Senior Lecturer: Criminology
BR 232
910.962.3049
boydb@uncw.edu
Professor: Sociology and Criminology
BR 228
910.962.3785
cookk@uncw.edu
Dr. Kimberly J. Cook, Professor of Sociology & Criminology
Dr. Cook specializes in restorative justice practice, wrongful conviction research, historical & generational racial trauma, survivor criminology, and gendered violence. She uses community engaged qualitative research methods and has published four books, numerous research articles and has delivered public lectures whenever invited to do so.
Associate Professor: Criminology
BR 224
910.962.7024
dayj@uncw.edu
Professor: Sociology
BR 128
910.962.3420
devallk@uncw.edu
Dr. Kristen DeVall, Professor of Sociology & Criminology & Co-director of the National Treatment Court Resource Center (NTCRC)
Dr. DeVall is an applied/public sociologist by training and specializes in treatment courts, re-entry, juvenile justice, and alternative to incarceration programming more generally. She is an accomplished grant writer and serves as an evaluator/research partner for numerous criminal justice programs where she utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Her work seeks to bridge the gap between academia and practitioners, as well as influence the development of evidence-based policies and practices. Visit www.ntcrc.org to learn more about the work of the NTCRC.
Assistant Professor: Sociology
BR 121
elliottc@uncw.edu
Dr. Shane Elliott, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Dr. Elliott’s research focuses on work, organizations and markets. He is currently focused on developing a theory for observing distinctions in artificial and human/social systems. He has used qualitative interviews and observations in his past research. You can read more about his work at cselliott.net.
Lecturer: Sociology
Sociology and Criminology Graduate Program Coordinator
BR 216
708.227.9843
engelmand@uncw.edu
Dr. Douglas Engelman, Lecturer in Sociology
Dr. Engelman is a medical sociologist specializing in mental health, wellness, and the stigma surrounding mental illness. With a strong focus on qualitative research, he has also contributed to the field through a notable quantitative study. He is dedicated to advancing understanding and support for mental health issues within both academic and community contexts. In addition to his research, he serves as the Sociology and Criminology Graduate Program Coordinator, welcoming inquiries about the MA program. engelmand@uncw.edu
Assistant Professor: Sociology
Interim Associate Chair
BR 126
gabys@uncw.edu
Dr. Sarah Gaby is a scholar of social movements and inequality using various methodological approaches, both quantitative and qualitative. You can learn more about this work at sarahgaby.com.
Associate Professor: Criminology
BR 226
910.962.0532
higginse@uncw.edu
Dr. Ethan Higgins, Associate Professor of Criminology
Ethan M. Higgins is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology. His research interests are varied, but generally focus on prisons, policing and culture. He specializes in the use of in-depth interviews, focus groups, and qualitative analytics.
Professor: Criminology
BR 124
910.962.3420
lanierc@uncw.edu
Professor: Sociology and Criminology
Senior Lecturer: Criminology
Associate Professor: Sociology
BR 222
910.962.0531
michaelse@uncw.edu
Dr. Erin Michaels, Associate Professor of Sociology
Dr. Michaels specializes in the sociology of youth, education, race and ethnicity, immigration, and political sociology. She mainly uses qualitative methods, including ethnography, in-depth interviewing, focus groups and content analysis.
Assistant Professor: Sociology
BR 127
Lecturer: Criminology
BR 223
parsonsa@uncw.edu
Assistant Professor: Sociology
BR 230
910.962.3003
raguparanm@uncw.edu
Dr. Menaka Raguparan, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Dr. Raguparan’s research focuses on unpacking the conflation of sex work and sex trafficking of adult women. Her current qualitative research projects focus on human trafficking courts and police interaction with sex workers and trafficked survivors. She is willing and able to chair thesis projects in the following areas.
Theoretical: Feminism, socio-legal theory, and Critical criminology, including feminist criminology and Intersectionality. She also specializes in theories of subjectivity, sexuality, emotional labor, decoloniality, and carceral protectionism.
Substantive: Gender-based violence, lived experiences of racialization and marginalization, court processes, legal actors, sensational crimes, the politics of crime control, the sex industry, and sex trafficking.
Lecturer: Criminology
Undergraduate Internship program Coordinator
BR 221
rogerstg@uncw.edu
Dr. Tiffany Gentry Rogers, Criminology Lecturer
Dr. Rogers specializes in crimes against domestic animals. She uses mixed method approaches as she aims to identify situational interventions for cruelty prevention. In addition to active research projects, Dr. Rogers teaches “systems” courses and coordinates the undergraduate internship program. She values community partnerships and seeks practical applications from her research.
Senior Lecturer: Criminology
BR 132
910.962.3420
rotchforda@uncw.edu
Associate Professor: Criminology
Undergraduate Program Coordinator
BR 130
910.962.2426
santanas@uncw.edu
Assistant Professor: Sociology
BR 125
schneiderm@uncw.edu
Dr. Matthew Schneider, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Dr. Schneider’s work is situated in the areas of race and racism, environmental sociology, urban sociology, and community and civic engagement. A simple but central narrative in his academic work is that justice, antiracism, and even community service are easier said than done. He primarily uses qualitative methods of data collection and analysis, including but not limited to semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and content analysis. You can read more about Dr. Schneider’s work at https://www.mjschneider.net/
Associate Professor: Sociology
BR 220
910.962.4170
sutherlandj@uncw.edu
Assistant Professor: Sociology
BR 225
ternesb@uncw.edu
Dr. Brock Ternes, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Brock Ternes is an environmental sociologist who studies the infrastructures and institutions that shape the demand for natural resources. His interests include water supplies, pro-environmental behaviors, and climate change. He utilizes quantitative methods, survey research, and planned missing data designs.
Professor and Department Chair: Sociology
BR 207A
910.962.3660
waityj@uncw.edu
Dr. Jill Waity, Professor of Sociology and Chair
Dr. Waity is a scholar of poverty and inequality, with a specific focus on food insecurity and food access. She uses community engaged research methodologies, and has experience with surveys, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and geographic information systems. You can learn more about her research here: https://www.juliawaity.com/
Assistant Professor: Sociology
Personal website: https://www.mary-collierwilks.com
BR 123
wilksm@uncw.edu
Associate professor: Criminology
BR 122
willinghamb@uncw.edu
Vinod Kumar Thichempully Krishnadas, Ph.D.
(TK)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Criminology:
BR 217A
vinodkumart@uncw.edu
BR 207
910-962-3420
laughters@uncw.edu
BR 207
910-962-3432
parishk@uncw.edu
Visiting Professor: Criminology
BR 217A
Professor Emerita: Sociology
Professor: Criminology
Professor Emeritus: Sociology