Dr. Thomas Michael Kersen

Degrees

• Ph.D., Mississippi State University, Sociology, 2003
• M.S., University of Central Arkansas, Sociology, 1996
• B.A., Arkansas Tech University, Sociology, 1994
• A.A., City Colleges of Chicago, 1992

Research Interests

Sociology of religion and spirituality, population studies, military sociology, civic roles and need for of liberal arts and humanities in the public arena, community and communal living

Courses Taught

Undergraduate

• Introduction to Sociology
• Cultural Anthropology
• Community Organization
• Social Psychology
• Social Statistics
• Methods of Social Research
• Development of Social Theory
• Special Topics (Sociology of Religion)
• Seminar in Sociology (capstone course)
• University Success

Graduate

• History of Sociology
• Recent Social Theory
• Methods of Social Research
• Special Topics
• Research and Statistics

Professional Memberships

• Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. (August 2009 – Present)
• Alabama-Mississippi Sociological Association. (August 2004 – Present)
• Fellow, Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society. (2002 – Present)

Recent Publications and/or Creative Works

1. Kersen, Thomas. 2015. “The Power of the Quest Narrative: Metaphor, Modernity, and Transformation.” In Patsy J. Daniel (Ed.) The Power of the Word: The Sacred and the Profane. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Refereed Journal Articles

1. Kersen, Thomas and Pizzetta, Candis. Forthcoming. “Exploring Regional Identity in Arkansas: The Salience of the Ozark Term.” Elder Mountain: A Journal of Ozark Studies.
2. Kersen, Thomas. 2016. “Insider/Outsider: The Unique Nature of the Sociological Perspective and Practice. Journal of Applied Social Science 1-9.
3. Mawson, Anthony, Kersen, Thomas, and Callender, Jassen. 2013. “Retrofitting the Built Environment for the 21st Century.” Design & Health Scientific Review April: 64-69.
4. Kersen, Thomas, Hudiburg, Richard, and Bates, Larry. 2013. “Exploring the Mystical Side of Running.” The Researcher 26 (1): 49-69.
5. Kersen, Thomas. 2012. “Trends in Military Enlisted Occupational Gender Segregation, 1975 to 2008.” The Researcher 25 (1):109-123.