Introduction to Sociological Theory: Concepts and Applications

Dr. Abby Reiter is an assistant professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where she teaches a variety of courses, including an introduction to sociology, sociological writing and rhetoric, exploring masculinities, and sociological theory. She cocreated a course on race and racism, and a course devoted to feminist theories. She earned her PhD from George Mason University. Her research typically uses a qualitative or mixed methodology to examine experiences with, and manifestations of, various types of interpersonal and institutional oppression, such as racism, heteronormativity, and sexism, and the maintenance of power associated with these systems. She is involved with social justice and inclusion initiatives at the university. She is a member of multiple boards and committees devoted to advancing sociological knowledge, and she is the current President-Elect of the North Carolina Sociological Association.
 

Dr. Miranda Reiter is an associate professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where she is the coordinator of the medical sociology minor for the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. She teaches a variety of courses, including social statistics, social research, health and society, and health inequalities. She earned her PhD from Utah State University and worked as a postdoctoral research assistant at Sam Houston State University. As a social epidemiologist, she studies how social processes and factors impact the health of groups and individuals and contribute to health inequalities. Most of her research focuses on health disparities related to race and other social categories. She is devoted to social justice and is involved with inclusion and diversity efforts at her university, and she is a past President of the North Carolina Sociological Association.
 

Dr. Victoria Kurdyla (she/they) is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where they teach a variety of courses including Social Deviance, Sexuality and Society, Criminology, and Family Violence. They earned a Ph.D. in Sociology with a focus on the sociology of crime, deviance, and social control from North Carolina State University. They also hold an M.A. in Sociology and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her research has largely focused on the victimization experiences of queer and transgender people, as well as their experiences seeking help for abuse. She frequently uses queer and intersectional theories to explore how interlocking systems of power exert social control on people as well as how individuals utilize tools of systemic oppression in instances of family violence. She considers herself an advocate for social justice, and she engages in numerous campus and professional initiatives striving towards an equitable society.