Biographical Notes
Professor Stephens began teaching at ENC in the fall of 2004. He brings expertise in many fields: late 19th and early 20th century US history, American religious history, race, and American popular music. He created and manages the ENC history department webpage
Education
Ph.D., University of Florida
M.A., Emporia State University
M.A., Nazarene Theological Seminary
B.A., MidAmerica Nazarene College
Publications
In 2008 Harvard University Press published Stephens' book,The Fire Spreads: The Origins of Holiness and Pentecostalism in the American South. The Atlantic Monthly called it a "masterful account of how the South nurtured and altered a once-marginalized religious movement" and praised it as "the most fluent and authoritative synthesis of a complex and controversial subject." Similar accolades appeared in the the Times Literary Supplement and Publishers Weekly. In 2009 the book won the Wesleyan Theological Society's Timothy L. Smith and Mildred Bangs Wynkoop Book Award. Stephens is currently writing a book with ENC professor of physics Karl Giberson on recent American evangelicalism that is under contract with Harvard University Press. He has composed a number of chapters and articles dealing with religious and cultural history. Stephens has also written for the Christian Century, Christianity Today, Books & Culture, Harp, Immanent Frame, the History News Network, and Skyscaper Magazine. Stephens served as editor of the Journal of Southern Religion (2006-2010) and is an editor of the review of the Historical Society, Historically Speaking. Recognition
Named a J. William Fulbright Scholar in 2011.
Named a Top Young Historian by History News Network in 2008.
ENC Professional Achievement Award in 2007 and 2010.
