Christine J. Gardner is a professor at Wheaton College. She is from Normal, Illinois, United States. She is also a journalist. Her articles have been frequently published in Christianity Today. She self-identifies as an Evangelical. She has received degrees from Seattle Pacific University, the University of Washington, and Northwestern University. In 2012, her book Making Chastity Sexy won the Stephen E. Lucas Debut Publication Award for a scholarly monograph or book in the field of communication studies. In preparation for writing the book, Gardner spent five years doing research at chastity events in various locations in both the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa. In the United States, she focused her investigation on three Evangelical organizations that advocate sexual abstinence: Silver Ring Thing, True Love Waits, and Pure Freedom.