Youth, Aging and Life Course Division Newsletter Society for the Study of Social Problems FALL 2008 ------------------------------------------- Chair’s Note Heather Dillaway, Wayne State University Hello to all Youth, Aging and Life Course (YALC) Division members! I hope this newsletter finds you all enjoying the remaining bits of Fall. It is a pleasure to offer you this newsletter as I continue into my second year as Chair of the YALC Division of SSSP. This year, Leslie Elrod, Assistant Professor of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Cincinnati, has volunteered to co-edit our newsletter and I hope that you benefit from both of our efforts to bring you our division’s news. After reading, please let us know how we’re doing, and if you’d like other information included in future newsletter. Please send us the details on your career moves, recognitions, recent publications, job openings, or calls for papers for future newsletters as well! We had a very successful program at the 58th annual SSSP meetings in Boston this past August. Overall, our nine panel sessions drew in over 100 audience members, which is terrific considering that we are one of the smaller divisions in SSSP. We were also responsible for recruiting about 40 presenters to the meetings. I want to thank all of you for doing an excellent job in putting together an exciting and comprehensive conference program, and I hope that you will consider coming to San Francisco for the 59th annual SSSP meeting, to make our division’s sections an even bigger success! The theme of the SSSP meetings in 2009 is “Race, Ethnicity, and the Continuing Problem of the Color Line.” We have just received final approval from SSSP for the YALC sessions proposed for the 2009 meetings, so you can look forward to panel sessions and roundtable sessions on the following topics at the upcoming meetings: Proposed Panel Session Topics for the 2009 Meetings: Activism across the Life Course The Elderly and Crime Race, Gender and the Body Politic Gender, Aging, and Medical Technology Childhoods Innovative Approaches to Eldercare Ageism and Economic Inequality Giving and Receiving Care Race, Ethnicity, and Aging Death and Dying Youth and Alcohol Juvenile Law Youth, Organizing and Work Peer Groups and Delinquency Studies Thank you to the following people who helped me propose these sessions for the 2009 meetings: Leslie Elrod, Hava Gordon, Elizabeth Gage, J. D. Wolfe, Leah Rogne, Aisha Bonner, Reuben Roth, Luz Gonzalez, Stephen J. Morewitz, Cheryl Stults, Abigail Brooks, Ronnie Steinberg, Elizabeth Pare`, John Baugher, Karen Weiss, and Sarah Whiteford. Remember to look for the SSSP Call for Abstracts for the 2009 meetings in another month or so, and submit your abstracts for presentation at these sessions! We wish you the best for the rest of your Fall 2008 semester. Expect another newsletter around the New Year, as we get ready to jumpstart our work on the 2009 SSSP meetings! Heather Dillaway and Leslie Elrod, Newsletter Co-Editors ----------------------------------------------------------------------- REMINDER: 2009 Annual Meeting of SSSP Theme: “Race, Ethnicity, and the Continuing Problem of the Color Line” August 7-9, 2009 The Stanford Court Hotel San Francisco, CA Visit: http://sssp1.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------- Students in the Spotlight: J. D. Wolfe and Elizabeth Gage In 2008, we had two graduate student paper award winners. Joseph (J. D.) Wolfe, PhD student in the Department of Sociology at Indiana University, won first place for his paper, “A Time to Mature? Age at First Birth and Alcohol Use.” Elizabeth Gage, former PhD student at The State University of New York at Buffalo, won an honorable mention for her paper, “Socioeconomic Status and Health Care Behavior: How SES Impacts the Ways Parents of Children with Cancer Navigate Health Care Systems.” J. D. is still working on his PhD at Indiana University. He is also working as the managing editor of reviews at Journal of Health and Social Behavior (under the editor Eliza Pavalko), and is engaged in several research projects, including a cross cohort comparison of midlife depression and the effect of parenthood on graduate education.  Elizabeth has completed her PhD and is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY.  She is continuing her research on health care navigation, health behavior and health disparities. Abstracts for both of the winning papers can be found below. Please join me in congratulating these student winners! First Place: “A Time to Mature? Age at First Birth and Alcohol Use “ Abstract: Recent research finds that age at first birth is related to inequalities in health. The present study extends this area by exploring the timing of parenthood and alcohol use. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) is used to estimate, based on age at first birth, group differences in trajectories of alcohol use and change in use before and after childbirth. For both trajectories and change in use, results indicate that age at first birth alters the effect of parenthood on alcohol use. For trajectories of use, those who have relatively early first births increase use as they enter midlife while those who have later births or remain childless decrease use. For men, racial differences in age at first birth and alcohol use explain this relationship. Analysis of change in use after parenthood suggests that, without controls, alcohol use for those who have early first births remains stable as they enter parenthood. Those who delay parenthood, on the other hand, decrease use. Results suggest that the timing of transitions, along with issues of selection, deserve more consideration in future research on adult roles and alcohol use, and substance use deserves more attention in future research on the timing of parenthood and health. For more information about this paper, contact J.D. Wolfe at jdwolfe@indiana.edu. Honorable Mention: “Socioeconomic Status and Health Care Behavior: How SES Impacts the Ways Parents of Children with Cancer Navigate Health Care Systems.” Abstract: Does socioeconomic status (SES) impact the ways that parents of children who have cancer navigate health care systems? Scholars in the health and social sciences have long been interested in understanding the association between SES and health outcomes, and more recently, scholars have sought to understand what aspects of economic advantage and disadvantage contribute to these health disparities. My research explores