College of Arts and Sciences
Behavioral Sciences
B.A., 1994, Olivet Nazarene University
M.A., 1998, Loyola University, Chicago
M.Phil., 2001, Drew University
Ph.D., 2011, Drew University
Dr. Perabeau’s interests and teaching responsibilities include sociology of religion, urban sociology, ethnic relations and anthropology. He has been a faculty member at Olivet since 2005.
He has presented papers at academic conferences, several of them related to his prior involvement in the Newark Project, a Ford Foundation-supported study concerning the urban religious life of Newark, N.J.
An ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, Dr. Perabeau also serves as a pastor in the city of Chicago.
He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, Association of Nazarene Sociologists and Researchers, Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, and Wesleyan Theological Society.
Dr. Perabeau has traveled to Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Venezuela, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. He also has studied in Costa Rica, where he met his wife, Gayle, a graduate of Houghton College who was also studying there. They often lead mission trips for Olivet students.
He has completed the Chicago Marathon twice. In addition to running, he enjoys camping; cheering on the Chicago Cubs and Bears; and spending time with his wife and two sons, Andrew and Jonathan.