Cecily Darden Adams

cadams@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Economics, Spelman College, 1995

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2006

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Stratification

My broad interests lie in the social reproduction of inequality, particularly at the intersections of race, caste, class and gender.  My previous work has looked spatially at racial inequality mostly through residential mobility and segregation.  For my dissertation, I am employing the well developed literature on the mechanisms that reproduce racial inequality in US schools in looking at caste-based educational inequality in India—engaging the ways these relationships may differ by social class and gender.  My dissertation takes a mixed-methods approach by analyzing survey data from the 2005 India Human Development Survey as well as qualitative interviews and focus groups.  In addition to my dissertation work, I am also examining hip hop as a space for a social movement for marginalized youth globally; specifically, engaging the conflict between hip hop identity and its perception in formal school settings.

Scott Albrecht

salbrecht@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. in Sociology, Brigham Young University

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Development

I am interested in the forces of economic development, inequality, and poverty reduction in the developing world, especially Latin America.  Although I have primarily examined job structures and age distributions, I am also interested in immigration and the role of multilateral development institutions in this context.

Chris Andrews

candrews@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Psychology & Sociology, Miami University, Oxford, 2000

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2003

Specialty Areas:

Social Psychology and Stratification

My current interests focus on the economy, and specifically on the nature of jobs and work in the U.S. In particular, I have been studying how technology affects work and workers in our growing service economy, and how the nature of work in general has been changing as new technology becomes integrated in the workplace. I am also very interested in the growing role consumers play in the economy as active participants in the provision of goods and services, most notably being the increasing role of 'self-service' in the retail and service industries. Both of these interests are reflected in my current dissertation research, which examines the ‘self-service’ trend in retailing. Other interests include economic sociology, the sociology of emotions, the labor process, and the measurement and conceptualization of social class.

Dissertation Title:

“‘Do-It-Yourself’: Self-Checkouts and the Rise of the Self-Service Economy”

Lester Andrist

landrist@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2001

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Comparative

I have recently become interested in understanding processes whereby people confront and respond to seemingly incompatible systems of power. One example is Malaysian women who are lured to urban factory sites by the demands of postmodern capitalism while simultaneously warned to stay home by family members for fear of damaging their sexual modesty. In Taiwan and China, capitalism prescribes a "legitimate" means of obtaining resources, but idioms of the bustling free market run headlong into an indiginous search behavior that emphasizes the use of relationships known as guanxi.

I have recently worked with Sonalde Desai in analyzing processes which lead to early marriage in India, and I have explored the often unexamined dark side of social capital as it relates to women's autonomy in India. Finally, in Taipei I conducted in-depth interviews with human resource managers of medium- and large-size companies in order to discern the mechanics of an informal job market.

M.A. Thesis Title:

"Social Capital's Dark Side and Patriarchy in India."

Zeynep Atalay

zatalay@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, Bogazici University (Turkey), 2002

M.A. in Critical & Cultural Studies, Bogazici University (Turkey), 2004

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Comparative

Manjistha Banerji

mbanerji@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Economics, University of Delhi (India), 1997

M.A. in Economics, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi (India), 1999

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Development

My primary interest areas are in the field of social and family demography with a particular focus on issues of gender autonomy and empowerment. Secondary interest areas are sociological theory (particularly those around race, gender and nationalism), discourses around development, sociology of education and statistical methods. Previous research work includes an examination of the barriers faced by children from socio-economically disadvantaged groups in accessing education in India and background research for the Chronic Poverty Report 2004-05 (CPRC, UK)

Kendra Barber

kbarber@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology & Afro-American Studies, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2007

Specialty Areas:

Stratification

My previous research has examined how Black churches are presently addressing educational inequalities, given the historical role they have played in education and social justice movements. For my undergraduate honors thesis I studied the roles of two Black Baptist churches in Durham, NC, in raising the achievement of black students. Since coming to Maryland, my research interests in Black churches has continued. My second year paper entitled "What happened to all the protests?: Black Churches' Responses to Racism in a Colorblind Era" explores why the public protesting on behalf of Black churches during the Civil Rights Movement has steadily declined and how black churches address racism that seemingly does not exist.

