Clemson Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice

Department Chair Dr. Katherine Weisensee and postdoctoral scholar Dr. Madeline Atwell attended the
National Institute of Justice conference in Pittsburgh this week, where Dr. Weisensee gave a talk about her work on determining postmortem intervals and her groundbreaking app, geoFOR. https://geoforapp.info

Congratulations to our very own Abigail Curran on this outstanding award!

The 2024 Tom Barker Outstanding Undergraduate Award was presented to Ms. Abigail Curran from Clemson University. For more information on Abigail and other 2024 SCJA Award Recipients, visit southerncj.org.

To say we are proud of our Grad and Undergrad students is an understatement! Their efforts at the Southern Criminal Justice Association’s conference this week in Greenville, SC were phenomenal and they came away with some stellar accolades. They represented Clemson incredibly well and we are so glad they are part of the SACJ family! And bonus points to faculty members Dr. Pierce Greenberg and Dr. William Casey for unintentionally twinning at the conference!
More details to come on awards and recognitions!

Come work with us! We are excited to share this opportunity and invite those interested to review position details and qualification requirements here: https://apply.interfolio.com/153933

The Connect and Protect project will allow CUPD to develop two co-responder teams of certified mental health clinicians and police officers specifically trained in mental health response.

Dr. Bryan Miller and Dr. Kyle McLean are collecting data on CUPD interactions and use virtual reality training equipment to evaluate the co-responder training and efficacy.

Clemson University Police, criminal justice professors working to improve mental health crisis responses Since 2019, Bryan Miller has been working with the Clemson University Police Department to revamp its responses to mental health crisis calls.

Happy to see these smiling faces! Dr. Weisensee and Dr. Tremblay shared some images from their Study Abroad trip to Szeged, Hungary. Students traveled abroad this summer to study human skeletal material held at the University of Szeged. Excited to hear all about their research and experiences when they return to campus.

An excellent read about SACJ Department Chair Dr. Katherine Weisensee's development and progression of the geoFOR app.

Clemson researcher changes forensic science landscape with app to provide near-instant time of death estimations In 2020, Katherine Weisensee, forensic consultant, professor and chair of the Clemson University Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal

Congratulations to the Class of 2024!
To all of our SACJ graduates, please know that our Faculty and Staff are incredibly proud of you and wish you great success and happiness on your next adventures! And never hesitate to stop by Brackett Hall and say hello!
GO TIGERS!

It is Give Day! Today, your generosity allows us to elevate our students’ academic experiences and the research initiatives that address critical needs throughout our community, state and nation. If you would like to donate to the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice, please click the link below and navigate to the “Dept. Sociology, Anthro and Criminal Justice” fund. Thank you for your continued support!
https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiveday.clemson.edu%2Fpages%2Fcollege-of-behavioral-social-and-health-sciences%3Fappeal_id%3D641c9f9399a8cb204f7d972b&data=05%7C02%7Chmccoy2%40clemson.edu%7C012b863b0def45b77ea908dc54ba157a%7C0c9bf8f6ccad4b87818d49026938aa97%7C0%7C0%7C638478405432014400%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=nwpxoeN7qj4ohER%2B4k4AQ3pZbIeeFDYI8cQuD41uySQ%3D&reserved=0

Join us this Wednesday, April 10, for our ninth annual Give Day! This is our opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of current and future Tigers as they move fiercely forward in their Clemson Journeys.

Always proud of our faculty! Congratulations, Dr. Ken Robinson!

Ken Robinson, associate professor in the Clemson Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice, recently received Clemson University’s 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Excellence in Service Award for his dedication to the values embodied in the life and work of Dr. King.

Congratulations, Dr. Robinson, on this well-deserved recognition!

An interesting read for your Friday - check out this article published by Dr. Pierce Greenberg (SACJ Assistant Professor)!
Published in the journal Social Problems, the article titled “Prisons and Pollution: A Nationwide Analysis of Carceral Environmental Inequality” analyzes whether prison proximity is correlated with different measures of environmental hazards across the entire U.S.

Here is a link to the full article:

Prisons and Pollution: A Nationwide Analysis of Carceral Environmental Inequality Abstract. The disproportionate exposure of incarcerated populations to environmental harms is an emerging area of interest among scholars and activists. Existin

Last week, the Clemson University College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences student of the week was one of our awesome Sociology majors, and she shared some pictures of faculty members - Dr. Rucha Ambikar and Dr. Bill Haller - teaching in class. Love seeing them in action!

Celebrating 10 years of our spectacular Anthropology program!

Earlier this year, the Anthropology program, in the Clemson Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice department, celebrated its 10th anniversary. The program has grown considerably and students can take courses in all four subfields of anthropology – archaeology, biological-anthropology, linguistic and cultural. Read more about the program: https://bit.ly/4a9EXU5

Congratulations to our very own, Holly Williams!
In addition to her role as lecturer, Williams serves as an advisor for the department where she shares her passion for experiential learning opportunities that highlight various careers in the field of criminal justice.
Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology and a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Lincoln. She earned a master’s degree in human resource development and is currently a doctoral candidate in policy studies with an emphasis in homeland defense. Her research focus is juvenile cyber deviance.

