Cherice Bock | Ecospirituality | Best Research Article Award
Adjunct Faculty,Β Earlham School of Religion, United States
Cherice Bock is an interdisciplinary scholar and advocate whose work lies at the intersection of environmental studies, theology, and social justice. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies (2024) from Antioch University New England, Bock integrates spirituality and environmental activism, exploring how faith traditions can inform sustainable practices and climate action. She serves as an adjunct professor at Earlham School of Religion and the University of Portland, where she teaches courses inΒ ecospiritualityΒ andΒ theology. As aΒ Climate Policy ManagerΒ at 350PDX, Bock also advocates for climate justice through policy initiatives. Her academic and professional efforts reflect a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, social equity, and religious leadership. Bockβs published work and community leadership aim to connect spiritual practices with ecological care, offering insights intoΒ ecotheologyΒ andΒ creation justice. Her ongoing contributions make her a leading voice in faith-based environmental movements.
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Strengths for the Award
- Multidisciplinary Expertise:
- Ecospirituality and Environmental Studies: Dr. Bock has an extensive background in both environmental studies and theology, allowing her to bridge these fields through her research and teaching. Her Ph.D. work in Environmental Studies from Antioch University and her M.S. in the same field, along with her M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, reflect a deep and integrated understanding of both spiritual and environmental concerns.
- Teaching and Mentorship:
- She has served as an adjunct professor at multiple institutions, including Earlham School of Religion and University of Portland, where she teaches courses onΒ ecospirituality,Β climate policy, andΒ theology. This shows her ability to inspire and guide students across multiple disciplines.
- Climate Action and Policy Work:
- Dr. Bock is currently engaged as aΒ Climate Policy ManagerΒ at 350PDX, working to address climate change through policy advocacy and public engagement. This practical involvement in climate action adds real-world relevance and urgency to her academic research.
- Interfaith and Ecumenical Leadership:
- Through her role as aΒ Creation Justice AdvocateΒ with organizations like Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and Oregon Interfaith Power & Light, she demonstrates a commitment toΒ interfaith dialogueΒ andΒ social justiceΒ within environmental work, enriching her academic research with community-based application.
- Research and Publications:
- Dr. Bockβs published work includes chapters like “Watershed Discipleship: Communicating Climate Change Within a Christian Framework” andΒ “Quaker Pneumatology”, which contribute valuable insights into how theology and spirituality can inform responses to climate change. Her research not only addresses academic audiences but also has the potential for real-world application in the intersection ofΒ faithΒ andΒ environmental justice.
- Awards and Fellowships:
- Dr. Bock has received several prestigious fellowships and awards, including theΒ Clarence & Lily Pickett Endowment for Quaker LeadershipΒ and theΒ GreenFaith Fellowship. These accolades speak to her recognized leadership and dedication in the fields of religious leadership and environmental advocacy.
Areas for Improvement
- Expanded Public Scholarship:
- While Dr. Bockβs academic publications are commendable, there appears to be room for broader public-facing scholarship, such as throughΒ popular booksΒ orΒ media platforms. Expanding her influence outside of academic journals could help her reach a wider audience, particularly those in communities where faith-based environmental work is gaining traction.
- Collaborative Research:
- While her individual research is impactful, there could be greater emphasis onΒ collaborative, interdisciplinary research projectsΒ that connect environmental science, policy, theology, and spirituality. This could help amplify the impact of her work and bring new perspectives to the challenges she addresses.
- Quantitative Research in Climate Policy:
- Given her role as a climate policy manager, there may be an opportunity to strengthen her research by incorporating moreΒ quantitative methodsΒ or policy analysis frameworks that can directly influence climate policy and adaptation strategies, providing more empirical data to support her advocacy.
EducationΒ
Cherice Bock holds aΒ Ph.D. in Environmental StudiesΒ (2024) from Antioch University New England, where she developed an integrated approach to understanding the intersection of faith, ecology, and social justice. She also earned anΒ M.S. in Environmental StudiesΒ (2018) from the same institution. Prior to this, Bock completed herΒ M.Div.Β (2009) atΒ Princeton Theological Seminary, equipping her with a theological foundation for addressing the spiritual and ethical dimensions of ecological issues. HerΒ B.A. in PsychologyΒ (2001) fromΒ George Fox UniversityΒ provided her with an understanding of human behavior, which she later applied to the study of spirituality and environmental consciousness. Bockβs diverse academic background allows her to approach climate justice through a multidisciplinary lens, blending theology, environmental science, and social theory. Her education supports her research inΒ ecospirituality,Β creation care, andΒ interfaith environmental action.