Amy Baxter

abaxter@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology & Psychology, University of Akron

Specialty Areas:

Social Psychology and Theory

I am interested in studying Group Processes using experimental methods.  Currently I am investigating factors that contribute to the wage and promotion gap between men and women and also exploring how gender and race interact with mental illness.

Megan Benetsky

mbenetsky@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, Penn State

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Stratification

I would like to focus primarily on immigration, health, race and ethnicity concerning developing regions of the world.

Michelle Beadle

mbeadle@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, Ursinus College, 2003

M.A. in Sociology, George Washington University, 2006

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Theory

I am interested in examining how individuals and groups within marginal communities cope with the economic, mental, physical, and sociopolitical burdens of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In the absence of adequate health care resources, I am interested in exploring the extent to which marginal groups build independent, viable health support systems. In addition, I ask, how do marginalized group disproportionately affected by AIDS simultaneously resist their subjugation within national and international social structures?

Ramu Bishwakarma

rbishwa@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. in Business, Tribhuvan University (Nepal), 1999

MBA, Tribhuvan University (Nepal), 2003

M.A. in Sociology, University of Arkansas, 2006

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Development

My research interest is in human capital in developing countries. Specifically, I am interested on children’s health differentiation along the line of gender, caste/race, class, education and income; and how the variation of health status in childhood affects life aspirations and motivation during the youth/adult. My research also links to the cultural structure and its effect on shaping the agency of the children to succeed in their adulthood.

Christopher Boccanfuso

cboccanfuso@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, St. Joseph's University, 2002

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2005

Specialty Areas:

Stratification and Gender, Work, and Family

Kimberly Bonner

kbonner@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology & African-American Studies, University of South Carolina, 2002

Specialty Areas:

Military and Theory

Kirby Bowling

kbowling@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, Iowa State University, 1996

M.S. in Sociology, University of Texas at San Antonio, 2002

Specialty Areas:

Military and Social Psychology

My specialty areas are Social Psychology and Military Sociology.  In addition to assisting in Intro to Sociology and Statistics, I have developed and taught Sociology of Combat, a micro-level approach to understanding combat over time by integrating social-psychology and organizational theory into the analysis of the warrior in conflict.  My current research topics revolve around Reserve and Guard issues relating to deployments, satisfaction, retention, family and support infrastructure, small group dynamics and leadership.

Melissa Buckmiller

mbuckmiller@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, Duke University

Specialty Areas:

Gender, Work and Family and Social Psychology

As an undergraduate, I focused my Honors thesis on the interplay between femininity and masculinity in Division I female athletes competing at Duke University. I was interested in the possible dissonance female athletes may experience in trying to achieve different roles that are often very distinct. My current research interests is to continue a focus on gender, but to broaden it through exploring other connections and correlations between class, race, and family roles.

Kathryn Buford

kbuford@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Specialty Areas:

Comparative and Theory

Kathryn is from Chicago. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Sociology and African American studies. Her current concentrations are comparative and theory. She is interested in global emancipation efforts.

Stephanie Burres

sburres@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, Humboldt State University

Specialty Areas:

Military and Theory

Broadly my interests are the military and the people who serve. In particular I am interested in the elements that make the military unique from other institutions and the impact that these elements have on outcomes for soldiers and their families. Currently my research concentration lies at the nexus between gender, family and the military; and particularly the impact this intersection has on the employment outcomes for civilian spouses.

Nihal Celik

ncelik@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, Koc University (Turkey), 2003)

M.S. in Social Sciences, Middle East Technical University (Turkey), 2005

Specialty Areas:

Stratification and Theory

Valerie Chepp

vchepp@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology & Women's Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2001

M.A. in Social Sciences, University of Chicago, 2004

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Comparative

My primary interests, while constantly evolving, lie predominantly in the areas of feminist and social theory, media and popular culture, and African American studies.  Most recently I have become interested in exploring different methodological approaches to ethnography, particularly how sociologists can use sounds (ranging from everyday conversation to oral histories to song lyrics) to create analyses about the social world, as well as how ethnographers and sociologists can employ different narrative strategies for documenting the social world.

