Download A-MSA 2016 Fall Newsletter - Alabama

ALABAMA-MISSISSIPPI
SOCIOLOGICAL
ASSOCIATION
Soc Scribbles
INSIDE
THIS
ISSUE:
F A L L
T O M
Insights
1
Publication
3
Alabama-Mississippi Sociological Association
our 2016 plenary
speaker. His speech
is included in this
newsletter.
4
Address
MS Humanities
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Council
State of
Sociology
10
2016 A-MSA
14
Awardees
Leadership
15
Award
Nomination
16
Call for 2017
Abstracts
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A-MSA News
18
E D I T O R
Insights from 2016 Meeting of the
Opportunity
Keynote
2 0 1 6
K E R S E N ,
A-MSA President
Tom Kersen
The 2016 A-MSA
conference was a
success. We had excellent speakers and
participants. There
were lots of sessions,
workshops, and panel discussions. Even
our attendance was
up slightly from previous years.
We were fortunate to have
Thomas Durant as
we learned more
about the status of
sociology in many of
Mississippi. Our Alabama members who
Landing former Mississippi Gov- attended that session intend to share
ernor Ronnie
Musgrove as our key- with us in the 2017
meeting the status of
note speaker was
wonderful. His talked sociology in Alafocused on the need bama.
to keep up the presThe theme for
sure in bringing
the 2017 conference
about educational
is “Race in the Deep
reform and equity for South.” We are well
students—especially situated in Alabama
minority students.
and Mississippi to be
able to add insights
The theme of
the 2016 conference into the complex nawas “The State of So- ture of racial/ethnic
social phenomena in
ciology in Alabamachallenging times
Mississippi.” In one
and places. I would
particular session,
Continued on page 2
PAGE
2
Thoughts, cont. from pg. 1
further encourage our members and friends to consider how more intimate racial interactions
in the south exist and further deepen our cultural heritage than is generally accepted by people outside the region. For instance, commonalities in food and music provide deep connections between southern whites and African Americans. Just one mention of the word grits
brings a smile to most southern faces.
The keynote speaker for the 2017 conference is Dr. Earl Wright. One of Earl’s recent
books is The First American School of Sociology: W.E.B. Du Bois and the Atlanta Sociological
Laboratory. He is a renowned Du Bois scholar and we are quite fortunate to have him speak
at our 2017 conference.
I want to reemphasize our organization’s efforts in being proactive by providing information to the public about A-MSA. We are capitalizing on the potential of social networking
sites. We are on Twitter at @AMSA_2016. Please check us out on Facebook at AlabamaMississippi Sociological Association and give us a like. We are even on LinkedIn under the
same name. In the near future, the A-MSA website will be maintained by Mississippi State’s
Department of Sociology . Furthermore, the online journal will be reactivated and maintained
by MSU Sociology too. This is a very exciting development.
Repeating what I wrote in the last newsletter, I think it is important that we know what
to expect from our state/regional organizations. Very soon, A-MSA will be celebrating 50 years
as an organization. It is important that we focus on the problem that many colleges and universities in the two-state region are persistently underrepresented or do not participate at all
in A-MSA conferences. In the early years of A-MSA, department chairs across Alabama and
Mississippi expected faculty members to attend the two-state conference. Out of that grew
deep, long-lasting friendships and a familiarity with the people, departments, and communities in Alabama and Mississippi.
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Publication Opportunity!
HJSR
Humboldt Journal of Social Relations
Since 1973 an interdisciplinary approach to the social sciences
Arcata, CA 95521 | (707) 826-4354 | [email protected]
Diversity and Social Justice in Higher Education
This special issue of the Humboldt Journal of Social Relations (HJSR) captures work and experiences in higher
education as they relate to changes and challenges around diversifying U.S. college campuses. Race, class,
gender, sexuality, able-bodiedness, and citizenship shape contemporary conversations about campus climate, curricular content, organizational structures, decision making and the disparate impacts of related policy changes or stagnation. These conversations shape the everyday experiences of faculty and staff, and ultimately are linked to student success.
Submission Deadline: October 31, 2016
Authorship: Authors are encouraged to collaborate with other faculty and staff members across their university and across campuses involved with diversity projects, particularly as they relate to campus culture and
climate, retention, and student success. Interdisciplinary submissions are welcome.
Manuscript Submission:
1. Manuscripts should be in 12 point font, double spaced and generally not exceed 8500 words. To facilitate
blind review, authors should incorporate a cover page that includes an article title, author contact information, a biographical statement of 75 words or less, and an abstract of 150 words or less. Format citations, tables, figures and references using American Sociological Association style.
2. Email [email protected] with a message subject “HJSR: Diversity” and attach your manuscript in .doc
or.docx format.
3. Submission implies commitment to publish in HJSR. Authors should not simultaneously submit to another
journal. Manuscripts should not have been published elsewhere.
