Office Address:
Department of Sociology
Abilene, TX 79606
McMurry University
Abilene, TX 79697
915-793-4772
simpsonj@mcmurryadm.mcm.edu
ACADEMIC POSITIONS HELD
1/99 – presentAssistant Professor (tenure-track), Sociology
McMurry University; Abilene, TX
Courses Taught:
EDUCATION
Ph.D.University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona
Sociology, August 1998
Dissertation: Major Choices: Racial, Maternal, and Institutional Effects on the Selection of Academic Major. M.A.College of William & Mary; Williamsburg, Virginia.
Sociology, August 1992
"Affirmative Action and Self Esteem: An Exploratory Analysis Using Attribution
Theory"
B.A.Marietta College; Marietta, Ohio
Sociology and Psychology, 1984
Magna cum laude, Honors in Psychology
FIELDS OF INTEREST
Race/Ethnic Relations, Sociology of Education, Social Psychology, Gender
PUBLICATIONS
"Institutional Influences on the Choice of Academic Major: The Effect of Black Colleges, Women Faculty, and History of Desegregation." 2002. Progress in Education. Huntington, NY: Nova Science Publishers.
"Segregated by Subject: Racial Differences in the Factors Influencing Academic Major Between Euro-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Latino-, African-, and Native Americans." 2001. The Journal of Higher Education. 72.1:63-100.
"An Exercise in Affirmative Action." 2000. Sociology Through Active Learning ,edited by Kathleen McKinney, Barbara Heyl, and Frank D. Beck. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.
"Drawing Pictures: Race and Gender Stereotypes." 2000. Sociology Through Active Learning, edited by Kathleen McKinney, Barbara Heyl, and Frank D. Beck. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.
"A Music Analysis of Changing Norms for Sexuality." 2000. Teaching About Families, edited by Ginger E. Macheski, Kathleen S. Lowney, Carmen Knudson-Martin, and Michael Capece. Washington, D.C.: American Sociological Association.
"Sex Role Socialization." 2000. Teaching About Families, edited by Ginger E. Macheski, Kathleen S. Lowney, Carmen Knudson-Martin, and Michael Capece. Washington, D.C.: American Sociological Association.
"The Sociological Classroom as an Exercise in the Distribution of Wealth." 2000.Introductory Sociology Resource Manual, edited by Jim Sikora. Washington, D.C.: American Sociological Association.
"Pluralism: The Evolution of a Nebulous Concept." 1995. American Behavioral Scientist. 38.3:459-477.
Under Review:
"Mom Matters: Maternal Influence on the Choice of Academic Major"
Status attainment research often subsumes maternal variables under a paternal rubric which has traditionally been represented by paternal measures. This analysis suggests that this traditional, limited conceptualization of maternal effects is problematic. Not only is mothers’ influence significant, but is often diametrically opposed to corresponding paternal influence.
In Progress:
"People of Color Are No Laughing Matter"
This study compares the funniness of cartoons containing white cartoon characters to the funniness of the same cartoons containing non-white cartoon characters. Results indicate that most cartoons with non-white characters are considered significantly less funny than the same cartoons with white characters. Various explanations are offered to account for these findings.
CONFERENCE AND COLLOQUIA PARTICIPATION
"People of Color Are No Laughing Matter." American Sociological Association meetings, Los Angeles, CA, August 1994
Table Presider/Discussant: Refereed Roundtables, Sociology of Culture. American Sociological Association meetings, Los Angeles, CA, August 1994
Table Organizer/Presider: Special Student Roundtables, Contemporary Issues in Sociology. American Sociological Associations meetings, Los Angeles, CA, August 1994
"The Mother Factor: Maternal Influences in the Choice of Academic Major." American Sociological Association meetings, Toronto, Canada, August 1997
"Segregated by Subject: Ethnic and Racial Differences in the Choice of Academic Major." American Sociological Association meetings, Toronto, Canada, August 1997
"Segregated by Subject: Ethnic and Racial Differences in the Choice of Academic Major." American Sociological Association meetings, Toronto, Canada, August 1997
"Institutional Influences on the Choice of Academic Major." American Sociological Association meetings, Chicago, IL, August 1999
"Major Choices: Maternal, Racial, and Institutional Influence on the Selection of Academic Major." Arts and Science Colloquium, McMurry University, September 1999
National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Missoula, MT, April 2000
Active Learning Faculty, sponsored by Abilene Christian University. Abilene, TX February 2001
Council on Undergraduate Research. Undergraduate Research for All. New London, CT, June 2002
HONORS, AWARDS, and GRANTS
GRANT EXPERIENCE
Alice and Leslie E. Lancy Foundation
COLLEGIATE SERVICE
McMurry University
OTHER POSITIONS HELD
1997 – 1998
1994 – Fall 1997
Instructor, University of Arizona; Tucson AZ
Courses Taught:
1986 –1991
International Coordinator and Associate Director/Acting Director of Admissions, Marietta College; Marietta, Ohio
1984 – 1986
Admissions Counselor, Rio Grande College and Community College; Rio Grande, Ohio
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS