SSSP 2025 Annual Meeting
Date: Saturday, August 9
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:10 PM
Membership and Outreach Committee, 2024-25 & 2025-26
Room: Medinah Parlor
Date: Saturday, August 9
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:10 PM
Conflict, Social Action, and Change
Room: Marshfield Room
Date: Saturday, August 9
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:10 PM
Session 038: Community Approaches to Mental Health: Educators, Policy-Makers and Social Identities
Room: Indiana Room
Sponsors: Disability, Mental Wellness, and Social Justice
Educational Problems
Organizers: Douglas J. Engelman, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Lily Ivanova, University of British Columbia
Melinda Leigh Maconi, Moffitt Cancer Center
Presider: Lily Ivanova, University of British Columbia
Discussant: Melinda Leigh Maconi, Moffitt Cancer Center
Description: How do communities, experts and researchers come together to understand, support and frame community mental health and wellbeing challenges? This session will explore the innovative ways communities are collaborating to solve complex community health challenges, including schools navigating safety in a climate of school shootings, educational institutions supporting students with disabilities and across socio-economic barriers, and academics and activists resisting social framings of health. Papers will share insights about best practices, successful partnerships, and ongoing barriers to holistic solutions.
Papers:
“Community-based Approaches to Increase Safety and Socio-Emotional Resilience in K-12 Settings: A Courageous Conversation,” Angie P. Mejia, Research in Action, Camila Bagley, University of Illinois Chicago, Noah Shore, Cradle 2 Career, Paul Sambanis, Casey Callas, Emily Bouchie and Hugh McCorkle, University of Illinois Chicago
“The Impact of Active Shooter Drills on Student Health and Wellbeing,” Anthony A. Peguero, Arizona State University
“Disability and Visibility: Perceptions of Disability Accommodations among Students at Southeastern Louisiana University and its Efficacy,” Leah R. Peevy, Southeastern Louisiana University
“Digital Dreams and Dilemmas: Perspectives from Students and Teachers,” Upali Bhattacharya, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
“Insurgent Sociology against the Scientific Appeal,” Marquisele Mercedes, Brown University and Monica Kriete, Fatty MPH, LLC
Date: Saturday, August 9
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:10 PM
THEMATIC
Session 039: Category Crisis: South Asian Immigrant Experiences in the US
Room: Kimball Room
Sponsor: Critical Race and Ethnic Study
Organizer, Presider &
Discussant: Rafia Javaid Mallick, Georgia State University
Description: This session explores the complexities of South Asian immigrant life in the U.S., addressing challenges like the Census category labeling crisis, which often misrepresents their identities. It highlights the struggles immigrants face in balancing cultural heritage with the expectations of their new homeland. Through personal narratives and scholarly insights, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of assimilation—the tension between preserving roots and integrating into American society. This discussion offers an enlightening and empowering platform for South Asian voices, fostering awareness and understanding of their multifaceted experiences within a broader audience.
Papers:
“Dating and Courtship Preference: Do Children of Muslim Bangladeshi Immigrants Want Traditional Partners?” Fatema Zohara, Loyola University Chicago
“Indian Tech Workers’ Identity Discourses in Activism in India and the United States,” Rianka Roy, Wake Forest University
“The Gulabi Stories Initiative: Exploring Identity, Healing, and Resistance through South Asian Diaspora Narratives,” Meghna Bhat, Independent Scholar and Consultant
“Understanding the Experiences of South Asian Immigrants in the United States: A Multifaceted Theoretical Analysis,” Rafia Javaid Mallick, Georgia State University
Date: Saturday, August 9
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:10 PM
Session 040: Current Issues of Anti-DEI Rhetoric in the United States
Room: Wilson Room
Sponsors: Bristol University Press | Home of Policy Press
Program Committee
Organizer &
Presider: David G. Embrick, University of Connecticut
Description: The session is an open invitation to discuss the current anti-DEI politics, policies, and practices as they relate to research and publishing. The panel is a wide collection of folx who have extensive experience in research and publishing and will start by discussing what is currently happening in their spaces and how they are approaching the new reality(ies). However, the session is expected to be a communal one in that we hope for full participation by all who attend.
Panelists:
David Brunsma, Virginia Tech
Marlese Durr, Wright State University
Angie Beeman, Baruch College, CUNY
Kasey Henricks, University of Illinois Chicago
Emily Ross, Bristol University Press
Date: Saturday, August 9
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:10 PM
THEMATIC
Session 041: Insurgent Sociology in Health Care
Room: Buckingham Room
Sponsors: Health, Health Policy, and Health Services
Sociology, Social Work, and Social Welfare
Organizer: William Cabin, New York University Silver School of Social Work
Presider: Loretta E. Bass, The University of Oklahoma
Description: The session focuses on new views on health care policy and social policy that appear insurgent in their direction.
Papers:
“‘The Proof is in the Pudding’: A Qualitative Examination of the Weight-inclusive Healthcare Delivery from the Perspective of Weight-inclusive Healthcare Practitioners,” Gabby Gomez, Oklahoma State University, Winner of the Health, Health Policy, and Health Services Division’s Student Paper Competition
“Architecture of Care: The Value of Studying Hospitals as Walk-Through Machines,” Joseph Renow, Illinois Institute of Technology
“Comparing the Impact of the Trump Presidential Eras on the Medicare for All Movement,” Lindy Hern, University of Hawaii at Hilo
“DIY HRT Usage among Transgender and Non-Binary Young Adults in a Restrictive Climate,” Estefany Londono, Dahlia Wrubluski, Shannon K. Carter, Lindsay Taliaferro, J. Scott Carter, Eric W. Schrimshaw and Elena Cyrus, University of Central Florida
“Recovery Capitalism: How Does Alberta’s Recovery Model Put Together the Social Problem of Drug Use and its Solutions?” Graham George Macdonald, University of Toronto, Humber River Health and Leigha Comer, Western University
“Revolutionizing Heart Health: Applying Insurgent Sociological Approaches to Understand Black Men Perceptions on Cardiovascular Health Risk Reduction,” Carlos N. Chapman II, Junior R. Hopwood and Stephanie L. Compton, Grambling State University
Date: Saturday, August 9
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:10 PM
Session 042: CRITICAL DIALOGUE: Intersecting Technological, Healthcare, and Social Relations
Room: Chicago Room
Sponsors: Environment and Technology
Institutional Ethnography
Organizers &
Presiders/Discussants: Laura Parson, North Dakota State University
Alex Megelas, Concordia University
Description: Exploring intersecting technological, healthcare and social relations through institutional ethnography, ethnography, and qualitative methods.