M.A. Thesis Title:
"'Here's to a New Breed of Broad, Yeah We Like It Raw!' Black Feminism, Third Wave Feminism and the Sexual Politics of Contemporary Women's Rap Music"

Aleia Clark

alclark@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology & French, Spelman College, 2005

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Comparative

Molly Clever

mclever@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, University of Pittsburgh

Specialty Areas:

Comparative

My primary interest is in understanding the trends and patterns of warfare over time with particular attention to the complex relationship between the government, the military and the conduct of war. My goal is to combine historical comparative methods with statistical analysis to enhance our understanding of the causes and patterns of warfare throughout history and into the future.

Michelle Corbin

mcorbin@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. in Psychology & Women's Studies, Western Michigan University, 1997

M.S. in Clinical Psychology, Eastern Michigan University, 1999

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Gender, Work, and Family

Zsuzsa Daczo

zdaczo@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:
B.A. in Physics, Berzsenyi Daniel College, Szombathely (Hungary) 1994
M.A. in Society and Politics, Central European University, Warsaw (Poland) 1996
M.A. in European Studies, Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven (Belgium) 1997
 
Specialty Areas:
Comparative Historical Sociology and Demography

Paul Dean

pdean@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

AAS in Business, Jamestown Community College, New York, 2000

B.A. in Sociology, Binghamton University, 2003

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2007

Specialty Areas:

Political Economy; Stratification; Theory

My primary areas of interest are social inequality, political economy, and social theory. I am particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms by which social class produces inequality, and how theory and measurement influence our understanding of class. In collaboration with Dr. Bart Landry, my current research focuses on intersectional analyses of the black middle class by using qualitative research in PG County.  My other area of research focuses on political economic and cultural processes in ethical consumption, corporate social responsibility, and socially responsible investing.

Karin Modesto DeAngelis

kdeangelis@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, University of Chicago, 2000

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, 2009

Specialty Areas:

Military and Gender, Work, and Family

My current research interests are post-9/11 military manpower policies, with an emphasis on recruiting trends and standards, the military’s increased reliance on women, and the inclusion/exclusion of racial and ethnic minorities.  I am particularly interested in the growing presence of Latinos, especially noncitizens, in the U.S. military.   My past research has focused on the ongoing integration of women into the military service academies, changing perceptions of the military as a profession, and military families, particularly dual-military couples. 

M.A. Thesis Title:

"Mandated Change and Gendered Organizational Culture: A Content Analysis of Graduate Perceptions of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Agenda for Change"

Kathleen Denny

kdenny@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, Colorado College

Specialty Areas:

Gender, Work and Family and Social Psychology

Kathleen's primary interests include changing family structures, child
outcomes, and the family-work nexus.  She has a RA position with Dr.
Melissa Milkie--whose work on marriage and family she became familiar
with as an undergraduate.  Outside of school, Kathleen likes to travel:
she is “always up for a great guided tour and then dinner at a local
hole-in-the-wall restaurant."

Ismail Demirezen

idemirezen@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. Selcuk University (Turkey), 1997

M.A. in Religious Studies, Catholic University, 2001

M.A. in Sociology, Catholic University, 2002

Specialty Areas:

Comparative and Theory

Mehmet Atif Ergun

mergun@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Psychology, Bogazici University (Turkey), 2002

M.S. in Women's Studies, Towson University, 2005

Specialty Areas:

Theory, Stratification, and Gender

My teaching and research interests include sociological aspects of human sexuality, social context of women's sexuality, sexual deviance, ethnic conflicts and women's status, and neocolonialism.

Javier Garcia-Manglano

jgarciamanglano@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Economics, University of Navarra

B.A. in Sociology, Public University of Navarra

M.S. in Social Research Methods, London School of Economics

Specialty Areas:

Gender, Work and Family and Demography

While Javier is at Maryland, he is interested in studying work-family balance, family demography and child well-being. Right now, he is involved in a project that explores the ways in which middle-aged mothers combine paid work and domestic responsibilities as children start leaving the parental nest. He is a RA for Professor Steven Martin. As far as interests go, he enjoys literature and playing soccer.

Gabriel Gerni

ggerni@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

Specialty Areas:

Khaleelah Hardie

khardie@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, University of California, Riverside

Specialty Areas:

Comparative and Theory

Khaleelah's areas include Comparative and Theory with a special emphasis, among other things, in social movements and race relations in the United States.