ExperienceΒ
Cherice Bock has a broad range of academic, advocacy, and leadership experience in environmental studies, spirituality, and social justice. Since 2023, she has served as anΒ Adjunct Professor of Spirituality & EcospiritualityΒ atΒ Earlham School of Religion, teaching courses likeΒ Spirituality & the MysticsΒ andΒ Ecospirituality. She is also anΒ Adjunct Professor of Environmental StudiesΒ at theΒ University of Portland, where she teaches courses such asΒ Introduction to Environmental ScienceΒ andΒ Biblical Texts in Global Context. AsΒ Climate Policy ManagerΒ atΒ 350PDXΒ (Portland, OR), Bock works on advocacy and policy to address climate change. From 2020 to 2023, she served as aΒ Creation Justice AdvocateΒ atΒ Ecumenical Ministries of OregonΒ andΒ Oregon Interfaith Power & Light, promoting faith-based environmental action. Additionally, Bock has been anΒ EditorΒ forΒ Illuminate Friends Bible StudyΒ and has taught extensively inΒ ecotheologyΒ atΒ George Fox UniversityΒ andΒ Portland Seminary.
Awards and HonorsΒ
Cherice Bock has received numerous awards and fellowships recognizing her leadership inΒ ecospirituality,Β environmental advocacy, andΒ theology. She was aΒ Quaker LecturerΒ at theΒ Western Yearly MeetingΒ (2022), where she shared her insights on the theme, βBetter Together with the Community of Creation.β In 2021, Bock served as aΒ Friend in ResidenceΒ at theΒ North Pacific Yearly Meeting. She was namedΒ Scholar in ResidenceΒ atΒ Berkeley Friends ChurchΒ (2018), and at theΒ Center for Christian Studies, Reedwood Friends Church (2017). Bock has been aΒ Research FellowΒ at theΒ Creation Care ProgramΒ ofΒ Portland SeminaryΒ (2018), funded by the Seminary Stewardship Alliance. She has also been the recipient of theΒ Clarence & Lily Pickett Endowment for Quaker Leadership grantΒ (2018), theΒ GreenFaith FellowshipΒ (2016), and theΒ Re:GenerateΒ FellowshipΒ at Wake Forest University (2015). These honors reflect her impact in the realms of faith, climate justice, and social transformation.
Research Focus
Cherice Bockβs research focuses on the intersection ofΒ environmental studies,Β theology, andΒ social justice, particularly within the context ofΒ ecospiritualityΒ andΒ creation care. She explores how religious traditions, particularly Christianity and Quakerism, can inspire ethical responses to climate change and environmental degradation. Bockβs work also delves intoΒ ecotheology, examining the spiritual and ethical implications of human stewardship of the Earth. She has a strong interest inΒ faith-based climate policy, working to integrateΒ religious valuesΒ withΒ environmental activismΒ andΒ social justiceΒ initiatives. Her research is grounded in the belief that spirituality can play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable living practices and combating environmental injustice. Through her writing, teaching, and advocacy, Bock addresses the critical issues ofΒ climate change,Β resource equity, and the ethical responsibilities of communities of faith to engage in creation care. Her work aims to offer a transformative framework for both religious communities and environmental activists.
Publications
- Quaker PneumatologyΒ (2020) βΒ T and T Clark Handbook of Pneumatology
- Watershed Discipleship: Communicating Climate Change Within a Christian Framework: A Case Study AnalysisΒ (2018) βΒ Climate Change Management
Conclusion
Dr. Cherice Bock is a highly deserving candidate for theΒ Research for Best Researcher Award. Her work stands out for its unique interdisciplinary focus, blendingΒ environmental studies,Β theology, andΒ ecospirituality, and her ability to apply this research in meaningful ways both within academic settings and in real-world environmental advocacy. She has demonstrated leadership in addressing climate change from a faith-based perspective, integratingΒ social justiceΒ with environmental sustainability. The breadth of her experience, along with her active involvement in policy, teaching, and scholarship, makes her a powerful voice in the intersection of spirituality and environmental action.Recognizing Dr. Bock with this award would honor her significant contributions to environmental studies and climate policy while also encouraging the continued integration of faith with ecological stewardship.