I identify as a theological anthropologist with a background in missiology and contextual theology. I was educated in Nigeria, the Netherlands, and Australia. I was a former Commonwealth Scholar on the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) at the University of Divinity between 2013 and 2016.
My research expertise is in qualitative and quantitative research design. I have successfully designed and co-delivered qualitative research projects focusing on the inclusion and integration of members of migrant communities in Victoria. In 2022, I was awarded a competitive industry grant of over $55,000 from the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation for a research project focused on deconstructing negative public perceptions of mental health among women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Similarly, following a successful Collaborative Large Grant of slightly over $38,000.00 from the University of Divinity in 2022, I’m currently working with Associate Professor Darrell Jackson on a research project exploring the integration of members of African migrant communities in Australia using the European developed Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX).
I sit on the board of Action Research Centre Ltd – a not-for-profit organisation that combines research with advocacy for social change on issues affecting migrant communities – as its founding CEO and Principal Researcher.
My research strengths lie in the areas of faith and development, new religious movements and migration, culture, Pentecostalism, and contextual theologies. I am particularly interested in how theology addresses social (and human) concerns in the postmodern era.
As Interim Director of Research, the purview of my responsibilities includes managing the College’s research agenda, supporting all HDR students, and assisting students and faculty with the HREC application process and competitive grants applications.
Qualifications:
- PhD (University of Divinity, Australia)
- Graduate Certificate of Research Management (Deakin University, Australia)
- MA (VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
- BA (Hons) Religious Studies (University of Ibadan, Nigeria)
- B.Th. (Hons) (The Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Nigeria)
Recent publications:
- Leslie, M., Murtagh, K., Prasad, N., & Olorunnisola, T.S. (2023). “An Exploration of Australian Online Government Portals for Women Experiencing Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Violence Against Women, 1–25. https://Doi:10.1177/10778012231179209.
- Abordo, P., Anastasov, A., Bridgeman, C., Harvey, L., Khalili, C., Olorunnisola, T. S., Surany, D., & Yuill, J. (2023). “Living Through Family Violence in Australia: An Integrative Literature Review of Children’s Mental Health Outcomes.” Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice. Advance online publication. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000243.
- Cronshaw, D., Hyun, H., Laughlin, P., Olorunnisola, T. S., & Parker, S. (2023). “Mission as Hospitality with Refugees and Other Migrants: Exploring Ross Langmead’s “Guests and Hosts” in Australian Churches.” Mission Studies 40, 150–176. https://doi:10.1163/15733831-12341890.
- Lester, H., Ryakhovskaya, Y. & Olorunnisola, T. S (2023). “Asset-Based Community Development Approaches to Resilience among Refugees and Recent Migrant Communities in Australia: a scoping review.” International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care. (May), DOI https://10.1108/IJMHSC-09-2022-0098.
- Jackson, D., Erwich, R., Flynn, E., and Olorunnisola, T.S. (2022). “Equipping Families and Friends to Offer Spiritual Care to People Living with Dementia: Findings from a Meta-Synthesis.” Religions 13: 462. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13050462.
- Titus S. Olorunnisola (2020). “Rhapsody of Religious Violence in Nigeria: Dynamics, Case Studies and Government Responses.” International Journal of Social Science Research. Vol. 8, N0. 1 (January): 17-37. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5296/ijssr.v8i1.15394.
- Titus S. Olorunnisola (2020). “Migration and the Trans-nationalization of African Pentecostalism in Europe: Encounter and Prospects.” Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal. Vol 7 No 1 (January): 66-75. Doi: https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.71.7163.
- Titus S. Olorunnisola (2019). “Beyond Interreligious Dialogue: Dialogue of Life as a means to Peaceful Coexistence and Mutuality in Nigeria.” European Scientific Journal 15. No 17, (June): 28-45. Doi: URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.19044/esj.2019.v15n17p28.
- Titus S. Olorunnisola (2019). “John Hick’s Global Theology of Death and Immortality in Conversation with the Yoruba-African Philosophy of Afterlife.” Journal of Philosophy, Culture and Religion, Vol. 44, (June): 31-50. Doi: https://doi/7176/JPCR/44-04.
- Titus S. Olorunnisola (2015). “The Church in Conversation for Social Transformation: From Christology to praxis.” International Journal of Philosophy and Theology 3, No. 2, (December): 65-72 (USA).
Units currently teaching:
Human Research Methodologies
Research Areas:
- Diaspora Mission
- Migration and theology
- Mission theology
- Intercultural/contextual theologies
- Pentecostalism
- Faith and family violence