DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
FACULTY & STAFF PROFILES FALL 2004
Welcome or welcome back to what promises to be another interesting year in Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Social Work at ASU. As the fall begins, you are likely to see some new faces in our department. We welcome Dr. Elizabeth Watts-Warren as a full time member of our faculty and Ms. Beth Williams and Dr. Mohamed Alhomsi join the amazing group of part time faculty who round out our hardworking regular faculty and staff. We also welcome back Dr. Case who was out ill last year but back and ready to go this fall after successfully completing two great courses this summer. You may also notice that Dr. Scarboro is not around. He is teaching on a one-year visiting scholar position at the American University in Cairo Egypt. I, Dr. Kim Davies, will be acting as interim chair while Dr. Scarboro is in Egypt.
Everyone is busy as usual preparing classes for you including Dr. Watts Warren who is preparing a new Sociology of Law course. Dr. Johnston is helping Dr. Ness learn the ropes for our Research Methods sequence so you can expect to see both of them in your Methods I course this fall. Dr. Carter continues to work diligently to make what started with Ms. Thompson’s hard work become a reality with the Social Work major on the horizon for the spring if all goes well. Dr. Case continues to study popular culture – stop by his door and see if you recognize one of his latest study interests. While you are walking to Dr. Case’s door, you may see Dr. Johnston and Dr. Reese in their office working on spreadsheets, SPSS, and consulting with research assistants no matter what the time of day. Both are working on large funded ongoing research projects. And anywhere you go across the CSRA and beyond, you may see Dr. Watkins who made over 60 public speaking appearances last year and shows no sign of slowing down.
We are glad to be back and we are working hard and, no doubt, with all our encouragement, you will be working hard too!
-Kim Davies, Acting Chair
DR. KIM DAVIES,
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR & ACTING CHAIR
In addition to teaching sociology research methods II and working as the acting chair of sociology, I will be busy this fall working on a few research projects with a number of colleagues. First, I am working with Dr. Becky Block of the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority and Dr. Jackie Campbell of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing on a project about Domestic Violence. The focus of this research is to gain a greater understanding of what factors and experiences influence battered women’s decisions to contact the police or not. Using data from the Chicago Women’s Health Risk Study, we examine factors that are linked to battered women’s decisions about contacting the police for help. In another study with Ms. Lorraine Evans, a doctoral candidate at UGA, I am studying information shared on an internet forum among a relatively understudied group of sex workers – those who work indoors and legally. Finally, Dr. Sabina Widner, ASU Psychology Department, and I are working on a paper called “Teaching with the Enemy : Co-Teaching and Interdisciplinary Class on Social Behavioral Sciences.” In this paper, we share our experiences in teaching an interdisciplinary introductory course.
DR. HOLLY R. CARTER,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
In the upcoming year I have a variety of activities planned. I will continue to work towards the new social work major, which we hope to have up and running soon. I also will continue with my study abroad program for summer 2005 and the Paris 2005 program with European Council (keep checking my website at www.classroomeurope.com). I have conferences planned in the autumn months, as well as my teaching in the sociology and social work programs. The Social Work club and Study Abroad clubs will be fundraising and taking on various projects. On a personal note, I am continuing my French classes this fall, traveling to visit family and friends over the holidays, and keeping busy with my dogs.
DR. CHARLES E. CASE,
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Professor Case grew up in Manchester, Connecticut. He earned a B.A. in Sociology at The University of Connecticut, an M.A. in Sociology at City University of New York and a Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Arizona. His main interests and areas of study, research, publication and teaching are race relations and the civil rights movement, education, gender and social psychology.
Outside of his academic interests, gardening (specifically heirloom tomatoes), music, basketball and dogs are his passion.
DR. ROBERT L. JOHNSTON,
PROFESSOR
This promises to be an exciting 18 th year at ASU. I am heading up a six-year longitudinal research project for the President focusing on the social, economic, and institutional (university) factors that contribute to or detract from student success. The project will take a panel of approximately 400 students and track them through their college career at ASU until they graduate, transfer, or drop out of college altogether. I am working with an excellent team of researchers and administrators and we plan to start a pilot test this fall and begin the major project next year. I will be finishing up my second term as President of the Georgia Sociological Association at the GSA annual meetings in November. Several of the students from my last year’s research methods courses will be presenting the Bethlehem Community Survey Project which was completed in April, 2004 as a service learning research project. I will continue to be a member of the core faculty for the MPA program and will team teach the required (continued on page 3) Capstone Course in the program this spring with Dr. Saundra Reinke. I will also be team teaching the research methods sequence this year with Dr. Robert Ness. We have a couple of exciting research projects developing that will examine work-to-family conflict using both national (secondary) and local (primary) data generated in the research methods course Dr. Ness and I are team teaching. I will probably teach two sections of the second methods course in the spring along with the MPA capstone course. In the summer, I would like to teach social theory. Any interest out there?
DR. ROBERT C. NESS,
LECTURER
I am looking forward to this academic year as we begin using a new building and watch further additions to an increasingly attractive campus. I will teach several courses related to my specialized area of medical sociology. The “Healing Traditions” course this fall is one of my favorites because we examine what people in our community are doing to cope with illnesses that do not involve the use of biomedical approaches. Practitioners from a variety of healing traditions have been invited to speak to our class. In addition, we will plan a research instrument that will help us survey students and faculty about their personal use of alternative approaches to healing. I also look forward to working with Dr. Johnston in Research Methods I where we will examine national survey data concerning family-work relationships. It’s going to be a great academic year!