whether, even when pediatric cancer patients have access to exactly the same doctors and medical facilities, families of varied economic backgrounds use these resources in different ways that may ultimately advantage those of higher SES. My point of departure from previous research is that I examine the health-related behaviors of individuals who have different SES backgrounds but who have access to the same medical resources. Using in-depth qualitative interviews and ethnographic field observation I compare the activities and strategies parents of different socioeconomic statuses undertake after a child has been diagnosed with cancer. Results reveal that even when families of high and low SES have access to the same medical resources they utilize these resources in systematically different ways. Findings show that families of high and low SES differ in the ways that they interact with medical professionals, comply with medical instructions and protocols, and utilize resources within and outside of the medical community to help manage their child’s care. For more information about this paper, contact Elizabeth at Elizabeth.Gage@RoswellPark.org. ------------------------------------------------ CALL FOR PAPER SUBMISSIONS 2009 GRADUATE STUDENT PAPER AWARD COMPETITION Deadline: 05/01/2009 Graduate students are encouraged to apply for the annual Youth, Aging, and the Life Course Division Graduate Student Paper Award Competition.  Papers should be able to contribute broadly to the sociology of youth, the sociology of aging, or the sociology of the life course.  One award will be made, and the winner will receive a monetary prize, student membership in SSSP for one year, 2009 conference registration, and a complimentary ticket to the 2009 SSSP awards banquet in San Francisco, CA, where the award will be made.  To be eligible, the paper must meet the following criteria: 1) the paper must have been completed between January 2008 and May 2009; 2) the paper must not have been accepted for publication (papers submitted for publication are eligible, as long as they are not already accepted; papers based on theses and dissertations are eligible as well); 3) all authors of the paper must be graduate students and the student who submits the paper must be first author; 4) the paper must be no longer than 30 double-spaced pages, including all notes, references, and tables; and 5) the author of the winning paper must be ready to present this paper at the SSSP meetings in San Francisco, CA, in August 2009.  To be considered for this award, graduate students should submit their papers electronically to the Chair of the Division.  Email two copies of the paper (i.e., one blind copy and one copy that includes a title page with all contact information), along with a brief letter of submission confirming your graduate student status, to Heather Dillaway, Division Chair, at dillaway@wayne.edu. ----------------------------------------------------------- Opportunities for Greater Participation in the YALC Division Award Committees: The Division makes an award for outstanding graduate student papers, and it is now initiating a new activism award (see the calls for submissions for both awards in this newsletter). If you would be willing to serve on the 2009 evaluation committees for either of these awards or if you have ideas about nominations for the activism award, please contact Heather Dillaway at dillaway@wayne.edu. In addition, encourage one of your students or peers to submit a paper for grad student paper award competition, or nominate yourself or a colleague for our new activism award! Name Our New Activism Award! We are hoping that YALC Division will brainstorm with us about a name for our Activism Award. We would like to name this award after an activist, activist organization, or activist-scholar who worked in support of “youth,” “aging,” and/or “life course” issues if we can. Once we have a list of possible names for the award, we will ask Division members to vote on the best name for the award. We hope to have the award named by the time we name our first winner at the August 2009 meetings. If you have ideas for the name of this award, please contact Heather Dillaway at dillaway@wayne.edu. Are You a Grad Student Who Can Format Newsletters? We need help making our newsletter look nicer! Volunteer a few hours of your time per year and get another line on your CV! If interested, please contact Leslie Elrod at Leslie.Elrod@uc.edu. Would You Be Willing to Write a Student Column for the Newsletter? Write or coordinate a column on graduate student views and issues! If interested, please contact Heather Dillaway at dillaway@wayne.edu. Would You Be Willing to Run for YALC Division Chair for 2009-2011? We need at least two division members who are willing to be nominated for the position of YALC Division Chair for 2009-2011. The new Division Chair will be elected this Winter and will serve from August 2009 to July 2011. The new chair would shadow Heather Dillaway at the 2009 meetings, and then take over the chairship after that. It’s not a hard job but a great way to get more involved in SSSP. If interested or if you know someone who might be interested, please contact Heather Dillaway at dillaway@wayne.edu. Don’t by shy! ---------------------------------------------------------- Selected Publications by Division Members: Enjoy Reading! Members were recently asked to submit news of recent publications. Remember to submit information about your recent publications so that we can keep track of your work! Submit information about recent publications to Leslie Elrod at Leslie.Elrod@uc.edu. Articles: Baugher, John Eric. 2008. "Facing Death: Buddhist and Western Hospice Approaches." Symbolic Interaction 31(3):259-284. Gordon, Hava Rachel. 2008. “Gendered Paths to Teenage Political Participation: Parental Power, Civic Mobility, and Youth Activism.” Gender & Society 22 (1): 31-55. Kristen W. Springer, Brenda K. Parker & Catherine Leviten-Reid. Forthcoming. "Making Space for Graduate Student Parents: Practice and Politics." Journal of Family Issues. Kristen W. Springer, Jennifer Sheridan, Daphne Kuo & Molly Carnes. 2007. "Long-Term Physical and Mental Health Consequences of Childhood Physical Abuse: Results from a Large Population-Based Sample of Men and Women." Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal 31(5). 517-530. Books: Elrod, Leslie. 2008. From Fat to Fabulous: Juvenile Obesity, Self-Esteem, and Coping Mechanisms. Saarbrücken, Germany: Verlag Dr. Müller Publications. Mezey, Nancy J. 2008. New Choices, New Families: How Lesbians Decide about Motherhood.  Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.    Root, Kenneth A. and Rosemarie J. Park. 2008. Forced Out: Older Workers Confront Job Loss. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FIRST YEAR FOR YALC ACTIVISM AWARD! A Message from the Chair of the Activism Award Committee: Hi, everyone, this is an exciting year for the YALC Division of SSSP, as we are establishing a new activism award. We have also established a committee to evaluate nominations and select an award winner, and I will be chairing this activism award committee for its first year. The focus of this year’s activism award committee is to identify nominees for the YALC Division activism award, which will be given for the first time at the awards banquet of the 2009 SSSP meetings.  In giving this award, we would like to honor an exceptional activist-scholar, activist organization, or activist in the community (with these groups or individuals receiving awards on a rotating basis over award years) who has made a significant contribution towards advocating for social justice for youth, aging individuals, or for some other “life course” issue.  These nominations can be specific to activists or activist organizations in our 2009 SSSP location (i.e., San Francisco, CA) or much more broad, as nominators see fit. Please send in your nominations (see the call for nominations below)!  Thank you in advance for supporting the initiation of this new Division award, and I look forward to receiving your nominations. Please direct any questions to me at hava.gordon@du.edu. Hava Rachel Gordon, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminology, University of Denver CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FIRST ANNUAL YOUTH, AGING, AND LIFE COURSE DIVISION ACTIVISM AWARD Deadline: 05/01/2009 The Youth, Aging, and the Life Course Division is initiating an annual Activism Award.  This annual award will be presented to an outstanding community activist, an outstanding community organization, or an outstanding scholar-activist whose work represents a clear commitment to social justice and positive social change around issues of youth, aging, or the life course broadly defined.  If you know of a community activist, activist organization, or activist-scholar whom you feel should be considered for this award, please mail or e-mail the nomination to Hava Gordon, Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, or Hava.Gordon@du.edu.  Please be sure to include the name of the community activist, organization, or scholar-activist, as well as a brief statement (no more than 1-2 pages of text) describing the activist and/or advocacy work of this person or organization and an explanation of why you feel this person or organization should receive the Youth, Aging, and Life Course Division’s Activism Award. We are purposely leaving this call for nominations open to nominations from both scholarly communities and activist communities and expect that the recipient of this award will rotate between these two groups over time. The winner of the 2009 Activism Award will receive recognition at the Awards Banquet of the Society for the Study of Social Problems in August 2009 in San Francisco, CA. Any questions about the nominations process or the award itself should be directed to Hava Gordon at Hava.Gordon@du.edu. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Student Travel Funds available! The Lee Student Support Fund Committee announces funds available for Undergraduate and Graduate Students to participate in the 2009 Annual Meeting, August 7-9, San Francisco, CA. In recognition of Al Lee’s commitment to social justice and his history of critical contributions to the Society for the Study of Social Problems, SSSP established the Lee Student Support Fund. The fund provides up to $500.00 in travel support for undergraduate and graduate student conference participants.  Awards are allocated by committee.  In addition to need, the Committee may recognize among other factors, the Society’s commitment to diversity, as well as consider the applicant’s commitment to scholar-activism, and interdisciplinary work. Only complete applications will be reviewed, and there is only one award per applicant. An online application must be submitted no later than March 16, 2009, and will be automatically sent to Phoebe Morgan, The Faculty Ombuds Program, Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 15010, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5010. If questions, email Dr. Morgan at phoebe.morgan@nau.edu. The mandatory online application for this Student Travel Award can be found at the following web address: http://www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/pageId/171.  ----------------------------------------------------------------- TEACHING CORNER In an effort to jumpstart a column on teaching styles and tips, Leslie Elrod volunteers her recent experiences with the “3 C’s” – that is, combining the traditional classroom, computers and community engagement. For the next newsletter we are looking for someone else to volunteer their teaching experiences, tips, or styles, so that we can make this newsletter a place for conversation and interaction. If interested in writing up something about your teaching, please contact Heather Dillaway at dillaway@wayne.edu. Tri-Dimensional Hybrid Teaching in the Study of Social Problems Leslie RS Elrod University of Cincinnati, RWC In keeping with the SSSP commitment to the recognition and study of vital social problems, over the past several years I have been using a method of tri-dimensional hybrid teaching that includes traditional classroom, computer, and community engagement in the form of academic service learning. In academics a great deal of emphasis is placed on outcome assessments, generally in the form of examinations. In the case of undergraduate, particularly lower-level (freshman, sophomore) courses, these examinations frequently rely on memorization and regurgitation rather than overall concept comprehension. This examination format tends to place a significant amount of unnecessary stress on students; while outcomes are reflective of little more than short-term memorization skills, these same exam results are largely indicative of the final course grade. In the end, the outcome assessed becomes memorization rather than material mastery. If, as educators, we are interested not in