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Dennis R. Hoover (D.Phil. Politics) is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Global Engagement, Editor in Chief of The Review of Faith & International Affairs, and an Advisor to the Templeton Religion Trust’s Covenantal Pluralism Initiative. He has published extensively in academic and popular news outlets, particularly on issues of religion and politics, law, security, peacebuilding, and pluralism. He also facilitates scholarly and policy-focused events, and commissions academic publications and op-eds for IGE and its global partners. He has spoken at a wide variety of events around the world, including conferences at Oxford University, Georgetown University, Boston University, Pepperdine University, University of Toronto, Trinity College, the Pentagon, Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue, Naval Postgraduate School, and more. He has also taught courses and given guest lectures for a number of university programs, most recently in Zagreb for the Gordon College Balkans Program.

He came to IGE in January 2003 from the Leonard E. Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. He earned his doctorate in politics in 1997 at the University of Oxford. He earned his M.Phil. in Politics in 1992 at Oxford as well, studying modern theories of law and state, American politics, political theory, and the political institutions of advanced industrial societies. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from Messiah University in Grantham, PA in 1990. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Achievement Award from Messiah University in 2023.

His books include: Exploring Religious Diversity and Covenantal Pluralism in Asia, Volumes I and II (Routledge 2023); Routledge Handbook of Religious Literacy, Pluralism, and Global Engagement, co-edited with Chris Seiple (Routledge 2022); Popes on the Rise: Modern Papal Diplomacy and Social Teaching in World Affairs, co-edited with Mariano P. Barbato and Robert J. Joustra (Routledge 2019); Religion and American Exceptionalism (Routledge 2014); Routledge Handbook of Religion and Security, co-edited with Chris Seiple and Pauletta Otis (Routledge 2013); Religion and Foreign Affairs: Essential Readings, co-edited with Douglas Johnston (Baylor University Press 2012), and more. His op-eds have appeared in diverse outlets such as Religion News Service, The Nation, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, The Hartford Courant, America magazine, Comment, and Religion & Global Society.

Dennis is married to Dr. Ruth Melkonian-Hoover, who is a Professor of Political Science at Gordon College in Wenham, MA. Dennis and Ruth have two children, Isaac (19) and Gabriella (12). They enjoy supporting and raising awareness for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Dennis also serves on the board of trustees of First Congregational Church of Essex, MA.