Luma Al Masarweh
EDUCATION
B.S., Public Health with an emphasis in Epidemiology and a minor in Sociology, Brigham Young University; M.S., Sociology Brigham Young University
ABOUT
Research interests include: medical sociology; social determinants of health; health care services; and inequalities and disparities in access to care.
luma.almasarweh@case.edu
Casey Albitz
EDUCATION
B.A., Sociology, Case Western Reserve University;
B.A., Psychology, Case Western Reserve University;
M.A., Sociology, Case Western Reserve University
ABOUT
Sociologist with a demonstrated history of working both in higher education and local government. I study formal eviction in Cleveland, Ohio and am interested in the relative autonomy of courts within civil forcible entry and detainer actions. My doctoral research systematically documents the occurrence of formalized eviction in Cleveland, Ohio by examination of cases that have passed through the Cleveland Municipal Housing Court in 2018 coupled with participant observation through 2019. My work identifies the characteristics of all parties involved in formal eviction actions, documents processes and experiences, and investigates how the court implements a problem-solving framework and in which ways observed practices reproduce, mitigate, and refute power imbalances between opposing parties. Additional research interests include urban sociology, race/class/gender, social inequality, Marxist sociology, law and society, health disparities, public policy, and research methods.
casey.albitz@case.edu
Dawn Aliberti
EDUCATION
A.A.B., Applied Business, Lakeland Community College;
B.A and M.A., Sociology, Cleveland State University
ABOUT
Research interests include: medical sociology (including sociology of disability); aging; sociology of the family; human rights; and criminology.
dawn.aliberti@case.edu
Gabrielle Beck
EDUCATION
B.A., Psychology, Cleveland State University; B.S., Health Sciences with a focus in Biology, Cleveland State University; M.A., Experimental Research in Psychology (thesis pending), Cleveland State University
ABOUT
Research interests include: adult development and aging and medical sociology. Specifically, research on the lived experience of individuals diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and their care takers.
glb59@case.edu
Sherri Brown
EDUCATION
B.S., Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics, Western Illinois University; M.S., Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics, Eastern Illinois University; M.S., Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University; M.A., Sociology, Case Western Reserve University
ABOUT
Research interests include: health disparities; stress and health; social inequalities and health; social relationships and health; and psychosocial aspects of cancer suvivorship.
sherri.brown@case.edu
Dyanna Burnham
EDUCATION
B.A., Sociology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
ABOUT
Research interests include: medical sociology; health care disparities; sociology of emotion; how chronic mental health issues effect identity; and the sociology of mental health, especially regarding children and adolescents without access to health care.
dlb187@case.edu
Spencier Ciaralli
EDUCATION
B.A., WGS (Women, Gender and Sexuality), Miami University of Ohio;
B.A., Social Justice, Minor: Philosophy, Miami University of Ohio;
M.A., Sociology, Cleveland State University
ABOUT
Research interests include: social justice oriented interests; and stratification surrounding gender and sexuality in particular.
spencier.ciaralli@case.edu
Polina Ermoshkina
EDUCATION
LL.B., Jurisprudence, Bashkir State University Institute of Law;
M.S., Family and Child Studies, Miami University;
M.G.S. Gerontology, Miami University
ABOUT
Research interests include: aging and the life course; intergenerational family relationships; aging in Eastern Europe (with a focus on Russia); medical sociology; and qualitative methods.
polina.ermoshkina@case.edu
Sara Kennedy
EDUCATION
B.A., Psychology, Indiana University, 2005; M.A., Sociological Practice, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, 2009; M.A., Sociology, Case Western Reserve University, 2012; PhD Sociology, Case Western Reserve University 2020 (expected)
ABOUT
I am a research associate in the Population and Quantitative Health Sciences Department at Case Western where I am study coordinator for a project examining the genetic factors that contribute to Alzheimer's Disease, specifically in minority populations. I also conduct interviews and perform qualitative data analysis for a community based project that examines people's perceptions of, and barriers to, vision care in the Broadway/Slavic Village neighborhood. My strengths lie in community based research, participant recruitment, working with diverse populations, working with multidisciplinary teams, and study and data coordination. My research interests are mental health, systemic racism, the preschool to prison pipeline, policy, and intersectionality. I'm also a proud Indiana University graduate, a big sister, and very happy to be aunt to Brooklyn, Brielle, Dylan and Dominic
sara.e.kennedy@case.edu
Kaitlyn Barnes Langendoerfer
EDUCATION
B.A., Sociology, Premed concentration, College of the Holy Cross, 2010; M.A, Sociology, Case Western Reserve University, 2015
ABOUT
Research interests include: age and the life course; aging in place; race/calls and social determinants of health disparities; structural ageism; mixed methods; and men and masculinities.
kxb289@case.edu
Colette Ngana
EDUCATION
B.S., History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science, Michigan State University, 2012; M.A., Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University, 2012; M.A., Sociology, Case Western Reserve University, 2018
ABOUT
My research focuses on the experiences of burn injury survivors and how it relates to larger patterns of social inequality and vulnerability. Additional research interests include medical sociology; social inequality; qualitative methods; reproductive ethics; and social vulnerability.