Anthony Hatch

ahatch@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

A.B. in Philosophy, Dartmouth College, 1999

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2003

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Social Psychology

My current research interests lie at the intersections of critical race theory, sociology of health inequalities, and social studies of science and technology. I held an American Sociological Association and National Institute of Mental Health Minority Fellowship from 2004-2007.  As a
scholar and teacher, I am committed to producing social research that illuminates and fights conditions of social injustice.

My dissertation investigates how biomedical researchers, government health agencies, and pharmaceutical corporations have used social categories of race in the scientific study of a new biomedical and social construction called “the metabolic syndrome.”  I draw on insights
from critical race studies, science and technology studies, and Foucault’s conception of biopower to show how the metabolic syndrome draws on biological and genetic conceptions of race that have spawned new forms of biomedical and pharmaceutical research on racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States.

Shinta Herwantoro Hernandez

shernandez@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Psychology, Brandeis University, 2000)

M.P.P. in Public Policy, Georgetown Public Policy Institute, 2002

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Gender, Work, and Family

My research interests include child and adolescent reproductive health, education, poverty, employment, and parental involvement. I worked at the Urban Institute's Labor, Human Services, and Population Center where I conducted quantitative and qualitative research studies on marriage and family, teenage reproductive health, adult education, and the No Child Left Behind Act. I also worked at Westat Inc. executing interviews with child service agencies throughout the nation to examine child abuse and neglect cases. I also teach a number of undergraduate sociology courses.

Wesley Huey

whuey@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. United States Naval Academy, 1987

MBA, Jacksonville University, 1996

Specialty Areas:

Military and Social Psychology

I am a career Naval Officer pursuing a PhD in Sociology. Upon degree I will report to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD to teach Leadership as a "Permanent Military Professor" in the Department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law. I am a father of three young children and enjoy the time with my family that graduate school affords.

Nathan Jurgenson

njurgenson@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, Northern Illinois University-DeKalb, 2004

M.A. in Sociology, Northern Illinois University-DeKalb, 2007

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Social Psychology

I'm currently enjoying the theoretical possibilities provided by the bottom-up turn the Internet has taken -what has come to be known as Web 2.0. Sociological theory (especially postmodern thought) orients how we can understand what Web 2.0 means, and, in turn, Web 2.0 provides fertile ground to rethink sociological theory in areas such as knowledge production, the presentation of self, consumption, authority, exploitation and so many others. I have begun to post some of these thoughts on my blog <http://nathanjurgenson.wordpress.com/>, and on other sites.

Nazneen Kane

nkane@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. in Psychology, Brigham Young University, 2001

M.S. in Sociology, Brigham Young University, 2004

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Gender, Work, and Family

I am interested in engaging with critical social theories through a sociology of knowledge lens. My thesis analyzed closely the work of a French Anarchist, Georges Sorel, particularly at the role of individual psychical myths in producing collective social transformation. In my dissertation work, I hope to further explore the nature of and processes of transformative knowledge.

Sarah Kendig

skendig@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. in Psychology, James Madison University, 2002

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2007

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Social Psychology

My broad areas of interest include fertility, family, health, social psychology, and social inequality. I am particularly interested in the ways in which gender inequality impacts women's lives.  My dissertation research examines how adolescent girls' self-concepts and health influence feelings of ambivalence towards pregnancy and the likelihood of pregnancy in adolescence and in young adulthood.  

M.A. Thesis Title:

"Family Structure Differences in Maternal Time with Children: Disparate Social Structural Locations or Different Propensities Towards Mothering"

Mary Kniskern

mkniskern@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. in Elementary Education, Brigham Young University, 1988

M.A. in Leadership in Teaching, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, 2004

Specialty Areas:

Gender, Work and Family and Social Psychology

In my research, I intend to examine post-divorce parenting issues, the impact of parenting behaviors on children's well-being and success, and social support for positive parenting.

