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Sociology Faculty
Dr. Adrian F. Aveni is Professor of
Sociology, and is beginning his 31st
year at JSU in the Fall of 09. He
earned his Ph.D. from Purdue
University. He has conducted research
on a wide range of subjects including
collective behavior, social
movements, economic development,
and campus internationalization. Dr.
Aveni has worked as a researcher for
the Center for Economic Development
and in the Office of Assessment, both
at JSU. He was responsible for
establishing an exchange program
between Wuhan University (located in
China) and JSU; and for creating the Office of International Programs and Services
at JSU, where he worked for four years. His current interests include applied
sociology, American society and culture, social organization, and comparative
sociology. Dr. Aveni teaches SY 221 online, as well as SY 301 Sociological Methods,
SY 303 Computers and Data Analysis, SY 308 American Society and Culture, and SY
324 Social Stratification.
Dr. Hudspeth with Jennifer,
Commencement, Spring, 2009.
Jennifer was one of Dr. Hudspeth’s
“superstars.” She became the
Torchbearer for the program, being
the lead sociology senior, and
representative of the students to
the faculty.
Dr. Tina H. Deshotels
Dr. Tina H. Deshotels is
an Assistant Professor of
Sociology beginning her
fifth year at JSU after
one year at Whitman
College in Washington
state. She earned her
Ph.D. from Florida State
University. Dr. Deshotels
has made a name for
herself doing research
on deviant behavior,
specifically that
associated with Exotic
Dancing. Nationally
recognized, she is the
author of several articles in the area of sex work. In the classroom, Dr. Deshotels
encourages students to step outside the box. She learns the views and ideas of
the students, and then builds a better interactional classroom based on these
views and ideas. The end result is a firestorm of learning and discussion within the
classroom. Her current research includes Theory, Gender, Sexualities and
Deviance. Specifically, Dr. Deshotels is currently collecting data on attitudes of
athletes on sexual assault. Preliminary findings were reported at the Mid South
Sociological Association annual meeting in Lafayette, Louisiana in November,
2009. She is also preparing a book with Craig J. Forsyth, titled ‘Dancing with
Power’ which is an expansion of her work on exotic dancing, exploring in far more
detail issues of theory, methodology, and forging farther in the analysis of exotic
dancing. Dr. Deshotels teaches SY 221 Introduction to Sociology, SY 320
Criminology, SY 322 Juvenile Delinquency, SY 365 Drugs and Society, SY 368
Theories of Gender, and SY 427 Sociological Theory. Dr. Deshotels also is faculty
sponsor for WISE (Women’s Issues Support and Empowerment), as well as
beginning the non-profit WISE Center.
Dr. Rodney N. Friery, aka “The Show,” is the heart and soul of the Sociology
program at JSU. Beginning his 36th and FINAL year at JSU in the fall of 2009, Dr.
Friery wears a different JSU polo shirt every day of the month, his trademark
pseudo-whistle can be heard throughout the third floor at Brewer Hall, as well as
his ability to call every
student a different
nickname. Born and raised
near Houston, Texas, Dr.
Friery often says that he
had to move north to be in
the ‘deep south’. Dr. Friery
earned his Ph.D. from
Mississippi State
University. He teaches a
number of courses, from
Introduction to Sociology,
to Senior Seminar. His
areas of expertise are in
statistics, deviant
behavior, and social
problems.
Dr. LoConto,
Alkina, and
friends,
Commencement,
Spring, 2009.
Dr. Clark Hudspeth
Dr. Clark Hudspeth, Associate
Professor of Sociology came to JSU in
the Fall of 2002 and, like Dr. Friery,
earned his Ph.D. from Mississippi
State University. His zeal for the
material is contagious. Dr. Hudspeth,
originally from Louisiana conducts
research and has published mainly on
the family, but also has integrated
work on religion into the subject
matter. A Symbolic Interactionist, Dr.
Hudspeth leans toward Critical
Interactionism by integrating aspects
of Marxism with Symbolic
Interactionism. Currently Dr. Hudspeth is conducting research with student,
Natalie Dempster on the use of the Internet to sell sex. In addition, an ardent
supporter of the right of the environment, he is developing a course on the
Sociology of the Environment. Dr. Hudspeth teaches SY 221 Introduction to
Sociology, SY 310 Marriage and the Family, SY 313 Social Psychology, and SY 366
Sociology of Religion.
Dr. David G. LoConto
Dr. David G. LoConto, Associate
Professor of Sociology is beginning his
eighth year at JSU in the Fall of 09 after
three years at Northwest Missouri State
University. He earned his Ph.D. from
Oklahoma State University. Dr. LoConto
has published on ethnic identity,
developmental disabilities, as well as
historical thought. Theoretically Dr.
LoConto focuses on pragmatism from a
realist perspective. His current research
projects include his continuing focus on
the career of Charles A. Ellwood, and his accomplishments in the early days of
American sociology. He began new research on dementia related disorders in the
Summer of 2009, which addresses habitual behavior, and the application of
pragmatism to explain that phenomena. That same perspective is being used to
explain identity and consentient sets in pipe smoking communities. In addition Dr.
LoConto is doing research with student Kristin Sloan on the use of color as a
means to identify racial categories of peoples. Another research project Dr.
LoConto is conducting is with four students, Rebecca Mayhan, Emily Hawkins,
Christina Blount, and A.J. Blount, involves understanding why sociologists attend
some sociology conferences while ignoring others. As the Sociology Program
Coordinator, Dr. LoConto sponsors the Sociology Club, as well as Alpha Kappa
Delta. Dr. LoConto teaches SY 221 Introduction to Sociology, SY 222 Honors
Introduction to Sociology, SY 309 Sociology of Disability, SY 360 Ethnic and
Minority Group Relations, SY 364 Medicine and Society.
Best of friends, Drs.
Deshotels and
LoConto at the
Christmas 2008
faculty and staff
get-together.
Emeritus Faculty
Dr. McCain retired in the summer of
2005 after 30 years of service to JSU.
He earned his Ph.D. at Emory
University. Dr. McCain was sponsor
of the Sociology Club, Alpha Kappa
Delta, and was also in charge of the
Career Fair every year. A tireless
worker, Dr. McCain did much of the
“behind-the-scenes” work for the
program and department. He and his
wife moved to the Gulf where he is
enjoying life being close to family
and boarding up his house every
couple weeks when hurricanes come
through. You can reach Dr. McCain
at: [email protected]
Dr. Deshotels with AJ,
Christina, Natalie, and
Kristin, Downtown
Lafayette, Louisiana,
November, 2009.
Christina is the
Sociology Torchbearer
for the 2009-2010
school year.