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
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Kim Smith
Department Administrative Assistant
2-03 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-4562
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Aleksandra Rudkevich
Graduate Program Assistant
2-03 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0938
Department Faculty
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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
Image
Benjamin Clark, Ph.D.
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
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Carrie Cook, Ph.D
Interim Associate Dean
2-11 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0941
Research
- Corrections
- Victimization
- Fear of Crime
- Program Evaluation
Image
James Daria, Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Anthropology
2-02 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Im/migration
- Farm Labor
- Popular Music & Culture
- Mexico & Latin America
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 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
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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.
Sociology Program Coordinator, Professor of Sociology
2-12 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-1900
Research
- Identity Formation
- Social Inequality
- Civic Engagement in Higher Education
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Brandy Kennedy, Ph.D.
Carl Vinson Endowed Chair of Political Science & Public Administration, Public Administration Program 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
Bradley Koch, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology
2-14 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0937
Research
- Religion
- Sexuality
- Higher Education
- Teaching and Learning
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
2-08 Arts & Sciences Building
2-08 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Sociology of Education
- Race, Class, and Gender
- College Student Persistence and Retention
Image
Gennady Rudkevich, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Political Science Coordinator
2-24 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- International Conflict
- Russian Politics
- Central Asian Foreign Policy
- Elections in Authoritarian Countries
Image
Claire Sanders, M.P.A.
Senior Lecturer of Political Science
2-18 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-5328
Research
- American Government
- Election Law and Administration
- State and Local Government
Image
Ji Seun Sohn, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
2-17 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0940
Research
- Policing (residents' perceptions of police; police officers' perceptions, etc.)
- Psychopathy (empathy deficiencies, recidivism, etc.)
- Homicide
- Sexual Violence
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
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.
Lecturer of Sociology
2-04 Arts & Sciences Building
478-445-7394
Research
- Gender Ideology
- Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Family
- Emerging Adulthood
Image
Clif Wilkinson, A.B.D.
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
Ralph Hemphill
Political Science
Richard Scheff
Criminal Justice
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
Image
Kim Smith
Department Administrative Assistant
2-03 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-4562
Image
Aleksandra Rudkevich
Graduate Program Assistant
2-03 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0938
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
Image
Benjamin Clark, Ph.D.
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
Interim Associate Dean
2-11 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0941
Research
- Corrections
- Victimization
- Fear of Crime
- Program Evaluation
Image
James Daria, Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Anthropology
2-02 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Im/migration
- Farm Labor
- Popular Music & Culture
- Mexico & Latin America
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 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.
Sociology Program Coordinator, Professor of Sociology
2-12 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-1900
Research
- Identity Formation
- Social Inequality
- Civic Engagement in Higher Education
Image
Brandy Kennedy, Ph.D.
Carl Vinson Endowed Chair of Political Science & Public Administration, Public Administration Program 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
Bradley Koch, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology
2-14 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0937
Research
- Religion
- Sexuality
- Higher Education
- Teaching and Learning
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
2-08 Arts & Sciences Building
2-08 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- Sociology of Education
- Race, Class, and Gender
- College Student Persistence and Retention
Image
Gennady Rudkevich, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Political Science Coordinator
2-24 Arts & Sciences Building
Research
- International Conflict
- Russian Politics
- Central Asian Foreign Policy
- Elections in Authoritarian Countries
Image
Claire Sanders, M.P.A.
Senior Lecturer of Political Science
2-18 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-5328
Research
- American Government
- Election Law and Administration
- State and Local Government
Image
Ji Seun Sohn, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
2-17 Arts & Sciences Building
(478) 445-0940
Research
- Policing (residents' perceptions of police; police officers' perceptions, etc.)
- Psychopathy (empathy deficiencies, recidivism, etc.)
- Homicide
- Sexual Violence
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
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.
Lecturer of Sociology
2-04 Arts & Sciences Building
478-445-7394
Research
- Gender Ideology
- Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Family
- Emerging Adulthood
Image
Clif Wilkinson, A.B.D.
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
Ralph Hemphill
Political Science
Richard Scheff
Criminal Justice
Michael Digby
Political Science
Larry Elowtiz
Political Science
Robin Harris
Sociology
Ralph Hemphill
Political Science
Richard Scheff
Criminal Justice