Co-Editors
Meredith Conover‐Williams, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology
Joshua S. Smith
Department of Sociology
Co-Managing Editors
Heather Clark
Jennifer Miles
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Durant, Keynote Speaker for A-MSA 2016
Thank you for your introduction and thank you for inviting me to be the plenary speaker for the
47th Annual Conference of the Alabama-Mississippi Sociological Association (A-MSA). It is good to be
at Jackson State University (JSU) among friendly people. After all, my friend Thomas Kersen, President of
the A-MSAA, invited me to be the plenary speaker for the conference; I am a sociologist at a sociological
conference; my family is here with me; and I am employed in the EPhD program at JSU. Go Tigers! When
I say Go Tigers, I am referring to the academic programs at JSU such as sociology and criminal justice,
psychology, political science and the social sciences. Since I am employed in the State of Mississippi, I
think that it would be proper for me to become a member of the A-MSA. So, I plan to do just that.
When Dr. asked me to speak at this conference, he informed me that the theme for the 2016 Conference is “The State of Sociology in Alabama and Mississippi.” Thus, in my presentation today, I will
share some ideas with you on the subject, “The State of Sociology in Alabama and Mississippi: What’s in
Your Wallet?”
There is a Capital One Bank TV commercial, where actor Samuel Jackson, asks the viewers
“What’s in your wallet?” So I ask you, the audience here today, “What’s in your wallet.” Actually, I am
asking you how you as a sociology identify yourself and define your discipline. I should inform you that
we have the registration and membership list for the A-MSA. So, you cannot dodge the question: “What’s
in your wallet?” I believe that membership and participation in the A-MSA are important indicators of
your identity as a sociologists, as well as the state of sociology in Alabama and Mississippi.
I would like to achieve two things in my presentation. First, I will focus briefly on the meaning of
the theme you have chosen for your 2016 conference and its overall value to sociology and the A-MSA;
then second, I will share some information and ideas on where sociology is as a discipline, with emphasis
on sociology in Alabama and Mississippi, including some of the challenges currently facing our discipline
as we move forward. In doing this, I am guided by a Biblical proverb that says, “Where there is no vision,
the people perish.” I am also inspired by a prophetic statement made by the great liberator Frederick
Douglass who said that “Where there is no struggle (work, effort, determination), there is no progress.”
In keeping with the proposed topic, I begin with exploring the meaning of your conference theme:
“The State of Sociology in Alabama and Mississippi.” First, this theme suggests that you already have
some knowledge about the state of sociology in Alabama and Mississippi; however, but there is need for
more definitive answers to questions concerning the current state of sociology in Alabama and Mississippi.
Second, your theme implicitly suggests that you are interested in improving the state of sociology
in Alabama and Mississippi, with the expectation that achieving this goal will also facilitate improvement
of the A-MSA. I believe this is a great idea because it involves a desire to improve the organizational effectiveness and institutional strength of sociology and the A-MSA. In this regard, there is need for a fiveyear strategic plan to determine where you would like the A-MSA to be in the next five years and how you
plan to get there.
And third, your theme suggests the need for motivation of sociologists in all sociology departments and programs in Alabama and Mississippi to make real, tangible, measurable, and valuable contributions to the discipline of sociology at their respective institutions, in teaching, research, service, professional activities, and meeting public needs and demands.
I would now like to move to the second point of my presentation, which is to share information on what
we already know about the state of sociology, in general, and the A-MSA in Alabama and Mississippi, in
particular, as well as some of the challenges currently facing sociology, in general, and sociologists, in particular, that present opportunities for growth and development.
First, I think it is would be helpful to briefly provide a little historical context on sociology in the U.S. Sociology is a fairly new discipline in the U.S. The first sociology department was established at the University of Chicago in 1895. The national American Sociological Association was established in 1905 and currently have a membership of approximately 15,000. In the U.S., there are seven regional sociological asso-
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ciations and 19 state sociological associations, including eight in the South or southern border states; five
in the Midwest; three in the northeast, and three in the western states. There are more than 50 sections or
specialties in sociology and they continue to expand.
Sociology departments or programs are located in more than 2,500 public colleges and universities
and many community colleges, and high schools. These programs have been influenced by national economic forces, changing demographics, budget fluctuations, academic changes, and reorganizations in
higher education.
Based on data from the American Sociological Association, between 1966 and 2012, master’s degrees in sociology increased from 981 to 1,453; Ph.D. degrees increased from 244 to 639; and B.A. degrees
decreased from 36,000 to 30,000. As you can see, undergraduate sociology programs have been more susceptible to shifting economic, social, political, and academic changes in universities and the larger society.