Chang Won Lee

clee@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. in Economics, Soongsil University (Korea), 1998

M.A. in Sociology, Sogang University (Korea), 2001

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2006

Specialty Areas:

Stratification and Development

My primary areas of interest are inequality and migration, which stem from my interests in the life of minority groups (by race, gender, and class) in modern societies. I am particularly interested in comparative patterns of income inequality in East Asia and Latin America: for example, how South Korea maintains a low level of income inequality, why China experiences rapid increase in income inequality, and why income inequality remains high in Latin America. The impact of globalization and local institutions (not only as a cause and but also a consequence of income inequality) would be of primary concern in this comparative study. I am also interested in race relations, immigration, and transnationalism in the United States and South Korea.

Emily Mann

emann@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Psychology, Boston College, 1998

M.A. in Women's Studies, University College Dublin (Ireland), 1999

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Comparative

My research interests lie at the intersections of gender and sexuality studies and political sociology, although my training cuts across a range of areas, including social theory, comparative-historical sociology, and qualitative research methodologies.

In my dissertation, I examine how teenage sexuality has been problematized and regulated both historically and in the context of the contemporary United States, with particular attention paid to the intersectional dynamics of race, class, and gender. Drawing on federal and local government documents and in-depth interviews with state and nonstate actors, I explore the myriad ways in which state and nonstate actors make sense of and attempt to regulate teenagers’ sexualities and, more specifically, how nonstate actors working in nonprofit organizations negotiate the directives of social policy in the provision of sexual and reproductive healthcare and educational services to the young people they serve. Ultimately, I argue that the social regulation of teenage sexualities is one way in which sexual citizens are created.

Heather Marsh

hmarsh@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology & Philosophy, St. Lawrence University, 2003

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Stratification

My overarching interest is theory especially as it relates to the areas of science and technology studies, social geographies, sex and gender and the sociology of knowledge.  I have been exploring the “greening of technoscience” in the form of green buildings to explore how sustainable buildings have become ontological sites that have material affects.  Current research focuses on the expanding discourse of green architecture and design to explore questions surrounding healthy bodies and healthy communities.

I am currently working on my M.A. Thesis regarding the meanings that give shape to sustainability and sustainable communities.  How do individuals incorporate sustainable building and in some cases, sustainable reconstruction after natural disasters, into narratives of community life?  I am particularly interested in the ways in which the green

(re)built environment provides opportunities to explore how individuals make sense out of sustainability and green technology as tools for rebirth, healing, stabilization and community revitalization. 

Carolina Martin

cmartin@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Cultural Studies, McGill University (Quebec), 1997

M.A. in Sociology, George Washington University, 2005

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Comparative

Broadly speaking, my interests lie in power relations-- power inequalities, the abuse of power, and struggles against domination. Currently I am working on theories and politics of resistance, with a focus on forms of “everyday resistance”. I am particularly intrigued by what have been characterized as “projects of autonomy” as challenges to political and economic structures, such as worker factory-takeovers, squatter movements, and community barter economies. Other interests include sociology of knowledge, anarchist theory, self-help, and the state monopoly of violence.

Brittany McGill

bmcgill@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology and Women's Studies, Georgetown University, 2001

MPP in Social Policy, Georgetown Public Policy Institute, 2004

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Gender, Work, and Family

Nanae Nakamoto
nnakamoto@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degree:
B.A. in Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University (Japan), 2006

Specialty Areas:
Demography and Social Psychology

My primary interest is social psychology and demography, with a focus on issues of immigration. I was taking undergraduate classes at Maryland last 1 1/2 years after earning BA in Policy Science in Japan. I like to travel a lot and am interested in learning languages (especially Arabic and Spanish).

Amber Nelson

anelson@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology & English, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 2001

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2007

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Social Psychology

M.A. Thesis Title:
"Adolescents and Antidepressants: analysis of a social scientific controversy"

Dissertation Title:
"Adolescent Mental Health Disorders: A sociological analysis of professional knowledges and practices"

Kyle Anne Nelson

knelson@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology & Spanish, Colgate University, New York, 1996)

MPH, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, 2000

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2006

Specialty Areas:

Stratification and Demography

Formerly a health policy researcher, I study disparities in socioeconomic status, health, and well-being in the U.S. with a particular focus on immigrants. My dissertation research examines the residential segregation of Latinos in metropolitan America, and the relationship between segregation and health.

