Student Research
Dr. Chiquita Howard-Bostic trains students to synthesize sociological approaches using a holistic and comparative process of addressing issues of social inequality. By offering several points of reference, they build knowledge, connect real-life experiences, and are prepared to demonstrate the appropriate application of theories and concepts.
Service Learning
ADVENA, LLC AND ECCSSA
"Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement as an Expectation" explores mandatory service requirements in the Sociology curriculum. TYLER DOTSON and NADINE STOTLER presented the study at the International Conference in Education, Research, Humanities, and Statistics on November 17, 2017 in Washington DC. They took a close look at volunteerism by major and class status (freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior) to examine any significant findings that aligned with having a positive service experience.
“Transforming the College Experience using Service Learning” explored service learning as a transformational learning process in academia. LISA CARDEN , CASSIDY MORRIS , and RACHEL TYSOR presented about service learning as an academic tool on April 11, 2015 at the East Coast Colleges Social Science Association's 41st Annual Meeting in Herndon, VA. They explored the history of service learning in academia. The poster examined pros and cons of students’ college experiences when service learning is incorporated in the process. The poster also offers research findings about various challenges reported while interacting with the community during service projects. In particular, the poster introduces a more traditional purpose of incorporating service in fraternities and sororities. The student team presented a transformation of service learning in their classes as a curricular learner-centered teaching tool. Students enrolled in sociology courses completed a survey about their perceptions of current service learning projects offered at their institution.
Multicultural Education
ADVENA WORLD
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The presentation, “Survey of Multicultural Education in the Media and on Campus” described the importance of multicultural education and the effectiveness of multicultural pedagogy in creating positive images of minority group members. They conducted surveys assessing what college students have learned about race and ethnicity from faculty in courses and at campus events. The students also examined whether media images about different cultures impacted students’ attitudes about racism, ethnicity, and privilege. They presented survey findings and recommendations for effective multicultural education practices on campus. The study about multicultural education was an innovative strategy to enhance a group’s ability to recognize and appreciate pluralistic behavior. Shamika Bruinton, a sociology major from Woodbridge, Virginia, and Micah Johnson, a college student development and administration master’s major from Austin, Texas, attended the conference at the 2015 Interdisciplinary Conference on Education, Leadership, Humanities, and Arts in Washington, DC.
Accommodations/Disability Services
ECCSSA
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The project entitled, "Integration of Innovative Technology and Linguistics in Education and Disability Services" entails a poster presentation with accompanying handouts. The poster illustrates findings from a multimedia student-learning project and corresponding literature review that examines how innovative technology and linguistic tools enrich learning experiences for students, especially those with disabilities. The project promotes added social presence in an online learning environment via transcriptions, audio, visuals, and student-focused classroom notes. The literature describes software, methods, and teaching strategies that are accessible via computer or telephone. With this enhancement, students experience the sharing of personal life, professional interests, discussion about the course, and humor. JESSICA SMITH and FAROAT ANDASHEVA presented the poster on April 4, 2014 at the East Coast Colleges Social Science Association's 40th annual meeting in Herndon, VA.
Gender and Leadership Abroad
SOMERVILLE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
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The project entitled, “Gender and Leadership Abroad” took place in West Virginia and abroad in London and Oxford, England. The cooperative learning experience (SOCI 392) took place from Dec 5-10. The cooperative learning project offered an opportunity to expand the student’s knowledge on several aspects of gender. DEIDRE ELLIS completed 20 hours of local community service in WV. Then, as part of the cooperative learning experience, we attended the Welcome Collection Exhibition in London sponsored by the Institute of Sexology. The exhibition brought together more than 200 pieces of art, photography, and ethnology shaping behaviors, identity, and psychological theory of the study of sex and gender. The literature at the exhibit also highlighted various new options for focused groups and programs for transgendered teens. Finally, we attended the Oxford Women’s Leadership Symposium at the Margaret Thatcher Centre of Somerville College, University of Oxford from Dec 8-9, 2014. We encountered symposium participants who traveled from 17 different countries to share 50+ unique presentations about leadership processes and grass roots transformation. Educators, lawyers, community developers, and students presented several methodologies across diverse disciplines to enhance knowledge and encouraged dialogue about globally recognized leadership roles of women.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." —Wayne Gretzky