Papers:
“A Hundred Years of Teaching Experience Confronts Generative AI Unprovoked,” Patricia Lengermann and Gillian Niebrugge-Brantley, The George Washington University
“Algorithmic Scores as Boundary Objects: Risk Assessments and the Uses of Professional Authority in US Pretrial Hearings,” Sino V. Esthappan, Northwestern University
“Impact of Communication Technology on Social Interaction in a University Environment: An Ethnography Study,” Adetola A. Ajayi, University of West Georgia
“McDonaldization and Artificial Intelligence,” J. Michael Ryan, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
“‘I Still Can Feel the Sickness’: Withdrawal Experiences of People on Methadone Maintenance Treatment,” David Frank, Alexander S. Bennett, Luther Elliott and Charles M. Cleland, New York University, Beth E. Meyerson, Harm Reduction Research Lab, University of Arizona, Suzan M. Walters, New York University, Danielle M. Russell, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Caty Simon, North Carolina Survivors Union and Joy D. Scheidell, University of Central Florida
Date: Saturday, August 9
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:10 PM
Session 043: Social Problems Theory and Decarceration/Abolitionist Movements in Prison Studies
Room: Grant Park Parlor
Sponsors: Crime and Justice
Social Problems Theory
Organizer: Michael Adorjan, University of Calgary
Presider: Christopher Dum, Kent State University
Description: From Mathiesen’s (1974) The Politics of Abolition to contemporary, critical theorizing regarding ‘e-carceration’ (Arnett, 2019-2020), social movements within and beyond academia have aimed to ameliorate the caustic impacts of mass incarceration, especially in the United States. This session invites consideration of how social problems theorizing informs decarceration movements and abolitionist thinking and action. In what ways do critical approaches inform efforts and understandings regarding decarceration and/or abolitionism? What are the strengths and possible limitations of these frameworks? Rather than explicate trends in decarceration per se, this session foregrounds the role of theory in relation to the goals and outcomes of decarceration and/or abolitionism movements.
Papers:
“Addressing Mass Incarceration through the Abolishment of Criminal Records,” Casey Bohrman, West Chester University and Margo Campbell, Widener University
“Carceral Feminist Failures: Unpacking the Punitive Approaches to Gender-based Violence and Their Consequences,” Clarissa M. Punla, University of California, Irvine
“Complicating Conceptualizations of Anti-racism within the Abolition Movement through Monoracism and Black/White Multiraciality,” Alizé B. Hill, The University of Chicago
“Nigerian Asuwada Theory, Mass Incarceration, and Restorative Justice Frameworks,” Shawn Dougherty, The Graduate Center, CUNY
“Prison Abolition in New York State: A Comparative Study of Attica and Rikers Island,” Shaneya Nyasia Simmelkjaer, Syracuse University
“Supervising the Margins: Probation Practices, Racialized Governance, and the Expansion of Surveillance in California’s Community Supervision System,” Amalia Mejia, University of California, Irvine
Date: Saturday, August 9
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:10 PM
Session 044: Universities Confronting their Past: Social Justice Approaches to Confront and Address Complex Legacies of Harm
Room: Spire Parlor
Sponsor: Program Committee
Organizer &
Presider: Assata Zerai, The University of New Mexico
Description: Growing numbers of insurgent social scientists are pursuing decolonial approaches to confront epistemicide, extraction, and marginalization in higher education. This session explores this issue in settings in which legacies of harm may involve race, ethnicity, culture, citizenship, state and tribal sovereignty, and international dimensions, among others that must be addressed simultaneously in university settings. These concerns are often complex given that they are numerous, multidimensional, intertwined, and often clashing. Both personal and institutional reflexivity are required, as all have occupied spaces as perpetrators, targets, and survivors. This is especially relevant in the context of the colonial legacies of the westernized university. Presenters are invited to address the above topic from the point of view of researchers, activists, and/or scholar-activists.
Papers:
“Epistemic Justice in Social Science Research: An Asian American Feminist Perspective,” Melissa Luong, Vanderbilt University
“Lessons from Designing a Summer Intensive Undergraduate Research Program for Cultural Responsivity,” Tryphenia B. Peele-Eady, The University of New Mexico, Tahira Reid Smith, Penn State University and Meeko Oishi, The University of New Mexico
“Reclaiming Authenticity in Translation: A Re-examination of Pliny E. Goddard’s Jicarilla Apache Texts,” Mariann Skahan, The University of New Mexico
“The Digital Divide in Higher Education: Online Course Investments at Minority-Serving vs. Predominantly White Institutions,” Kea Saper, University of California, San Diego
“The University of Illinois Black Student Enrollment Project,” Jessica Ballard-Lawrence, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
“Unpacking the Performativity of Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Designation: Holding the University of New Mexico Accountable and Developing a Call to Action,” Florence Emily Castillo, Texas Christian University, Angeles Rubi Castorena, University of California, Irvine and Nancy López, The University of New Mexico