The 1960s and 1970s were the heyday decades for sociology; then, a downturn in the 1980s occurred, due
to an economic recession and budget cutbacks to higher education. During this period, there was much academic turbulent due to organizational reforms in higher education, budget reductions, and increased emphasis on increasing production in STEM programs, including science, technology, mathematics, and engineering. The decade of the 1990s was extremely turbulent for sociology programs, with budget reductions
that contributed to the merging, downsizing, or closing continues of some sociology departments.
Despite the challenges sociology continues to make a strong contributions by providing academic
service courses that generate a significant number of student credit hours, and inclusion in the core curriculum or general educations requirements for students at most universities. And in in terms of research, many
of the theoretical frameworks, paradigms, and methodological approaches used in the social sciences and
related fields were created by sociologists.
State sociological associations, such as the A-MSA, have established a niche for themselves by
providing a number of advantages that are difficult to obtain from larger associations. These associations
provide a smaller, more intimate and friendlier atmosphere; they are less expensive, less elitist, and more
engaging for graduate and undergraduate students; they offer more incentives for participation from small
colleges and community colleges, have a greater appreciation for action, social justice, and applied research, and a greater outlet for publication of such research.
One sociologist offered the following testimony about the A-MSA: “I like the objectives of the A-MSA,
especially the focus on collaboration among sociologists with similar interests, enhancing teaching, research and applications, collaboration among interdisciplinary fields, and applied sociology.
According to the “Scribbles” Newsletter, since the founding of the A-MSA in 1969, the membership has averaged between 100 and 150 persons. But I am sure you know there is still much room for
growth. The conference attendees here today are but a small number of the sociology faculty and students
from the 14 public universities in Alabama and nine in Mississippi; 20 private colleges and universities;
and 27 community colleges in Alabama, and 15 in Mississippi. I also learned that typically, participation
in the A-MSA has been higher from large public universities and much lower from small colleges and
community colleges. So, it is evident that a major challenge is to increase participation from sociologists
from underrepresentation institutions and groups in these two states.
Of course, the A-MSA must guard against the pitfall of sociological associations, such as: inefficient and problematic business management of the of the association; rising costs; erratic membership and
attendance at annual conferences; underrepresentation from small and community colleges and ethnic minorities; low participation from graduate and undergraduate students; and inadequate support of undergraduate sociology departments.
Despite these challenges, the A-MSA has made several significant achievements in the past few
years. Dr. Carol Chenault, long-time A-MSA Treasurer, and Dr. Gary Long, retiree from the University of
Mississippi, have received awards for outstanding service to the A-MSA, a humanitarian service award has
been established, inspired by the notable work of sociologists Drs. Ernest Borinski and John Moland, and
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Durant, Continued
the projected registration for the 2016 conference will increase from last year. Moreover, The Association
has reactivated its journal, and the 2017 conference will be held at Jackson State University for the second
year in a row, solidifying its position as founding member of the A-MSA that is still supporting and helping
to sustain the A-MSA. I think that what this this all means is that that the state of sociology in Alabama and
Mississippi is positively correlated with the state of the Alabama-Mississippi Sociological Association.
However, I am aware that there are many other important factors that influence the state of Sociology
in Alabama and Mississippi, and indeed, in the South and the nation. Some of these factors were pointed out
in a 1995 special issue of Sociological Spectrum published by the Mid-South Sociological Association, entitled “Sociology in the 21st Century: State of the Profession” in which I served as guest editor. The impetus
for assessing the state of sociology in that special issue was prompted by Professor Rodger Bates, Chair of
the Committee on the Profession, who stated:
The field of sociology is experiencing challenges to its credibility as it enjoys new areas of application. It has informed many new academic and employment specialties which in turn have carved new niches at the expense of sociology as a general field of study as a professional discipline and career.
Bates statement suggested that sociology was not only experiencing some serious challenges, but also was
experiencing a threat to its image and identity.
Since that time, some adjustments and improvements have been made to improve the image of the
discipline, with varying degrees of success. However, sociology still faces some serious challenges to its status. For example, there is still a need for sociologists to improve its image on college campuses among university administrators and among external public agencies, and to favorably compete for an equitable share
of available resources in a climate of budget cuts and increasing competition for scarce resources. Sociology
is also challenged with meeting the needs and demands of a more independent-minded and technologicallyoriented students, and provide education and training of students to meet the demands of a highly technical
workforce.
There is a need to create new teaching and pedagogical educational models for a more diversified
student population, including international students and non-traditional students; globalization of the curriculum to prepare students for a more global opportunities and interactions with international people and institutions; development and application of models for to achieve diversity and equality in social institutions; become more responsive to various publics by employing innovative educational approaches and conducting
more applied research aimed at the resolution of widespread society problems, such as environmental pollution, persistent poverty among specific populations, radical changes in family values and structure; criminal
violence; and creation of programs and models in such areas as energy development and conservation, environmental quality, water quality management, land use patterns, youth violence prevention, and the social
effects of Indian Reservations, and natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and mass violence.
