
United States
Professor, Sociology & Demography, College for Health, Community and Policy, University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).
(210) 508-2530
Dr. John P. Bartkowski
Address:
Department of Sociology & Demography, UTSA, San Antonio, Texas, United States.
Research Interests:
- Qualitative Methodology
- Culture & Social Identity
- Religion & Family
- Gender Studies
- Social Inequality
- Social Policy and Welfare Programs
- Youth Development
- Evaluation Research
Biography:
Dr. John P. Bartkowski is Professor of Sociology and Demography at the University of Texas at San Antonio’s College for Health, Community and Policy. He earned his PhD and MA from the University of Texas at Austin and his BA from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. His scholarship examines intersections of religion, family, gender, qualitative methodology, and social inequality. He has a long history of qualitative and mixed-methods research, focusing particularly on how religious belief and participation influence family dynamics, youth development, health, and public policy. His work spans private dimensions of belief (identity, family, friendships) and public dimensions (religion’s impact on community-level outcomes such as mortality, crime, health), and he has evaluated faith-based initiatives and welfare service provision. Bartkowski has published several books and many peer-reviewed articles, is editor or associate editor of journals in the sociology of religion, and has served in leadership roles in scholarly organizations. His research also contributes to understanding moral communities, gender negotiation, and qualitative identity formation in religious contexts. He uses qualitative and quantitative data from individuals, households, and institutions to explore culture, social identity, and inequality.
Education Details
- PhD, Sociology / related field – University of Texas at Austin
- MA, University of Texas at Austin
- BA, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio
Professional Background
- Professor of Sociology & Demography, UTSA, since 2008
- Formerly Professor of Sociology at Mississippi State University (1997-2008)
Achievements
- Author of several influential books, including Remaking the Godly Marriage: Gender Negotiation in Evangelical Families; The Promise Keepers: Servants, Soldiers, and Godly Men.
- Recognized for quantitative and qualitative research bridging religion, family, gender, culture, and public policy.
- Recipient of multiple grants from federal / foundation agencies; active evaluator/researcher on projects concerning public health, welfare, faith-based programs, etc.
Current Research Projects
- Impact of religion on private life: identity, relationships, family, friendships.
- Public religion: how community-level religious affiliations affect health, mortality, crime and other social outcomes.
- Evaluation of faith-based initiatives and welfare service provision.
Academic Profiles of Dr. John P. Bartkowski
Publications:
Dr. Bartkowski’s most recent publications demonstrate his active engagement with health, intersectionality, and community-based research in the Deep South, highlighting ongoing scholarly productivity.
5 Most Recent Publications
- Bartkowski, J.P., et al. Site Engagement in Implementation Research: Introducing SEAMLIS as a Conceptual and Measurement Framework. Implementation Science Communications, July 2025.
- Bartkowski, J.P., et al. Breastfeeding and Intersectionality in the Deep South: Race, Class, Gender and Community Context in Coastal Mississippi. Maternal and Child Health Journal, June 2025.
- Bartkowski, J.P., et al. It Takes a Village: How Community-Based Peer Support for Breastfeeding Bolsters Lactation Prevalence Among Black Mississippians on the Gulf Coast. Journal of Human Lactation, November 2024.
- Bartkowski, J.P., et al. Faith, Families, and Health: How Religious Contexts Shape Breastfeeding Practices in Underserved Communities. Journal of Religion and Health, 2024.
- Bartkowski, J.P., et al. Community Context and Maternal-Child Health in the U.S. Deep South: Insights from Mixed-Methods Research. Health Promotion International, 2024.
Last Updated on October 12, 2025