Robert "Tripp" Gulledge

Ph.D. student, Religious Studies

Research Interests:
Rev. Robert “Tripp” Gulledge is a first‑year doctoral student in religious ethics who researches the intersection of theology and economics. His work explores the theological implications of meaningful work, motivated by a concern for the moral agency of laborers amid economic efficiencies such as automation and subcontracting. He aims to provide a fresh ethical perspective on work by examining the rules and rituals of ancient Christian monasticism and integrating them into broader considerations of contemporary moral, spiritual and economic life.

Road to the Moody School:
Tripp is a native of Mobile, Alabama. He graduated magna cum laude from Auburn University in 2020 with concurrent degrees in music performance and music education. He also graduated summa cum laude from SMU’s Perkins School of Theology, earning a Master of Divinity in 2023 and a Master of Theology in 2025. Tripp is married to Courtney Vanman, and they have two dogs, Dakota and Ripley