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The faculty

Classes in the Applied Behavioral Science Program are taught by both regular and adjunct faculty.

Regular faculty are fulltime employees of Wright State University's College of Liberal Arts. They hold doctoral level degrees from major institutions of higher learning, have significant expertise in their major area of academic concentration, and engage both in teaching and research. Chairs of thesis committees additionally have been evaluated and granted regular graduate faculty status by the Graduate School of Wright State University.

Adjunct faculty generally have advanced degrees, but may or may not hold doctorates. They are hired for particular courses due to their relevant areas of expertise and career experience.

Student evaluation of each class is mandated by the university and each regular faculty member's overall teaching performance is evaluated annually.

MEET THE FACULTY!!

Jacqueline Bergdahl is the ABS Program Director and Associate Professor of Sociology in the Sociology/Anthropology Department.  Dr. Bergdahl has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland European Division. She earned both a M.A. and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of New Mexico. Dr. Bergdahl is an Associate Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology/Anthropology. Dr. Bergdahl's teaching areas include statistics and research methods. Her areas of specialization are traffic safety, gender and race/ethnicity.
Email: jacqueline.bergdahl@wright.edu

Jeanne Ballantine is Professor Emerita of Sociology at Wright State. She received her master's degree from Columbia University and her PhD from Indiana University. Jeanne's specialties in sociology are Sociology of Education, international issues, women's issues, applied sociology, and teaching sociology. She has taught in most areas of sociology.

The master's program in Applied Behavioral Science began over 25 years ago, and is one of the oldest applied programs in sociology. Jeanne was involved in esigning and implementing the program. She continues to develop curricula, teach, offer workshops for faculty, and write in applied sociology. Jeanne has written numerous articles and books in her specialty areas. She is actively involved in her professional organizations including American Sociological Association and Society for Applied Sociology, and helps students become involved as well.
Email: jeanne.ballantine@wright.edu

Karen Lahm is an Associate Professor of Sociology in the department of Sociology/Anthropology. Dr. Lahm received her Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. She also teaches in the Scoiology and Criminal Justice undergraduate programs. Dr. Lahm's teaching areas include prisons,research methods, and statistics.

Email:karen.lahm@wright.edu

Marlese Durr is a Professor in the Department of Sociology/Anthropology. She received her Ph.D. degree from the State University of New York-Albany.  Her areas of specialization include work and occupations, race and labor markets, African Americans and social networks, entrepreneurship and inner-city neighborhoods, and stressfull life events and African American women.
Email: marlese.durr@wright.edu

Geoffrey Owens is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology/Anthropology.  He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan.  His areas of specialization include Tanzania, East Africa Swahili culture, History and Anthropollogy, political economy, oral traditions, and suburbanization. 

email:  geoffrey.owens@wright.edu

s an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology/Anthropology.  He received his B.A. degree from Tempe University and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from The Ohio State University.  He has spent the whole of his 30+ year academic career at Wright State.  Prior to his current position, Dr. Orenstein has been Director of the Graduate Humanities Program, Graduaute Director of the ABS Program, and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.  Among other things, he is a member of the British Sociological Association and the Association for Humanist Sociology.

email:  david.orenstein@wright.edu

LaFleur Small is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology/Anthropology.  She received her Ph.D. degree from the University of Miami.  Her areas of specialization include Medical Sociology, Juvenile Delinquency, and Marriage and Family. 

email:  lafleur.small@wright.edu

Dr. Tracey Steele is a graduate from the University of Texas with a Doctorate in Sociology. Her areas of specialization are Criminology (with an emphasis in penology), Gender, and sexuality.
Email: tracey.steele@wright.edu

Julianne Weinzimmer is an Assistant Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology/Anthropology. She earned her Ph.D. degree from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.  Her areas of specialization include social stratification and inequality, race and ethnicity, ehtnic conflict and identity, Sociology of Jewish Experience and Identity, social welfare, Sociology of Palestine and Israel, Sociology through film, sociological theory, and sexuality and society. 
Email: j.weinzimmer@wright.edu