Faculty Expertise
Throughout your time at Washington College, you will work with faculty in classes, lab and field work, internships, and more. Faculty serve as teachers and mentors, and as advisors for your Senior Capstone Experience (SCE). Explore the research interests of our faculty below.
Sociology Faculty
Rachel Durso
Chair of the Department of Sociology
Associate Professor of Sociology and Black Studies
Director of the Justice, Law, and Society Minor
Rachel Durso
Chair of the Department of Sociology
Associate Professor of Sociology and Black Studies
Director of the Justice, Law, and Society Minor
Areas of Expertise
Criminology and deviance, corrections and mass incarceration, racial disparity in the criminal justic system
Research
My primary research area examines the consequences of mass incarceration in the United States in the 21st century. This research explores the ways in which social control of minority groups, partisanship, and historical punishment practices affect modern-day punishment issues such as increases in corrections spending, prison admissions, and privatization.
Erin Anderson
Associate Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies
Director of the Social Welfare Minor
Erin Anderson
Associate Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies
Director of the Social Welfare Minor
Areas of Expertise
Gendered experience, gender roles, and gender socialization
Research
My research interests are rooted in our gendered experiences at the individual, interactional, and institutional levels. My past research has looked at gender and family roles through work requirements of welfare recipients and men's nontraditional parenting roles as primary caregivers. My current research interests are focused on gender socialization through scouting organizations. I'm looking at both adult women's roles and experiences as role models and developers of leadership in girls through Girl Scouts and public reactions to recent membership and name changes in the Boys Scouts.
Nick Garcia
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Nick Garcia
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Areas of Expertise
Disability, hate crime and extremist groups, enrivonmental movements, food justice and agricultural systems
Research
My research typically incorporates place features as they shape livelihoods and inequalities.
Elizabeth Yost
Associate Proessor of Sociology
Director of Public Health Minor
Director of the Pre-Health Professions Program
Elizabeth Yost
Associate Proessor of Sociology
Director of Public Health Minor
Director of the Pre-Health Professions Program
Areas of Expertise
Gerontology, technology and health, and healthcare and medicine
Research
My research specializes in technology and health as well as quality of life issues in older adult populations. My research evaluates how different technologies can be utilized in older adult populations to maintain physical, mental, and emotional health. Currently, I am evaluating the differences between rural and urban older adult populations and their use of technology.