Sociology 2018 Newsletter

SOCIOLOGY NEWSLETTER | Issue #3 2 as well as a spotlight on our 2017 Distinguished Alum, Jane Thomas! OSU Sociology extends special thanks, in addition, to the alumni and friends of the department who make donations to the department in order to support scholarships for current and future students and for awards given each year by the department to student scholars. Every spring, the department gathers to recognize our students’ achievements by presenting them with special awards and scholarships. Please check out the highlights from awards ceremonies and about related student accomplishments and internships on pages 10‐19! Crucial to the success of OSU Sociology’s undergraduate and graduate programs is the teaching and mentoring that our faculty do. Some notable highlights this year include Dr. Stephen Perkins’ work with archeological field school students in North Dakota and Dr. Monica Whitham’s new Taos course for OSU undergraduate and graduate students being taught on site in New Mexico (p. 4). OSU Sociology faculty also made the news this past year for practicing sociology in ways that affect peoples’ everyday lives and that influence social policy. Among these were Dr. Bin Liang, who was recognized as one of China’s most productive scholars in the area of Criminology and Criminal Justice; Dr. Liesel Ritchie, who was recently named Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Global Resilience Institute; Dr. Michael Long, who recently published an exciting new book on Green Criminology ; and Dr. Heather McLaughlin, whose research on the economic and career effects of sexual harassment on working women was recently been referenced by U.S. Senators and was the basis for an interview she did on the radio show “Marketplace” (see page 3). Last but definitely not least, I would like to note that although I am writing this welcome letter, the department has benefitted tremendously over the past year from the leadership of multiple faculty members. Dr. Duane Gill and Dr. Andy Fullerton each served as Interim Department Head during the past year while I was completing a temporary detail at the National Science Foun‐ dation. During this time, Dr. Tammy Mix also extended her term as Graduate Director through fall 2017 in order to enable Dr. Fullerton to serve as Interim Head in fall 2017. I wish to thank each of these individuals, in particular, for their support of Sociolo‐ gy’s undergraduate and graduate programs, commitment to students, and work with other department colleagues. As OSU Sociology looks forward to the next academic year, I welcome alumni to contact us to let us know about your experienc‐ es, accomplishments, and life transitions. It is always a pleasure to hear from our alumni and friends. Feel free to visit our website at https://sociology.okstate.edu/ or to contact me personally at sharon.bird@osu.edu. Best wishes for a wonderful summer! Sharon R. Bird Sharon R. Bird, PhD Professor and Department Head From the Department Head— on page 1 OSU Sociologists: Bringing Science to the Broader Community OSU “Research on Tap” host Dr. Ken Sewell interviewing Regents Professor, Duane Gill in January 2018 (see the full talk on OSUTV ). Dresser Professor Tammy Mix shared her research at a “Science Café” earlier this spring (watch her presentation with Bailey Norwood on OSUTV ).

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAxMjk=