Committees

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MSS Committees:

The Midwest Sociological Society is governed by a Board of Directors, but much of the organization’s work is accomplished by its 15 standing committees.

For contact information for any of the officers, directors or committee chairs, please consult your latest issue of The Midwest Sociologist or contact MSS Executive Director Lauren Robinson Tiffany by phone at 608.787.8551 or by email.

Committee Chairs 2011-12:

Annual Meeting Committee

Deb White, University of Minnesota

Endowment Committee

Acting Chair Gail Wallace, The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Executive Committee

Mary Zimmerman, University of Kansas

Finance Committee

Tom Gerschick, Illinois State University

Long Range Planning Committee

Phyllis Baker, University of Northern Iowa

Membership Committee

Peter Parilla, University of St. Thomas

Minority Scholars Committee

J.S. Onesimo [Ness] Sandoval St Louis University

Nominations & Elections Committee

David Bills, University of Iowa

Professional Issues & Standards Committee

Gina Kelly, Minnesota State University

Publications Committee

Joel Best, University of Delaware

Social Action Committee

Lee Miller, Sam Houston State University

Sociological Practice Committee

William Lovekamp, Eastern Illinois University

Student Issues Committee

Pooya Naderi, University of Kansas

Committee on Teaching and Learning

Brandon Hofstedt, Northland College

Committee on Women in the Profession

Gina Petonito, Miami University

Committee Descriptions:

The Annual Meeting Committee

is charged with facilities planning, local arrangements, and the smooth operation of the annual meetings of the Midwest Sociological Society.

The Endowment Committee

reviews proposals for expenditure of endowment fund interest, and makes recommendations to the board in reference to such proposals.

The Long Range Planning Committee

shall continually consider the long-range goals and needs of the Midwest Sociological Society and shall assess and oversee the Society’s programs and committees to ensure that those goals and needs are being appropriately addressed.

The Minority Scholars Committee

shall monitor the profession in relation to minority issues, gather information on such issues, and when it deems appropriate, recommend to the board and to the membership, and carry out action aimed at increasing equality of minorities in the profession and in society.

The Nominations and Elections Committee

shall nominate slates of candidates for the elective offices of the society, supervise the polling of the membership by written or electronic ballot, count the returned ballots, and notify the Secretary of the names of those elected.

The Professional Issues and Standards Committee

shall view all questions of professional ethics and conduct, as well as issues of academic freedom that are brought to the attention of the society.

The Publications Committee

shall oversee, monitor and recommend policy to the board concerning publication of The Sociological Quarterly, and The Midwest Sociologist, and administration of the Student Paper Competition.

The Social Action Committee

shall take under consideration proposals for social action by the society submitted either by individual members or other committees of the society. It is also responsible for soliciting nominations and selecting recipients for the two annual

Social Action Awards.

The Sociological Practice Committee

will explore ways that clinical and applied sociology may be highlighted within the Midwest Sociological Society.

The Student Issues Committee

shall develop and recommend policy to the board and monitor activities related to representation of the interests of student members of the Midwest Sociological Society.

The Teaching and Learning Committee

shall concern itself with issues related to sociology education at all levels. It shall continually evaluate the development and implementation of teaching pedagogy and student learning in the discipline, and shall make the results of such evaluations available to the membership of the MSS.

The Women in the Profession Committee

toward the end of producing equality of opportunity for women, shall keep under constant review the position of women in the profession, gather information on such issues, and, when it deems appropriate, recommend action to the MSS board and the membership.

*For more details about a particular committee, see the MSS bylaws.