strict memorization but in conceptual competency, then perhaps a different method of student assessment is necessary. Because I feel that memorization-based assessments are reflective of little more than one’s ability to memorize material for short periods of time, I elect to conduct class from an applied-perspective. Rather than the standard “talk-and-chalk,” class time is filled with directed clarification and in-class individual and group projects designed to make the subject matter personal and therefore more memorable, as it becomes personally meaningful. While this approach seems to work well and is generally enjoyed by students, there is still the original problem of outcome assessment, particularly in an introductory, foundation-building course. In addition to projects designed to assess concept application, I wanted to ensure that students were reading and understanding the appropriate material. I thus opted to utilize online testing on Blackboard. In so doing, students did not have to memorize the material but instead used time out of class to use any printed resources, usually the textbook, to find the appropriate answers to the extensive list of objective questions. Because this was an open-book test with a full week to complete the exam, the exam itself was by all accounts long—approximately 140 questions per exam. While students could take as much time as they needed to finish the exam (until the expiration of the week-long deadline), most students finished the exam in four to five hours. The assessment reflected the students’ diligence and understanding without relying on memorization. Every student could get an “A” if they were willing to put the time and energy into understanding the material. The intent was to remove the unnecessary stress of memorization, enabling the students to instead focus on material comprehension. Valuing the face-to-face interaction of the traditional classroom and appreciating student interest in the flexibility offered by online accessibility, I felt students need a still deeper understanding of the world and of those whom they might not encounter every day. Beyond that, I also wanted to ensure that the students I am teaching are equipped to confront issues, identify prejudices, and hopefully, work to eliminate them. I felt that students would benefit from developing a greater understanding and appreciation of often overlooked parts of the community. What transpired was a blending of renewed self-awareness, confrontation of previously unrecognized prejudices, and a new-found respect for people with different abilities. In addition to the requirement of service hours, students were required to apply their new-found knowledge in a setting that typically takes them outside of their comfort zones, providing an objective observation experience. For example, Introduction to Sociology students were required to journal their participant observation of their service learning (including maps), helping them understand and develop their sociological imaginations. All told, over an academic year students contributed over 7000 service hours to the MR/DD (Mental Retardation/Developmental Disability) community. As a result of their positive experiences and newfound friendships, several students intend to continue serving beyond their course requirements. Many described the valuable relationships and incredible respect they had for both the MRDD consumers and staff. At least one student decided to change her major to special education as a direct result of their positive interaction. While undeniably a lot of coordination was required to make this service learning experience a success, I can say without a hint of doubt that the results were certainly worth the effort, producing a win-win situation for all involved. I believe the students developed a greater understanding of a neglected population and respect for the Butler County Board of MR/DD tag line: "Together, we are the Community." Correspondence about this article should be directed to Leslie at Leslie.Elrod@uc.edu. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CALLS FOR PAPERS We have looked around for calls for papers that might be relevant for YALC Division members. If you know of other calls for papers that should be included in the next newsletter, please forward them to Heather Dillaway at dillaway@wayne.edu. SELECTED CALLS FOR PAPERS: Marriage and Family Review announces a special issue concerned with the demography of marriages and families. We seek a range of papers that examine the demographic transitions of the family life course at various levels and lead to improved understanding and theory. We encourage contributions based on quantitative as well as qualitative data, including projection-based papers and those focused on population policy and analysis. Marriage and Family Review publishes research articles, commentary, and reviews related to the family unit and the complex issues affecting today’s families. Submit a letter of interest, including a one-paragraph overview of topic by October 15 to Kimberly Faust at faustk@winthrop.edu. Completed manuscripts are due March 1, 2009, via email and should be formatted in accordance with Marriage and Family Review guidelines. Research in the Sociology of Health Care. Papers are sought for volume 27 of Research in the Sociology of Health Care. The theme is Social Sources of Disparities in Health and Health Care and Linkages to Policy, Population Concerns and Providers of Care. Papers dealing with macro-level system issues and micro-level issues involving social sources of disparities in health and health care are sought. The focus can be from a consumer side or a provider or policy perspective. Papers that raise issues of the availability of services, access to those services, quality of services, and the role of government would all be appropriate. For papers examining social sources of disparity in health and health care delivery systems in other countries, the focus could be on issues of delivery systems and ways in which revisions and changes impact population health, especially if those are also related to health care in the United States or other countries as well. The volume will contain 10 to 14 papers, generally between 20 and 40 pages in length. Send completed manuscripts or detailed outlines for review by February 15, 2009. For an initial indication of interest contact by January 10, 2009. Contact: Jennie Jacobs Kronenfeld, Sociology Program, School of Social and Family Dynamics, Box 873701, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4802; (480) 965-8053; Jennie.Kronenfeld@asu.edu. