Grads Making a Difference

Tracy Ayers

The Haiti Cholera Case-control Study team (from left to right): Janell Routh, Katie O’Conner, Adamma Mba-Jones all EIS officers, Team leader Rob Quick, and staff Epidemiologist Tracy Ayers

Tracy Ayers received her MS in Sociology in 2006 and became an Epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control, where she has worked on both domestic and international outbreak investigations caused by foodborne and waterborne diseases. Recently, she has focused her attention on global safe water and hygiene interventions. "My initial draw to the discipline of sociology was the area of social inequality. During my academic training at FSU, I learned that social inequalities in life transfer to inequalities in morbidity and mortality. This concept ignited a passion and drive in me to focus on disease and health outcomes as paramount evidence of social disparities."

As an Epidemiologist, Ayers has been involved in a multitude of projects ranging from developing national estimates of foodborne illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths (attributed to specific food commodities) to investigating the recent cause and spread of cholera in Haiti. She has participated in numerous emergency operations and field investigations, including evaluating hospital transmission of Novel Influenza A (Swine Flu) during the identification of the first domestic cases in Texas.

"The sociology training I received at FSU has provided me with invaluable statistical and methodological skills that have served me well during my tenure at CDC. I continue to apply a sociological perspective to epidemiological studies. The impact of SES disparities is evident even among developing countries where mortality remains high among common infectious diseases."

Ayers is pictured above with the The Haiti Cholera Case-control Study team (from left to right: Janell Routh, Katie O’Conner, Adamma Mba-Jones all EIS officers, Team leader Rob Quick, and staff Epidemiologist Tracy Ayers) that was charged with identifying risk factors for Cholera infections early on in the investigation. "We looked at maps to identify the spread of disease and possible shift of transmission," Ayers reports. "We also compared populations displaced by the hurricane and living in IDP camps, urban and rural setting. One of the single most protective factors was diet diversity which is a proxy for high SES levels. Even in areas of widespread poverty, there is evidence SES determinants of health."

Laurie Brown

Laurie Brown graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 2010 and joined the educational program Teach for America (TFA). She is currently teaching Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II in rural Alabama. In addition to teaching Math she began an after school tutoring class for students to prepare for the ACT/SAT and be successful on the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. In December 2010 she collaborated with two other TFA teachers to create Higher Achievement Summer School, which is a college-preparatory summer program for students entering high school. In June 2011 the 4-week long summer school took place at the University of West Alabama and Indian Springs School, one of the best schools in the state.

“I always considered Sociology my first love,” says Brown. “But I joined TFA instead of going to get my PhD immediately in Sociology because of the social injustices I learned about in my classes. Educational inequity based on socio-economic background, race, and poverty is something that I have strongly believed to be wrong. I saw it as a fixable problem. I wanted to be a part of a movement that’s mission was to provide more students with an education that would put them on a more successful life path.”

Going into her second year, she will be Content Leader for TFA. In this position she will help train new math teachers moving to the area. “I am truly privileged to help out. I know what it was like as a new teacher and I have really enjoyed working with them so far.” “Sociology at Florida State University put me in the right mindset to help my students with issues in and out of the classroom. I love what I do, I love my kids and look forward to seeing them again in August.”

Brandon Clark

Brandon Clark graduated from Florida State University in May 2010 with a BS in Sociology. He currently works for Behavior Management Consulting Company here in Tallahassee, FL. He is a behavior consultant and works with kids who have varying disabilities such as autism, emotional behavior disorder, operational defiance disorder, and tourettes syndrome to name a few. "My sociology classes helped prepare me for some of the diverse people I interact with. My medical sociology class in particular fueled my understanding for some of the med-waiver cases I take on. My work has inspired me to pursue further education." He is currently seeking acceptance into the Applied Behavior Analysis graduate program at Florida State University.

David M. Ferguson

David M. Ferguson, BS Sociology 2001

David Ferguson, BS Sociology 2001, is working on a Ph.D. in the Department of Sociology at The University of Chicago. His dissertation is “The Sociological Construction of Race in the Jim Crow South 1915-1945.” He posits that the South had a profound impact on the production of sociological knowledge in the first half of the twentieth century. Ferguson says he developed my sociological imagination with the influence of FSU faculty members in Sociology and Economics.

