Elizabeth Gish, Program Officer

Elizabeth Gish is a program officer at the Kettering Foundation. She brings years of experience in community work, faith-based work, and higher education to her role at the foundation. Before coming to Kettering, Gish was an associate professor in the Mahurin Honors College and in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Western Kentucky University, and she also served as interim head of the department. Gish’s research focuses on the role of higher education in preparing students for democratic life, as well as on the role of American Christianity in shaping understandings of the ideal citizen. 
 
Gish studied political science and comparative religion at Miami University of Ohio and has her master’s and doctorate from Harvard Divinity School. Gish is the recipient of the Truman Scholarship, a national award for public service; the Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza New Scholar award; the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning award for teaching; as well as several research grants to study religion in the United States.