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Cari Myers Faculty Profile

Cari Myers

Assistant Professor of Teaching of Religion
Religion and Philosophy Division, Seaver College
APC 253
310.506.4917

Biography

Cari Myers earned her Ph.D. in religious and theological studies at the Iliff School of Theology at the University of Denver with a dissertation entitled "How to Make It Here: A Qualitative Study on Generational Narratives of Survival and Success Among Latinx and White Evangelical Communities Along the US/ Mexico Border." This project focuses on how Latinx and white young adults negotiate life on the U.S./ Mexico border, especially in the context of the colonized classroom and the evangelical Christian church.

She earned an MTS from Brite Divinity at TCU, an MS in ministry from ACU, and a BA in English from Pepperdine University. With a focus on christian ethics and practical theology, Dr. Myers has taught classes on faith and culture, ministry, public theology, and Christian scripture at Pepperdine, Abilene Christian University, and the University of Denver. Her teaching and research interests include the relationship between religion and social change, young adult faith and vocation development, and evangelical ethics. Dr. Myers has presented papers at both the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Christian Ethics, as well as the Gaede Institute and the Christian Scholars Conference.

Education

  • PhD, Religious and Theological Studies, Iliff School of Theology, University of Denver
  • Master of Theological Studies, Brite Divinity at Texas Christian University
  • Master of Science, Ministry, Abilene Christian University
  • Bachelor of Arts, English, Pepperdine University

 

Peer-reviewed articles:

  • 2025 "Mapping Qualitative Interviews,” SAGE Research Methods Dataset, Fall 2025.
  • 2021 Co-authored with Kindalee DeLong and Roshawnda Derrick, “Raising Institutional Awareness and Pedagogical Sensitivity: An Analysis of College Faculty Participation in SEED Training,” Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 21(9)

Book:

  • 2024 “Same is Better:” A Qualitative Study of Latinx and White Young Adults in Churches of Christ along the US/Mexico Border, Lexington Books: Maryland.

Book Chapters:

  • 2019 "The Problem of Violence in Scorsese's Films: A Girardian Reading." In Scorsese as Theologian, Edited by Christopher B. Barnett and Clark J. Elliston. Boston: Brill Publishers.
  • 2016 "Bringing in the Outsider: Hospitality in the Way of Jesus." In The Ongoing, Transformative, Spiritual Journey of Adolescent Disciples: A Guide for Parents and Friends of Youth, Edited by Dudley Chancey and Ron Bruner. Abilene, TX: ACU Press.

Refereed Journal Articles:

Book Review:

  • 2020 Review of Hope and Christians Ethics: New Studies in Christian Ethics by David Elliot, Journal of Society of Christian Ethics. Vol. 40, No. 1.
  • Member, American Academy of Religion
  • Member, Society of Christian Ethics
  • Member, Association of Practical Theology
  • 2016 IRISE, the Interdisciplinary Research Incubator for the Study of (In)Equality, University of Denver
  • 2013 Wally Wilkerson Legacy Award, National Conference on Youth Ministry
  • 2012 The Baxter F&W Dell Thomas Excellence Award for Christian Ministry, Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University
  • 2008 Lighthouse Award, National Conference on Youth Ministry
  •  2025 “New Scholars, Contingent Faculty, and Independent Scholars: Contributions of Christian Ethics in Academia,” Society of Christian Ethics, Chicago, IL, January 10, co-presented with Dr. Nina Adkins.
  • 2023 “Institutional Diversity and Campus Climate: An Analysis of College Staff and Faculty Participation in SEED Training,” American Academy of Religion, San Antonio, November 20, co-authored with Dr. Roshawnda Derrick.
  • 2021 “"Don't Do What I Did:’ A Qualitative Study Exposing Narratives of Financial Success in U.S. Churches of Christ,” American Academy of Religion, San Antonio, November 22 (presented by proxy).
  • 2020 “'Same is Better:' A Qualitative Study of Latinx and White Young Adults in Churches of Christ Along the U.S. / Mexico Border, American Academy of Religion, online, December 8.
  • 2020 Co-authored with Kindalee DeLong and Roshawnda Derrick, "An analysis of Pepperdine's Seaver College faculty participation in SEED," Gaede Institute Annual Conference: The Conversation on the Liberal Arts, February 27-29, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA
  • 2020 "The Hermeneutical Circle of Ethics as Qualitative Methodology: An Attempt to Decolonize the Gaze of the White Researcher" Society of Christian Ethics, January 9-12, Washington, D.C.
  • 2019 "Resistance Narratives: The Religious and Spiritual Development of Evangelical Youth," American Academy of Religion, Western Region, March 2-3, Arizona State University
  • 2017 "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at The Intersection of Race, Gender, and Class," American Academy of Religion, Western Region, March 17-19, Rosemead, CA
  • 2013 "Hagar at Woman Hollering Creek: The Voice of Women in Threefold Exile," American Academy of Religion, Nov. 23-26, Baltimore, MD
  • 2013 "The Moral Agency of Youth," Summit, Abilene Christian University, Sept. 15-18, Abilene, TX

Topics

  • Practical Theology
  • Christian Ethics
  • Postcolonial Theory
  • Adolescent Spiritual Development
  • Religion and Social Change

Courses

  • REL 100: The Way of Jesus
  • REL 300: Christianity and Culture: Introduction to Christian Ethics
  • REL 300: Christianity and Culture: Identity and Power in Just Society
  • REL 524: Christian Ethics
  • REL 595: Ministry Field Work
  • REL 599: Directed Study: Theology of Play