September 09, 2005
Darren Sherkat is new sociology department chair
The SIU Board of Trustees ratified his appointment on Thursday, Sept 8, at its regular monthly meeting, held on the Edwardsville campus.
He takes over for Thomas C. Calhoun, recently promoted to associate provost for academic affairs at SIUC.
"I hope to see the department grow to match its distinguished stature in its discipline," Sherkat said.
He joined the faculty in 2001 after teaching 10 ten years at Vanderbilt University's departments of sociology and religious studies.
Among his current research interests are the sociology of religion, social movements, medical sociology, environmental sociology and sociological theory.
He's widely published in peer-reviewed academic journals. Additionally, he serves on the editorial board at "American Sociological Review" and formerly sat on the editorial boards of "Social Forces" and the "American Journal of Sociology."
Sherkat holds three sociology degrees; a bachelor's from the University of Tulsa (1987) and master's and doctoral degrees from Duke University (1989 and 1991, respectively).
Seeking and celebrating faculty excellence are among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the long-range plan the University is following as it approaches its 150th anniversary in 2019.