Tag Archives: Teaching

Interview w/ Azat Zana Gündoğan 2024 Teaching Award Winner

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The CUSS Excellence in Teaching Award Committee, consisting of Albert Fu, Judith Halasz, Colleen Wynn, and Zawadi Rucks-Ahidiana, has selected Azat Zana Gündoğan as the section’s 2024 winner. He is currently an Associate Teaching Professor in the University Honors Program and holds Affiliate Faculty status in the Sociology Department at Florida State University. In his role, he has built up a diverse portfolio of urban-oriented courses and has been involved in co-curricular activities in the honors program. Student letters noted his, “innovative teaching methods, passion for the topic, and uniquely interdisciplinary focus.” Another letter highlighted Dr. Gündoğan’s helping the student “appreciate the learning process itself.” Albert Fu reached out to him to discuss his teaching. Thanks to Azat for participating in our interview series!

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Interview with Albert Fu, winner of the 2022 CUSS Teaching Award

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Albert Fu is a Professor of Sociology at Kutztown University. As both an urban and environmental sociologist, his research examines the intersection between built and natural environments. Dr. Fu is also interested in how “culture” creates, defines, and controls space. At Kutztown, he regularly teaches Principles of Sociology, Sociological Imagination, Social Inequality, Urban Sociology, and Environmental Sociology. As the inaugural winner of the biannual CUSS Teaching Award, Steven Schmidt reached out to Dr. Fu to discuss his teaching, and we’ve included his responses below. Thanks for participating in our interview series!

Who (or what) inspired you to become a teacher? Did you have any classroom experiences earlier that influenced how you teach now? 

I have had so many great teachers (at all levels) over the years that have impacted my teaching. A story I often share with students is how my high school English teacher Mrs. Karen Harwood recommended that I be moved from the regular curriculum to the honors/advanced placement curriculum – despite not being a 4.0 student. In this way, Mrs. Harwood had a massive impact on my life, and I think it’s essential to pay it forward as an educator. It’s important to look out for creativity and curiosity beyond traditional grades. 

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ASA Teaching Award Nominations Sought

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From Leonard Nevarez:

As a member of the ASA Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award, I’m writing to encourage you to nominate a colleague or yourself for the 2021 award. Here’s the relevant info from the ASA Awards page:

The ASA Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award honors ASA members’ outstanding contributions to the teaching of undergraduate and/or graduate sociology. The award recognizes contributions that have made a significant impact on the manner in which sociology is taught at a regional, state, national, or international level.

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Teaching Urban Sociology in a Time of Mass Uprisings for Racial Justice and the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Colleen E. Wynn
Assistant Professor of Sociology
University of Indianapolis
2021 Winter, Vol. 34, No.1 

According to the US Census Bureau, the majority of Americans live in urban areas. And, as urban sociologists, we’ve known cities matter for a long time, but more and more we’re seeing the rest of society take note. Cities played a major role as the location and backdrop for the mass uprisings for racial justice we saw earlier this year, especially mid-sized cities in the South and Midwest that are often included but not highlighted in our scholarly work. George Floyd’s brutal murder by police in Minneapolis helped to spark the mass uprisings we saw earlier this year and the current civil rights movement, as did Breonna Taylor’s murder in her home by Louisville Metro Police in my hometown of Louisville. In Indianapolis, where I live and teach, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police shot and killed Dreasjon Reed and McHale Rose, two incidents which have not received as much national attention but have locally mobilized many activists. These are, of course, only a few cases. Activists and organizers across the country mobilized around these cases, as well as many others that have not received nearly as much national attention. 

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Urban Sociology Resources on ASA TRAILS

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ASA TRAILS

Prepping your fall courses? Did you know ASA TRAILS has a number of urban sociology resources that can help you get ready? Here are a few examples:

Don’t forget that you can also submit teaching resources to TRAILS.

TRAILS

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ASA TRAILS

TRAILS, the ASA Teaching Resources and Innovation Library is an online, modular (by topic and type of teaching tool) and searchable database that reflects a major innovation in the creation and dissemination of peer-reviewed teaching resources. In 2016, TRAILS became a member benefit that all ASA members can access.

In recent years it has gone beyond syllabus sets to include a variety of different exercises, PowerPoints, and other teaching materials. This includes material for urban sociology.