Lori Parham

Lori Parham (in jacket), Sociology PhD, 2003

Lori Parham, PhD, 2003, is the state director of AARP Florida, where she is in charge of advocacy, education, and policy. “It may sound like a cliché,” she said, “but this job allows me to accomplish a lot of good for people 50 and older in Florida.” In the advocacy realm, she spearheaded her organization’s successful fight against passage of legislation to limit spending on essential public services, and she lobbied for funding to increase the number of Certified Nurse Assistant hours per resident per day in nursing homes, ensuring residents get the quality care and attention they need and deserve. In the education realm, the Florida office has developed a volunteer speakers bureau on topics including social security, Medicare Part D, financial fraud and long-term care.

Policy, though, is Dr. Parham’s true calling, and currently she is working on reform of Florida’s long-term care system. “Policy work energizes me,” she said, “and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to first learn about elder policy and health care policy by working with Jill Quadagno in the Sociology program. The confidence I gained at FSU as I learned skills such as how to track down information and interpet it, how to present an argument, and how to think analytically has also proven invaluable in this job.”

Dr. Parham, who supervises a staff of 24, travels frequently, including by foot--she just finished running her first marathon! She was recently honored by acceptance into Leadership Florida, an organization dedicated to building a sense of statewide community.

Olivia Rico

Olivia Rico, MS Sociology 2007

Olivia Rico received her Masters in Applied Social Research in 2007, and is putting that degree to work as a Family Support Specialist (FSS) with the Early Childhood Initiative in Madison, Wisconsin. As a FSS in the Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood, Olivia works with caregivers/parents in the community through a weekly home visitation program focused on supporting families around child development, family stability, physical and mental health, as well as healthy relationship goals. The qualitative research skills Olivia honed during graduate school allow her to work with each family to establish these goals in a way that is meaningful to them and meets them where they’re at, while respecting their autonomy and right to self-determination. Designed as a comprehensive wrap-around program that also provides education and employment support, along with case management in whatever form the family needs in a community setting, the program’s successes are reliant upon an extensive collaborative effort with other community organizations, including academic (University of Wisconsin-Madison), governmental (Dane County Department of Human Services) as well as non-profit agencies (Center for Families, Dane County Parent Council, and Employment and Training Association). The entirety of Olivia’s work with families spans from the time they enter the program while pregnant or with a child under 12 months old until they graduate when that child turns 3 years old, supporting caregivers/parents be the healthiest they can be so they may provide their child(ren) a safe, stable foundation. This is a concerted effort focused on the best interests of the child, the family, and the larger community.

Sociological underpinnings strengthen Olivia’s approach in working with families as she draws from her understanding of social forces impacting our communities. Through the study of race, class, and gender, from social inequalities to social movements, Olivia sharpened her analytical thinking and research skills while reaffirming her passion for social justice. As a Family Support Specialist in the community, she works together with families to challenge inequalities perpetuated through the intergenerational transmission of poverty by empowering the family from a strengths perspective. It is through this work with the Early Childhood Initiative that Olivia has found an avenue through which real positive social change can be achieved, one family at a time.

Cheryl Robbins

Dr. Robbins, PhD 2007 (in black), with CDC colleague and staff members from the Kiev, Ukraine, street youth project team in front of mobile HIV testing and counseling van

Cheryl Robbins received her PhD in 2007 and became an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Centers for Disease Control, where she worked on projects close to home and as far away as Alaska and the Ukraine. "I was working on my dissertation when I saw the request for applications for the Epidemic Intelligence Service [EIS] training program, and I immediately knew that was exactly what I wanted to do! During the day-long interview process, I felt like I had just fallen in love - I actually lost my appetite and that NEVER happens to me!"

As an EIS officer, Dr. Robbins has been involved in several fascinating projects. She led the project design, implementation, and data analysis of an HIV seroprevalence assessment among 900 street youth in the Ukrainian cities of Kiev, Odessa, and Donetsk. She also assisted with the collection and data analysis of an Adenovirus-14 epidemiologic investigation in Alaska, conducted analyses of ovarian cancer survival, evaluated a national cancer surveillance system, and conducted surveillance for the Novel Influenza A Epidemic (Swine Flu) in the Centers for Disease Control Emergency Operations Center.

"I entered the PhD program with a strong public health program background, but the sociology training I received at FSU fortified me with the statistical and methodological skills I needed to land a highly competitive EIS position. The EIS training program gave me practical epidemiological experience and I am eager to synthesize all these experiences and conduct research informed by sociology as well as by public health." Dr. Robbins recently assumed a permanent epidemiologist position with the Centers for Disease Control Division of Reproductive Health, Applied Sciences Branch.

