WVU sociology professor publishes edited volume on public sociology

Morgantown, W.Va., September 25, 2007: Dr. Lawrence Nichols, a professor of sociology in the Division of Sociology and Anthropology at WVU, recently published an edited volume about making sociology relevant to non-academic audiences.

The book, titled “Public Sociology: The Contemporary Debate” (Transaction Publishers 2007), contains an editor’s introduction by Nichols and thirteen essays that address a proposal that sociology become more deeply engaged with the general public in the United States, as well as with more specific publics, such as senior citizens and organized labor.

“The impact of the public sociology movement can be seen in such recent developments as the creation of an M.A. specialization in public sociology at American University,” Nichols noted.

Nichols is the editor of “The American Sociologist,” a peer-reviewed journal that examines the history, current status, and future prospects of sociology as a profession and academic discipline. He is also the coauthor of “Beyond The Courtroom: Programs in Community Justice and Conflict Resolution” and “Corporate Policy, Values and Social Responsibility.” His current research focuses on white-collar crime, social problems theory, and the history of sociology.

The Division of Sociology and Anthropology is part of the School of Applied Social Sciences in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University.

For more information, contact Nichols at 304-293-5801 ext. 3206 or at larry.nichols@mail.wvu.edu.

W-V-U