Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Celebrates 2015 Achievements

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Left to right, top: Juan Jose Bustamante, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Jeff Gruenewald and Casey Harris; bottom, Patricia Herzog, Lori Holyfield, Brandon Jackson and Shauna Morimoto.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences announces several recent faculty accomplishments. The university community, along with members of the department of sociology and criminal justice are excited to see faculty members recognized by colleagues and students for their diverse strengths and talents and outstanding contributions in research, teaching and service. 

Since arriving at the University of Arkansas in 2012, Juan Jose Bustamante, an assistant professor who holds a joint appointment in the Latin American and Latino Studies Program, has established himself as an exceptional teacher and student mentor. Bustamante's undergraduate student and mentee Eric Axxe received a nationally competitive 2015 Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. 

Kevin Fitzpatrick, the Bernice Jones Endowed Chair in Community and director of the Community and Family Institute, will celebrate his 10th anniversary at the University of Arkansas in August 2015. During his years at the university, Fitzpatrick has promoted and advanced its land-grant mission and engaged in many activities strengthening the community and the region. His contributions have been recognized by his promotion to University Professor. 

Assistant professor Jeff Gruenewald joined the department in 2011 and has established himself as an outstanding teacher and researcher.  This year, he was among three faculty members to receive the Associated Student Government's Outstanding Faculty Award. 

Casey Harris and Patricia Herzog joined the department in 2011 and 2013, respectively.  They are among Fulbright College's 2015 Connor Faculty Fellows. The Connor Endowed Faculty Fellowships are awarded to assistant professors who have made excellent contributions to the college and their department.

In August 2015, professor Lori Holyfield will be celebrating her 20th anniversary at the university. During this time, she has made many lasting contributions to the department in teaching, mentoring and advising. Holyfield was recently recognized with the 2015 Fulbright College Outstanding Advisor Award. 

Assistant professor Brandon Jackson has held a joint appointment in the African and African American Studies Program since 2013.  In his short time at the university, he has established himself as a first-rate scholar and valued member of the academic community. Jackson is among four recipients of Fulbright College's 2015 Summer Research Stipends. He will use the funds to finish his book project Brotherhood University: Black Men and Social Mobility on a College Campus.

Associate professor Shauna Morimoto will spend the 2015-16 academic year in residence at Lucy Cavendish College as a result of receiving a prestigious Cambridge Faculty Fellowship. While there, she will conduct research on institutional transformation and gender and racial/ethnic equity in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Morimoto has been with the department since 2008.

About the Department: The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice offers three degree programs and two honor societies; affiliation with renowned research units – the Community and Family Institute and the Terrorism Research Center – and research emphases in community, crime and law, social inequality, social psychology, culture, organizations and social networks.