The Department of Government and Sociology consists of 25 dedicated full-time faculty, part time faculty and staff who pride themselves on promoting a student-centered learning environment in pursuit of intellectual excellence. As active scholars in their field, our faculty have been recognized with outstanding teaching, research and service awards. Our programs share a commitment to the highest standards of academic quality and faculty work closely with students as teacher-scholars to advance their goals. By embracing our liberal arts mission, we strive to create an academic environment that aims to assist the development of life-long and independent learners.
Department of Government and Sociology
Administrative Faculty and Staff
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Scott E. Buchanan, PhD.
Department Chair, Professor of Political Science.
2-03 Arts & Sciences Building
478-445-4562
Research
- Southern Politics
- American Politics
- State and Local Government
Fulbright Scholar
Fulbright Finland Bicentennial Chair in American Studies, 2019-2020
Victoria Hamilton
Senior Administrative Assistant
2-03 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-4562
Department Faculty
Image
Scott E. Buchanan, PhD.
Department Chair, Professor of Political Science.
2-03 Arts & Sciences Building
478-445-4562
Research
- Southern Politics
- American Politics
- State and Local Government
Fulbright Scholar
Fulbright Finland Bicentennial Chair in American Studies, 2019-2020
Image
Benjamin Clark, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer of Political Science
2-25 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Political Theory
- Early American Legal and Political Theory
- Constitutional Law
Image
Roger Coate, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science & Public Administration
2-29 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-7396
Research
- International Organization and Global Governance
- Nonstate Actors and Nonprofit Management
- U.S. Multilateral Foreign Policy
Image
Carrie Cook, Ph.D
Professor of Criminal Justice, Masters of Criminal Justice Coordinator
2-11 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0941
Research
- Corrections
- Victimization
- Fear of Crime
- Program Evaluation
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Kelley Ditzel, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Public Administration
2-10 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0946
Research
- Education Policy
- Nonprofit Sector
- Race and Class in Education
- Community Based Service Learning
- Program Evaluation
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Sara Buck Doude, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Undergraduate Coordinator
2-21 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-4257
Research
- Radical Criminological Theory
- Gender/Racial Biases with Criminal Justice
- Interpersonal Violence within Marginalized Groups
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Hank Edmondson, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science
2-06 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0943
Research
- Politics and Literature
- Education Philosophy, Education Reform
- Politics of Spain
- Leadership
Image
Steven Elliott-Gower, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Political Science
3-19 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-1467
Research
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
- Role-playing Simulations
- Student Development and Global Citizenship
- Global Governance
- Global Civic Literacy
Image
Sandra Godwin, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
2-12 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-1900
Research
- Identity Formation
- Social Inequality
- Civic Engagement in Higher Education
Image
Max Harleman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Public Administration
2-09 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0969
Research
Energy and Environmental Policy
Public Infrastructure Development
Environmental Justice and Human Health
Quantitative Research Methods
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Kathryn Hudson, Ph.D.
Limited Term Lecturer of Anthropology
2-02 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-7394
Research
Anthropology
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Brandy Kennedy, Ph.D.
Carl Vinson Endowed Chair of Political Science & Public Administration, Masters of Public Administration Coordinator
2-20 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-7384
Research
- Bureaucratic Role Perception and Representation
- Political Behavior and Public Opinion
Image
Min Su Kim, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Public Administration
2-27 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-7393
Research
- State and Local Government Financial Management
- Public Finance and Budgeting
- Policy and Program Evaluation
- Quantitative Research Methods
Image
Adam Lamparello, J.D.
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
2-19 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Constitutional Law
- Constitutional Interpretation
- Criminal Law & Procedure
- Appellate Advocacy
- Legal writing & Pedagogy
Image
Alesa Liles, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
2-13 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Juvenile Justice
- Race, Gender & Crime
- Criminal Justice Policy
- Mental Health
Image
Stephanie McClure, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology, Sociology Undergraduate Coordinator
2-08 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Sociology of Education
- Race, Class, and Gender
- College Student Persistence and Retention
Image
Matheson Sanchez, ABD
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
2-17 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0940
Research
Corrections
Police Reform
Image
Claire Sanders, M.P.A.
Senior Lecturer of Political Science, Political Science Undergraduate Coordinator
2-18 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-5328
Research
- American Government
- Election Law and Administration
- State and Local Government
Image
Kevin Spann, Ph.D.
Limited Term Lecturer of Political Science
2-24 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0957
Research
American Politics
American Political Institutions
Image
Costas Spirou, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Parks Hall
Research
- Public Policy and Political Sociology
- Urban Affairs and Governance
- Tourism/Sport and Economic Development
- Mayoral Leadership
Image
Winston Tripp, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
2-50 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Political Sociology
- Environmental Sociology
- Survey Research
- Community Engagement
Image
Charles Ubah, Ph.D.
Professor of Criminal Justice
2-23 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-7392
Research
- Policy Studies with focus on Criminal Justice Policy and Program
- Penology and Corrections
- Organized Crime
- Transnational Crime
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
Image
Eryn Viscarra, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer of Sociology
2-04 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0939
Research
- Gender Ideology
- Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Family
- Emerging Adulthood
Image
Clif Wilkinson, ABD
Senior Lecturer of Political Science & Public Administration, Internship Coordinator
2-22 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0958
Research
- Public Management
- Public Policy and Evaluation
- E-Government
- Politics in Film
Image
Veronica Womack, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science & Public Administration
Miller Gym
(478) 445-4233
Research
- Agricultural Policy
- Southern Black Belt Region
- Rural African American Sociopolitical Experience
- Regional Persistent Poverty
Emeriti Faculty
Michael Digby
Political Science
Larry Elowtiz
Political Science
Robin Harris
Sociology
Image
Scott E. Buchanan, PhD.
