Emory University's Center for the Study of Law and Religion (CSLR) has named Silas Allard, an award-winning alumnus of its joint degree program in law and religion, as associate director, to begin in August 2013.  

Allard is charged with leading CSLR, a world-renowned research center that has been a catalyst for global expansion of law and religion studies during the past 30 years, into the next generation of scholarship.  

Among Allard's primary roles will be to widen CSLR’s religious scope beyond the three Abrahamic religions to include Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism and Indigenous Religions. He also will help CSLR bridge its theoretical, historical and comparative work into hands-on, practical and community outreach work.

Founded in 1982, CSLR has led the field of modern law and religion studies by administering nine major, multi-year research projects; hosting major international conferences; publishing more than 300 new books and two book series; and offering six degree programs and 40-cross-listed courses. Some 90 Emory faculty take part in the work of the center, and it draws upon 1,600 scholars from around the world.