ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Division of Social Sciences

Associate Professor Melissa A. Johnson, PhD, Chair
Professor Dan C. Hilliard, PhD
Professor Edward L. Kain, PhD
Associate Professor Maria R. Lowe, PhD
Assistant Professor M. Cristina Alcalde, PhD
Assistant Professor Sandi Kawecka Nenga, PhD
Visiting Instructor Jennifer Esperanza, ABD
Instructor Melissa Biggs Coupal, MA (part-time)
Instructor Stephen Cherry, MA (part-time)
Instructor Christine Labuski, ABD (part-time)

At the heart of Sociology and Anthropology lies an interest in understanding the ways in which group membership, cultural context and social hierarchies affect people's lived experiences and world views. Combining sociology's focus on contemporary and historical patterns of social interaction with anthropology's interests in systems of shared and contested cultural meanings, the department's offerings encourage awareness and understanding of human diversity and cultural variation locally and globally. We are especially interested in examining the ways in which race, class, gender and other social attributes operate within systems of domination and resistance. Coursework within our department will challenge students to examine some of their most basic assumptions about the world and will contribute to a critical understanding of how the social world operates--an essential characteristic of a liberally educated global citizen. As a progressive department, we encourage in our students a commitment to social justice based on an appreciation of social and cultural diversity and an awareness of social inequality. Faculty members' teaching and research embrace this commitment in a variety of ways, and we encourage students to use the knowledge, skills and perspectives they have gained through courses and other work with us to promote positive social change.

Graduates of the Sociology and Anthropology Department are well prepared to enter leading graduate programs in Anthropology, Sociology, Law, Social Work, Public Health, International Development, Latin American Studies and Public Policy. Recent graduates have found work in community development, public health, marketing and a variety of non-profit organizations. Others have joined the Peace Corps, Americorps, Vista and similar kinds of programs. Our graduates live and work throughout the United States and world.

The department seeks to emphasize how the two disciplines of Sociology and Anthropology complement each other. The department offers majors in both Sociology and Anthropology and a paired major in Sociology and Anthropology, as well as minors in both fields. The paired major is attained by double counting Anthropology 35-103 and Sociology 34-113 or 123.

 FACULTY INFORMATION

Melissa A. Johnson, Chair

Associate Professor
Tel. x1406, v-mail 1406

MBH 310

Dan C. Hilliard

Professor
Tel. x1392, v-mail 1392

MBH 308

Edward L. Kain

Professor, University Scholar
Tel. x1967, v-mail x1967

MBH 315

Maria R. Lowe

Associate Professor
Tel. x1936, v-mail 1936

MBH 317

M. Cristina Alcalde

Assistant Professor
Tel. x1764, v-mail x1764

Location: MBH 304

Sandi Kawecka Nenga

Assistant Professor
Tel. x1412, v-mail 1412

Location: MBH 316

Jennifer Esperanza

Visiting Instructor of Anthropology
Tel. x1947, v-mail x1947
esperanj@southwestern.edu
Location: MBH 312

Melissa Biggs Coupal

Visiting Instructor
Tel. TBA, v-mail TBA
biggscom@southwestern.edu
Location: MBH 310

Stephen Cherry

Visiting Instructor of Sociology
Tel. x1867, v-mail x1867

Location: MBH 325

Christine Labuski

Visiting Instructor
Tel. TBA, v-mail TBA
labuskic@southwestern.edu
Location: MBH 310