MTSU Anthropology

Image of Taylor Tims and Dr. Andrew Wyatt. Text reads: URECA Grant Taylor Tims and Dr. Andrew Wyatt received a fall URECA grant for their project, "Anthropogenic Soils and the Amazon: An Analysis of Terra Preta in Caxiuana, Brazil." Congrats!

Congratulations to Taylor Tims and Dr. Andrew Wyatt, who received a fall URECA grant to fund their project, "Anthropogenic Soils and the Amazon: An Analysis of Terra Preta in Caxiuana, Brazil!"

THE WILLIAM BASS-HUGH BERRYMAN LEGENDS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE LECTURESHIP PRESENTS "Sifting through the Ashes: Recovery and Identification of Wildfire Victims: Lessons From Paradise and Maui." Wednesday, October 29, 6:30 p.m. MTSU Student Union Ballroom Forensic anthropologist Eric Bartelink calls search and recovery of fire victims one of the greatest challenges in forensic anthropology-especially after large wildfires. Bartelink, a professor of physical anthropology at California State University at Chico and team member of the Human Identification Laboratory there, has assisted in humanitarian recoveries and identifications around the world, such as mass grave excavations in Bosnia-Herzegovina for the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia and in the World Trade Center victim identification effort in New York City. His expertise is frequently called upon to assist in the identification of victims from wildfires, including those that consumed Paradise, California, and Maui, Hawaii. Free and open to the public. No tickets are necessary. Sponsors: The Forensic Institute for Research and Education, Middle Tennessee Forensic Science Society, Political and Global Affairs, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, College of Liberal Arts, Office of the University Provost

Please join us on Wednesday, October 29th, at 6:30 p.m in the Student Union Ballroom for the William Bass-Hugh Berryman Legends in Forensic Science Lectureship! Forensic anthropologist Dr. Eric Bartelink will discuss the recovery and identification of wildfire victims.

Text reads: SOCIOLOGY & ANTHROPOLOGY OCTOBER DATES WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22 11Am - 1Pm THURSDAY OCTOBER 23 12Pm - 2Pm PECK HALL 109 (Archaeology Lab) NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED College of Liberal Arts EXPLORE/ENGAGE/ENRICH/EARN

Open advising for Sociology and Anthropology students is October 22 (11 am - 1 pm) and October 23 (12 pm - 2 pm) in Peck Hall 109 (the Archaeology Lab). During this time, students can stop by and meet with an advisor.

Text reads: MT STUDENT SOCIOLOGISTS Social Sciences Career Panel A PANEL DISCUSSION FEATURING SOCIOLOGY FACULTY AND A PRESENTATION FROM THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER: TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND TO ASK QUESTIONS! GRADUATE SCHOOL CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONNECT WITH PROFESSORS Tuesday, Oct. 21 • 4:30-6PM ACB Room 102 Food and drinks will be provided! @MTSTUSOC Questions? Email Karen Deyarmon at kad6j@mtmail.mtsu.edu

Join MTSS on Tuesday 10/21, where we will host a panel of sociology faculty to discuss various opportunities for students and learn more about the Career Development Center! 📚✍️

🗓️ Tuesday, October 21st
🕰️ 4:30PM - 6PM
📍ACB Room 102
🥤Food and drinks provided!

✨Open to Everyone✨

See you there! 🫵

Text Reads: Spring 2026 Sociology 4725/5725 Environmental Sociology "We won't have a society if we destroy the environment." -- Margaret Mead Counts toward Social Justice Concentration and Minor Upper Division Credit Zero Textbook Cost For more information: Angela.Mertig@mtsu.edu

Text reads: Social Media & Society SOC 4150-5150 Learn about social media: the good, the bad, and the ugly! For more info: Rachel.Davis@mtsu.edu SPRING 2026

Text Reads: FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY & ANTHROPOLOGY Online Spring 2026 SOCIOLOGY 4450/5450 EMOTIONS IN SOCIETY: CONTEXT, STRUCTURE, AND IDENTITY WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN OUR FEELINGS INTERACT WITH SOCIETY? TOPICS INCLUDE: CAREWORK, EMOTIONAL LABOR, SELF PRESERVATION, AND WORK IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES. Upper division credit Mixed with Graduate Students Flipped Classroom Zero Textbook Cost Engage Course (pending) COURSE REDESIGNED AND TAUGHT BY DR. JORDAN SOLOMON JORDAN.SOLOMON@MTSU.EDU

As you create your Spring 2026 course schedules, consider taking one or more of these electives in Sociology! As a bonus, all of them have zero textbook cost! 🧑‍🏫📓✏️

Tomorrow!