Now let me provide some examples of where applied sociological research could make a valuable
contribution right here in Mississippi and in Alabama:
 How to eliminate poverty in economically depressed areas like the Mississippi Delta.
 The social effects of industrialization on rural families and communities.
 Prevention and reduction of youth violence in urban areas.
 Development of new models for the rehabilitation of prison inmates.
 The impact of educational technology on teaching methods and pedagogical educational models.
 Development of models for achieving civil rights and racial equality.
 Developing sociological of the blues models to support cultural tourism.
 Determination of the effects and relationship of urban universities on surrounding urban communities.
 Creation of methods for the improvement of race relations in the South.
 Development of models for the education of non-traditional students at community colleges and fouryear colleges.
 Facilitation of interrelations between community colleges and four- year colleges.
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The role and status of traditional HBCUs.
Impediments to access and persistence of African American males n higher education.
The cultural transformation and ethnic diversity of PWIs.
Development of educational models for non-traditional students at community colleges and four-year
colleges.
The impact of educational technology on teaching methods and pedagogical educational models.
I have asked, why is the largest research center on hurricanes located in Colorado and not in Alabama or Mississippi? And why is one of the most advanced research centers on poverty located in Wisconsin and not Mississippi or Alabama? Thus, I propose the development of a center for applied social research
in the South to address some of the above social problems and conditioned.
Now, let me briefly mention a little about undergraduate sociology departments in Alabama and
Mississippi. I believe that to a great extent, the state of undergraduate sociology departments at colleges and
universities in Alabama and Mississippi, in general, determines the state of sociology at colleges and universities in Alabama and Mississippi. I say this because undergraduate sociology programs are the conduit
and life blood for the development of the discipline. It is in undergraduate sociology programs where students become excited about finding solutions to poverty, race, class and gender inequality, criminal behavior, divorce rates and family dissolutions, and the social pathology of AIDS and other socially transmitted
diseases; and in understanding international or global cultures, the social effects of natural disasters, and
understanding patterns of networking among student cohorts and learning communities.
It is in undergraduate sociology courses where the creative thinking of students is stirred that contribute to what has been called the “sociological imagination.” As many of you know, the term “sociological
imagination” was coined by the American sociologists, C. Wright Millis, in 1959, to describe the type of
insight offered by the discipline of sociology and its relevance to daily life. Accordingly, Mills defined the
“sociological imagination” as “the vivid awareness of the relationship between personal experience and the
wider society.” The application of a paradigm derived from the sociological imagination is actualized
through asking and answering sociological questions, which I have already illustrated. Although this experience usually occurs at the undergraduate level and is sharpened and honed during the graduate levels, and
even throughout life.
Finally, in order to assess the state of sociology in Alabama and Mississippi, I would like to engage
this audience in a little sociological exercise. I would like for all sociologists in the audience to make a mental note or written rating of your department of sociology. The multiple response categories for your answers include the following: “yes or no;” a numerical score on a scale from zero to 10; or specify your answer. Are you ready? Let’s go!
 Are you currently a member of the A-MSA? What’s in your wallet?
 Did you bring an undergraduate or graduate student with you to this conference?
 Is there a sociology club in your department at your university?
 Is there an undergraduate faculty-student mentoring program in your department?
 Has your sociology department implemented a strategic plan within the past 5 years?
 Is there an undergraduate honors program in your department?
 To what extent do senior level faculty teach introductory sociology courses?
 Has the number of undergraduate majors increased or decreased in your department in the past five
years?
 Does your department have an undergraduate research program?
 Do you include a research project or paper in your undergraduate courses?
 What types of educational technology do you use for classroom instruction?
 To what extent are service-learning courses included in sociology courses in your department?
 Has the sociology curriculum in your department been reviewed or revised in the last five years?
 What is the level of diversity in your department, including gender, ethnic minorities, international stu-
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dents, and non-traditional students?
If you teach at a community college, what is your level of satisfaction with the state of the sociology component at your college?
Are you satisfied with the quality of the administrative leadership in your department?
What types of financial and academic support exists for undergraduate students?
Have you lately attended a faculty development workshop for improvement of teaching, research,
and advising?
What is the 6-year graduation rate for undergraduate students in your department?
How many undergraduate students from your department have enrolled in graduate school in the
past five years?
What types of jobs have been acquired by graduates of your undergraduate program?
What outstanding achievements have been made by your graduates in the past five years?
What is your department best known for at your university?
How does your department contribute to achievement of the mission and goals of the university and
how does this figure into the strategic plan of the university?
