Melissa Rogers

Distinguished Scholar in Residence in Faith, Law, and Public Policy

Melissa Rogers is the Distinguished Scholar in Residence in Faith, Law, and Public Policy at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. She also serves as
a Nonresident Senior Fellow in the Governance Studies Program of the
Brookings Institution. Rogers is a nationally known expert on religion in
American public life. Her areas of expertise include the U.S.
Constitution’s religious liberty guarantees, religion’s intersection with
law and public policy, and partnerships between government and faith-
based organizations.

Rogers formerly served as Special Assistant to the President and
Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and
Neighborhood Partnerships for President Barack Obama (2013-2017)
and President Joe Biden (2021-2025). She also previously served as
Chair of President Obama’s inaugural Advisory Council on Faith-Based
and Neighborhood Partnerships, Executive Director of the Pew Forum
on Religion and Public Life, and General Counsel of the Baptist Joint
Committee for Public Affairs.  

Rogers is author of Faith in American Public Life (Baylor University
Press 2019) and co-author of Religious Freedom and the Supreme
Court (Baylor University Press 2008). She holds a J.D. from University
of Pennsylvania Law School and a B.A. from Baylor University. She
received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from both Wake Forest
University and the John Leland Center for Theological Studies. National
Journal has recognized Rogers as one of the church-state experts
“politicians will call on when they get serious about addressing an
important public policy issue.”

Education

BA, Baylor University

JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School

Books

• Faith in American Public Life, Baylor University Press (2019)
• Religious Freedom and the Supreme Court with Steven K. Green and Ronald B. Flowers, Baylor University Press (2008)

Featured Articles

• Why we need to work with houses of worship on COVID-19 vaccinations, Religion News Service
  (March 16, 2021)
• Co-author with E.J. Dionne, A Time to Heal, A Time to Build:
  Recommendations for the next administration on respecting religious freedom and pluralism, forging civil society partnerships, and navigating faith’s role in foreign policy, Brookings Institution (October 21, 2020)
• Religious Freedom and the Federal Executive Branch: Suggestions for Future Administrations, 15 U. St. Thomas L.J. 703 (2019)
• Six Issues to Watch in the Supreme Court’s Trinity Lutheran Case, Religion News Service (June 28, 2017)
• Co-author with William A. Galston of Health Care Providers’ Consciences and Patients’ Needs: The Quest for Balance, Brookings Institution in cooperation with Wake Forest University Center for Religion and Public Affairs (February 23, 2012)
• Co-author with E.J. Dionne, Serving People in Need, Safeguarding Religious Freedom: Recommendations for the New Administration on Partnerships with Faith-Based Organizations, Brookings Institution and Wake Forest University School of Divinity’s Center for Religion and Public Affairs (December 5, 2008)

Select Honors and Awards

Distinguished Alumni Award (2020)

Baylor Line Foundation

Honorary Doctorate of Divinity (2018)

John Leland Center for Theological Studies

Pro Texana Medal of Service (2016)

Baylor University

J.M. Dawson Religious Liberty Award (2014)

Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty

Honorary Doctorate of Divinity (2014)

Wake Forest University

President’s Service Award (2014)

Progressive National Baptist Convention

Religious Freedom Award (2011)

Associated Baptist Press

Virginia First Freedom Award (2010)

First Freedom Center

Abner V. McCall Religious Liberty Award (2009)

Baylor University Alumni Association