EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Sociology - University of Alabama at Birmingham. (2002)
Dissertation: Death, Chaos and the Social Construction of Meaning: An analysis of humankind’s collective search for a narrative defense against meaninglessness through four stages of socio-cultural evolution, from hunting and gathering to postmodernity.
MA in Sociology - University of Alabama at Birmingham. (1983)
Thesis: Education and Public Health in Mexico and Saudi Arabia: 1950-1980: Comparative analysis of the efforts to use new-found oil wealth to improve/modernize through education and public health.
BA in Sociology/Minor in Anthropology - University of Alabama at Birmingham. (1973)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Full-time Instructor, University of Alabama at Birmingham 2005 - Present
Department of Sociology
Responsibilities:
- Teaching a minimum of four courses per semester as assigned by the Department Chair;
- Course preparation; preparing syllabi, choosing texts, preparing course outline and classroom lectures;
- Preparing and grading exams, research papers, etc.;
- Evaluating student performance;
- Supervising undergraduate students in writing research/term papers;
- Maintaining all records as required by the university;
- Assisting in the recruitment of students to sociology;
- Advising students as necessary; and
- Service in the form of committee memberships, cross-disciplinary contacts, supporting extracurricular activities, etc.
Adjunct Faculty, University of Alabama at Birmingham 1984 - 2005
Department of Sociology
Responsibilities:
- Teaching various courses in the sociology curriculum as assigned by the department chair;
- Course preparation; preparing syllabi, choosing texts, preparing course outline and classroom lectures;
- Preparing and grading exams, research papers, etc.;
- Evaluating student performance;
- Supervising undergraduate students in writing research/term papers;
- Maintaining all records as required by the university;
- Assisting in the recruitment of students to sociology;
- Advising students as necessary; and
Courses taught:
- Soc 100: Introduction to Sociology
- Soc 120: Introduction to Social Psychology
- Soc 130: Marriage and Family
- Soc 135: Human Sexuality
- Soc 200: Social Change
- Soc 250: Race and Ethnic Relations
- Soc 285: Sociology of Aging
- Soc 383: Drugs and Society
- Soc: 405: Symbolic Interaction
Executive Director, St. Andrew’s Place 1986 – 2005
Birmingham, AL
(formerly St. Andrew’s Foundation)
Nonprofit agency providing residential services, care, socialization and training to adults with mental disability
Responsibilities:
- Overall direction of the operations of a private, nonprofit corporation operating five homes for adults with mental disability, answering directly to the Board of Directors;
- Hiring and supervising the Operations Director, Secretary, Bookkeeper and subcontractors;
- Along with the Operations Director, hiring and evaluating direct service staff;
- Preparing annual budget ($780,000 as of leaving), managing the finances of the organization and securing funding through contracts, grants, donations, etc.;
- Writing and overseeing implementation of the Policies and Procedures Manual;
- Writing and implementing the Quality Enhancement and Plan as per guidelines of the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation;
- Monitoring compliance with Human Rights as established by DMHMR and chairing the Human Rights Committee;
- Ensuring compliance with Department of Labor, State Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, City of Birmingham, and Department of Public Health regulations and guidelines;
- Securing necessary public support and interest in the program through public appearances, the arrangement of special events, etc.;
- Mentoring students from various area universities in practicum experience;
- Long range planning for the organization; and
- Overseeing construction, maintenance, and renovation of facilities.
Program Director, St. Andrew’s Foundation 1974 – 1986
Birmingham, AL
Co-creator/co-founder of a nonprofit agency that provides rehabilitation and residence for adults with mental retardation and related disabilities. Inspired by the Normalization movement and then recent mandates of the federal courts.
Responsibilities:
- Writing and coordinating Individual Service Plans;
- Scheduling and supervising direct care staff in their daily activities;
- Chairing the Admission & Discharge Committee;
- Working with consulting psychologist and direct care staff in development and implementation of behavior management programs;
- Along with the Executive Director, hiring, motivating and disciplining direct care staff;
- Training direct care staff;
- Overseeing family involvement with the program; and
- Training and supervising volunteers.
Counselor, Gateway 1973 – 1974
Birmingham based residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed adolescents
Responsibilities:
- Counseling individual residents under the supervision of a master’s level social worker;
- Serving on committees as assigned.
Experiences in Applied Sociology:
All of my professional roles have allowed for observation of a wide range of social behavior as well as opportunity to apply sociological concepts and principles to a rich array of social phenomena, including but not limited to:
- Thousands of small group interactions, formal and informal both within and outside the organization;
- Conflicts within the organization (staff/staff, staff/resident, and resident/resident), as well as between the organization and various other organizations;
- Goal setting within and across organizations;
(Selected) Additional Professional Training:
- 2003 Nonprofit Summit: Building Your Nonprofit Business; Program Analysis of Service Systems; and Implementation of Normalization Goals
- Social Role Valorization, Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
- 1998 Nonprofit Summit on Social Services and the Economy with Jeremy Rifkin
- Principle-Centered Leadership, Covey Leadership Center
- Employer Training Seminar, Alabama Department of Industrial Relations
- Business Strategies for the Non-Profit Agency Executive, Emory University School of Business Administration
- Coping with AIDS and Alzheimer’s, the Greater New York Hospital Foundation
- Promoting Integration in Community Residential Services, American Association on Mental Retardation
- Contracts and Grants, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
- Principle of Normalization, Training Institute of Syracuse University
- The Future of Mental Retardation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
- AAMR National Convention, Chicago, IL
Other Professional Activities:
- Consultant to AIDS Task Force of Alabama in establishing the first residential programs for persons with AIDS in Alabama
- Advisor to Board of Directors of Agape House which provides residential services to persons with AIDS
- Trainer/Group Leader for Social Role Valorization Workshops sponsored by the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
- Conduct Workshops on “Drugs in the Workplace” for Management Training Systems, Birmingham, AL