Now your responses along with the results of a survey of the state of the A-MSA, and the sociology faculty at colleges and universities in Alabama and Mississippi can provide a more definitive answer
to the question regarding the state of sociology in Alabama and Mississippi. I recommend that the AMSA undertake this proposed study and publish it in a special issue of the newly reactivated journal of
the Association. I will be happy to consult with you on organizing and conducting such a study that
could be presented at a future A-MSA conference.
So, as I take my seat, I ask you again: What’s in your wallet?
SOCIOLOGY HUMOR
A professor of sociology and a professor of psychology are relaxing at a nudist camp, enjoying a wideranging intellectual discussion. The sociologist at one
point inquires “I say have you read Marx?” To which
the other ruefully responds, “Yes, it must be these
wicker chairs.”
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Mississippi Humanities Council and the Social Sciences
By Carol Andersen, Mississippi Humanities Council
What does the Mississippi Humanities Council do, exactly? We give grants to support public humanities programs and projects for Mississippi audiences.
Our objectives focus on elevating and advocating for the humanities in the state of Mississippi. Particularly, MHC
seeks to develop a well-defined and clearly focused statewide humanities program in cooperation with organizations, institutions, and agencies. We assist local and statewide organizations to plan and conduct public projects
in the humanities. We encourage scholars in the humanities to share their learning and insights in order to increase the public’s understanding of the humanities disciplines and their significance to citizens’ daily lives. MHC
creates educational resources to extend the insights of the humanities to people of all ages. We provide public
recognition for exemplary leadership which contributes to an understanding of cultural heritage and values. We
help citizens to understand better their roles in a democracy. Finally we seek to improve the quality of humanities education in the schools.
Is sociology one of ''the humanities''? Yes! Even Talcott Parsons argued in “Theory in the Humanities and Sociology,” that all “intellectual disciplines concerned with gaining rational knowledge of the human condition and its
products and environment” are worthy humanistic endeavors. Generally, the disciplines closely associated with
the humanities are
 Literature, classics, languages and linguistics
 History and archaeology
 Philosophy, jurisprudence, ethics and comparative religion
 History, criticism and theory of the arts and ...
 Social sciences employing historical or philosophical approaches
Sociology is under-represented in MHC-funded programs, but the potential is huge. The Mississippi Humanities
Council is eager to work with you. You may want to develop a public humanities program and apply for a grant.
There is the opportunity to join our Speakers Bureau. You can even serve as a (paid) advisor for humanities programs and projects.
Recent sociologists have worked with MHC and similar organizations to promote humanities. One example is
University of Mississippi professor Jeff Jackson who was named the 2012 Humanities Teacher of the Year for his
work involving how inequality in Mississippi compares to other parts of the world and how the theoretical concept of the "global south" can help us understand worldwide disparities affecting us all. Another example is the
work of David Brain in Florida about New Urbanism and evolving tools and techniques for urban planning and
growth management, which was recently highlighted by the Florida Humanities Council.
MHC offers two types of grants: mini-grants (up to $2,000) which have a rolling deadline, and regular grants,
which range from $2,000 to $7,500 and are accepted May 1 or and September 15. Get the specifics about who is
eligible to apply, pointers about filling out the forms, and access to the forms Application forms at:
www.mshumanities.org. Print copies are also available on request.
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STATE OF SOCIOLOGY IN MISSISSIPPI
A “State of Sociology in the State of Mississippi: Some Chairs and Directors Points of View” panel was organized by Kirsten Dellinger, Chair of UM, for the 2016 A-MSA meetings to provide a snapshot of some trends
and pressing issues facing our discipline in the state. Panelists Art Cosby, Director at SSRC at MSU, John
Green, Director Center for Population Studies at UM, Leslie Hossfeld, Head at MSU, and Albert Nylander, Director of the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement at UM provided diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that we face. In brief opening remarks, Dellinger argued that
we are uniquely situated to address issues associated with poverty and racism through collaborative scholarship. She also noted that we should be carefully attuned to the positive and negative effects of the move towards interdisciplinary in the social sciences.
Leslie Hossfeld, Head at Mississippi State University, similarly emphasized the fact that Mississippi scholars
are uniquely poised to address critical social issues in the state and the Deep South. She discussed collaborative strategic planning efforts between higher education institutions in Mississippi to tackle these issues jointly, forming a Mississippi Caucus that will meet annually at the A-MSA conference, as well as at our regional
and national association conferences. The Mississippi Caucus will illuminate critical needs in the South and
seek solutions and policy change through research and praxis, in and with high need, low resourced communities.
John Green, Director of the Center for Population Studies at UM, echoed the claim that sociologists in Mississippi have a long history of working to address social issues of great importance. A-MSA was even founded on
this basis, confronting racism and segregation. In addition to our academic programs around the state, centers and institutes have played vital roles in conducting applied research to inform problem solving. With the
increasingly complex challenges facing our people and communities, we need to expand our collective efforts
to build the applied research capacity necessary for this work. This must include advanced education and
training in mixed-methods research and better utilization of large-scale data systems and so-called "big data"
for the public interest. However, technical capacity alone is insufficient. These must be informed by frameworks and models that facilitate interpretation and understanding.
