I thought it might be nice to provide a small introduction to myself since you took the time to visit my website. A certain amount of mystique is always good, so I won't tell you everything (besides, I'm sure that you wouldn't be interested anyway). For starters, I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest (Washington and Oregon). I received my Bachelors degree in sociology from Oregon State University, my Masters degree in sociology from The University of South Florida, and my Ph.D. in sociology at Southern Illinois University. I taught sociology at Ohio University in Athens Ohio for two years as a Visiting Assistant Professor from 1999-2001 and am currently teaching sociology at Albright College in Reading Pennsylvania.. My major research interests in sociology include religion, culture, popular culture and organizations/work. I am also interested in research methods, social thought, social movements, and science and knowledge. My master's thesis was a formulaic analysis of the lyrics and major themes of Conservative Christian speed/thrash metal music. My dissertation (the book that is written for the Ph.D.) incorporates secondary literature, interviews, and participant observation to illuminate the production of contemporary evangelical Christian culture, especially popular culture, and how various tensions within the industry are recognized and mediated.
In the Fall of 2001 I moved to Reading Pennsylvania where I
accepted a tenure track position at Albright
College. I've been teaching several courses here including Introduction
to Sociology, Sociological Theory, and The
Sociology of Cults and New Religious Movements. Before that I lived in Athens Ohio were I
taught several courses at Ohio University including
Introduction to Sociology, Classical
Sociological Theory, Sociology of Religion, Research
Methods, and Mass Communication. Previously I spent four years teaching classes at
Southern
Illinois University, and at John
A. Logan College. I have taught Marriage
& The Family and Popular Culture &
Society at SIU, and Introduction to Sociology
at JAL while working on my Ph.D. in sociology. Check out my Vita to see
all of the academic related work I have done.
I have also worked a number of "odd" jobs during college before graduate school. I've worked at a wood mill in Bend Oregon, a horse ranch in Corvallis Oregon, and a fish processor in Sitka Alaska. I have also worked with physically, emotionally, and mentally disabled adults as a caretaker in a group home, and as a job placement specialist.
I like to do lot's of things when I'm not working. I grew up in the Northwest, so I LOVE to snow ski!!! My parents still live in Bend Oregon, about 40 minutes from Mt. Bachelor, one of the best places to ski in Oregon. I also enjoy playing around on the computer, although my knowledge and skill are lacking. I designed our department's web page as well as mine (obviously). I also like to check out any new programs that might make my life as an academic easier. Some of my favorites include N6, and Pro-Cite. I like softball, and used to play in a city league during the Summer. I have also played electric and acoustic guitar for about 14 years. I used to practice at least two hours a day (5-8 during the summer), but hardly play at all now. Lately, I have become very interested in pipe smoking (the legal, civilized kind, mind you). I currently own 15 pipes and my collection continues to grow. I find it very relaxing to light up a bowl at the end of the day while sipping on a pint of Guinness and talking with friends or contemplating the peculiarities of life. I am also very interested in British Celtic history (don't ask me why), good science fiction, and getting together with friends to talk about sociology, philosophy, theology, and whatever. I'm also an obsessive reader, but I'll leave that for the next section......
If you are an academic you know that most of your time
is spent reading in your field. I love to read sociology, but
I also like to read outside of my field when I get the chance.
My favorite authors in sociology include Max Weber, Robert Wuthnow,
Rodney Stark, James Davison Hunter, Paul DiMaggio, Gary Alan Fine,
Joel Best, Rhys Williams, David Lyon, and Richard Peterson. Although I spend most of my time
reading "academic" books and articles, I do enjoy a
little fiction now and then. Some of my favorite fiction writers
include J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephen Lawhead, and Dennis McKiernan.
I also enjoy poetry by William Blake and T.S. Eliot.
I also read a great deal of magazines and journals on a regular basis including (but certainly not limited to) Newsweek, The New Yorker, The New York Times Book Review, Atlantic Monthly, National Review, Rolling Stone, Spin, Billboard, Variety, Christian Scholars Review, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Review of Religious Research, American Sociological Review, American Journal of Sociology, Contemporary Sociology, Science, Technology, and Human Values, Social Studies of Science, Journal of Popular Culture, Prism, Christian Century, Christianity Today, and Cornerstone. This may seem like a lot, but I don't read all of the above cover to cover. I try to spend every Thursday afternoon in our campus library reading some of the above journals and magazines since I don't subscribe to all of them.
I love listening to many different styles of Music. Classical and Techno/Ambient/Industrial are two of my favorites, but I like other styles too. In fact, in the last four or five years I have become interested in Swing and Celtic music. I also like listening to music that is hard to categorize (e.g. sitar music ala Ravi Shankar, Peter Gabriel's "Passion" album, etc.). About the only styles I can't stand are Country and Soul. For classical, its tough to beat Mozart, Bach, and Handel. My favorites from these composers are Mozart's "Requim," Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto's," and Handel's "Messiah."
Lately, I've been trying to find interesting techno/ambient/industrial bands. I tend to go for "darker" sounding stuff. One group I really like, although they don't have much stuff out, is fUtUrEcOrE. You can go to their site and listen to a few cuts if you like. Although some would argue that they (he) is overly commercial, one of my favorite bands of all time is Nine Inch Nails.
I like "classic" as well as "contemporary" swing. Some favorites include Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman as well as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and The Cherry Poppin' Daddies.
For Celtic music I really enjoy The Crossing, The Drovers, and The Chieftans. You can listen to great Celtic music on Celtic Connections hosted by Bryan Kelso Crowe, a member of another of my favorite Celtic bands, The Dorians.
Who do I find interesting in the world of Rock? The 77's are the best group, hands down. These guys are simply AWESOME. I also like Adam Again, The Choir, U2, King's X, DA (aka "Daniel Amos"), and The Prayer Chain (although they are no longer together).
I enjoy going out to the movies, and there are a few TV shows I watch RELIGIOUSLY!!! Here are a few of my favorites:
Science Fiction/Fantasy: "Bladerunner", "Dark City", "Star Wars (all six)", "The Matrix Trilogy", "The Lord of the Rings Trilogy", "Star Trek" (All of them)
Action/Adventure/Drama: "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and the sequels, "Quiz Show", "Apocalypse Now", "Amadeus", "Henry V", "Shadowlands", "Heat", "The Sixth Sense" "Fight Club" and "The Boondock Saints".
Comedies: "Grosse Pointe Blank", "Better off Dead", "The Big Labowski", "Rustlers Rhapsody", "Big Trouble in Little China", "Army of Darkness", "Three Amigos", "Caddyshack", "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels", "Snatch", " Throw Mamma From the Train", "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain" and "Rushmore".
If I was forced at gunpoint to choose my all time favorite movie from the above list, I would choose "Bladerunner".
As for TV, I'd have to say Babylon 5, Star Trek Voyager, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, The X-Files, and Six Feet Under. As for current ones: 24, Lost, and Deadwood (although I've only seen the later two on DVD and have to wait for season two to come out so I can rent them). I am a big science fiction fan as you can tell from my TV and movie selections. I have never been to a Star Trek convention though (hey, there are limits to my obsessions).
Well, I suppose that's more than you wanted to know, so now
would be a good time for me to stop. Feel free to
e-mail me, I like receiving e-mail!!!