Department of Sociology Anthropology and Gerontology Archives

Missouri State faculty present interdisciplinary panel on history of Route 66

May 5, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Four Missouri State University faculty members presented a research panel on Route 66 and its history April 22, 2026, in Strong Hall on the Springfield campus.

The panel event coincided with the roadway’s 100th anniversary.

“African American Lived Experiences: Unheard Stories of Route 66,” was a collaborative effort by the panelists to highlight how African American travelers experienced the famed scenic route.

Associate Professor Lyle Q. Foster of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology organized the event. Joining him were Assistant Professor Leonard Horton III of the Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film; Associate Professor Judith Martinez of the Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions; and Associate Professor Ximena Uribe-Zarain of the School of Special Education, Leadership and Professional Studies.

The researchers have been working on the project since September 2025.

Interdisciplinary approach highlights multiple views

As an interdisciplinary group, the panelists found that their varied academic backgrounds blended nicely, Foster noted. “Since the team brings together perspectives from sociology, communication, languages and cultures, and education, that mix of viewpoints really shaped how we interpreted what we found,” he said.

Each panelist drew heavily from oral history interviews conducted in 2014 and 2015 as part of the Greater Springfield Route 66 Oral History Project at Missouri State.

“These interviews are publicly available through the Missouri State University Libraries YouTube channel,” Foster said. “Anyone can go listen to them.”

Other resource material included the Negro Motorist Green Book, historical records and existing scholarship on race and mobility in America. During the session, the panelists also premiered a mini documentary, “Reflections on the Route.”

“The film highlights the stories of local Springfieldians who traveled Route 66 during the Jim Crow era and used the Green Book directory as a guide to find safe places to eat and spend the night,” Foster explained.

Gerontology program readies students to work in the “longevity economy”

April 24, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

The American population is getting older—quickly.

A woman stands at a table and listens to two other women as they speak. — Dr. Maureen Templeman (standing, right) listens to one of the MSU 62 participants in the Unlearning Ageism project.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, older adults will outnumber children in the U.S. by 2034. The number of people in the U.S. age 65 and older is expected to grow to nearly 90 million by 2050.

As coordinator of Missouri State’s gerontology program, Dr. Maureen Templeman, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology, always has statistics on hand. She can quickly illustrate just how broadly a gerontology education can be applied to what economists call the “longevity economy.” The term refers to the goods, services and industries driven by older adults’ needs and spending habits, Templeman said.

A recent AARP statistic, for example, estimates that adults age 50+ contribute $8.3 trillion annually to the U.S. economy. According to Templeman, this trend contradicts the stereotype that older adults are dependent. Instead, they are consumers, workers, caregivers and community members.

And employers are looking for professionals who can address the needs of this growing population.

Workforce training for the “longevity economy”

Templeman wants students to know that gerontology is not a niche field of study. It is a vibrant and growing career option.

“It’s relevant to almost every career path you can imagine,” Templeman said. “We live and work in an aging society.”

In short, gerontology students graduate with skillsets that can be used in any career. These include, but are not limited to, healthcare, social work, law, finance, public policy, education, architecture, communications and technology.

“Really, any field where understanding the needs and experiences of older adults is an asset,” Templeman said.

Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins named SAG department head

April 21, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

The Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins as head of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology (SAG).

Sherman-Wilkins has been serving as interim department head since July 2025. He joined Missouri State as an assistant professor in 2017.

RCASH Dean Shawn Wahl described Sherman-Wilkins as a valued member of the college.

“Kyler brings various forms of leadership experience that align with academic program advocacy,” he said. “I am grateful for his willingness to continue leading the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology.”

Sherman-Wilkins said he felt “honored and humbled” to be appointed to the position.

He recalled his years as an undergraduate at Cornell University and a doctoral student at Penn State. “The thread running through that entire educational journey has been a deep passion for understanding the human condition and how we grow within broader social and structural contexts,” he said.

Becoming head of the sociology, anthropology and gerontology department is a “natural continuation of that journey,” he added. “I don’t take it lightly for a single moment.”

Dr. Laura Hart featured in Mind’s Eye

February 5, 2026 by Strategic Communication

Congratulations to Dr. Laura Hart, associate professor of sociology at Missouri State University, for her recent feature in Mind’s Eye magazine.

Her research focuses on how people understand and cope with risk, especially risk caused by environmental factors that jeopardize a community’s physical and mental health.

Congratulations Dr. Hart!

The full story is now available online.

Excerpt

In the mid-2000s, several residents of Clyde, Ohio, including children, developed cancer at an alarming rate. Then, in 2012, nine feet of toxic sludge was discovered under the basketball court at a recreational park donated to the community by Whirlpool, the town’s largest employer.

Several affected individuals filed a lawsuit against Whirlpool, claiming these illnesses were caused by pollutants generated by its Clyde facility. Having already experienced reluctance from state officials to investigate suspected chemicals and their potential link to the cancer cases, the plaintiffs knew they would need the community’s support.

Yet many of Clyde’s residents angrily opposed the lawsuit.

Read the full story

Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins elected to Midwest Sociological Society’s Board of Directors

January 15, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Associate Professor Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins was elected to the Midwest Sociological Society (MSS) Board of Directors. He will represent the state of Missouri on the board and serve a three-year term ending in 2029.

“This honor truly means a great deal to me personally,” Sherman-Wilkins said. “It’s a recognition of the work I’ve been committed to in the field of sociology.”

“It was inspiring to know that my peers see value in my leadership and vision,” he added.

Sherman-Wilkins also serves as interim head of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology (SAG).

Role emphasizes leadership and vision

As a board member, Sherman-Wilkins will provide leadership and strategic direction to MSS. His duties include attending meetings and conferences as well as committee service.

Balancing his duties on the MSS board with his responsibilities as department head and as a teacher poses a challenge, Sherman-Wilkins admitted. More importantly, he added, it presents an exciting opportunity “to grow professionally and to bring new perspectives back to my department and institution.”

Benefits to students and university

Sherman-Wilkins also believes his position on the MSS board will have a “positive ripple effect” at Missouri State. The university’s students and faculty frequently participate at MSS annual meetings, attending sessions and presenting their research.

“For the university, it enhances our visibility and reputation within the discipline, allowing us to contribute to the society’s initiatives and stay at the forefront of sociological research and practice,” he explained.

Sherman-Wilkins said he looks forward to working as an advocate and champion for the field of sociology.

“I see this as an opportunity to communicate the awesome utility and power of the field,” he said. “As the science dedicated to the understanding of society, I cannot think of a better time to study sociology.”

About MSS

As a professional organization, MSS includes research and applied sociologists as well as students studying sociology. Currently, MSS has approximately 1,300 members from nine states: Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Kansas, South Dakota and North Dakota.

MSS states its mission is to build “community among sociologists and to advancing sociological knowledge, teaching, and practice for social scientific purposes and social betterment.”

Photo credit: Dr. Leonard Horton III.