Art Cosby, Director of the Social Science Research Center at MSU, also highlighted our need to exploit new
methodological opportunities for research given the rise of social media. He highlighted the work being done
by the Social Science Research Center and its use of Twitter as a mechanism for understanding social phenomena and challenged us to use these tools.
Albert Nylander, Director of the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement at UM, explained that the Institute seeks to make community engagement a distinctive part of the university’s educational culture and to fight poverty through education in Mississippi. Sociologists are uniquely positioned to
address educational inequities and quality of life in this state. Thus, sociology programs ought to embrace the
call to fight poverty and to mobilize University students in this effort. In order to do so sociology departments
should evaluate their academic programs to ensure such objectives are fulfilled.
This occurs when our departments remain current in creating transformational opportunities for students to engage the broader world through the curriculum. Moreover students must see that sociology is a viable path for
personal and professional engagement. Table 1 below shows the state’s academic degree productivity for the
past 10 years. Mississippi had a 22.4% increase in total bachelor degrees awarded, with the social sciences ex10
STATE OF SOCIOLOGY, CONT.
periencing similar growth.
However, as measured by degrees awarded, sociology’s growth has been somewhat inconsistent (see Table
2), with 127 undergraduate degrees awarded in 2014, which is down from a high of 167 in 2012. As a comparative example, psychology and the biological sciences have increased almost every year for the past 10
years, respectively with 841 and 911 degrees awarded in 2014.
As Sociologists we should recognize the opportunity to rally our collective units in tackling the pressing social challenges in an applied way, while maintaining a healthy growth approach by attracting and graduating
more sociology students.
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STATE OF SOCIOLOGY, CONT.
Interested in becoming a life-time member of A-MSA? Contact A-MSA leaders who
will help facilitate the process for you!
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A LITTLE ABOUT THE HOSTING INSTITUTION & CITY
Sociology has a long history at Jackson State University, a founding member institution of A-MSA and two former presidents of AMSA came from Jackson State University. I am honored to be the third. My predecessors as well as many other A-MSA
presidents, members, and students, were and are very active in the community. As
we know members of the public often have little knowledge about us or what we do.
Therefore, we need to be the face of sociology for the public.
If you like good music and food, I encourage you to stay a day or two more in
the Jackson area. The city is well known for blues and barbeque. Additionally, Jackson is not far from other interesting places to visit such as Tupelo or Natchez. More
information about the local attractions as well as lodging, etc. is available at http://
www.visitjackson.com/ .
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2016 A-MSA Student Paper Competitors
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
1. Devin Anderson Winsett, Milsaps College. “Why Americans Join ISIL” Abstract:
“Despite simplified, and often sensationalized media accounts, the profiles of the Americans involved with ISIL-related activities do not fit any single profile; they differ greatly by race, age, social class, education and family background, and their motives defy
easy analysis. The primary purpose of this paper is to posit some theoretical explanations as to why some Americans have chosen to affiliate, or in some way support ISIL
and to better understand how ISIL’s messaging appeals to these individuals. While no
single framework can fully explain the decisions of these individuals, a symbolic interactionism approach may help better understand the subjective motives and perceptions
that American ISIL supporters develop through their online interactions with the organization. Conflict theory and psychoanalytic theory are also discussed, as they further explain the attractiveness of ISIL’s messaging to these individuals.”
2. Adriana Mireia Lopez-Esteban, Milsaps College. “Double Standards, Man-Made Sexual Mores, and Sexual Violence on College Campuses.”
3. Aish Longanathan, Milsaps College. “How College Education and Marriage Affect
Child Poverty in the U.S.: A Sociological Analysis.”
4. Kelli Danielle Randle, Milsaps College. “Opt-Out Revolution: Can Women Have it
All?”
5. Lindsey Rebekah Shaw, Jackson State University. “Do ’Beyond Scared Straight’ Programs Reduce Juvenile Recidivism?”
GRADUATE STUDENTS
1. Natya Jones, University of Mississippi. “Is my Parenting Hindering My Child’s Chances at Succeeding in Their Post-Secondary Education?: A Pilot Study of Parenting
Styles on College Student’s Adjustment.” Abstract: “This present study is being done to
determine an association between the impacts of parenting styles on college students’
adjustment. Although the influences of parenting styles have not been uniform, previous
literature suggests that with varying outcomes on the gender of the student and the parenting styles of both the mother compared to the father have been considered, these
overall results implicate the important roles of parenting on college students’ adjustment.”
2. Andrew Tatch, Mississippi State University. “I can’t Drink You Away: Age Specific Associations Between Problematic Drinking and Mental Illness.”
