Introducing the Department of Sociology and Anthropology’s New Department Head: Dr. Andrea Leverentz
Department heads are responsible for supporting their department as educational units by helping to hire faculty, curriculum development, budgeting, student advising, and numerous other administrative functions. These responsibilities are necessary in ensuring that students receive a specially curated, best possible education at the University they attend.
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology recently welcomed our new Department Head, Dr. Andrea Leverentz! A scholar who received her Bachelors, Masters, and PhD in Sociology! Her bachelor degree was awarded to her through Tulane University, while both her Masters and PhD was done through the University of Chicago. I had the pleasure of meeting with her and spoke about her research, her goals for the department, and how the transition has been overall. We are so fortunate to have her a part of our team and I am excited for what new adventures and opportunities she has for us.
Dr. Leverentz specializes in the Sociology of Crime and Community; writing books on matters involving the reentry of incarcerated individuals within their home communities. We talked in depth about the importance of emphasizing the person over a person’s mistake and letting them have a broader identity beyond “prisoner.”One of the more defining moments in her career and research was when she first interviewed people who had been incarcerated, stating “This led me on the path that I am currently on and has shaped my view of the world and the system as a whole. It has been very important on how I have proceeded with my research and with my teaching.” Dr. Leverentz emphasized that those who have been incarcerated are more than their past and that students should be seen the same way. When asked about how her background has influenced her perception on education she said,
“The work that I have done has been to understand the perspective of people who have been incarcerated which is not always considered by those who have not had this experience. How have systems impacted individuals? It’s easy to think of crime as a bad person doing a bad thing to good people. That shapes our thinking of crime and institutions. Hearing from people who have been incarcerated shapes how I approach teaching and how I approach our majors.”
This approach to students, especially those with more marginalized backgrounds, has solidified many people and their belief in her ability to run this department with poise and with a well-rounded understanding of the complexities that life has to offer.
When questioned about her background and her future plans, Dr. Leverentz had plenty of exciting revelations, with some to come in the near future.
As the new Department Head, there is a heavy weight on her shoulders. Getting to know her staff and her students, what is the best course of action to better the department, how does a newcomer get situated fully into a program with so much diversity and a different cultural setting? Dr. Leverentz made her way down to NC State after spending a considerable amount of time in different cities and regions, such as New Orleans, Chicago, and Boston. She noted how going city to city made her realize the adjustment necessary for each one is varied. While not quite assimilated into the culture of North Carolina yet, she is hoping to become more involved and have a more familiar face for our students and faculty.
The biggest change however, is stepping away from the classroom. She mentioned that, “I miss having more contact with students. Especially coming here from outside of NC State, I feel like I don’t have a good handle on who you all are here. I have done a couple of class visits and I have that nostalgic feeling.” The connection between student and teacher is high value and impossible to replicate, Dr. Leverentz plans on getting back into the classroom as soon as she can. Through this transition she also plans on furthering the success of our department and bettering the system that we already have. This means adjusting the curriculum, bringing in new faculty members of all different backgrounds, and bridging the gap between the different major groups that we have. This will create a cohesive and connective department that will introduce students to new perspectives and can shape their future pursuits in unimaginable ways.
After meeting with Dr. Andrea Leverentz and hearing about her experiences and her hopes for our future, we are fortunate to have her as our new Department Head. The insights and plans for our department will maximize the educational value we have as well as create more student connections!
Welcome Dr. Andrea Leverentz to the Department of Sociology and Anthropology!
By Olivia Fiser, Anthropology and History Double Major and Leadership Team Newsletter Coordinator of Department of Sociology and Anthropology Student Ambassador Team