M.A. Thesis Title:
"Does Place Matter? Metropolitan Area Differences in the Wages and Gains to Human Capital for Male Hispanic Immigrants in the U.S."

James Noon

jnoon@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, College of William and Mary, 1998

M.A. in Sociology, University of Arizona, 2000

Specialty Areas:

Stratification and Demography

My areas of interest include stratification, comparative sociology, social mobility, social capital, the sociology of disasters, and India.  Recent projects I have been involved in have examined differences in social networks by social groups in India, and the relationship between living arrangements and health status of the elderly in India.  My dissertation will analyze survey data from the 2005 India Human Development Survey.

Dawn Norris

dnorris@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology & Psychology, University of Maine, 2005

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2007

Specialty Areas:

Stratification and Social Psychology

M.A. Thesis Title:
"Walking Around Like a Panda Bear: Feelings of Stigma among Nontraditional-Age Students"

Anna O'Donnell

aodonnell@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S., School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, 2002

M.S. in Social Policy & Development, London School of Economics and Political Science, 2005

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Development

Beverly Pratt

bpratt@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, Texas A&M University

M.A. in Sociology, Texas A&M University

Specialty Areas:

Comparative/Historical and Theory

My two areas of specialization are Comparative/Historical and Theory with an overall emphasis in social justice and inequalities.  Specifically my interests range from racism, poverty/consumerism, immigration, and mental health.  However, the particular dimensions regarding all of these interests are constantly evolving.

PJ Rey

pjrey@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Political Science and Humanities, The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, 2006

M.A. in Philosophy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, 2008

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Comparative

I am interested in social theory, particularly, that of Foucault, Delueze, Guattari, and other French Post-Structualists, as well as, Critical Theorists like Marcuse and Adorno.  I am currently researching several topics.  One project concerns the changing state of art and authorship due to technological advances (e.g., the internet and digital media) and the newly emergent paradigm in attribution brought about by the increasing popularity of Creative Commons licensing.  A second project seeks to determine degree to which we can conscionably practice the social sciences in a post-Foucauldian world.  Finally, I am concerned with the social significance of the festival, and its historic disappearance in Anglo-American culture.  Additionally, I assist with research in the Group Processes Lab.

Heather Ridolfo

hridolfo@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology & Psychology, University of New Hampshire, 2000

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2007

Specialty Areas:

Social Psychology and Stratification

My broad research interests include self-concept development and mental health disorders in adolescence. I am also interested in survey methodology, in particular the accuracy of survey responses. My master’s thesis examined how mother’s socialization mediates race differences found in the self-concepts of adolescent girls.

M.A. Thesis Title:

"Race and Self Image: How Mothers’ Socialization Matters"

Tracy Roberts

troberts@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in History & Women's Studies, Wesleyan University, 1997

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2005

Specialty Areas:

Stratification and Gender, Work, and Family

I am interested in how well our current approach to reducing welfare caseloads is working at moving women off of welfare and keeping them self-sufficient over time.  My research examines the transitions that women make into employment and marriage after leaving welfare to assess whether these paths affect their risk of returning to welfare.  I have found that women who become employed and then marry have a lower rate of return to welfare than any other group of women.  Additionally, becoming employed after leaving welfare appears to increase the chance that women will marry.  This suggests that welfare policy would be better directed at moving women into employment than promoting marriage at welfare exit.

M.A. Thesis Title:

"Employment and Marriage: Pathways Off Of Welfare?"

J. Michael Ryan

mryan@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2001

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2005

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Social Psychology

I am co-editor (with Dr. George Ritzer) of The Blackwell Concise Encyclopedia of Sociology (forthcoming in 2009), managing editor of The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology online as well as three other forthcoming encyclopedias from Wiley-Blackwell, and was formerly the senior managing editor of The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology and the managing editor of the Journal of Consumer Culture. I have assisted George Ritzer with research and revisions of many of his texts, most notably the last two revisions of The McDonaldization of Society. I have more than a dozen publications, many of them co-authored with Professor Ritzer. I have also spoken on the topic of homosexuality and same-sex marriage to more than 60 audiences at various universities and high schools in the area. My current research interests include globalization, Latin America, and consumption. My dissertation - tentatively titled “Toward an Understanding of the Relationship Between Populism and Inequality in Latin America” – will seek to develop a world-historical understanding of the relationship between populism and inequality in Latin America.

Zhihong Sa

zsa@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.L. in English Literature, Beijing Language and Culture University (China), 1991

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2002

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Development

Jillet Sam

jsam@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A., University of Delhi

MBE, University of Delhi

M.A. in Sociology, University of Hyderabad

Specialty Areas:

Comparative and Stratification

For Jillet Sam, New Delhi and Hyderabad are “home” since they have had the most significant influence in her life.  She came to Maryland after receiving her M.A.  She originally started in Economics after which she “defected to the sociology camp.”  Her primary academic interests focus on the cultural aspects of consumption and her secondary interests are in Diaspora and religion.  Jillet works as a RA for Professor George Ritzer.

Tannistha Samanta

tsamanta@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

M.Sc. in Economics, University of Calcutta (India), 2004

M.Phil. in Applied Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University (CDS, India), 2006

Specialty Areas:

Gender, Work and Family and Demography 

As a part of my past research I have tried to explore the relationship between a woman's role as a mother and her role as an economic provider. In particular, I have attempted to identify the social and economic conditions under which women's income-producing work results in healthier, better-nourished children and those conditions under which it fails to do so. The primary focus of my research has always been on India, where I have tried to redefine the notion of women's work to understand closely and accurately women's health in relation to her work and social roles. Currently I am interested to work on the domains of gender, work and family and demography with a special focus on developing countries.

Michelle Sandhoff

msandhoff@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in International Relations, University of California-Davis, 2005

Specialty Areas:

Military

I am broadly interested in issues of gender within the armed forces. In particular, I am interested in the ways gender impacts compulsory military service in Israel and how this systematic militarization impacts the ways in which gender-based violence is carried out, and against whom.

Melissa Scopilliti

mscopilliti@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in Sociology & Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, 2002

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2005

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Gender, Work, and Family

M.A. Thesis Title:

"Fertility, Employment, and Wages During Midlife."

Dissertation Title:  

“Locational Attainment and Residential Segregation in U.S. Metropolitan Areas”

Kasia Skuratowicz

kskurato@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

M.S. in African Studies, University of Warsaw (Poland), 2002

Postgraduate Diploma in Anthropology, University Libre de Bruxelles, 2002

M.A. in Sociology, University of Louisville, 2004

Specialty Areas:

Stratification and Comparative

Michelle Smirnova

msmirnova@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in European Studies & Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis, 2006

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Comparative

My Master's thesis focused on the aesthetic component to the life-extension project (the biomedical ideology which equates longer life with a better life, subsequently advocating and and all means by which to promote health and extend one's life). By conducting a
content and discourse analysis of cosmeceutical advertisements, I sought to decipher the intersection of those discourses (biomedicine, race, gender, hyperreality, technological etc.) which have marked the body of the white aging woman in American society today.

Looking towards my dissertation my interests are returning to my undergraduate work which focused on how resistance by other means, specifically in the Soviet context.   My undergraduate thesis explored how informal discourse, namely the "anektdot" (a dinner-table political joke) served to create multiple identities and ideas among the Soviet citizenry.   Other interests include the sociology of knowledge, resistance by other means, self-concept theory, social construction of technology,  sociology of the body, and consumption.

David Smith

dasmith@socy.md.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. in Oceanography, United States Naval Academy, 1987

M.S. in Global Leadership, University of San Diego, 2003

Specialty Areas:

Military and Social Psychology

I am a career Naval Officer pursuing a PhD in Sociology. Upon degree I will report to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD to teach Leadership as a "Permanent Military Professor" in the Department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law.

Steve Sobotta

sobottas@umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. in Communications, Illinois State University, 1988

Masters of Public Administration, Western Kentucky University, 1998

M.S. in Information Systems, The Pennsylvania State University, 2003

Masters in Strategic Studies, United States Army War College, 2008

Specialty Areas:

Military and Social Psychology

I am a career Army Officer pursuing a PhD in Sociology. Upon completion I will return to the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, PA as a Professor in the Department of Command, Leadership, and Management.

Cagri Tanyol

ctanyol@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

University of Virginia

Specialty Areas:

Political Economy and Comparative

Gheda Temsah

gtemsah@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. in Foreign Service, Georgetown University

Gheda is interested in gender, the labor market, the work-family nexus, migration, and sexual and reproductive health. She hopes to “apply the skills, concept and theories” from her coursework to gender and development issues in the Arab region.  She is working with Dr. Sonalde Desai and researching gender in the context of Muslim-Hindu relations in India.  Before coming to Maryland, Gheda worked with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in Beirut, Lebanon, in the areas of gender and development.

Betsy Thorn

bthorn@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

A.B. in Sociology, University of Chicago, 1995

M.A. in Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2006

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Gender, Work, and Family

J. Andrew Timleck

jtimleck@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

Specialty Areas:

Theory and Social Psychology

Ann-Catherine Ventura

aventura@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in History, United States Naval Academy, 2003

Specialty Areas:

Military and Social Psychology

Kriti Vikram

kvikram@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A in Psychology and Sociology, St. Xavier's College, University of Mumbai, India

M.A, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India

Specialty Areas:

Demography, Stratification and Social Psychology

I am primarily interested in the issues of development, education and public health in developing countries.

Ying Wang

ywang@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in English, Ren Min University of China, 2003

M.A. in Sociology, University of New Mexico, 2006

Specialty Areas:

Stratification and Demography

Race and ethnicity have been and will always be my primary research interests, especially immigration and migration issues and Asian-American studies.

Brian Ward

bward@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. in Sociology, Towson University, 2002

M.A. in Applied Sociology, University of Maryland at Baltimore County, 2005

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Stratification

After earning my M.A. degree at UMBC, I began the Ph.D. program at the
UMD Department of Sociology in 2005 specializing in demography and
stratification. Since starting the program here at UMD, my broad
research interests have come to follow two distinct veins. In the first
vein, my research focuses on skill change in the New Economy and the
impact of technology. I am currently pursuing this topic for my
dissertation research by conducting a qualitative case study of
professional firefighters at two separate fire departments. Here I am
examining firefighters’ skills over the past twenty years in four
different job-contexts (fire emergencies, non-fire emergencies, the fire
station, and non-fire non-emergencies) using a multi-tiered conceptual
model which accounts for skill dimensions (Braverman), routinization
(Autor, Levy, and Murnane), and technology’s impact.

My second interest lies in health and mortality. I have researched
topics such as alcohol and substance use/abuse among various
populations, violent death caused by alcohol and substance abuse, and
methodological considerations surrounding violent death data. During my
last year in the Ph.D. program, I will be working as an Associate
Service Fellow in the Division of Health Interview Statistics at the
National Center for Health Statistics.

Dissertation Title:  

“Firefighting in the New Economy: Changes in Skill and the Impact of Technology”

Catharine Warner

cwarner@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. in History, College of William and Mary, 1999

M.A. in Social Sciences, University of Chicago, 2003

Specialty Areas:

Stratification and Gender, Work, and Family

My broad research interests include stratification and gender, work, and family in the United States. Recently, I have been investigating race and class differences and similarities in children's mental health, in both the family and school contexts, including school and teacher characteristics and parents' involvement in schools.  I am also concerned with household resource sharing across variations in family structure and marital status.

M.A. Thesis Title:

"Mine is Yours: Modes of Expense Sharing in Married and Cohabiting Households"

Gregory White

gwhite@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.S. in Finance, Boston College

MSW, Boston University

Specialty Areas:

Demography and Social Psychology

I am interested in social policy issues related to unequal social and educational outcomes experienced among different demographic groups, as well as the areas of organizational development, innovation, and social organization of learning environments. I am also interested in civic learning and civic action.

Daniel Williams

dwilliams@socy.umd.edu

Previous Degrees:

B.A. Northwestern University

M.A. Public Policy, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Specialty Areas:

Comparative and Theory

My primary research interest is ethnicity and race in global comparative perspective.  More particularly, I am interested in how these constructs intersect with and are transformed through politics and shifting understandings of nationhood.  My dissertation research focuses on citizenship and immigration in contemporary Germany, and the relationship between state discourses and policies of membership and difference and prospective citizens' constructions of citizenship.