Ben Veenstra

Advisor

Dr. Elesha Coffman

Education

B.A. in History and Secondary Education, Calvin University, 2019

Biography

After I graduated from college, I taught history for six years in a variety of settings. I taught a range of students from seventh grade to seniors at public, charter, and private schools. I instructed courses on Early U.S. History, Human Geography, Government, and Economics. I am excited to be back in school as a student and I’m actually ready to do the homework, instead of grade it.

Research Interests

My interests lie in the interaction between different religions and religious groups, and how unity can be found within diversity. I hope to explore the interactions between different religious groups especially during the 19th Century as this nation of immigrants continued to grow and therefore brought their own cultures with them. I am interested in how these religions and denominations further impacted American politics, culture, and economics.

Why I Chose Baylor

I chose Baylor for the department’s concentration on Religious History, specifically American Religious History. I love being at an institution that is well known for its research capabilities and have simultaneously created a close-knit community of academics that support each other.

Selected Activities

Recent Presentations

“Justice and Understanding: The Waco Conference of Christians and Jews from 1980–2000,” Presentation, Alliance for Texas History, Annual Conference, May 2026