Faculty List

Catherine Fobes

Catherine Fobes

Professor of Sociology
Joined Alma College Faculty in 1998
Swanson Academic Center 254
(989) 463-7257

Education

  • Ph.D., Florida State University
  • M.Div., Yale University
  • B.A., Muhlenberg College

Research Interests

Aging, work, gender, women's health, family, complex organizations, sociological methods

Directed Student Presentations and Achievements

  • Honors Day Presentation, April 2010, "Indian Gender Studies," by Amita Gollapudi
  • P-GLOBAL Fellows • Amita Gollapudi (Tanzania), 2009 • William J. Scarborough (Ghana), 2007 • Lisette Hoeltzel (India), 2004
  • Fullbright Scholars * William J. Scarborough (Ghana), finalist, 2009 * Lisette Hoeltzel (Canada), awarded, 2006
  • Service Learning, Outstanding Commitment to Service Award • William J. Scarborough, 2009 • Shannon Dier, 2008
  • Honors Day Presentation, April 2009, "“The Unique Experience of Single Parents by Choice," Lindsey Voss
  • Honors Day Presentation, April 2009, "Agents of the Brain Drain: Perspectives from the Field of Academia," William J. Scarborough

Selected Articles

  • Catherine Fobes and Tara Hefferan.  "Educating Students for a Global Future: Using Praxis Projects to Teach About Women in the Global South."  Michigan Sociological Review.  Volume 23:81-104. Fall 2009.
  • Catherine Fobes and Peter Kaufman.  "Critical Pedagogy in the Sociology Classroom: Challenges and Concerns."  Teaching Sociology.  36(1): 26-33, January 2008.
  • Catherine Fobes.  "Vocation and Racial Discrimination in Campus Ministry."  Journal of College and Character.  Volume IX, Number 2:1-10, November 2007.

Selected Reviews

  • Catherine Fobes and Colleen Wilson.  Review of Gendered Worlds, by Judy Root Aulette, Judith Wittner, and Kristin Blakely.  Teaching Sociology.  Volume 38, Number 1:60-61, January 2010
  • Catherine Fobes and Laura von Wallmenich.  Review of Our Social World; Introduction to Sociology, by Jeanne Ballantine and Keith Roberts.  Teaching Sociology.  Volume 36, Number 2:161-62, April 2008.

Recent Presentations

  • " Association for Sociologists of Religion, 'Teaching Sociology of Religion,' Panel Member, Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, August 14, 2010."

Selected External Research Grants

  • Catherine Fobes, Kate Blanchard, and Carol Gregg (Alma College), Jennifer Ayres and Deborah Kapp (McCormick Theological Seminary).  "Globalization and Food: Society, Theology and Ethics."  Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities.  Effective: 2009.

Awards, Honors, Recognitions

  • Barlow Award in Faculty Excellence, 2011
  • Outstanding Faculty in Social Sciences Award, Alma College, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2001
  • Omicron Delta Kappa Faculty Excellence Award, Alma College, 2007, 2004, 2002, 2001
  • Discovering Vocation Course Development Grant ($3,000), "Women, Work, and Calling," 2006
  • Joseph H. Fichter Award, Association for Sociologists in Religion, 2005
  • Discovering Vocation Faculty Research Grant ($20,000), "Discovering Vocation in Campus Ministry," The Lilly Project at Alma College, 2004-05
  • See More...

Professional Memberships

  • American Sociological Association, member, 1992-present

Service to the College

  • Faculty Health Care Administration Search Committee resulting in the successful hire of Dr. Dale Sanders, 2009-10
  • Sixteen faculty letters of evaluation, 1999-present
  • Chair, Department of Sociology and Anthropology 2006-09 (as Associate Professor) and January-July 2000 (as Assistant Professor)
  • Faculty Elections, Fall Term Sabbatical Replacement, 2008
  • Member, Faculty Steering Committee, 2007-08
  • Religious Studies Search Committee resulting in the successful hire of Dr. Kathryn Blanchard, 2005-06
  • See More...

Service to the Community

  • Meijer Bike Trail Association, Member, Alma, Michigan, 2008-present
  • Democratic National Party, Volunteer, Alma, Michigan, Fall 2008
  • Board of Directors, Women’s Aid Service, Inc., Alma, Michigan, May 2000-May 2002

Service to the Profession

  • American Sociological Association, Section on Teaching and Learning, Mentoring Committee Chair, 2009-10
  • American Sociological Association, Section on Teaching and Learning, ASA Pre-Conference “Becoming the Best Teacher We Can Be,” Facilitator for Small Group Discussions on “The Value of Mentoring for New Faculty,” Atlanta, GA, August 13, 2010
  • Board of Editors, Teaching Sociology, 2006-08
  • Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award Selection Committee, American Sociological Association, 2005-07

 

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Graduate Profile

Shabnam Mirsaeedi

Shabnam Mirsaeedi
Graduation: 2005
Major: Political Science

One person can make a difference in the world. Sometimes it’s difficult to believe but Shabnam Mirsaeedi proves it’s true.

“When I was living in Iran, I saw children suffering in poverty,” she says. “Since then I’ve wondered, 'Why do I live the way I live? Why is there so much inequality and injustice in the world? What can I do to make change?'”