colette.ngana@case.edu
Abolade Oladimeji
EDUCATION
B.S., Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria;
M.A., Geography and Planning, University of Toledo
ABOUT
I am a social science research analyst, Geographer, Urban Planner, and sociologist with more than 7 years of combined experience in the higher education industry and telecommunication engineering services. Skilled in Analytical Skills, GIS, Project Management, Radio access network (RNP), and Big Data Analysis. Specific research interests include medical sociology, health policy, housing & homelessness, GIS, social inequality, aging in place, social gerontology, urban planning, quantitative methods.
abolade.oladimeji@case.edu
Erin Phelps
EDUCATION
B.S., Sociology, Ball State University; M.A., Sociology, Case Western Reserve University
ABOUT
Research interests include historically minoritized graduate student's success; queer epistemologies and quantitative methodologies; operationalization of LGBT "categories"; navigating the medical industrial complex as a QTIPOC; problematizing widely used stress measures, black womxn and the preservation of self; femme bodies as political.
erin.phelps2@case.edu
Jacob Rivera
EDUCATION
B.A., Sociology and Criminology, Cleveland State University;
M.P.A., Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University
ABOUT
Research interests include: social inequality; research methods; and urban sociology. More specifically, my work focuses on Puerto Rican inequalities.
jacob.rivera@case.edu
Danielle Sabo
EDUCATION
B.A., Health Communication & Political Science, Ohio University; M.A., Sociology, Case Western Reserve University; PhD Sociology, Case Western Reserve University (expected 2020)
ABOUT
My research explores the experience of recurrent instances of intimate body trauma (childhood abuse, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking) over the life course and the maladaptive health outcomes individuals develop in order to cope with said trauma. In particular, I explore the traumatic basis for the development of body image issues, disordered eating behaviors, self harm, PTSD, and suicidality among sexual violence survivors. Additional research interests include health & medical sociology, women & gender, research methods, stress & coping, human development, the sociology of the body, embodiment, trauma & gender violence.
dnb31@case.edu
Ananya Sarker
EDUCATION
B.S., Economics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh; M.S.Sc, Economics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh; M.A., Economics, West Virginia University
ABOUT
I am a health disparities scholar with a special interest in gender and workplace issues. My extensive training in Economics helps me employ quantitative methods and statistical analysis in my research work. I am currently working on the Wage gap in young physicians and self-rated health in older adults. I am also familiarizing myself with middle-aged population and Asian Americans’ health and social research. I am also involved in a project that enhances MCAT teaching in Behavioral Sciences.
ananya.sarker@case.edu
Reema Sen
EDUCATION
B.A. (Honors), English Literature, Presidency University, Kolkata; M.B.A., Human Resources Management, XLRI Xavier School of Management, India; M.Sc, Criminology & Human Rights, London School of Economics
ABOUT
My earlier degrees and work experience in nonprofit leadership and organizational behavior and human resources in different countries sparked my interest in diversity, human rights, gender inequalities and the sociology of work over the life course.
reema.sen@case.edu
Michael Slone
EDUCATION
B.S., Education, Bowling Green State University; M.A., Economics and Social Development of Regions, University of Massachusetts Lowell
ABOUT
Research interests include: organizations, occupations, and work; political economy; science and technology studies (STS); Marxist Sociology; sociological theory; and research methods.
michael.slone@case.edu
Adrianna Smell
EDUCATION
B.A., Sociology with an applied concentration and minors in Media Studies and Women Studies, University of Northern Colorado; M.A., Sociology, University of Northern Colorado
ABOUT
Research interests include: research methods; social inequality; and public policy.
adrianna.smell@case.edu
Mary Ellen (Ellie) Stone
EDUCATION
B.A., Gerontology, Miami University, 2006;
M.G.S., Masters of Gerontological Studies, Miami University, 2008
ABOUT
Research interests include: life course perspective; health disparities; mental health; inter-generational programs/relationships; stigma related to physical disabilities; and public policy (specifically involving the older populations and welfare).
mary.stone@case.edu
Carla Wilson
EDUCATION
B.A., Sociology, Case Western Reserve University, 2011; M.S.S.A, Social Work, Case Western Reserve University, 2015; Ed.S., Curriculum and Instruction/Special Education, Liberty University Online, 2017
ABOUT
My research interests include racial education inequality within the public school system, specifically the problem with de facto segregation which frequently coincides with racial neighborhood patterns. Additionally, I am interested in the over-representation of African American males in special education and the under-representation of African American students in gifted education classes. Medical sociology is another area of interest, especially in regard to the problem with stigmatized illnesses and its impact on children's education as well as adult functioning. Lastly, I am interested in racial differences in infant mortality in the United States and how this phenomenon is largely based on institutional racism.
carla.wilson@case.edu