Faculty

Sep 24, 2014

Childhood Mentors Boost Career Success

New research from NC State's Department of Sociology and Anthropology finds that young people who have had mentors are more likely to find work early in their careers that gives them more responsibility and autonomy – ultimately putting them on a path to more financially and personally rewarding careers.

Sep 11, 2014

‘Family Meal’ Ideal Is Stressful, Impossible for Many Families

Magazines, television and other popular media increasingly urge families to return to the kitchen, stressing the importance of home-cooked meals and family dinners to physical health and family well-being. But new research findings from North Carolina State University show that home cooking and family meals place significant stresses on many families – and are simply…

Sep 3, 2014

This Week in the Media

Associate Professors Sarah Bowen and Sinikka Elliott have been featured in an NC State press release (“Study Finds ‘Family Meal’ Ideal is Stressful, Impossible for Many Families“) about a recent article they wrote, along with Dr. Joslyn Brenton, former graduate student in the department and now an assistant professor of sociology at Ithaca College. Their…

Jul 22, 2014

Conducting Defining Research: A Defining Experience for Undergrads

Creating new knowledge. It's one of the big benefits of studying at a research-intensive university like NC State. And conducting important research is not reserved for faculty and graduate students; we encourage undergrads to conduct research, too. Check out this video -- made by students in Advanced Digital Video -- to learn about three such undergraduate research projects.

Jun 17, 2014

In Ancient Artifacts, A Newfound Passion

First generation student Jordan Karlis (History and Anthropology) traveled to Jordan to participate in an archaeological dig in 2012. She was hooked on the research and returned to Amman to present her findings at an international conference. Students in an advanced digital video class made this video to explain Jordan's research and to share her transformation from shy student to engaged scholar.

Apr 22, 2014

This is What Science Looks Like at NC State: Ann Ross

Professor Ann Ross is featured in an ongoing series on The Abstract, the official blog of the NC State Newsroom. The series is entitled, “This is What Science Looks Like at NC State,” and it introduces readers to the individuals involved in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research. Focusing on a discipline and practice…

Apr 14, 2014

Where Credit is Due: How Acknowledging Expertise Can Help Conservation Efforts

Scientists know that tapping into local expertise is key to conservation efforts aimed at protecting biodiversity – but researchers rarely give credit to these local experts. Anthropologist and associate professor of international studies Nora Haenn says that’s a problem, both for the local experts and for the science itself.

Jan 7, 2014

Meet the Faculty: Dr. Michaela DeSoucey

We pride ourselves on the research coming out of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Our faculty have contributed to the breadth and depth of the discourse in their research areas. Ranging from political economy to craniofacial growth, those research areas are as diverse as the complex human endeavor our faculty strive to analyze and…

Dec 18, 2013

Research Questions Longstanding Forensic ID Technique

A recent study from NC State forensic anthropologists found that even forensic experts have a hard time making a positive identification of human remains based on the shape of a person’s skull. Specifically, only 56 percent of forensic anthropology Ph.D.s (the bone experts) could correctly match two images of the same skull, based solely on…

Dec 12, 2013

Working Odd Shifts Can Hurt Parent/Child Relationships

Research from NC State's Department of Sociology and Anthropology indicates that working a job that doesn’t keep 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours can hurt the relationships between parents and adolescents, increasing the likelihood that children will engage in delinquent behaviors. In some circumstances, though, an unconventional work schedule can be a benefit for children.