Department Chair, Professor of Political Science.
2-03 Arts & Sciences Building
478-445-4562
Research
- Southern Politics
- American Politics
- State and Local Government
Fulbright Scholar
Fulbright Finland Bicentennial Chair in American Studies, 2019-2020
Victoria Hamilton
Senior Administrative Assistant
2-03 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-4562
Image
Scott E. Buchanan, PhD.
Department Chair, Professor of Political Science.
2-03 Arts & Sciences Building
478-445-4562
Research
- Southern Politics
- American Politics
- State and Local Government
Fulbright Scholar
Fulbright Finland Bicentennial Chair in American Studies, 2019-2020
Image
Benjamin Clark, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer of Political Science
2-25 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Political Theory
- Early American Legal and Political Theory
- Constitutional Law
Image
Roger Coate, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science & Public Administration
2-29 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-7396
Research
- International Organization and Global Governance
- Nonstate Actors and Nonprofit Management
- U.S. Multilateral Foreign Policy
Image
Carrie Cook, Ph.D
Professor of Criminal Justice, Masters of Criminal Justice Coordinator
2-11 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0941
Research
- Corrections
- Victimization
- Fear of Crime
- Program Evaluation
Image
Kelley Ditzel, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Public Administration
2-10 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0946
Research
- Education Policy
- Nonprofit Sector
- Race and Class in Education
- Community Based Service Learning
- Program Evaluation
Image
Sara Buck Doude, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Undergraduate Coordinator
2-21 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-4257
Research
- Radical Criminological Theory
- Gender/Racial Biases with Criminal Justice
- Interpersonal Violence within Marginalized Groups
Image
Hank Edmondson, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science
2-06 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0943
Research
- Politics and Literature
- Education Philosophy, Education Reform
- Politics of Spain
- Leadership
Image
Steven Elliott-Gower, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Political Science
3-19 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-1467
Research
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
- Role-playing Simulations
- Student Development and Global Citizenship
- Global Governance
- Global Civic Literacy
Image
Sandra Godwin, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
2-12 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-1900
Research
- Identity Formation
- Social Inequality
- Civic Engagement in Higher Education
Image
Max Harleman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Public Administration
2-09 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0969
Research
Energy and Environmental Policy
Public Infrastructure Development
Environmental Justice and Human Health
Quantitative Research Methods
Image
Kathryn Hudson, Ph.D.
Limited Term Lecturer of Anthropology
2-02 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-7394
Research
Anthropology
Image
Brandy Kennedy, Ph.D.
Carl Vinson Endowed Chair of Political Science & Public Administration, Masters of Public Administration Coordinator
2-20 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-7384
Research
- Bureaucratic Role Perception and Representation
- Political Behavior and Public Opinion
Image
Min Su Kim, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Public Administration
2-27 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-7393
Research
- State and Local Government Financial Management
- Public Finance and Budgeting
- Policy and Program Evaluation
- Quantitative Research Methods
Image
Adam Lamparello, J.D.
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
2-19 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Constitutional Law
- Constitutional Interpretation
- Criminal Law & Procedure
- Appellate Advocacy
- Legal writing & Pedagogy
Image
Alesa Liles, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
2-13 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Juvenile Justice
- Race, Gender & Crime
- Criminal Justice Policy
- Mental Health
Image
Stephanie McClure, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology, Sociology Undergraduate Coordinator
2-08 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Sociology of Education
- Race, Class, and Gender
- College Student Persistence and Retention
Image
Matheson Sanchez, ABD
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
2-17 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0940
Research
Corrections
Police Reform
Image
Claire Sanders, M.P.A.
Senior Lecturer of Political Science, Political Science Undergraduate Coordinator
2-18 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-5328
Research
- American Government
- Election Law and Administration
- State and Local Government
Image
Kevin Spann, Ph.D.
Limited Term Lecturer of Political Science
2-24 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0957
Research
American Politics
American Political Institutions
Image
Costas Spirou, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Parks Hall
Research
- Public Policy and Political Sociology
- Urban Affairs and Governance
- Tourism/Sport and Economic Development
- Mayoral Leadership
Image
Winston Tripp, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
2-50 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Political Sociology
- Environmental Sociology
- Survey Research
- Community Engagement
Image
Charles Ubah, Ph.D.
Professor of Criminal Justice
2-23 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-7392
Research
- Policy Studies with focus on Criminal Justice Policy and Program
- Penology and Corrections
- Organized Crime
- Transnational Crime
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
Image
Eryn Viscarra, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer of Sociology
2-04 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0939
Research
- Gender Ideology
- Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Family
- Emerging Adulthood
Image
Clif Wilkinson, ABD
Senior Lecturer of Political Science & Public Administration, Internship Coordinator
2-22 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0958
Research
- Public Management
- Public Policy and Evaluation
- E-Government
- Politics in Film
Image
Veronica Womack, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science & Public Administration
Miller Gym
(478) 445-4233
Research
- Agricultural Policy
- Southern Black Belt Region
- Rural African American Sociopolitical Experience
- Regional Persistent Poverty
Emeriti Faculty
Michael Digby
Political Science
Larry Elowtiz
Political Science
Robin Harris
Sociology
Michael Digby
Political Science
Larry Elowtiz
Political Science
Robin Harris
Sociology