Audris Solomon

Audris Solomon, Sociology BS Summa Cum Laude, 2008

Audris Solomon, BS, 2008, recently returned from Ghana, West Africa, where she was part of a Service-Learning Study Abroad Program. Among other projects, the group delivered supplies to a village school. “As we pulled the school supplies from our van, the students cheered with excitement. In that moment I realized my own privilege. In Ghana, school supplies are a luxury good. Pencils are scarce and oftentimes a whole classroom shares one pencil.”

“As sociology students, it's imperative to understand that how we perceive the world is based on the social context around us. When placed in a different environment, you are forced to think outside of your normal context. School supplies in America? Easily accessible, low importance. School supplies in Ghana? Not easily accessible, high importance. My experiences there taught me about my own privilege and how can I use it to help others. I have been deeply moved by those in Ghana, and I look forward to the day I can return.”

Emily Teachout

Emily Teachout and her host niece, Adriana, making Chipa, a traditional Paraguayan bread made out of madioca four, cornmeal, cheese, and pig fat.

Emily Teachout graduated from FSU in December 2010 and just 6 weeks later departed to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay. She is a Rural Health and Sanitation Volunteer in a little community within the Department of Caaguazú, Paraguay. "A large part of what convinced me to become a Peace Corps volunteer was through my studies in sociology that emphasized cultural differences," Teachout says. "My classes also taught me how to look to 'upstream' or 'background' social causes for specific problems, including health conditions. For example, are the poor dietary habits among persons in this community due more to economic barriers, structural barriers, cultural norms, learned habits, or other social factors?" Teachout is working on several projects to improve health in that community, including:

A healthy cooking and nutrition class, plus gardening projects.
A project to build fogones, which are brick ovens/stoves that are easier and allow for healthier cooking than using an open flame.
Educational programs in two elementary schools to teach about parasites, nutrition, dental hygiene, and hand washing.
A culture and language class.
Lectures in the local health center about disease prevention and healthy practices.
A summer camp with the kids to teach them about the above health problems.
A summer youth program with topics like HIV/AIDS and other STDs, leadership, and how to plan for their future.
Communicating with a middle school class in Florida to share with them about the culture of Paraguay.

Overall, Teachout states, she is having the time of her life. "Not only am I having fun learning and interacting in a different culture, I feel like I am gaining valuable experience and knowledge of good and bad development work. Having a hands-on perspective will benefit me later on as I try to effect policy in developing countries."

				Sociology Department News



	Home News - Latest News - News Archive - Faculty Publications - Recent Ph.D. Graduates Undergrad Grad Prospective Students - PhD - MS in Aging and Health - MS in Applied Social Research People Department Contact			Grads Making a Difference Tracy Ayers The Haiti Cholera Case-control Study team (from left to right): Janell Routh, Katie O’Conner, Adamma Mba-Jones all EIS officers, Team leader Rob Quick, and staff Epidemiologist Tracy Ayers Tracy Ayers received her MS in Sociology in 2006 and became an Epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control, where she has worked on both domestic and international outbreak investigations caused by foodborne and waterborne diseases. Recently, she has focused her attention on global safe water and hygiene interventions. "My initial draw to the discipline of sociology was the area of social inequality. During my academic training at FSU, I learned that social inequalities in life transfer to inequalities in morbidity and mortality. This concept ignited a passion and drive in me to focus on disease and health outcomes as paramount evidence of social disparities." As an Epidemiologist, Ayers has been involved in a multitude of projects ranging from developing national estimates of foodborne illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths (attributed to specific food commodities) to investigating the recent cause and spread of cholera in Haiti. She has participated in numerous emergency operations and field investigations, including evaluating hospital transmission of Novel Influenza A (Swine Flu) during the identification of the first domestic cases in Texas. "The sociology training I received at FSU has provided me with invaluable statistical and methodological skills that have served me well during my tenure at CDC. I continue to apply a sociological perspective to epidemiological studies. The impact of SES disparities is evident even among developing countries where mortality remains high among common infectious diseases." Ayers is pictured above with the The Haiti Cholera Case-control Study team (from left to right: Janell Routh, Katie O’Conner, Adamma Mba-Jones all EIS officers, Team leader Rob Quick, and staff Epidemiologist Tracy Ayers) that was charged with identifying risk factors for Cholera infections early on in the investigation. "We looked at maps to identify the spread of disease and possible shift of transmission," Ayers reports. "We also compared populations displaced by the hurricane and living in IDP camps, urban and rural setting. One of the single most protective factors was diet diversity which is a proxy for high SES levels. Even in areas of widespread poverty, there is evidence SES determinants of health." Laurie Brown Laurie Brown Laurie Brown graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 2010 and joined the educational program Teach for America (TFA). She is currently teaching Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II in rural Alabama. In addition to teaching Math she began an after school tutoring class for students to prepare for the ACT/SAT and be successful on the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. In December 2010 she collaborated with two other TFA teachers to create Higher Achievement Summer School, which is a college-preparatory summer program for students entering high school. In June 2011 the 4-week long summer school took place at the University of West Alabama and Indian Springs School, one of the best schools in the state. “I always considered Sociology my first love,” says Brown. “But I joined TFA instead of going to get my PhD immediately in Sociology because of the social injustices I learned about in my classes. Educational inequity based on socio-economic background, race, and poverty is something that I have strongly believed to be wrong. I saw it as a fixable problem. I wanted to be a part of a movement that’s mission was to provide more students with an education that would put them on a more successful life path.” Going into her second year, she will be Content Leader for TFA. In this position she will help train new math teachers moving to the area. “I am truly privileged to help out. I know what it was like as a new teacher and I have really enjoyed working with them so far.” “Sociology at Florida State University put me in the right mindset to help my students with issues in and out of the classroom. I love what I do, I love my kids and look forward to seeing them again in August.” Brandon Clark Brandon Clark Brandon Clark graduated from Florida State University in May 2010 with a BS in Sociology. He currently works for Behavior Management Consulting Company here in Tallahassee, FL. He is a behavior consultant and works with kids who have varying disabilities such as autism, emotional behavior disorder, operational defiance disorder, and tourettes syndrome to name a few. "My sociology classes helped prepare me for some of the diverse people I interact with. My medical sociology class in particular fueled my understanding for some of the med-waiver cases I take on. My work has inspired me to pursue further education." He is currently seeking acceptance into the Applied Behavior Analysis graduate program at Florida State University. David M. Ferguson David M. Ferguson, BS Sociology 2001 David Ferguson, BS Sociology 2001, is working on a Ph.D. in the Department of Sociology at The University of Chicago. His dissertation is “The Sociological Construction of Race in the Jim Crow South 1915-1945.” He posits that the South had a profound impact on the production of sociological knowledge in the first half of the twentieth century. Ferguson says he developed my sociological imagination with the influence of FSU faculty members in Sociology and Economics. Lori Parham Lori Parham (in jacket), Sociology PhD, 2003 Lori Parham, PhD, 2003, is the state director of AARP Florida, where she is in charge of advocacy, education, and policy. “It may sound like a cliché,” she said, “but this job allows me to accomplish a lot of good for people 50 and older in Florida.” In the advocacy realm, she spearheaded her organization’s successful fight against passage of legislation to limit spending on essential public services, and she lobbied for funding to increase the number of Certified Nurse Assistant hours per resident per day in nursing homes, ensuring residents get the quality care and attention they need and deserve. In the education realm, the Florida office has developed a volunteer speakers bureau on topics including social security, Medicare Part D, financial fraud and long-term care. Policy, though, is Dr. Parham’s true calling, and currently she is working on reform of Florida’s long-term care system. “Policy work energizes me,” she said, “and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to first learn about elder policy and health care policy by working with Jill Quadagno in the Sociology program. The confidence I gained at FSU as I learned skills such as how to track down information and interpet it, how to present an argument, and how to think analytically has also proven invaluable in this job.” Dr. Parham, who supervises a staff of 24, travels frequently, including by foot--she just finished running her first marathon! She was recently honored by acceptance into Leadership Florida, an organization dedicated to building a sense of statewide community. Olivia Rico Olivia Rico, MS Sociology 