Melissa Rogers

Melissa Rogers serves as visiting professor of Religion and Public Policy at Wake Forest University Divinity School. She is the founder and director of Wake Forest’s Center for Religion and Public Affairs, which promotes research, study, and dialogue regarding the intersection of religion and public affairs and provides resources for students and religious leaders on these issues.

Rogers previously served as the executive director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and as general counsel of the Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty. While at the Baptist Joint Committee, she helped lead a diverse coalition that was instrumental in bringing about the enactment of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. She also served as a draftsperson for several amicus curiae briefs in church-state cases heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2004, Rogers was recognized by National Journal as one of the church-state experts "politicians will call on when they get serious about addressing an important public policy issue." She is co-authoring a case book on religion and law for Baylor University Press and recently testified before the Judiciary Committee to the U.S. Senate.

Rogers earned her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she was a member of the National Moot Court Team and a legal writing instructor. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Baylor University.