Sociologists in Action : Sociology, Social Change, and Social Justice

Sociologists in Action will provide vivid examples of how sociologists are using sociological tools to make a positive impact on our society. In each chapter, four or five public sociologists will describe, in vivid detail, how they have used sociology to understand and influence the world around them. The chapters will cover the key topics in sociology courses and the pieces will bring the subject matter of sociology to life for students, giving them clear examples of the power and usefulness of sociology as they learn the course content. The discussion questions and suggested additional readings and resources at the end of every chapter will provide students the opportunity to delve further into the topics covered and help create full and nuanced discussions, grounded in the oreal worldo work of public sociologists.Sociologists in Action, will include original, brief, highly readable articles from a wide array of Public Sociologists in Action, describing some of their work that has impacted society. The authors carefully choose sociologists who are using their skills and research on a wide range of issues, and through a wide variety of sociological methods and venues.Each chapter will contain four or five, 3-5 page PSIA pieces that will correspond closely to each of the first 11 chapters in The Engaged Sociologist, discluding the chapters on theory and methods. The majority of the PSIA sections will be written by the PSIAs themselves and carefully edited by Korgen and White. The SIA pieces in The Engaged Sociologist: Public Sociologists in Action will be significantly longer than the one-page SIA boxes in The Engaged Sociologist. This will allow for a deeper exploration of the specific sociological tools being applied as well as the methods and processes leading to critical social change. At the end of each chapter, the authors will include discussion questions that relate the SIA pieces to the topics in the corresponding chapters in The Engaged Sociologist

About Author

Kathleen Odell Korgen is a professor of sociology at William Paterson University, a comprehensive university in Wayne, New Jersey. Kathleen has co-authored or co-edited numerous books that teach students to use the sociological tools they gain in their classes and to find inspiration from public sociologists and fellow sociology students. These books include The Engaged Sociologist: Connecting the Classroom to the Community, Sociologists in Action: Sociology, Social Change, and Social Justice and Sociologists in Action on Inequalities: Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality. She has also written or edited the following books on race relations and racial identity: Race Policy and Multiracial Americans (forthcoming), Multiracial Americans and Social Class, Crossing the Racial Divide: Close Friendships Between Black and White Americans, and From Black to Biracial: Transforming Racial Identity Among Americans. Kathleen works as a consultant for other sociology departments as a member of the Departmental Resources Group of the American Sociological Association. She has received William Paterson University’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship/Creative Expression and the university’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Jonathan M. White, PhD, is director of the Bentley Service Learning Center and associate professor of sociology at Bentley University in Massachusetts. His primary areas of specialization are inequality, poverty, globalization, human rights, and public sociology. Dr. White has received numerous teaching and humanitarian awards. He is the founding director of Sports for Hunger, the Hunger Resource Center, and the Halloween for Hunger, We are Silent, and Pass-the-Fast campaigns. He serves on the board of directors for Free The Children, Peace Through Youth, Me to We, and the Graduation Pledge Alliance. Dr. White has authored several articles in the fields of inequality and globalization. His work on public sociology includes coediting (with Kathleen Korgen and Shelley White) Sociologists in Action: Sociology, Social Change, and Social Justice (2014) and Sociologists in Action on Inequalities: Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality (2015). He is also currently writing a book titled Hungry to Be Heard: Voices From a Malnourished America. Dr. White lives in Waltham, Massachusetts, with his wife, Shelley, and is the very proud uncle of his 13 nieces and nephews, Jarred, Kyle, Tyler, Arielle, Cameron, Brianna, Mikayla, Joshua, Jack, Logan, Tyler, Joey, and Brookelyn.

Shelley K. White, PhD, MPH, is a sociologist and Assistant Professor of Health Sciences and Public Health at Worcester State University. She recently taught in the Sociology Department at Simmons College, where she also coordinated the Simmons World Challenge - an interdisciplinary, student-led learning program which creates actionable solutions to global social justice problems. Shelley’s teaching and research focus on health and illness, globalization and development, inequalities, social movements and social justice. She previously worked in HIV/AIDS policy globally and domestically, and serves on the board of directors of Free the Children and SocMed. She is co-editor of Sociologists in Action: Sociology, Social Change, and Social Justice (with Kathleen Odell Korgen and Jonathan White), (2nd Edition, Sage 2013) and her recent publications appear in the Journal of Human Rights Practice; Education, Citizenship and Social Justice; Public Health Reports; and Critical Public Health.