Position
Academic Background
Sample Courses
Teaching Philosophy
Research & Interests
Notable Academic Appointments & Awards
Publication Highlights
Selected Scholarly Presentations

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Position            

• Professor of Sociology

Academic Background      

• Fordham University
  • Ph.D. in Sociology,
  • M.A. in Sociology,
• Albertus Magnus College:  B.A. in Sociology, magna cum laude, 

Sample Courses Taught at Providence College   

• Introduction to Sociology
• Social Change
• Internship on Women and Family Issues
• The Changing Family
• Social Statistics
• Sociology Internship

Teaching Philosophy       

1. Always study behavior, issues, and ideas in a socio-cultural, (as well as an historical, political, and economic) context.
2. Learning requires keeping an open mind on the issues being discussed, listening to and respecting other's points of view, evaluating the evidence on which their positions are based, and considering the implications of each position. 
3. Learning needs to be active and interactive.  Active participation in my classes is a VERY  IMPORTANT way for you to take responsibility for, and ownership of, what you learn.  Interactive learning involves talking "to" rather than "at" others in the class--this means other students as well as me.
4. Collaboration with other students on selected assignments can enrich what you learn by putting ideas and course-relevant procedures and skills in perspective.
5. Thinking critically is an important skill to develop and use in analyzing the society in which you live, the major social issues and problems in that society, and your experiences as a member of that society at a given period of time.
6. Thinking globally is a good way to learn for a society to learn more about itself.
7. Students should take responsibility for (ownership of) what you learn (or don't learn, despite the opportunity to learn). 
8. It helps to like where you are. A positive attitude is very important in getting the most out of a course.

Research & Interests                

1. Studying and writing about trends and issues in international adoption, with an emphasis on adoptions of older children (non-infants) and siblings from Russia and other Eastern European countries.
2. Minority groups and social change in American society, with an emphasis on the categories of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, and "disability."
3. Writing and speaking about the applications of sociological work and sociological insights to social policy and social change.  

Notable Academic Appointments and Awards

• Chosen to Participate in an NSF Short-Type Chautauqua Courses for College Teachers: "Classroom Management II: Tips to Help You Become an Even Better Teacher" (University of Washington-Seattle), 2006.
• Awarded a Davis Grant from Providence College to increase and enhance the use of technology in my course in Social Change, 2004-5.
• Contributions to teaching sociology through participation in a variety of activities for/at the American Sociological Association, including teaching and learning workshops, serving as a member of the Departmental Resources Group of the ASA, providing departmental evaluations of colleges and universities on a request basis, serving as a manuscript reviewer for Teaching Sociology, serving as an Area Representative for ASA Membership (receipt of certificate of acknowledgement from the ASA), and participating in workshops and training sessions at national ASA meetings over a period of more than two decades, 1974-1997.
• Recipient of several CAFR grants from PC to assist in conducting (solo and joint) research, 1974-1997.
• Received "The Apple Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Sociology" from the Massachusetts Sociological Association, 1983.

Publication Highlights

• Eastern European Adoption: Policies, Practice, and Strategies for Change. 
  Transaction Publishers (June 2007).
• Thinking Sociologically: A Critical Thinking Activities Manual. Prentice-Hall (1990, 1999).

Book Chapters

• Trends in International Adoption to the United States and Globally in J. Pati (Ed.) Adoption: Global Perspective & Ethical Issues. Concept Publishers (March 2007).

• "Implications of Recent Research on Eastern European Adoption for Social Work Practice."  The Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal. (with Kathy Johnson), June 2007.
• "Ah Ha... Learning: Using Cases and Case Studies to Teach Sociological Insights and Skills." Sociological Practice, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp.113-128, 2002.
• "Results of a Recent Practitioner Survey and Comparison With Themes of Articles Published in the ASA Footnotes." The Clinical Sociology Review, Vol. 12, pp. 17 28 (with L.C. Weston), 1994. 
• "Teaching Introductory Sociology Students about the Practice of Sociology: The Practitioner's Perspective." Teaching Sociology, Vol. 19 (April), pp. 211 222 (with Louise C. Weston), 1991.
• "Working Definitions of Sociological Practice." The Sociological Practice Review, Vol. 2, 1, pp. 59 63 (with L. C. Weston), 1991.

Selected Scholarly Presentations and Activities

Presentations at Professional Meetings

• Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology: 2005
• American Sociological Association:  2004, 2001, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1992 (two presentations), 1990, 1989, 1987, 1984, 1983, and 1978
• Society for Applied Sociology: 2003, 1997
• Sociological Practice Association: 2001

Presentations at Adoption Conferences

• The Open Door Society of Massachusetts Conference:  1997, 1996
• Adoption Rhode Island Conference:  1996

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