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- JOB OPENINGS OF INTEREST Lots of good opportunities for YALC Division members, especially in the areas of gerontology or family/life course studies! For those of you currently on search committees, feel free to send in information about your job openings for the next newsletter to Heather Dillaway at dillaway@wayne.edu or Leslie Elrod at Leslie.Elrod@uc.edu. SELECTED JOB OPENINGS: Coastal Carolina University, Lecturer. The Department of Sociology invites applications for a lecturer position. Duties include teaching (5) classes each semester, supervising student internships, and participating in departmental activities. Applicants should be able to teach introductory sociology courses and preferably courses in one of the following areas: crime, law and deviance, public sociology and social justice, and gerontology. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to undergraduate teaching. Appointment begins August 15, 2009. Candidates must have a master’s degree and at least 18 graduate level credit hours in sociology. Coastal Carolina University is a public mid-sized, comprehensive liberal arts-oriented institution. Coastal Carolina University is located in Conway, South Carolina, just nine miles from the Atlantic coastal resort of Myrtle Beach, one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the nation. It has an enrollment of 8,400 students and is expected to have continued growth for the next several years. Coastal Carolina University is a part of the South Carolina system of public education and has close ties with its founders, the Horry County Higher Education Commission. Candidates should submit a letter of application (outlining interest in the position, qualifications, and approach to teaching), a current CV, three reference letters, with at least two (2) addressing teaching, and transcripts of all graduate work (copies are acceptable at this time) electronically at: http://jobs.coastal.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Copies of transcripts and letters of reference not available to be submitted electronically may be sent via regular mail to: Dr. Sara Brallier, Search Committee Chair, Dept. of Psychology and Sociology, Coastal Carolina University, PO Box 261954, Conway, SC 29526. Eastern Michigan University, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor. Eastern Michigan University's Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology seek applicants with teaching and research interests in sociology of the family for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor Level, beginning Fall 2009. See our department website at www.emich.edu/sac. To apply for this position, please send a letter of application, a detailed vita, and three letters of reference, electronically to: academic_hr@emich.edu. Please make sure to include Posting #F0937 in the subject line and send attachments only.  Do not type in the body of the email. Review of applications will begin on November 10, 2008 and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified. For more information, contact Robert M. Orrange, Search Committee Chair, rorrange@emich.edu. EMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Women and minority groups are encouraged to apply. Illinois State University, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor. The Department of Sociology invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in sociology. Priority given to candidates with expertise in sociology of aging and the life course. Candidates with expertise in environmental sociology or sociology of organizations, occupations and work will also be considered. The successful candidate will have a well-defined research agenda and a record of successful teaching. Appointment begins on 8/16/09; completion of Ph.D. in sociology expected by that date. Review of applications will begin 11/1/08 and continue until position is filled. To assure full consideration, send letter of application, curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, examples of scholarly work, and evidence of teaching effectiveness by Nov. 1 to: #01263 Search Committee, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Campus Box 4660, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4660. Inquiries may be directed to memccomb@ilstu.edu. EEO/AA Employer. John Carroll University, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor or Instructor. The Sociology Department seeks to fill a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor or Instructor level. The Ph.D. is preferred at time of appointment, but ABD will be considered. Appointment will be effective fall semester 2009. Applicants should have qualifications in symbolic interactionist social psychology and sociology of the family with teaching and research experience in those areas. Teaching responsibilities also include introductory sociology. Secondary areas of teaching and research are welcome. The successful applicant is expected to exhibit excellence in undergraduate teaching. Applicants should submit the following materials: 1) curriculum vita, 2) original transcripts, 3) a writing sample or copy of a recent publication, 4) samples of course syllabi, 5) a letter of application which indicates a commitment to the liberal arts and describes the applicant’s research plans, and 6) three letters of reference to: Dr. Richard Clark, Chair, The Search Committee, Department of Sociology, John Carroll University, University Heights-Cleveland, Ohio 44118. Deadline for submission of all materials is November 3, 2008. John Carroll, the Jesuit University in Cleveland, is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer. Applicants are invited to visit the university’s web site at http://www.jcu.edu. Miami (OH) University, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor. Miami University School of Education, Health & Society Department of Family Studies and Social Work. The mission of the School of Education, Health, and Society at Miami University is to prepare transformative leaders. Through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and community partnerships, the school provides dynamic and innovative programs that encourage international perspectives. Our integrated human experience prepares graduates to generate knowledge, educate, serve, and promote wellbeing in diverse and global