Burton is the director of the Center for Adventist Research and associate professor of church history at Andrews University. Photo credit: Darren Heslop
The highly competitive program, which supports early career scholars in their professional development, is housed within the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture, the “oldest, largest, and premier center studying religion & American culture.”
Ten individuals were selected to join the 2024–2026 YSAR cohort after a thorough evaluation of their application narratives, CVs and letters of recommendation. Burton, who completed his doctorate in American religious history through Florida State University in 2023, notes, “It is very meaningful for me to be in the YSAR program because it strongly affirms my professional career and academic work.” Burton’s main area of study is the relationship between minority religions and evangelicalism in the antebellum United States, particularly in reference to politics, race and gender.
The program will provide Burton with opportunities to connect with leading scholars in the field of American religious history. Through workshops and regular sessions, the cohort will grow their teaching skills, strengthen class syllabi, and support each other’s ongoing scholarship. They will also be expected to publish their research in an academic venue. “It will enhance my teaching and help me produce a higher quality of scholarship,” Burton affirms.
In addition to these avenues for personal growth, Burton also anticipates the opportunity to bring the Adventist church into the wider field of religious history studies. “I am excited to represent Andrews University and Seventh-day Adventism through the YSAR program because I believe that Adventists (and Andrews) have made a significant difference in the world,” he says. Burton aims to write about Adventist history for non-Adventist audiences, promoting a better understanding of Adventism and its impact on the world.
“Adventist history is often written without any discussion of broader events and almost never situated within that context—we don’t really know where Adventists ‘fit’ in the broader history of America and how they have engaged the broader culture,” Burton explains. “The YSAR program provides us with an excellent opportunity to resolve these issues and help everyone better understand who the Adventists are and how the denomination has helped create the world in which we all live.”
Burton looks forward to these new opportunities for connection and exposure within his field of study. He also hopes that Andrews and the Center for Adventist Research can provide important resources for other historians of varying backgrounds. “Many scholars, including non-Adventist historians, would benefit from the archive we have here on Andrews University’s campus,” he states. “I believe my participation in the YSAR program will help benefit the broader academic community.”
Isabella Koh, communication coordinator, Andrews University.
