Faculty & Staff
The Department of Sociology is home to award-winning faculty who are focused on student well-being and success. Our faculty have diverse research interests and specialize in a wide range of topics (click on link under each faculty member to learn more!). Our department prides itself on being research forward yet student centered. The staff is friendly and supportive and are ready to welcome you to our office. People matter in the Department of Sociology.
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Faculty
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Staff
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Graduate
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Multicultural Relations
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Sociology of Law
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Health
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Gender & Sexuality
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Social Problems
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Aging
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Family
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Environment
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Urbanization & Land Use
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Sociology of Science
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Qualitative Methods
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Work & Occupations
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Stratification & Inequality
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Sociology of Food
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Dementia Studies
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Gerontology
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Sociology of Religion
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Culture
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Latino Sociology
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Sports & Leisure
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Quantitative Research
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Statistics
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Criminology
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Globalization
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Political Sociology
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Urban Sociology
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Evaluation
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Foster Care
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Mental Health
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Deviance
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Substance Abuse
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Demography
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Dr. Claude Bonazzo Romaguera Jr.Bonazzo Romaguera Jr.ClaudeAssociate Professor of InstructionEmail Dr. Claude Bonazzo Romaguera Jr. at cb59423@txstate.edu cb59423@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Claude Bonazzo Romaguera Jr. is (512)245-0877 (512)245-0877 THH 460
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Dr. Matthew ClementClementMatthewAssociate ProfessorEmail Dr. Matthew Clement at mtc73@txstate.edu mtc73@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Matthew Clement is (512)245-6604 (512)245-6604 THH 459
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Dr. David DietrichDietrichDavidAssociate Professor, Director of Graduate Programs, Applied Sociology & SociologyEmail Dr. David Dietrich at dd34@txstate.edu dd34@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. David Dietrich is (512)245-2113 (512)245-2113 THH 449-A
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Dr. Michelle EdwardsEdwardsMichelleAssociate ProfessorEmail Dr. Michelle Edwards at michelle_edwards@txstate.edu michelle_edwards@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Michelle Edwards is (512)2451898 (512)2451898 THH 472
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Dr. Melissa GarciaGarciaMelissaAssistant ProfessorEmail Dr. Melissa Garcia at bym36@txstate.edu bym36@txstate.edu
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Dr. Patti GiuffreGiuffrePattiAssociate Dean of Retention for The Graduate College & ProfessorEmail Dr. Patti Giuffre at pg07@txstate.edu pg07@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Patti Giuffre is (512)245-3614 (512)245-3614 THH 457
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Christopher HallHallChristopher(He/Him/His/Himself)Systems Support Specialist
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Dr. Deborah HarrisHarrisDeborahProfessorEmail Dr. Deborah Harris at dh57@txstate.edu dh57@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Deborah Harris is (512)245-4547 (512)245-4547 THH 465
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Dr. Chris JohnsonJohnsonChrisClinical ProfessorEmail Dr. Chris Johnson at cjj38@txstate.edu cjj38@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Chris Johnson is (512)245-5693 (512)245-5693 THH 444
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Dr. Joseph KotarbaKotarbaJosephProfessorEmail Dr. Joseph Kotarba at jk54@txstate.edu jk54@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Joseph Kotarba is (512)245-8905 (512)245-8905 THH 466
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Lisa Lamb WeberLamb WeberLisaProfessor of InstructionEmail Lisa Lamb Weber at ll16@txstate.edu ll16@txstate.edu The phone number for Lisa Lamb Weber is (512)245-2113 (512)245-2113 THH 434
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Dr. Debarun MajumdarMajumdarDebarunProfessorEmail Dr. Debarun Majumdar at dm28@txstate.edu dm28@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Debarun Majumdar is (512)245-2479 (512)245-2479 THH 473
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Dr. Gloria MartinezMartinezGloriaProfessor, Director, Center for Diversity & Gender Studies Director, Latina/o Studies MinorEmail Dr. Gloria Martinez at gm21@txstate.edu gm21@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Gloria Martinez is (512)245-2470 (512)245-2470 THH 478
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Kelly Mosel-TalaveraMosel-TalaveraKellyProfessor of InstructionEmail Kelly Mosel-Talavera at km33@txstate.edu km33@txstate.edu The phone number for Kelly Mosel-Talavera is (512)245-1708 (512)245-1708 THH 460
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Dr. Xi PanPanXiAssociate ProfessorEmail Dr. Xi Pan at x_p5@txstate.edu x_p5@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Xi Pan is (512)245-3288 (512)245-3288 THH 458
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Dr. José R PérezPérezJosé R(He/Him/His/Himself)Asst Professor of InstructionEmail Dr. José R Pérez at jperezreisler@txstate.edu jperezreisler@txstate.edu
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Colin PiersonPiersonColinAssociate Professor of InstructionEmail Colin Pierson at crp59@txstate.edu crp59@txstate.edu The phone number for Colin Pierson is (512)245-1702 (512)245-1702 THH 443
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Dr. Nathan PinoPinoNathanProfessorEmail Dr. Nathan Pino at np11@txstate.edu np11@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Nathan Pino is (512)245-8229 (512)245-8229 THH 456
Bio
Nathan W. Pino is Professor of Sociology and Honorary Professor of International Studies at Texas State University. Dr. Pino teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in deviant behavior and social problems, globalization, and global insecurity. He conducts research on policing and police reform in an international context, global crime governance, violence, sustainable development, and the attitudes and behaviors of college students. Dr. Pino has published six books, twenty book chapters, and forty articles in academic journals, including British Journal of Criminology, European Journal of Criminology, Policing, Policing and Society, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Sociology of Development, and Sex Roles. Professor Pino served as a Fulbright Scholar in Trinidad and Tobago where he taught at the University of the West Indies and conducted research on police reform and police-community relations. He has also given invited talks around the world, including in Trinidad and Tobago, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, and South Korea. Dr. Pino’s books include:
Democratic Policing in Transitional and Developing Countries (Ashgate, 2006);
Globalization, Police Reform, and Development: Doing it the Western Way? (Palgrave, 2012);
The Death and Resurrection of Deviance: Current Ideas and Research (with Dr. Kotarba) (Palgrave, 2014);
Rethinking Serial Murder, Spree Killing, and Atrocities: Beyond the Usual Distinctions (Routledge, 2015);
The Emerald Handbook of Crime, Justice, and Sustainable Development (Emerald, 2021); and
Unraveling the Crime Development Nexus (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022).