3. Ismail Yigit, Mississippi State University. “A Cross-National Study Investigating the
Effect of Ethnic Homogeneity and Level of Tolerance.”
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CURRENT A-MSA LEADERSHIP TEAM*
NAME
EMAIL
POSITION
Affiliation
Rotation
Thomas Kersen
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
President
JSU
2015-2017
President-Elect
Past President
Secretary
Treasurer
ASU
ASU
ASU
UM
2016-2017
2014-2016
2016-2019
2014-2017
Communication Director
Member-A
USA
2016-2019
Annice Yarber-Allen
[email protected]
ma.edu
[email protected]
AUM
2014-2017
Jeneve Brooks
[email protected]
Member-A
2014-2017
Linda Stringfellow
[email protected]
Member-M
TroyDothan
DSU
2015-2017
Jamie Boydstun
Member-M
MSU
2016-2019
Caitlin Brooking
[email protected].
edu
[email protected]
Member-M
UM
2016-2019
Don Bogie
[email protected]
Archivist
AUM (Ret.)
Indefinite
Brenda Gill
Anthony Troy Adams
LaCretia Williams
Lynn Woo
Willette Brye
*Please alert editor of any corrections, additions, etc.
Please consider nominating someone or yourself for the position of treasurer and Alabama-Member at large. Lynn Woo
is rotating off as well as Dr. Jeneve Brooks. Lynn has been
invaluable as a treasurer for this organization. If you know
someone who would be interested in the position, please have
them contact Lynn so she or he can learn from Lynn’s experience and wisdom. The same is true for Dr. Brooks, who has
also taken the lead role for our student competitions. Our
hope is we have people to vote on and fill the positions when
Dr. Gill takes on the presidency of A-MSA in 2017.
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Award Nominations Encouraged
These awards are not necessarily presented every year, but may be
presented when the membership has identified deserving recipients.
It is the responsibility of the Committee to present any nominations for the awards to the Executive Committee. The types of
awards as well as their judging criteria are described below.
Distinguished Service Award – This recognition is given to a member of long standing who has promoted and supported the A-MSA
with his/her time and talents. Eligibility for this award is defined as
ten years or more of AMSA membership, and a strong record of involvement in AMSA governance and annual pro-grams.
Outstanding Achievement Award – During the course of a member’s professional career, there are particularly noteworthy accomplishments which bring special recognition to the sociology profession and to the A-MSA. Eligibility for this award requires only that
the individual has been a member of the AMSA for a minimum of
six years (not continuously).
Student Paper Awards – The Association may also give awards for
outstanding papers presented by graduate and under-graduate students. The organizers of the graduate/undergraduate sessions are responsible for selecting judges for student papers. For more information on the student paper awards, email [email protected].
Humanitarian Award—This award is given to a member who has
a distinguished record of in the realm of progressive change. Such
individuals transcend the boundaries of academia and show-case
the discipline to the lay public and help inform social policy or
those people who make social policy.
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Call for Abstracts
The Alabama-Mississippi Sociological Association is calling for submission of abstracts for its 48th annual conference to be held on the
campus of Jackson State University on February 23-24, 2017.
Email your abstract at the A-MSA website at www. a-msa.org
Send All Questions to [email protected]
2017 CONFERENCE THEME: RACE IN THE DEEP SOUTH
----------------------------------------------------------------------------Deadline for submissions: December 30, 2016
Go to the w w w . a - m s a . o r g f o r more information
Photo Source: Wolcott, Marion Post, photographer. Natchez, Mississippi. Aug, 1940. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://
www.loc.gov/item/fsa2000035365/PP/. (Accessed August 17, 2016.)
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A-MSA MEMBER INSTITUTION NEWS
Mississippi State University Department of Sociology working in and with Mississippi Communities
Over the past year, numerous MSU Sociology faculty have turned their attention to research and engagement
in Mississippi developing areas of expertise that focus on critical needs in our state. Dr. Kecia Johnson, Dr.
Kenya McKinley, Dr. Margaret Ralston, Dr. Leslie Hossfeld, and PhD candidates Laura Jean Kerr and Maria
Trinh, have worked over the past year developing the Mississippi Food Insecurity Project
(www.mfip.msstate.edu) that addresses food access and food security in Mississippi. Drs. Johnson and Ralston, and MA student Brent Lee, have worked with NSPARC (National Strategic Planning & Analysis Research Center) at MSU to access SNAP administrative program data to examine SNAP recipients’ ability to
access food and what types of food they can purchase based on their location within the state.
