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Committee on Teaching

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The Committee on Teaching shall concern itself with issues relating to the teaching of sociology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, including teaching theory and methods, curriculum program development, and other professional concerns related to teaching sociology. The Committee shall explore ways of improving the teaching of sociology through such efforts as organizing teaching workshops and regular paper and/or panel sessions at the annual conference and/or through other appropriate means. The Committee shall help solicit nominations to be sent to the Awards Committee for the PSA Distinguished Contributions to Teaching award and shall from time to time organize a reception and/or other gathering at the annual meeting in order to facilitate networking among members of the Association interested in the teaching of sociology. The Committee shall maintain effective liaison with the American Sociological Association’s Section on Undergraduate Education, with the ASA’s Teaching Resource Center, and with other professional organizations that focus on teaching.

The Committee on Teaching consists of six members of the Association. Membership of the committee is appointed by the Committee on Committees for a three conference/two year term of office. Each year, two members begin, and two members end their term of office. While members of the Committee on Teaching may recommend prospective members to the Committee on Committees, they do not select their own members. They do, however, elect the committee’s Chair. The Chair of the Committee on Teaching is elected by the committee members from among their ranks and must be someone who will be a continuing and active member of the committee for at least one year. The Chair is elected at the scheduled meeting of the committee, serves for one year, and can be re-elected.

  • Procedures for taking action.  The Chair is responsible for contacting committee members whenever committee action is required. Members of the committee are encouraged to contact the chair with ideas, issues, and any other items that should be brought to the attention of the entire committee. The Chair of the committee should be elected from among those members who will continue service on the committee. Meeting with and communicating with committee members at the annual PSA meeting helps forge a bond between members and facilitates interaction and sharing of committee responsibilities.
  • A considerable amount of time should be spent on deciding what sessions the committee would like to sponsor at the following year’s PSA meeting. These decisions need to be made at the committee’s annual meeting in order to meet the deadline for submitting any proposed sessions for the Open Call, which is usually May 1. For this reason, all committee members should be encouraged to attend the annual committee meeting and to agree to organize a session for inclusion in the following year’s program.
  • Specific duties of the chair of the committee.  Most of the Chair’s activities (and time) involve organizing sessions for the annual meeting. The Chair may do this directly, may assist other session organizers, or may solicit session organizers from among the committee members and members of the Association. The Chair will also spend a considerable amount of time soliciting nominations for the PSA Distinguished Contribution to Teaching Award. The Chair is also responsible for keeping the committee’s file folder or archive and passing it on to the next Chair.
  • Calendar of committee activities.
    • February/March: Develop agenda for up-coming meeting of the committee at the PSA annual meeting, and distribute to all committee members at least two weeks before the meeting.
    • at the annual meeting: Conduct committee meeting. Pass on action items, if any, to Council (Board of Directors). Select a committee Chair for the following year. Meet new committee members. Discuss proposals for committee-sponsored sessions at next year’s PSA meeting.
    • by May 1: Write the annual report/minutes, including a summary of the year’s activities, and submit to the PSA Secretary. Submit information for any committee-sponsored sessions to be included in the Open Call to the PSA Secretary.

The year following each name indicates the conference at which that member completes their service. For example,those who have a (16) following their names complete their service at the end of the 2016 conference in Oakland.

2023-2024 Committee Members
Amy Lubitow (24) Portland State University
Jamie Palmer (24) Nevada State College
Laura Earles (25) Lewis-Clark State College
Martin Jacinto (25) CSU Chico

2022-2023 Committee Members
Marisol Clark-Ibañez (22) CSU San Marcos   Chair
Cesar Rodriguez (23) San Francisco State University
Amy Lubitow (24) Portland State University
Jamie Palmer (24) Nevada State College

2021-2022 Committee Members
Benjamin Lewin (22)  University of Puget Sound    Chair
Tanya Nieri (22) UC Riverside
Marisol Clark-Ibanez (22) CSU San Marcos
Cesar Rodriguez (23) San Francisco State University
Barbara Reyes (23) Imperial Valley College

2020-2021 Committee members
Vincent Laus (21) CSU Stanislaus
Benjamin Lewin (22) University of Puget Sound  Chair
Tanya Nieri (22) UC Riverside
Marisol Clark-Ibanez (22) CSU San Marcos

2019-20 Committee members
Jennifer Puentes (20) Eastern Oregon University   Chair
Michelle Robertson (20) St. Edward’s University
Vincent Laus (21) CSU Stanislaus
Benjamin Lewin (22) University of Puget Sound

2018-19 Committee on Teaching
Jason Leiker (19) Utah State University
Timothy Larkin (19) Grand Canyon University
Jennifer Puentes (20) Eastern Oregon University
Michelle Robertson (20) St. Edward’s University, Chair

2017-18 Committee on Teaching
Elvia Ramirez (18) CSU Sacramento, Chair
Kristin Haltinner (18) University of Idaho
Jason Leiker (19) Utah State University
Timothy Larkin (19) Grand Canyon University

2016-17 Committee on Teaching
Elvia Ramirez (18) CSU Sacramento, Chair
Kristin Haltinner (18) University of Idaho
Juan Pitones (17) CSU Channel Islands
Valerie Adrian (17) Washington State University
Jason Leiker (19) Utah State University
Timothy Larkin (19) Grand Canyon University

2015-16 Committee on Teaching
Rosemary Powers (16)  Eastern Oregon University, Co-Chair
Clayton Peoples (16) University of Nevada Reno, Co-Chair
Terressa Benz (16) University of Idaho
Michael Chavez (16) Cal Poly Pomona
Juan Pitones (17) CSU Channel Islands
Valerie Adrian (17) Washington State University

2014-15 Committee on Teaching
Adam Rafalovich  Pacific University (Southern)
Rosemary Powers Eastern Oregon University (Northern), Co-Chair
Deidre Tyler  Salt Lake City Community College (Central)
Terressa Benz  University of Idaho (Northern)
Clayton Peoples  University of Nevada Reno (Central), Co-Chair
Michael Chavez  Cal Poly Pomona (Southern)