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Dr. Ginger Macheski, Professor of Sociology
Ph.D. (Sociology), Michigan State University, 1986
email: macheski@valdosta.edu
Office: 229) 333-5493
University Center: 1123
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Sociology was not even something I had ever heard of before I went to college, (the first person in my family to do so) but over time sociology became both my world view and my vocation. As an undergraduate I was a psychology major and I was politically active. Through the peace movement and the women’s movement, I learned to ask why? who benefits? and maybe more importantly why not? which left room for social change. Right along beside me asking the same questions and with some answers were Sociology faculty at Michigan State. So it made sense when I decided upon more school after my B.A. to apply to Sociology graduate programs. With a brief sojourn to Purdue, I returned to M.S.U. and 10 years, one husband, a number of jobs, and two children later, I received my Ph.D. My sociology has been informed by a constant critical perspective (ask my children about this!) and a desire to communicate and apply what we as sociologist learn about the world to others.
Fifteen years ago, I came to Valdosta State University. Moving to South Georgia brought many positive things to my life, two more children, numerous cats and dogs, a horse, a house and a lot of friends. To my sociology, this move has sharpened my applied focus. Most of my work here in Valdosta has been working on local issues with local groups ranging from how do you change P.T.O.’s to be more multi cultural and inclusive to documenting the existence of institutionalized racism in the community with Levi-Strauss’ Project Change. Another applied focus has been my interest in teaching and the teaching of sociology. I have been very active with the ASA’s (American Sociological Association) Teaching Resource Center editing collections of teaching materials, writing about teaching and giving teaching workshops. In the Department, I teach family, research methods, statistics, and inequality courses.