Sociology Faculty

Dr. Adrian F. Aveni is Professor of Sociology, and is beginning his 31st year at JSU in the Fall of 09. He earned his Ph.D. from Purdue University. He has conducted research on a wide range of subjects including collective behavior, social movements, economic development, and campus internationalization. Dr. Aveni has worked as a researcher for the Center for Economic Development and in the Office of Assessment, both at JSU. He was responsible for establishing an exchange program between Wuhan University (located in

China) and JSU; and for creating the Office of International Programs and Services at JSU, where he worked for four years. His current interests include applied sociology, American society and culture, social organization, and comparative sociology. Dr. Aveni teaches SY 221 online, as well as SY 301 Sociological Methods, SY 303 Computers and Data Analysis, SY 308 American Society and Culture, and SY 324 Social Stratification.

Dr. Hudspeth with Jennifer, Commencement, Spring, 2009. Jennifer was one of Dr. Hudspeth’s “superstars.” She became the Torchbearer for the program, being the lead sociology senior, and representative of the students to the faculty.

Dr. Tina H. Deshotels Dr. Tina H. Deshotels is an Assistant Professor of Sociology beginning her fifth year at JSU after one year at Whitman College in Washington state. She earned her Ph.D. from Florida State University. Dr. Deshotels has made a name for herself doing research on deviant behavior, specifically that associated with Exotic Dancing. Nationally recognized, she is the

author of several articles in the area of sex work. In the classroom, Dr. Deshotels encourages students to step outside the box. She learns the views and ideas of the students, and then builds a better interactional classroom based on these views and ideas. The end result is a firestorm of learning and discussion within the classroom. Her current research includes Theory, Gender, Sexualities and Deviance. Specifically, Dr. Deshotels is currently collecting data on attitudes of athletes on sexual assault. Preliminary findings were reported at the Mid South Sociological Association annual meeting in Lafayette, Louisiana in November, 2009. She is also preparing a book with Craig J. Forsyth, titled ‘Dancing with Power’ which is an expansion of her work on exotic dancing, exploring in far more detail issues of theory, methodology, and forging farther in the analysis of exotic dancing. Dr. Deshotels teaches SY 221 Introduction to Sociology, SY 320 Criminology, SY 322 Juvenile Delinquency, SY 365 Drugs and Society, SY 368 Theories of Gender, and SY 427 Sociological Theory. Dr. Deshotels also is faculty sponsor for WISE (Women’s Issues Support and Empowerment), as well as beginning the non-profit WISE Center.

Dr. Rodney N. Friery, aka “The Show,” is the heart and soul of the Sociology program at JSU. Beginning his 36th and FINAL year at JSU in the fall of 2009, Dr. Friery wears a different JSU polo shirt every day of the month, his trademark pseudo-whistle can be heard throughout the third floor at Brewer Hall, as well as

his ability to call every student a different nickname. Born and raised near Houston, Texas, Dr. Friery often says that he had to move north to be in the ‘deep south’. Dr. Friery earned his Ph.D. from Mississippi State University. He teaches a number of courses, from Introduction to Sociology, to Senior Seminar. His areas of expertise are in statistics, deviant behavior, and social problems.

Dr. LoConto, Alkina, and friends, Commencement, Spring, 2009.

Dr. Clark Hudspeth Dr. Clark Hudspeth, Associate Professor of Sociology came to JSU in the Fall of 2002 and, like Dr. Friery, earned his Ph.D. from Mississippi State University. His zeal for the material is contagious. Dr. Hudspeth, originally from Louisiana conducts research and has published mainly on the family, but also has integrated work on religion into the subject matter. A Symbolic Interactionist, Dr. Hudspeth leans toward Critical Interactionism by integrating aspects of Marxism with Symbolic

Interactionism. Currently Dr. Hudspeth is conducting research with student, Natalie Dempster on the use of the Internet to sell sex. In addition, an ardent supporter of the right of the environment, he is developing a course on the Sociology of the Environment. Dr. Hudspeth teaches SY 221 Introduction to Sociology, SY 310 Marriage and the Family, SY 313 Social Psychology, and SY 366 Sociology of Religion.

Dr. David G. LoConto Dr. David G. LoConto, Associate Professor of Sociology is beginning his eighth year at JSU in the Fall of 09 after three years at Northwest Missouri State University. He earned his Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. Dr. LoConto has published on ethnic identity, developmental disabilities, as well as historical thought. Theoretically Dr. LoConto focuses on pragmatism from a realist perspective. His current research projects include his continuing focus on

the career of Charles A. Ellwood, and his accomplishments in the early days of American sociology. He began new research on dementia related disorders in the

Summer of 2009, which addresses habitual behavior, and the application of pragmatism to explain that phenomena. That same perspective is being used to explain identity and consentient sets in pipe smoking communities. In addition Dr. LoConto is doing research with student Kristin Sloan on the use of color as a means to identify racial categories of peoples. Another research project Dr. LoConto is conducting is with four students, Rebecca Mayhan, Emily Hawkins, Christina Blount, and A.J. Blount, involves understanding why sociologists attend some sociology conferences while ignoring others. As the Sociology Program Coordinator, Dr. LoConto sponsors the Sociology Club, as well as Alpha Kappa Delta. Dr. LoConto teaches SY 221 Introduction to Sociology, SY 222 Honors Introduction to Sociology, SY 309 Sociology of Disability, SY 360 Ethnic and Minority Group Relations, SY 364 Medicine and Society.

Best of friends, Drs. Deshotels and LoConto at the Christmas 2008 faculty and staff get-together.

Emeritus Faculty

Dr. McCain retired in the summer of 2005 after 30 years of service to JSU. He earned his Ph.D. at Emory University. Dr. McCain was sponsor of the Sociology Club, Alpha Kappa Delta, and was also in charge of the Career Fair every year. A tireless worker, Dr. McCain did much of the “behind-the-scenes” work for the program and department. He and his wife moved to the Gulf where he is enjoying life being close to family and boarding up his house every couple weeks when hurricanes come through. You can reach Dr. McCain at: 67hughboyd@comcast.net

Dr. Deshotels with AJ, Christina, Natalie, and Kristin, Downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, November, 2009. Christina is the Sociology Torchbearer for the 2009-2010 school year.