MTSU Jobs | Middle Tennessee State University

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Middle Tennessee State University invites applicants for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position (#129230) in anthropology at the rank of assistant or associate professor. careers.mtsu.edu/en-us/job/49...

Anthropologica for fall '25 Guest Speaker: Alisse Waterston "Writing to be read: Crafting and communicating knowledge as if the world depends upon it" October 9, 2025, 1-2:25 pm, COE 160 As students and academics, must we succumb to splitting ourselves between being a scholar and being a responsible global citizen or between the artistic and the scholarly in representing what we have come to learn? In this talk, I describe my experiments in multimodal anthropology with intimate ethnography and with the graphic novel designed to bring knowledge and understanding into the public conversation on critical issues. Identifying my own assumptions and the sense of urgency that has driven much of my work, I question the value of public scholarship amid terrible political, economic, and military violence. I wonder: Is it fantasy to think this work matters? What does it do for the world? Does that question even matter? What are we doing and why are we doing it?

Please join us for the Fall 2025 Anthropologica lecture on October 9 from 1:00 - 2:25 pm in the College of Education building room 160 to hear Dr. Alisse Waterston deliver a lecture entitled "Writing to be Read: Crafting and Communicating Knowledge as if the World Depends Upon It."

Photo of Dr. Rachel Davis Text reads: Research Spotlight Inside the Mind of a Digital Feminist Dr. Rachel Davis is reshaping how scholars understand intimacy, class, and digital life. From the hills of Tennessee to a secluded island, she is developing a book on hypergamy, a form of romantic partnership marked by economic inequality. Dr. Davis sat down with us to discuss matrix logics, media myths, and the feminist contradictions that shape online sexual labor. Q: What questions or problems are you currently exploring? I am currently writing a book for Bloomsbury Publishing about hypergamy, a strategic intimate partnership between a man of high socioeconomic status and a woman of lower socioeconomic status, on Tumblr and TikTok. Some feminists denounce hypergamy as exploitative, while others celebrate it as empowering. This tension raises the question: How do we define and identify women’s exploitation and empowerment, and how can a phenomenon be labeled as both at once? Q: What methods or theoretical approaches are central to your work? For my book project, I utilized digital ethnographic research methods informed by a combination of intersectionality theory, particularly Vivian May’s concept of matrix logics, and Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of class distinction. As part of my digital ethnography, I combined social media content analyses, in-depth qualitative interviews, and statistical analyses. Overall, I prefer mixed-methods approaches like this.

Q: What insights or challenges have shaped your recent projects? Studying social media involves constant challenges, as social media sites change features, algorithms, and data policies daily, often without disclosing them. This requires researchers to constantly change our data-gathering tactics and ethical considerations in response. It can be exhausting sometimes! But it keeps me on my toes. Q: What insights or challenges have shaped your recent projects? Studying social media involves constant challenges, as social media sites change features, algorithms, and data policies daily, often without disclosing them. This requires researchers to constantly change our data-gathering tactics and ethical considerations in response. It can be exhausting sometimes! But it keeps me on my toes. Q: What led you to this area of research? I became interested in the phenomenon of hypergamy in my undergraduate career, when I noticed that several feminists I followed on social media expressed an interest in having a sugar daddy, despite many other feminists denouncing sugar arrangements as exploitative and sexist. Q: How would you describe your research to someone outside of academia? I look at how social media shapes romantic relationships and the economic transactions that take place within them. More specifically, I study the similarities and differences between women who identify as sugar babies, high-value women, and spoiled girlfriends.

Q: What themes or arguments does your research address? My research suggests that some women are actively seeking economically unequal (hypergamous) relationships in lieu of egalitarian ones, potentially perpetuating gender inequality while simultaneously claiming feminist politics. On the other hand, hypergamy may be understood as a strategy for class mobility in an otherwise largely closed class system. In this context, hypergamous women have been harmed by legislative and corporate actions like FOSTA that restrict their freedom of speech, sexual autonomy, and sense of community, all in the name of feminism and social justice. By utilizing matrix logics, I hope to push our responses to these issues beyond binary concepts of victimization and exploitation so that we can better understand (and change) contemporary life. Q: How does your research engage with contemporary issues? My research engages with debates about sexual labor and criminal law. After the passage of Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) in 2018, social media platforms purged adult content, disproportionately affecting racial, gender, and sexual minorities. Ironically, this pushed the sex trade further underground, making it harder to identify and assist trafficking victims. My work aims to expose these contradictions and suggest more just policy approaches.

We're shining the spotlight on research by Sociology Assistant Professor Dr. Rachel Davis, who is reshaping how scholars understand intimacy, social class, and digital life! 🔍

She is developing a book on hypergamy, a form of romantic partnership marked by economic inequality. 💰⚖️

Photo of Presley Powers Text reads: Alumni Spotlight Current Job Title and Organization: Energy Analyst III at EcoMetric Consulting Presley Powers was recently elected Chair-Elect of the Rural Policy Research Interest Group within the Rural Sociological Society and presented her dissertation at the society’s annual conference. Her research explores public trust as an indicator for urban to rural migration, reflecting her commitment to understanding the social dynamics that shape communities. At EcoMetric, Presley evaluates utility energy-efficiency programs using social science research methods, including surveys, interviews, and market analysis. Her work focuses on customer experiences, trade partner engagement, and broader program impacts, contributing to evidence-based improvements and policy decisions. She also advances efforts to promote equitable access to energy. Influence of MTSU Sociology Education Presley describes her sociology education at Middle Tennessee State University as exceptional. Through rigorous coursework and thoughtful mentorship, she learned to think critically as a social scientist and developed a strong foundation in research methodology. Her studies also deepened her understanding of the cultural and social influences that shape decision making. One of her most memorable courses was Social Theory, where she especially appreciated reading The Women Founders. That text highlighted the contributions of women to sociological theory and expanded her perspective on the discipline’s intellectual history. This academic foundation has guided her professional development and continues to inform her work in applied research and policy.

We're shining the spotlight on Sociology Master's program alum Presley Powers, who graduated in 2021 and currently works as an Energy Analyst! 🔦🔍

Photo of Vaun Baltimore Academic Interests: Vaun is focusing on the specializations of adolescence and youth sociology and digital sociology. His thesis examines algorithmic media curation across social media platforms, with attention to how platform personalization shapes adolescent content exposure. Through simulated user engagement and comparative analysis, his research explores how recommendation systems amplify certain narratives while marginalizing others. Future Plans: After earning his Master of Arts in Sociology, Vaun plans to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree with the goal of becoming a professor. He is currently preparing to teach Social Problems at Middle Tennessee State University in Spring 2026, where he will guide students in critically examining social structures, inequalities, and institutional dynamics through applied examples and interactive learning. He also intends to deepen his expertise in the sociology of music and the sociology of religion, exploring how cultural expression and belief systems shape identity, community, and social dynamics. Fun Fact: Vaun enjoys using games as teaching tools. He has used the board game Monopoly to illustrate concepts of inequality and is currently developing a custom Dungeons and Dragons adventure designed to highlight key sociological theories. QR code leading to his LinkedIn profile.

We're shining the spotlight on Sociology Master's student Vaun Baltimore! 🔍 His thesis examines algorithmic media curation across social media platforms, with attention to how platform personalization shapes adolescent content exposure. He plans to pursue a PhD in Sociology! 🎓

The 2025 Tennessee Archaeology Awareness Month Poster Paul Eubanks and Noël LorsonMiddle Tennessee State University Each year, Tennessee Archaeology Awareness Month celebrates the depth of our state’s archaeological record—and the people working to st…

You can read more about the poster here: tennesseearchaeologycouncil.wordpress.com/2025/09/08/t...

If you have a favorite memory or photograph from an experience at one of MTSU’s (or another university’s!) field schools—as a volunteer, visitor, or student—please share it below!

It's official: The 2025 Tennessee Archaeology Awareness Month Poster is hot off the presses! This year's poster celebrates public archaeology and outreach efforts in Tennessee, highlighting the role of the late Dr. Kevin Smith and the MTSU Archaeology Field School.

Photo of Dr. Davis at her desk, along with the following information: Areas of Expertise - Critical Feminist Criminology - Digital Sociology - Social Inequalities - Sexual Labor - Gendered Violence Fun Facts Dr. Davis loves to relax by baking and playing video games. Dr. Davis was an Odd Future fanatic in high school and had the honor of being kicked in the head (accidentally) by Left Brain in the mosh pit of one of their shows. Quote: "Celebrate your academic milestones, no matter how small they may seem, and always reach out for support when you need it." Classes Taught - SOC 3210 Drugs in Society - SOC 4150/5150 Topics in Sociology: Social Media and Society - SOC 4300 Criminology - SOC 4400 Sex Trafficking - WGST 6000 Feminist Theory QR code at the bottom that leads to Dr. Davis's faculty profile.