Major Research Project
I am currently writing a book in which I argue for the end of Western-led international police reform efforts as they are currently being practiced. Informed by decolonial, Southern, and feminist perspectives, and drawing on policing and police reform scholarship, I build on my own research and scholarship on policing and police reform in the Global South to outline why international police reform efforts as they now exist should be extirpated before discussing various alternative approaches from around the world for transformative justice and community safety.
Graduate Courses
SOCI 5316: Deviant Behavior and Social Problems
SOCI 5390: Globalization and Development
SOCI 5395: Global Insecurity
Recent Theses and Practica Dr. Pino Directed
Theses
Grace Mccleskey, MA in Sociology, granted Summer 2023.
Title: “Lead Us Not Into Temptation: Christian Women’s Lifestyle Books and the
Moralization of Health.”
August Kutac, MA in Sociology, granted Summer 2022.
Title: “Investigating the Relationship Between GDP and CO2 Emissions on a Cross-
National Scale.”
Kimberly Hartfield, MA in Sociology granted Summer 2020.
Title: “Cultural Mismatch: First-Generation College Students, Academic Performance,
and Mental Health.”
Marianne Smith, MA in Sociology granted Fall 2019
Title: “Group Identity, Ideology, and Mass Media: Content Analysis of the 2018 Media
Spectacles Family Separation and Migrant Caravan.”
Jasmine Hernandez, MA in Sociology granted Summer 2019
Title: “Puff Puff Pass the Bible: An Empirical Replication Analysis of Religiosity and
Attitudes Toward Marijuana Legalization.”
Rachel L. Phillips, MA in Sociology granted Spring 2019.
Title: “#Marchforourlives: Mobilization of a Gun Violence Prevention Movement on
Twitter.”
Practica
Claire Boudrot, MS in Sociology, granted Spring 2023
Title: Assessing Staff Turnover at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department: A Quantitative
Analysis of Agency Exit Surveys
Alexia Gutierrez, MS in Sociology granted Fall 2020
Title: Data Analysis: A Survey on People’s Use and Perceptions of the San Marcos River
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Dr. Bob PricePriceBobProfessor of InstructionEmail Dr. Bob Price at rp27@txstate.edu rp27@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Bob Price is (512) 245-3805 (512) 245-3805 THH 455
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Dr. Kyle M PuetzPuetzKyleAsst Professor of InstructionEmail Dr. Kyle M Puetz at kpuetz@txstate.edu kpuetz@txstate.edu Faculty Profile for Dr. Kyle M Puetz Faculty Profile
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Gerry RodriguezRodriguezGerardo(He/Him/His/Himself)Administrative Asst IIEmail Gerry Rodriguez at g_r195@txstate.edu g_r195@txstate.edu
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Dr. Rachel RomeroRomeroRachelAssistant ProfessorEmail Dr. Rachel Romero at r_r299@txstate.edu r_r299@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Rachel Romero is (512)245-3035 (512)245-3035 THH 446
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Dr. Sarah ShahShahSarahProgram FacultyEmail Dr. Sarah Shah at sarah.shah@txstate.edu sarah.shah@txstate.edu THH 462 Faculty Profile for Dr. Sarah Shah Faculty Profile
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Dr. Chad SmithSmithChadProfessor, Sustainability Studies Graduate DirectorEmail Dr. Chad Smith at cs39@txstate.edu cs39@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Chad Smith is (512)245-8453 (512)245-8453 THH 470
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Brian E SolisSolisBrianAdministrative Asst IIIEmail Brian E Solis at bs46@txstate.edu bs46@txstate.edu The phone number for Brian E Solis is (512) 245-3289 (512) 245-3289
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Tina VillarrealVillarrealTinaAssociate Professor of Instruction, Associate Chair, Internship CoordinatorEmail Tina Villarreal at tv12@txstate.edu tv12@txstate.edu The phone number for Tina Villarreal is (512)245-2072 (512)245-2072 THH 442
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Dr. Toni WattWattToniProfessor, ChairEmail Dr. Toni Watt at tw15@txstate.edu tw15@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Toni Watt is (512)245-3287 (512)245-3287 THH 462
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Michael WhitehawkWhitehawkMichaelProfessor of InstructionEmail Michael Whitehawk at mw39@txstate.edu mw39@txstate.edu The phone number for Michael Whitehawk is (512)245-4766 (512)245-4766 THH 448
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Emrys WilliamsWilliamsEmrysGraduate Program SpecialistEmail Emrys Williams at sw1332@txstate.edu sw1332@txstate.edu The phone number for Emrys Williams is (512)245-9010 (512)245-9010 THH 449C
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Dr. Jonathan WivaggWivaggJonathanSenior LecturerEmail Dr. Jonathan Wivagg at jw47@txstate.edu jw47@txstate.edu The phone number for Dr. Jonathan Wivagg is (512)245-4766 (512)245-4766 THH 433