Jacqueline E. Wenger

Research Associate

Jacqueline E. Wenger is a research associate with the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, focusing on the planning, implementation and coordination of its various research projects. She tracks project progress, keeps the director informed of project status and assists project managers.

Jacqueline was recently awarded her Ph.D. in sociology, with an emphasis on religion, from The Catholic University of America. Her dissertation compared similarities and differences among black and white nondenominational and denominational Protestant churches. She received the Irene B. Taeuber Graduate Student Paper Award from the DC Sociological Society. While studying for her doctoral degree she co-authored two books, Evolving Visions of the Priesthood: Changes from Vatican II to the Turn of the New Century and Pastors in Transition: Why Clergy Leave Local Church Ministry. In addition, she has published papers, articles and book reviews and presented at professional conferences.

Prior to joining the Pew Forum, Jacqueline received her M.S. in social work, with an emphasis on administration and planning, from the University of Tennessee and was in a private practice providing professional counseling, workshops and retreats. She also worked as the director of planning for the West Virginia Department of Welfare and the associate director of social work at Georgetown University Hospital as well as holding faculty positions at The Catholic University of America, University of Maryland, West Virginia University and Georgetown University Medical School.