DR. WILLIAM A. REESE,
PROFESSOR
My 16 th year at ASU provides the opportunity to expand the criminal justice and sociology offerings. One possibility is a course centered on Hollywood’s portrayal of crime and criminal justice—a focus Drs. Case and Davies and I have used in papers presented at the last two year’s SSSI meetings.
This year also marks the end of the second year of the Project Safe Neighborhoods grant. The research team of ASU students is putting together an implementation of PSN to take to CJ agencies across the 43 counties of the southern district of Georgia where we integrate nontraditional agencies such as women’s shelters into the efforts to curtail rural gun crime.
DR. RALPH C. WATKINS,
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Dr. Watkins research interest is primarily African American Studies. He is a specialist in African American Religion, African American Studies, Ancient African Social Theory, and he also works in the area of Urban Sociology. A syndicated columnist, (continued on page 4) nationally recognized motivational speaker, workshop leader and civil rights advocate Dr. Watkins speaks publicly over sixty times per year. He is widely published, with over 150 publications (to include his weekly syndicated column). His book I Ain’t Afraid to Speak My Mind (2003) has received national acclaim. The book sold over 1,000 copies in the first six months. His chapter Rap, Religion, and New Realities: The Emergence of a Religious Discourse in Rap in the edited volume Noise and Spirit: The Religious and Spiritual Sensibilities of Rap Music edited by Anthony Pinn and published by NYU Press has received much attention. As one of the most recognized teachers of African American Religion in the nation his chapter Teaching African American Religions at a Traditionally White University in the South will be published by Oxford University Press in the edited volume Mining the African American Religious Motherlode, the book is scheduled to be released this spring. He also has a chapter entitled The Revolutionary Spirit of Young Warriors: Reflections on Neo-Black Nationalist Discourse in Rap Music this chapter will be included in an edited volume published by NYU Press.
Dr. Watkins is a well recognized teacher. He has been a Governor’s Teaching Fellow, a Lilly Foundation Teaching Fellow, and a Fulbright-Hays Fellow. He has studied extensively in Africa. He has spent summers studying and lecturing in Kenya, Tanzania, and Ghana. He has plans to continue studying in Africa and bridging the gap between African and African American Studies. The journal of his study tour to Kenya and Tanzania was published and he is now working on the monograph What is Africa to Me. In this monograph his journals and reflections of his travels to Africa are the first two chapters. The monograph goes on to reflect on what place Africa has in the identity construction of Africans throughout the Diaspora.
DR. ELIZABETH WATTS WARREN,
TEMPORARY INSTRUCTOR
Elizabeth Watts Warren is new to the Augusta area and to the Dept. of Sociology. She holds Masters degrees in both Psychology and Sociology. In 2002, she obtained her PhD in Sociology from the University of Georgia. Her research interests are in crime and punishment and she has published in the areas of education and gender.
Elizabeth’s teaching and research interests reflect an abiding interest in understanding how the society into which an individual is born leaves an indelible imprint upon the life of that individual. How we think of ourselves, how others interact with us and, importantly, what opportunities and constraints we face are all shaped in large part by the distinctions an/or categories to which society assigns us. This awareness has been a source of empowerment. In her teaching and research, she strives to make clear the dynamics of racism, sexism, classism, ageism, and the multitude of other “isms” leveling the aspirations and talents of our youths. She hopes to inspire in her students the same love for scholarly inquiry and pursuit of excellence that her parents instilled in her long ago.
JOYCE TUCKER,
DEGREE PROGRAM SPECIALIST
I am have been married to Milton for 21 years. We have two daughters…Kimberly 19 and Ayana 12. I started in the Department of Sociology in 1994 as an Administrative Secretary. I am now the Degree Program Specialist. As such, I advise students on their degree program curriculum, help them prepare for grad school and also assist them in preparing for scholarly meetings. I manage the daily functioning of the Sociology Department. My purpose is to bring calm to the students’ chaotic life, and to make sure that this office is run in a calm and efficient manner. My aim is to continuously inspire our students to do the best that they can, and to encourage them not to give up when things get rough or their goals seem impossible to reach. I let our students know that I understand. I love what I do and therefore try to bring the most positive effect to this department.
Words of Wisdom to our students: Do come by the office and visit us. Please do not listen to rumors… find out for yourself.
TINA ZIMMERMAN,
CLERK/SECRETARY
Hello! My name is Tina Zimmerman, and I work part-time in the Sociology office as a clerk/secretary. I actually graduated from right here in 1982 with a B.A. in Sociology! I have worked in a number of interesting fields with my degree, but choose to be right where I am; it allows me a little extra time for raising our 12-year old twin daughters, as well as care for our aging parents. But being here has also brought back so many fond memories of my college days and the former professors who encouraged me. Today seems no different, as I see these professors patiently guide and care for our students. I know you’ll look back on you’re here experience here with great fondness, as I have.
We are located in Allgood Hall, Suite N218. I am here Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. You can reach me at 737-1735. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call or come by, and I’ll do my best to help!
Sociology Department Allgood Hall Suite N218 |
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The Sociology Department Offers:
And we are working toward offering a Bachelor’s in Social Work.
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THANKS TO DR. ROBERT JOHNSTON FOR COLLECTING & EDITING THE INFORMATION HERE & FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PHOTOGRAPH ALL OF US!