When Dr. Marnie Watson’s career as a novelist didn’t pan out, she sought a new path where she would unveil truth about humanity and culture. As a cultural and medical anthropologist, Watson immerses herself in her research, where she draws close to people in extreme circumstances. She asks questions to better understand, “how they deal with life in difficult … [Read more...] about Uncovering the truth and the trauma
Perhaps a third item should be added to the list, Dr. Gabriel Ondetti says: People believing they pay too much in taxes … especially in the United States. “When you tell them what the data says – that they’re very lightly taxed compared to people in other countries – they’re astounded,” Ondetti said. An expert in Latin American politics and taxation, Ondetti has published … [Read more...] about Taxes in Latin America: More than dollars and cents
Growing up, Dr. Julia Troche loved watching the History Channel. Documentaries on ancient history particularly fascinated her. So, it was only natural that Troche, an Egyptologist, chose to study history in college. She delved deep into the realm of ancient Egypt and Assyria in graduate school. Over the years, she has visited the region several times to conduct research … [Read more...] about Relating stories of the ancient world
Meadows, professor of anthropology and Native American studies at Missouri State University, works with many Native American tribes and cultures. He also studies Japan. From a military family, early in his career he became interested with the military experience of indigenous peoples. As he unearthed more about the ceremonies, music and art associated with these veterans, … [Read more...] about Code talking: Shining a light on war-time heroes
He believes that perspective ignores the attention to the sacred and spiritual on campuses. It also doesn’t account for the intersectionality of religious studies. It overlaps with many other disciplines – from social work to politics. The role of religion in higher education is a dynamic topic right now, he noted. But as a sociologist, he’s always been intrigued by how … [Read more...] about Finding faith in college
Historian Dr. Djene Bajalan offers insights into the Middle East by exploring the region’s history. He focuses on issues related to nationalism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. An assistant professor of history at Missouri State University, Bajalan’s main research area is on the region’s Kurdish community. In particular, he studies how Kurdish political activism … [Read more...] about Examining the Kurdish question from a historical lens
Dr. Catherine Hoegeman, associate professor of sociology, studies organizational leadership. For much of her career, she has focused on religious organizations, but she doesn’t want to be typecast. She wants to branch out to research nonprofit organizations and leadership more broadly. But the controversies and the questions brought forth by the church bring her back. She … [Read more...] about Unveiling the mysteries of the Catholic Church
That’s the reality today. But in the 19th and early 20th centuries, public houses (nicknamed pubs) didn’t offer food. You may think it changed in order to turn greater profits. Instead, Dr. David Gutzke argues that pubs evolved in Great Britain as a ripple from the Progressive movement. He believes his greatest scholarly contribution is that he established the Progressive … [Read more...] about Blending history, pubs and politics
But Dr. Brooks Blevins, the Noel Boyd professor of Ozarks studies, works to change these misconceptions through his research. He pores over countless materials about the Ozarks and conducts oral histories to provide a truer picture of the area and the people who live here. A lifelong Ozarker, Blevins grew up on his family farm in rural Arkansas. He always loved history. When … [Read more...] about Ozarks history through a realistic lens
If you said yes, Dr. Pam Sailors encourages you to reconsider. "Kids start playing football as soon as their little necks can support the helmets on top of their heads," Sailors said. "By the time they are old enough to make the choice to play, a lot of the damage has already been done." Professional and college football is one of the most-watched dramas in the U.S., but … [Read more...] about Risky business: The future of football in the United States
Dr. Brett Garland, head of the department of criminology and criminal justice at Missouri State University, has been studying the criminal justice system for over a dozen years. He’s published more than 40 journal articles, book chapters and other scholarly works, mostly on topics pertaining to correctional issues. One primary area of research for Garland is prisoner … [Read more...] about Keeping parolees out of jail
"Post-millennial generations are going to be incredibly visually oriented," he said. "If we don’t captivate their interest with this type of a digital humanities project, the humanities are going to fade away into being insignificant in the public’s mindset." That’s why Chuchiak, professor of history and director of the Honors College, and Missouri State alumnus Justin … [Read more...] about Developing cultural competence in tomorrow’s leaders
Throughout the better part of the next three decades, Protestants engaged in iconoclasm, or the destruction of religious images and relics, as they believed their reverence was a form of idolatry. In the process, they demolished a multitude of sites and artifacts sacred to Catholics. But what happens after the dust settles? "My real interest isn’t in the smashing of the … [Read more...] about History and memory: Making peace after religious conflict
"The house I grew up in and every school I went to was destroyed," said Matthews. "Much of me went away in the sky, and yet I was able to go back down there and identify what was remaining of the structure that was my childhood home." Matthews took a picture of the ruins and uses it in class as a way of talking about how space is still present in our memories. This speaks to … [Read more...] about An everyday life of Biblical proportions
Oyeniyi has spent the last 10 years researching the roots of terrorism in West Africa. Looking at the Latin root "terrorem," which means to instill great fear or dread, and "terrere," which means to fill with fear or to frighten, he defined terrorism to include individual, group and state activities. "The definition is always what others do to us. It’s always going to be a … [Read more...] about Eye to eye or eye for an eye