Drs. Dustin Brown, Kecia Johnson, Kenya McKinley, Margo Ralston, and Leslie Hossfeld, along with PhD
student Laura Jean Kerr, have also become research affiliates with the UMMC-MSU Myrlie-Evers Williams
Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities, a new partnership between the University of Mississippi
Medical Center and Mississippi State University. PhD candidate Laura Jean Kerr is examining food insecurity
among Mississippi community college students. Dr. Hossfeld is taking the lead on local food systems development in Mississippi linking health disparities, food access, and food insecurity https://www.umc.edu/everswilliams. Hossfeld is also working on food systems development in the state in partnership with Dr. Art Cosby and post-doctoral fellow Dr. Gina Mendez from the Social Science Research Center (SSRC) at MSU. In
addition, through a partnership with the MSU Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC), Hossfeld and
Chance McDavid of the SRDC are conducting a local food assessment in Mississippi, holding focus groups
across the state to assess barriers to and opportunities for local food system development in Mississippi.
Other research projects focused on Mississippi include work from the SSRC Crime and Justice Research Unit
(http://cjru.ssrc.msstate.edu/). There are many projects within this research unit. Dr. Stacy Haynes is working
with Dr. Angela Robertson and Dr. Sheena Gardner of the MSU SSRC on a project examining juvenile justice
issues (particularly disproportionate minority contact) in Mississippi. Another project includes work examining reentry challenges among Mississippi Prisoners by Drs. David May, Stacy Haynes, Amanda Cook, and
Kecia Johnson. Drs. Haynes and May are also examining the work environment of correctional officers and
staff in Mississippi Prisons. PhD candidates Makeela Wells and Megan Stubbs-Richardson, and MA student
Sierra Nelson, are working with Dr. May on examining responses to rejection and other school safety issues at
Starkville (MS) High School. Dr. Amanda Cook from MSU Meridian is working with Dr. May on a community revitalization project in the East End Neighborhood in Meridian. Dr. May is also currently working with the
Meridian Police Department to create a promotion exam from their general orders. He is also working with the
Mississippi Department of Health and Human Services in implementing and evaluating a transition program
for youth leaving Oakley Training School. PhD Candidate Andrew Tatch is working with Dr. Angela Roberston at the SSRC on the Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program.
Dr. Margaret Hagerman has been working with Courtney Heath, an MSU Sociology undergraduate student, on
a project examining how parents who enroll their children today in what were initially established as segregation academies make sense of the racial history of these schools and whether/how they talk to their children
about that history.
Graduate student Izzy Pellegrine is also working on a project on sex education in Mississippi, exploring differences in curriculum between abstinence-only and abstinence-plus programs, teacher perspectives on youth sexuality, and how educators approach sex education with their students. MA student Micah King is examining
experiences of transgender Mississippians seeking and receiving health care in the state.
Other Mississippi based research projects include Dr. Courtney Carter’s continued research on Historically
Black Colleges and Universities. MA student Kelli Russell is examining farmers’ perspectives on federal farm-
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A-MSA NEWS CONT.
ing programs. PhD candidates Ismail Yigit and Ben Walker are working on the Mississippi Kid Counts project based at the SSRC which produces a number of data resources on child wellbeing including an annual
data book, online data center, and policy briefs. Ben also works on an SSRC project that involves linking
data across state agencies (Medicaid, MDE, DHS, etc.) to enhance the capacity of state agencies to make
more data-driven decisions to hopefully positively impact Mississippi’s families, children, and communities.
The MSU Sociology department actively seeks to work with social scientists in the state to tackle critical issues in Mississippi (and the Deep South broadly) though collaborative research and scholarly engagement
projects around Mississippi.
The MSU Sociology Department was delighted to host the reception at the annual AMSA conference at Jackson State in February. It was a great opportunity to meet colleagues and to recruit students to our graduate
program. We look forward to hosting another reception at AMSA 2017 to see old friends and make new
ones. As a founding AMSA member, MSU gears up for the 50th anniversary of the Alabama-Mississippi Sociological Association with the hope of hosting the annual conference in 2019, the site where the first AMSA
conference was held.
PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS, ACCOLADES, ETC. TO THE
SCRIBBLES EDITOR AT [email protected]!
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Established in 1969, the Alabama-Mississippi Sociological
Association (A-MSA) is a community of professionals and
students dedicated to building a better world through the
use of sociology and other social sciences. Our goal is to
facilitate the development of knowledge in an environment
Alabama-Mississippi
Sociological
http://www.a-msa.org/
@AMSA_2016 on Twitter
that celebrates the diversity of life and recognizes the necessity of incorporating multiple forms of knowledge in the
development of answers to social problems. The A-MSA
website, annual conference and online journal bring people together for active learning.
At last count, 106 Face-
Address any comments, corrections, and news to Tom
Kersen, editor of Soc Scribbles
at
[email protected].
book members on
“ A labama-Mississippi
Sociological Association ”
Dr. Thomas Kersen
A-MSA President 2015-2016
Jackson State University
Dept. CJ & Sociology
JSU Box 18830
Jackson, MS 39217
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