Dean T. Hall

My research focuses on belief systems as lived experience — particularly examining how American Sacred Nationalism (ASN) functions not only as a political ideology but as a 400-year religio-political worldview that sacralizes violence, structures social relationships, and defines who counts as a "real" American.

Theoretically grounded in the work of Antonio Gramsci, Paulo Freire, and Pierre Bourdieu, my work explores how hegemonic power operates through cultural institutions, how consciousness can be transformed through critical pedagogy, and how social and cultural capital reproduce inequality across generations. I extend Du Bois's concept of the "wages of whiteness" to introduce what I call the theologized wages of whiteness — the moral and spiritual compensation that makes punitive policies feel righteous to their supporters.

My M.A. thesis, "Dismantling the Sacred Veil: American Sacred Nationalism as America's Embedded Worldview", was defended at SDSU in 2026. A companion article, "American Sacred Nationalism: Sacralized Violence and the Long Liturgy of Domination", is currently under review at Political Theology.

A second strand of my research examines election conspiracism — specifically the relationship between Evangelical identity, political alienation, and democratic trust, using ANES survey data and quantitative methods (OLS, logistic regression, factor and cluster analysis).

Earlier work as a Primary Investigator at the Project Rebound Research Lab investigated food insecurity at Hispanic-Serving Institutions, examining barriers to CalFresh enrollment. Findings were presented at the Pacific Sociological Association (2023, 2024, 2025) and published in the Project Rebound Journal.

CogniMap

Beyond traditional academic research, I founded CogniMap (May 2025), an AI-driven research synthesis platform that maps relationships among scholarly concepts to reveal new directions for inquiry. This project reflects my commitment to bridging the gap between scholarly insight and practical application — creating tools that serve communities working toward justice and systemic change.

Visit cognimap.org

My approach is rooted in the understanding that research should serve those most affected by the systems we study. I'm interested in work that doesn't just describe inequality, but actively contributes to dismantling it.

My writing bridges academic scholarship and public engagement, translating complex sociological analysis into accessible prose that speaks to a wide range of audiences. I write for scholars and organizers, practitioners and citizens — anyone working to understand and challenge systems of power.

Whether for academic journals or public forums, my goal is the same: to make visible the systems that shape our lives, to ask hard questions about power and belonging, and to move conversations toward more just and equitable arrangements.

I speak to diverse audiences — from academic conferences to community forums — about the systems that shape belonging, exclusion, and power in American life. My talks cut through abstraction to address the concrete ways belief systems operate in policy, institutions, and everyday interactions.

Whether I'm addressing scholars, practitioners, or community members, my approach stays the same: direct, grounded, and focused on actionable insight. I don't perform complexity; I invite understanding. My presentations balance clarity with rigor, offering analysis rooted in both research and lived experience.

I bring the same energy to public dialogue that I bring to teaching — calm, purposeful, and committed to honest engagement. I create space for difficult conversations and invite audiences to think critically about systems we often take for granted.

I'm interested in connecting with people and organizations working toward systems that are less exclusionary and more just, honest, and human.

Whether you're engaged in research, organizing, policy work, or building tools and platforms that serve marginalized communities, I'd welcome the conversation. I'm particularly interested in collaborations that bridge different forms of expertise and center the voices of those most affected by systemic inequality.

If you're working on projects that challenge existing power structures, create space for honest dialogue about difficult topics, or develop practical solutions to systemic problems, let's talk.