F. Carson Mencken is a professor of sociology at Baylor University. His areas of research expertise include regional sociology, criminology and research methods. Recently, Dr. Mencken has been pursuing research which links civic engagement, religious communities, and economic growth. He has authored over 30 professional publications. He has received competitive grant funding for his research from such sources as the Tennessee Valley Authority, the United States Department of the Interior, the United States Department of Justice, and the John Templeton Foundation. He is the Project Director for the Empirical Study of Values in China. Prior to joining the faculty at Baylor University, Dr. Mencken served as the Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at West Virginia University.