![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www2.baylor.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/coffman-oct26.jpg\")
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For Dr. Elesha Coffman<\/a>, election as president of the American Society of Church History<\/a> (ASCH) marks both a significant professional honor and a reflection of a career devoted to the study of faith and its role in society.<\/p>\n Nominated by fellow scholars and elected by the society’s membership, Coffman — a Baylor history professor since 2016 — now leads one of the nation’s premier organizations for the study of Christianity and religious history. In the role, she will oversee the society’s annual conference, guide council meetings, and help shape decisions related to the organization’s future direction and operations.<\/p>\n The appointment is especially meaningful for Coffman, who has been involved with ASCH since her graduate school years nearly 25 years ago.<\/p>\n “It’s my scholarly home,” says Coffman. “I want it to continue to be a welcoming place for scholars across their careers.”<\/p>\n That commitment to fostering intellectual community aligns closely with Baylor’s mission as a Christian research university<\/a>, where rigorous scholarship and faith-informed inquiry are encouraged to work hand in hand. Through her teaching and research, Coffman has explored how religion shapes public life, culture and communication — helping students and fellow scholars better understand Christianity’s enduring influence on society.<\/p>\n As part of her tenure, Coffman will deliver an address based on her current research into the history of Religion News Service, highlighting the intersection of religion, media and American culture. Beyond advancing scholarship, she hopes to encourage and inspire fellow historians during a period of significant challenges across higher education.<\/p>\n “I want people to remember my tenure and this meeting as a bright spot in a pretty dark time,” she says.<\/p>\n