Henry Zonio ’97, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Academic Excellence

Departments: Academic Affairs, Center for Academic Excellence

Office: Kinlaw Library 139

Phone Extension: (859) 858-3511, x2375

Biographical Information

Dr. Henry Zonio (’97) joined Asbury as the Director of the Center for Academic Excellence in 2021. Prior to this, Henry taught sociology courses at Asbury, the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, and Transylvania University since 2014. Henry’s research interests and expertise are in the areas of social inequalities, education, curriculum development, religion, and childhood/adolescence. Prior to entering academia, Henry worked for 12 years as a pastor in churches in the U.S. and Canada overseeing Family and Children’s Ministries. Outside Asbury, Henry serves on the board of the Children’s Spirituality Summit and is an active member at Apostles Anglican Church in Lexington, KY.

Education

Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Kentucky
M.A. in Sociology, San Jose State University
B.A. in Chemistry/Biology, Asbury University (1997)

Areas of research:

Social Inequalities, Education, Curriculum Development, Socialization, Religious Education, and Childhood and Adolescence

Publications

Zonio, Henry. 2023. “In His Image: Constructing Gender in Sunday School.” Pp. 147-168 in Let the Children Lead: Exploring Children’s Spirituality Today, edited by Elizabeth DeGaynor. Alexandria, VA: VTS Press.

Zonio, Henry. 2020. “Normalizing White Spirituality in Children’s Sunday School Curricula.” Pp. 201-214 in Bridging Theory and Practice in Children’s Spirituality, edited by Mimi Larson and Robert Keeley. Nashville, TN: Zondervan Academic Publishing.

Zonio, Henry. 2017. “‘Is That a Mom and Dad Church?’ Children’s Constructions of Meaning Through Focus Group Interviews.” Pp. 251-276 in Researching Children and Youth: Methodological Issues, Strategies, and Innovations (Sociological Studies of Children and Youth, Volume 22), edited by Ingrid E. Castro, Melissa Swauger, and Brent Harger. England: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.