Elaine Howard Ecklund is a sociologist, author, and academic leader who explores how individuals and groups bring their deepest values—especially religious and ethical commitments—into their work, leadership, and public lives. She holds a Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences at Rice University, where she is a Professor of Sociology and directs the Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance. Her current work focuses on religious diversity in the workplace, how individuals and groups change institutions, and how faith and science intersect in public life. She has published over 150 research articles and 9 books.