States.” Politics and Religion 16(2): 286-300. Click to Access.

· Walker, Brooklyn, and Abigail Vegter. 2023. “Christ, Country, and Conspiracies? Christian Nationalism, Biblical Literalism, and Belief in Conspiracy Theories.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 62(2): 278-292. Click to Access.

· Vegter, Abigail and Alexandra Middlewood. 2022. "The ‘Massacre Generation’: Young People and Attitudes About Mass Shooting Prevention.” Social Science Quarterly 103(4): 820-32. Click to Access.

· Vegter, Abigail and Donald Haider-Markel. 2022. "Gun Ownership, Threat, and Gun Attitudes in an Experiment." Sociological Perspectives 65(1): 119-132. Click to Access.

· Vegter, Abigail and Kevin den Dulk. 2021. “Clinging to Guns and Religion? A Research Note Testing the Role of Protestantism in Shaping Gun Identity in the U.S.” Politics and Religion 14(4): 809-824. Click to Access.

· Vegter, Abigail and Margaret Kelley. 2020. “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Gun Ownership.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 59(3): 526-540. Click to Access.

· Vegter, Abigail, Jami Taylor, and Donald Haider-Markel. 2020. “Old and New Data Sources and Methods for Interest Group Research.” Interest Groups and Advocacy 9: 436-450. Click to Access.

Forthcoming Journal Articles

· Haider-Markel, Donald, Patrick Gauding, and Abigail Vegter. “An Army for God: Gun Ownership, Christian Nationalism, and Support for Political Violence.” (Revise and Resubmit)

· Middlewood, Alexandra, Rachel Finnell, and Abigail Vegter. “Democracy At Gunpoint: American Gun Owners and Attitudes Towards Democracy.” (Revise and Resubmit)

Book Chapters

· Haider-Markel, Donald, Patrick Gauding, and Abigail Vegter. 2023. “Support for Gun Rights: Group Identities, Perceptions of Safety, and Attitudes about Responses to Mass Shootings.” Politics and Mass Shootings. Ed. Eric Madfis. New York: New York University Press. Print.

· Vegter, Abigail and Donald Haider-Markel. 2023. “They Want ‘Em All: Religion and Guns in a Global Pandemic.” An Epidemic on My People. Ed. Paul Djupe and Amanda Friesen. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. Print.

· Vegter, Abigail, Patrick Gauding, and Donald Haider-Markel. 2021. “Groups, Knowledge, and Truth: The Case of Guns and Gun Ownership.” The Politics of Truth in a Polarized America: Concepts, Causes, and Correctives. Ed. David C. Barker and Elizabeth Suhay. New York: Oxford University Press. Print.

· Vegter, Abigail, and Donald Haider-Markel. “Special Role of Religion in LGBT-Related Attitudes. Oxford Encyclopedia of LGBT Politics and Policy. Ed. Donald Haider-Markel. 2020. New York: Oxford University Press. Print. Click to Access.

· Haider-Markel, Donald and Abigail Vegter. “LGBT Issues in Legislative Politics.” Oxford Encyclopedia of LGBT Politics and Policy. Ed. Donald Haider-Markel. 2020. New York: Oxford University Press. Print. Click to Access.

· Vegter, Abigail. “The Moral Arguments of Gambling.” Legislating Morality in America: Debating the Morality of Controversial U.S. Laws and Policies. Ed. Donald Haider-Markel. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. 2019. Print.

Public Scholarship and Invited Lectures

·  2023. Vegter, Abigail. Invited Guest on podcast American Idols with Dr. Andrew Whitehead. “Episode 2: Christian Nationalism is a Threat to Democracy.” Click to Access.  

·  2023. Vegter, Abigail and Brooklyn Walker. “Christ, Country, and Conspiracies.” The Civilian at Stanford University. Forthcoming.

·  2023. Vegter, Abigail and Brooklyn Walker. “Christ, Country, and Conspiracies? Christian Nationalism, Biblical Literalism, and Belief in Conspiracy Theories.” Religion in Public Blog. Click to Access.

·  2023. Middlewood, Alexandra and Abigail Vegter. “Analyzing the Evidence: The Massacre Generation and Beliefs about Mass Shooting Prevention.” Featured in the textbook American Government: Power and Purpose edited by Steve Ansolabehere, Hahrie Han, Ken Shepsle, and Ben Ginsberg.

·  2022. Vegter, Abigail and Alexandra Middlewood. “The ‘massacre generation’ believes government can prevent mass shootings.” Monkey Cage: The Washington Post. Click to Access.

·  2022. Vegter, Abigail. Invited Panelist. “Addressing Gun Violence in America.” Deseret News. Salt Lake City.

·  2022. Vegter, Abigail. Invited Participant. “Preaching on Pistols: Religious Elites and Their Capability to Move Attitudes on Guns.” The Ethics, Law, and Social Science of Self-Defense and Firearms Workshop. Saint Anslem College: Center for Ethics in Society.

·  2022. Vegter, Abigail. Invited Lecture. “Political Parties in 20th Century: Plunkitt of Tammany Hall.” The Ashbrook Center: Ashland University.

·  2021. Vegter, Abigail and Alexandra Middlewood. Invited Guests. “Public Attitudes about Guns.” Red, White and Confused Podcast, WECH 90.7.

·  2019. Vegter, Abigail J. Guest Speaker. “How Identity Matters.” Lawrence Talks: How Do We Evaluate Candidates?

·  2018: Vegter, Abigail J. and Donald P. Haider-Markel.” Research Presentation: The Mobilization of Gun Owners.” Moms Demand Action.

· 2017. Vegter, Abigail J. (Schutte). “From Benefactors to Bearers: The Church's Role in Orphan Care.” Shared Justice Blog.

· 2017. Vegter, Abigail J. (Schutte). “Challenges of the Next Presidency.” Ongoing blog for the Henry Institute.