He has held the Board of Governors Research Chair in the Department of Sociology at the University of Lethbridge since 2001.Born in Edmonton, Alberta, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta, a B.D.
from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Calgary, and a Ph.D.
from Washington State University.
In 2006, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.