Hear Roman speak at our 65th Anniversary Celebration & Symposium, “Envisioning the Future of the Interfaith Movement” on November 8 in New York City. Get tickets here.
Dr. Roman Williams: Interfaith Photovoice
Roman blends photography and sociology to foster intergroup and interfaith engagement. He consults, writes, and designs programs that empower individuals and communities to see each other more deeply and work toward shared flourishing.
Roman R. Williams, Ph.D., is the founder of Interfaith Photovoice, a pioneering organization that blends photography and sociology to foster intergroup and interfaith engagement. With a Ph.D. in the sociology of religion from Boston University and a Th.M. focused on global religions from Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Roman’s academic career includes tenure as an associate professor of sociology at Calvin University and service as executive officer of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion.
Roman’s scholarly work explores lived religion and participatory visual methodologies—a combination highlighted in his edited volume, Seeing Religion (Routledge, 2015). Over time, Roman transitioned from higher education into community-based participatory action research. The onset of the pandemic provided the impetus for him to step out of academia and launch a consulting practice centered on belief, belonging, and human flourishing, allowing him to support individuals and organizations in creating inclusive communities.
Through Interfaith Photovoice, Roman invites people from diverse spiritual, religious, and secular backgrounds to use photography as a means of deepening mutual understanding and building relationships. Participants are encouraged to document aspects of their daily lives, reflect on personal beliefs and practices, and engage in thoughtful dialogue with others. These collaborative projects have evolved from initial Christian-Muslim dialogue efforts into a broad, inclusive platform that welcomes participants from all backgrounds.
Roman’s recent book, Sacred Snaps: Photovoice for Interfaith Engagement (co-authored with Cathy Holtmann and Bill Sachs), articulates his vision for participatory visual engagement as a catalyst for empathy and change. Today, Roman is dedicated to making the world a better and more inclusive place, “one photo at a time.” He continues to consult, write, and design programs that empower individuals and communities to see each other more deeply and work toward shared flourishing.
Primary Sources & Speeches
- https://www.interfaithphotovoice.org/roman
- https://independentscholar.academia.edu/RomanWilliams
- https://ansari.nd.edu/news-events/events/2024/11/13/book-talk-sacred-snaps-photovoice-for-interfaith-engagement/
- https://www.routledge.com/Sacred-Snaps-Photovoice-for-Interfaith-Engagement/Williams-Holtmann-Sachs/p/book/9781032856643
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-williams
- https://contexts.org/blog/roman-williams/
- https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=c8FnHRUAAAAJ&hl=en
- https://www.wgvunews.org/common-threads/2025-09-07/interfaith-photovoice
- https://imagingpeace.org/index.php/interfaith-photovoice/
- https://www.interfaithphotovoice.org/team
- https://www.interfaithphotovoice.org
- https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-03-07_5c8086c6032e9_2019RWilliamsWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeekReport.pdf
- https://worship.calvin.edu/resources/articles/roman-williams-peeling-back-layers-meaning-church-life
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLkrC5wxoGp/
- https://www.crcna.org/news-and-events/news/photovoice-breaks-down-barriers
- https://www.instagram.com/p/C9Fhnl4s2g1/