2007 Olivia Rico received her Masters in Applied Social Research in 2007, and is putting that degree to work as a Family Support Specialist (FSS) with the Early Childhood Initiative in Madison, Wisconsin. As a FSS in the Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood, Olivia works with caregivers/parents in the community through a weekly home visitation program focused on supporting families around child development, family stability, physical and mental health, as well as healthy relationship goals. The qualitative research skills Olivia honed during graduate school allow her to work with each family to establish these goals in a way that is meaningful to them and meets them where they’re at, while respecting their autonomy and right to self-determination. Designed as a comprehensive wrap-around program that also provides education and employment support, along with case management in whatever form the family needs in a community setting, the program’s successes are reliant upon an extensive collaborative effort with other community organizations, including academic (University of Wisconsin-Madison), governmental (Dane County Department of Human Services) as well as non-profit agencies (Center for Families, Dane County Parent Council, and Employment and Training Association). The entirety of Olivia’s work with families spans from the time they enter the program while pregnant or with a child under 12 months old until they graduate when that child turns 3 years old, supporting caregivers/parents be the healthiest they can be so they may provide their child(ren) a safe, stable foundation. This is a concerted effort focused on the best interests of the child, the family, and the larger community. Sociological underpinnings strengthen Olivia’s approach in working with families as she draws from her understanding of social forces impacting our communities. Through the study of race, class, and gender, from social inequalities to social movements, Olivia sharpened her analytical thinking and research skills while reaffirming her passion for social justice. As a Family Support Specialist in the community, she works together with families to challenge inequalities perpetuated through the intergenerational transmission of poverty by empowering the family from a strengths perspective. It is through this work with the Early Childhood Initiative that Olivia has found an avenue through which real positive social change can be achieved, one family at a time. Cheryl Robbins Dr. Robbins, PhD 2007 (in black), with CDC colleague and staff members from the Kiev, Ukraine, street youth project team in front of mobile HIV testing and counseling van Cheryl Robbins received her PhD in 2007 and became an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Centers for Disease Control, where she worked on projects close to home and as far away as Alaska and the Ukraine. "I was working on my dissertation when I saw the request for applications for the Epidemic Intelligence Service [EIS] training program, and I immediately knew that was exactly what I wanted to do! During the day-long interview process, I felt like I had just fallen in love - I actually lost my appetite and that NEVER happens to me!" As an EIS officer, Dr. Robbins has been involved in several fascinating projects. She led the project design, implementation, and data analysis of an HIV seroprevalence assessment among 900 street youth in the Ukrainian cities of Kiev, Odessa, and Donetsk. She also assisted with the collection and data analysis of an Adenovirus-14 epidemiologic investigation in Alaska, conducted analyses of ovarian cancer survival, evaluated a national cancer surveillance system, and conducted surveillance for the Novel Influenza A Epidemic (Swine Flu) in the Centers for Disease Control Emergency Operations Center. "I entered the PhD program with a strong public health program background, but the sociology training I received at FSU fortified me with the statistical and methodological skills I needed to land a highly competitive EIS position. The EIS training program gave me practical epidemiological experience and I am eager to synthesize all these experiences and conduct research informed by sociology as well as by public health." Dr. Robbins recently assumed a permanent epidemiologist position with the Centers for Disease Control Division of Reproductive Health, Applied Sciences Branch. Audris Solomon Audris Solomon, Sociology BS Summa Cum Laude, 2008 Audris Solomon, BS, 2008, recently returned from Ghana, West Africa, where she was part of a Service-Learning Study Abroad Program. Among other projects, the group delivered supplies to a village school. “As we pulled the school supplies from our van, the students cheered with excitement. In that moment I realized my own privilege. In Ghana, school supplies are a luxury good. Pencils are scarce and oftentimes a whole classroom shares one pencil.” “As sociology students, it's imperative to understand that how we perceive the world is based on the social context around us. When placed in a different environment, you are forced to think outside of your normal context. School supplies in America? Easily accessible, low importance. School supplies in Ghana? Not easily accessible, high importance. My experiences there taught me about my own privilege and how can I use it to help others. I have been deeply moved by those in Ghana, and I look forward to the day I can return.” Emily Teachout Emily Teachout and her host niece, Adriana, making Chipa, a traditional Paraguayan bread made out of madioca four, cornmeal, cheese, and pig fat. Emily Teachout graduated from FSU in December 2010 and just 6 weeks later departed to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay. She is a Rural Health and Sanitation Volunteer in a little community within the Department of Caaguazú, Paraguay. "A large part of what convinced me to become a Peace Corps volunteer was through my studies in sociology that emphasized cultural differences," Teachout says. "My classes also taught me how to look to 'upstream' or 'background' social causes for specific problems, including health conditions. For example, are the poor dietary habits among persons in this community due more to economic barriers, structural barriers, cultural norms, learned habits, or other social factors?" Teachout is working on several projects to improve health in that community, including: A healthy cooking and nutrition class, plus gardening projects. A project to build fogones, which are brick ovens/stoves that are easier and allow for healthier cooking than using an open flame. Educational programs in two elementary schools to teach about parasites, nutrition, dental hygiene, and hand washing. A culture and language class. Lectures in the local health center about disease prevention and healthy practices. A summer camp with the kids to teach them about the above health problems. A summer youth program with topics like HIV/AIDS and other STDs, leadership, and how to plan for their future. Communicating with a middle school class in Florida to share with them about the culture of Paraguay. Overall, Teachout states, she is having the time of her life. "Not only am I having fun learning and interacting in a different culture, I feel like I am gaining valuable experience and knowledge of good and bad development work. Having a hands-on perspective will benefit me later on as I try to effect policy in developing countries."