settings through ethical, democratic practices. Faculty members work in an environment that promotes a holistic approach to both teaching and research. They are encouraged to align their teaching, scholarship, and service in an interdisciplinary fashion in order to promote aggressive solutions to the issues faced our society. The School of Education, Health, and Society celebrates the opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration facilitated by the five departments (Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology, Family Studies and Social Work, Kinesiology and Health, and Teacher Education) in our division. It is our belief that the synergy from this comprehensive approach creates the kind of integrated human experience that is essential to excellence in research and teaching. Position: Social Work, Assistant Professor, Tenure Track As a department committed to Miami University and the mission of the school of Education, Health and Society, the Family Studies and Social Work (FSW) Department is accepting applications for the position of Assistant Professor (tenure track) in Social Work at its Oxford Campus. The Social Work Program offers an undergraduate BSW social work degree accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Miami University, routinely recognized for its outstanding undergraduate education and its beautiful campus, is located near Dayton and Cincinnati, and serves close to 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students at its Oxford, Hamilton and Middletown campuses and its learning center in West Chester. Position Duties: Professional responsibilities include teaching undergraduate social work courses, establishing a substantial record of scholarship, seeking external funding, advising students, and providing service to the university, community and profession. In addition to the aforementioned tasks, the successful applicant will also help to coordinate the field practicum experience by establishing and maintaining relationships with community agencies, providing support for students in field placement through visits as well as plan and implement field supervisor orientation sessions. Required Qualifications: Required qualifications include a Ph.D. or ABD completed by August 17, 2009 in Social Work or related field; An MSW degree with a minimum of two years post-MSW practice experience, and experience working with multicultural and diverse populations. Desired Qualification: Higher education-level teaching experience, strong publication potential, external funding acquisition potential, familiarity with practice skill instruction, knowledge of CSWE accreditation standards, ability to teach courses in family studies, serve on family studies graduate committees and work with linguistically diverse learners is desired. Applicants are required to provide a letter of intent, curriculum vita and at least three letters of reference. Syllabi of courses previously taught, along with student and/or peer evaluations of teaching are welcomed, if available. Please submit applications to Dr. W. Sean Newsome, Associate Professor and BSW Program Director, Miami University, Family Studies and Social Work Department, McGuffey Hall, Campus Av., Room 101J, Oxford, OH 45056. Screening of applicants begins October 25th and will remain open until the position is filled. The salary is competitive. Miami (OH) University is an EOE/AA employer with smoke-free campuses. Campus Crime and Safety Report – can be accessed at; www.muohio.edu/righttoknow. A hard copy of the report can be obtained upon request. Miami University offers an excellent benefits package. For information please visit www.muohio.edu/benefits. For information about Miami (OH) University, please visit www.miami.muohio.edu. Minnesota State University, Mankato, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor. Minnesota State University, Mankato, Department of Sociology and Corrections invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position beginning August 17, 2009. The candidate must have a Ph.D. in Sociology or Gerontology (ABD will be considered). Responsibilities include working in the undergraduate and graduate programs in Sociology and Gerontology, teaching aging and applied sociology, and directing the University’s multidisciplinary gerontology program and its Center on Aging. Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2008. For a complete position description and application procedure, see: www.mnsu.edu/humanres/vacancy/ or phone Dr. Leah Rogne at 507-389-5610. AA/EOE and a Member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. Rutgers University – Newark, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor. The Department of Sociology and Anthropology invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position, to begin in September 2009. A Ph.D. by the date of appointment is required. Candidates must exhibit an active research agenda and strong publication potential. We are especially interested in candidates specializing in the sociology of family, sexualities, sex and gender, or social stratification. In addition, the successful candidate must be able to teach undergraduate courses in research methods and statistics. The successful candidate’s scholarly interests should fit with one or more campus-wide interdisciplinary graduate programs including the Division of Global Affairs, http://dga.rutgers.edu/; the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, http://www.cornwall.rutgers.edu; the Institute on Ethnicity, Culture and the Modern Experience http://ethnicity.rutgers.edu, the Graduate Program in American Studies, http://americanstudies.newark.rutgers.edu/index.htm, and the newly created Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights http://cghr.newark.rutgers.edu, in which department faculty are heavily involved. Rutgers University, Newark is consistently identified as the most culturally diverse national university by the U.S. News and World Report. The campus is located in New Jersey’s largest city just 20 minutes from Manhattan. Review of applications will begin on October 20, 2008 and continue until a candidate is selected. Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names of at least four references to: Professor Clayton A. Hartjen, Chair, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, 601 Hill Hall, 360 Martin Luther King Blvd., Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102-1801. Rutgers University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. University of North Dakota, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor. University of North Dakota-Department of Sociology is seeking applicants for a tenure track Assistant Professor of Sociology beginning August 16, 2009. Teaching areas should include some combination of Diversity in American Society, Aging, Population, Research Methods and Introduction to Sociology. Courses in the candidate’s specialty will also be considered. Candidates are expected to have a Ph.D. in Sociology or evidence of its completion before appointment. Evidence of excellence or promise of excellence in teaching effectiveness and research is required. The candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, maintain an active research program and provide service to the university and the discipline. Salary dependent upon qualifications. The University of North Dakota, the state’s flagship university, offers opportunities to collaborate with an entrepreneurial team of social scientists affiliated with the Northern Plains Center for Behavioral Research, the Center for Rural Health, the Social Science Research Center and the Center for Conflict Resolution. Regular teaching load is five courses per year. Send letter of application, statement of teaching and research philosophy, teaching evaluations, current vita, sample publications and three letters of reference to: Kathleen A. Tiemann, Chairperson, Sociology Department, 225 Centennial Drive Stop 7136, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-7136. Review of applications will begin November 1, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. Applications accepted by mail only. The University of North Dakota is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and women and minorities are encouraged to apply. University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA), Tenure-Track Assistant Professor. The Department of Sociology at the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) invites applicants for an Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) beginning in the Fall of 2009. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Sociology and have a demonstrably strong record of commitment to scholarly achievement and teaching effectiveness. Teaching areas and research specialization are open, but preference may be given to candidates whose research interests include the Sociology of Health and/or the Sociology of Aging. Teaching areas may include, but are not limited to, the Sociology of Deviance, Qualitative Research Methods, the Family, Sociological Theory, and/or Border/Latino studies. The candidate is expected to teach both undergraduate and graduate courses, engage in research, seek outside funding, and provide service to the University and the community. For a complete position description, please visit the Human Resource website at http://www.utpa.edu/humanresources/employment/faculty.html. UTPA is located in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, fifteen miles from Mexico and 60 miles from South Padre Island. The Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas is a strategic location at the center of social and economic change. With a population of over one million, the Rio Grande Valley is one of the fastest growing regions in the country. The growth in wealth and extensive poverty makes this region one of the most important for sociological research with abundant opportunities for funding and collaboration with universities and government agencies on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. UTPA is a leading educator of Hispanic/Latino students, with enrollment expected to surpass 18,000 students (88% Hispanic) by 2009. The department offers both BA and MS degrees in Sociology. UTPA is adding new Ph.D. programs, and Sociology faculty members regularly sit on doctoral committees. Please send an application letter, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of three individuals who have agreed to send letters of recommendation. Review of materials will begin on January 15, 2009 and continue until the position is filled. Salary is negotiable and will be commensurate to qualifications and experience. For questions regarding this position please contact Dr. Guang-zhen Wang, Search Committee Chair at 956-381-3321. Submit application materials to: College of Social and Behavioral Sciences-Office of the Dean, ATTN: Monica Denny, Administrative Service Officer, 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, Texas 78539-2999. University of Wisconsin-Stout, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor. The University of Wisconsin-Stout, a fully accredited and career oriented institution located in western Wisconsin, 60 miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul, with a student population of 8,800, invites applications for a tenure-track, assistant professor position in sociology commencing August, 2009. The successful candidate will normally teach 12 credit hours per semester of introductory and other sociology courses which complement and expand the department’s current offerings; contribute to the University’s commitments to general education, diversity, globalization, and a program in Applied Social Science; collaborate with faculty across disciplines in conducting applied research in business and industry, non-profit, and government sectors; and engage in scholarly activity and pursue external funding. Also be responsible for professional service including committee work, student advisement, and course and program development. Ph.D. or ABD in Sociology and Ph.D. awarded by the beginning of the appointment, demonstrated potential to teach undergraduate non-majors, and scholarly promise are required. The successful candidate will have an applied focus in their area of specialization. Interest in on-line delivery is a plus. Screening of applications will begin November 17, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. Send letter of application, curriculum vitae, copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and contact information for three current references to: Becky Simonson, Recruitment Coordinator - Sociology, Social Science Department, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI 54751. UW-Stout values diversity of people, ideas and experiences and is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action. A criminal background check will be conducted in compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act. UW-Stout is designated as Wisconsin’s polytechnic university and is a laptop campus where instruction is expected to be student centered, focused on an applied approach in all of its disciplines, and use of new teaching methodologies and technologies. Western Washington University, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor. The Department of Sociology invites applications for a tenure-track position, with area specialization in family and/or life studies, at the Assistant Professor level to begin September 2009 pending budgetary approval. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications. Applicants should have the Ph.D. by the time of appointment. Applicants must be willing to teach undergraduate courses in family and/or life course studies, have a commitment to undergraduate instruction, including collaborative research with undergraduates. We are looking for evidence of an active program of research/scholarship. Preference will be given to applicants who have the ability to teach undergraduate statistics and research methods. We also desire applicants to be familiar with and sensitive to cultural diversity concerns. Western Washington University is located in Bellingham, WA (population 75,000) located 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia, and 90 miles north of Seattle. Approximately 13,000 students attend the University; about 94% of these students are undergraduates. For more information about WWU, please see http://www.wwu.edu/. To apply, please send a letter of application, statement of teaching philosophy, sample syllabi and related teaching materials, teaching evaluations, vita, sample publications, and letters (addressing teaching and research qualifications) from three references to: Kristin Anderson, Chair, Search Committee, Department of Sociology, Western Washington University, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225-9081. FAX (360) 650-7295; email: Kristin.Anderson@wwu.edu. Applications received before November 21, 2008 will be guaranteed consideration. WWU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, persons with disabilities, Vietnam-era veterans and disabled veterans are encouraged to apply. All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires. For disability accommodation, call (360) 650-3774. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Interesting Facts about the 2008 Meetings: Our division sponsored nine panel sessions at the 2008 SSSP meetings in Boston, MA. Approximately 40 presentations were made in these nine sessions. Over 100 individuals attended these sessions as audience members. Thank you for making our 2008 panel sessions a success! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOW BIG IS THE YALC DIVISION? As of January 2008, there were 186 members of the YALC Division of SSSP. Right now, there are only 165 members. This means that some 2007 members did not renew their membership in our division. Please remember to support the YALC Division and, more generally, the study of Youth, Aging, and the Life Course, when you renew your SSSP membership in 2009. And be a good colleague and mentor: tell your peers and students that our division is active, interesting, and needs members! We are currently one of the smallest divisions, but let’s change that! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We hope you have enjoyed this newsletter! All feedback is welcomed, so please send comments about this newsletter to Heather Dillaway at dillaway@wayne.edu or Leslie Elrod at Leslie.Elrod@uc.edu. Thank You!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Letter from the SSSP President about Membership Renewal: PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS! October 1, 2008    Dear Colleagues and Friends,   The Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) has been hosting annual meetings for over half a century in various cities throughout North America.  These meetings, as well as the publication of Social Problems, bring an interdisciplinary community of scholars, practitioners, advocates, and students together to disseminate and promote critical research on the problems of social life.  Although the social problems of interest have changed over time, the larger commitment to developing research-informed social policies that enable us to dismantle barriers to justice has remained constant; indeed, this is one of the distinguishing characteristics if not the central mission of SSSP. Because social problems will continue to persist, we need organizations like SSSP to generate the research, education, and informed policy and practice that will help alleviate human suffering and promote justice. SSSP is committed to fostering these tools. With these considerations in mind, the theme of the 59th annual meetings in San Francisco is “Race, Ethnicity, and the Continuing Problem of the Color Line.”  This theme will to focus our attention on racial and ethnic inequality in contemporary society.  Despite many gains for people of color during the past few decades, racial and ethnic inequality remains a serious problem in the United States and other nations.  The San Francisco conference will examine the racial and ethnic dimensions of the many social problems studied by SSSP members, the sources and consequences of racial and ethnic inequality, and the social programs and political strategies that may reduce such inequality. Please join us in addressing and discussing one of the most critical issues of our times. I invite you to renew your membership and urge your colleagues and students to do the same.  You can renew via our secure website, http://www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/m/255/fuseaction/ssspmember.portal, or complete the attached renewal form and mail or fax it to the address/fax number at the top of the form.  The benefits of membership are numerous: receiving Social Problems, our newsletter, division newsletters, and information about the annual meeting.  I know that you will want to continue your connection to the most essential organization in our field.  Please consider the option of becoming a Sustaining Member (formerly Life Member).  Individuals who become Sustaining Members not only save money, but their contributions increase SSSP’s endowment and support the Society’s future activities.   Cordially, Steven E. Barkan SSSP President, 2008-09 University of Maine http://www.sssp1.org 2009 Annual Meeting, August 7-9, The Stanford Court Hotel, San Francisco, CA