Clemson lecturer receives Fulbright Specialist grant to collaborate with Finland institution in virtual exchange program Holly Williams, a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice has been accepted to the Fulbright Specialist Program,

Forensic anthropologists work to identify human skeletal remains and uncover the stories of the unknown dead When someone inadvertently discovers a human body, identifying skeletal remains can be a major effort and is a specialized branch of anthropology. Forensic anthropologists’ skills allow them to interpret from skeletons the trauma and disease a person suffered in life, as well as estimate when that...

Congratulations to Mr. Williams! It has been a joy seeing him in our classrooms and getting to know him. We will miss spotting him in the halls. Wishing him all the best on his next adventure in Denver!

"You're never too old to learn something new." Veteran of Korean and Vietnam wars earns Clemson degree Malcolm Williams earned his degree in social sciences with a minor in black global studies. Veteran Malcolm Williams earned his degree in social sciences with a minor in black global studies.

Clemson Anthropology mentioned in an article from Forbes linking cultural understanding and market research.

"As your organization invests in development, consider adopting available anthropology programs for your market research team’s continuing education. It is not uncommon for employees to receive employer funding to earn certificates or degrees with clear benefits to the business. Various universities offer certificates in anthropology that could bolster the capabilities of market research, including Clemson University."

Council Post: Bolstering Market Research With Anthropology When leveraged appropriately, an understanding of culture can bolster the impact of market research.

It’s Giving Tuesday! Join us as we celebrate the power of generosity today and donate here - https://bit.ly/3L1EDvu
Your gifts allow us to elevate our students’ experiences, increase research outputs and continue addressing critical needs throughout our state and nation. Thank you for your continued support of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice!

Sharing a great accomplishment and honor for our faculty member, Assistant Professor Kyle McLean who was a presenter at the 2023 American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. Earlier this Fall, Kyle was named the ASC - Division of Policing’s Early Scholar Award Winner for 2023. Always proud of our team!

"What happens after someone inadvertently discovers a human body? How are human skeletal remains identified? It can be a major effort, requiring collaboration across law enforcement, forensic anthropologists and death investigators to uncover the identities of the unidentified dead and help bring justice to people who were victims of foul play."

Check out this excellent piece published by our Chair, Dr. Katherine Weisensee and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Madeline Atwell.

Forensic anthropologists work to identify human skeletal remains and uncover the stories of the unknown dead Forensic anthropologists are specialized scientists who analyze the skeletal remains of the recently deceased to help authorities figure out who the person was and what happened to them.

Save the date for this informative Webinar featuring our SACJ Department Chair and Professor, Dr. Katherine Weisensee.

December 5, 1-2pm
Information and Registration provided here:

Improving Methods Using Machine Learning and Databases in Forensic Anthropology – Forensic Technology Center of Excellence Improving Methods Using Machine Learning and Databases in Forensic Anthropology Posted on: November 6, 2023 Last updated on: November 6, 2023 Written by: Erica Christensen Categorized in: Anthropology, Anthropology, Anthropology, Best Practices & Procedures, Database & Software, Discipline, Medicole...

Save the date! Join on November 16th for ! Let’s come together to celebrate the . Learn more at powerofrural.org.

Sharing an awesome experience from our faculty member and Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Natasha Sianko.

"Had a great time at this year's AAAS Science, Technology and Human Rights Conference. Always nice reconnecting with friends and meeting amazing scientists and human rights advocates working together. Thank you to Theresa, Nate and everyone else at Science and Human Rights Coalition for organizing this fabulous event!”

This Friday! Don't miss this! Moderated by our faculty member, Professor Jenae Harris.

Moderated by our very own Professor Jenae Harris!

Thrilled to receive an update from Clemson Anthropology major Skylar McGinnis. She is doing a semester exchange program at the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Skylar says "Their anthropology and archaeology program has a really interesting array of classes. I have the privilege of taking Scottish Archaeology, Prehistoric Britain, as well as Anthropological Theory. In my free time, I have been making lots of new friends, exploring some castles, and trying to see as much of Scotland as possible. My fellow Clemson Anthropology major, Luke Garden, is studying here as well!"
Sounds like an amazing experience so far, and we can't wait to hear more when Skylar returns.

Alisa Wharton, a Sociology minor in our program, placed 3rd in the South Carolina Creative Sociology Writing Competition. The competition received more than 40 entries of short fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry from 11 different colleges/universities across the state. Each submission was accompanied by a 500-word exegesis highlighting sociological concepts that contextualize the creative work. The winners come from 5 different universities and the winning pieces explore themes such as racial injustice, climate change, and book banning.

Congratulations, Alisa! We are proud of you!