We're shining the spotlight on Sociology Assistant Professor Dr. Rachel Davis! 🔦🔍

Fun Fact: Dr. Davis was an Odd Future fanatic in high school! She had the honor of being kicked in the head (accidentally) by Left Brain in the mosh pit of one of their shows. 😳

Photo of Dr. Ida Fadzillah Leggett with her husband and colleague Dr. Will Leggett

Congratulations again to Dr. Ida Fadzillah Leggett for her promotion to full Professor of Anthropology! We're glad you were able to celebrate and be celebrated at the university's recent reception!

Pictured outside the new location, from right, are alumni and owners Peter Demos and Kristin Demos and their son, Jamey Demos, who will manage the restaurant. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Demos' is coming to @mtsuofficial.bsky.social! And the husband-and-wife owners are both MTSU Sociology alums! Kristin highlights the impact their alma mater had on their success. "I think [Peter's] work ethic and stress management was founded in his college experience." mtsunews.com/demos-to-cam...

Photo of Dr. Fadzillah Leggett with the text "Congratulations to Dr. Ida Fadzillah Leggett for her promotion to full Professor of Anthropology!"

Congratulations to Dr. Ida Fadzillah Leggett for her promotion to full Professor of Anthropology!

Social class and deviance among young adults in Türkiye Existing criminological and sociological research in the Western world typically presents a negative relationship between social class and deviance, such that individuals with a lower social class ...

Sociology professor Dr. Ugur Orak and his co-authors Ozden Ozbay and Sabuha Bindik have a new article entitled "Social class and deviance among young adults in Türkiye" published in the International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice! Read it at www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Image of Dr. Ugur Orak with the text "Congratulations!"

Congratulations to sociology professor Dr. Ugur Orak, who has been chosen for the 2025 - 2026 cohort of the MTSU Provost's Faculty Leadership Development Institute!

Congrats to Dr. Ida Fadzillah Leggett, who recently received an instructional support grant to develop resources using Microsoft Sway for her Engage-certified classes! Engage-certified classes foster a culture of engaged learning by supporting students’ growth as integrative, reflective thinkers.

MTSU Archaeology students are getting hands-on with history through ongoing research at the site of one of Nashville’s first post-Civil War Black neighborhoods. Read this story and more at liberalarts.mtsu.edu/publications/

To honor his legacy, contributions may be made to the K.E. & C. Smith Archaeology Fund or the John T. Dowd Student Paper Award, both of which support archaeological research and student training, by going to mtsu.edu/give and selecting "Other," then entering the name of the chosen fund.

Kevin was a great friend and mentor to MTSU faculty and students alike and a dedicated servant to MTSU and the department. He will be sorely missed but leaves an exceptional legacy in Tennessee and Southeastern archaeology and in the many lives he impacted.

Photo of Kevin Smith

A Celebration of Life for Dr. Kevin E. Smith will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, in the MT Center in the Ingram Building, from 2 to 5 pm.

MTSU Research 2025 Middle Tennessee State University's annual magazine for the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Check out this article from MTSU's research magazine about Sociology professor Rachel Davis's research with undergraduate student Melissa Guinn on law enforcement perceptions of sex trafficking!

People are fascinating—and at MTSU, we’ve got a whole department dedicated to figuring them out! Sociology and Anthropology may be two different fields, but ... Why People Do What They Do: Insights from Sociology & Anthropology

Check out this Out of the Blue interview with Dr. Shannon Hodge, our department chair, about where curiosity meets career—and how MTSU grads are using their people skills to make a real-world impact in everything from nonprofits to public service.

MTSU represents state in winning national Archaeology Awareness Month poster contest Middle Tennessee State University, representing the state of Tennessee, won national recognition for the Archaeology Awareness Month poster design contest held annually by the Society for American …

Great write-up about Tennessee's award-winning Archaeology Awareness Month poster design! mtsunews.com/mtsu-archaeo...

Join us on June 7th!

Flyer promoting volunteer days

MTSU is once again hosting its Volunteer Archaeology Days program at the Castalian Springs Mound Site! If you’d like to visit or help us excavate, the site will be open to the public on May 31 and June 7, weather permitting. Note: Site requires crossing a shallow creek. All ages are welcome!

Photo of Drs. Ida Fadzillah Leggett, Jordan Solomon, Ugur Orak, and Brian Hinote.

Congrats to Dr. Ida Fadzillah Leggett, who completed the MT Engage Summer Institute yesterday! She is pictured here with Drs. Jordan Solomon (Sociology), Ugur Orak (Sociology), and Brian Hinote (former faculty member in Sociology and current Vice Provost for Faculty and Strategic Initiatives).