Biography

I took my first sociology course while working on my undergraduate degree at UNC. Although I was not a sociology major, I immediately became interested in the subject. I not only loved the topics I studied in sociology but also the way it changed my perspectives. It helped me make connections between my own personal experiences and the structure of society. Upon graduation, I decided to pursue a graduate degree in sociology. I chose the program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington not only because I love Wilmington (born and raised!), but because I was drawn to their “public” sociology graduate program. Public sociology is a type of sociology that sees value in engaging with non-academic audiences.

Specialty areas:

• Stratification and inequality
• Program evaluation
• Race and crime
• Media
• Gender

Courses Taught:

• Social Problems
• Introduction to Sociology
• Sociology of Families

Research and Community Engagement

• College and Career Ready: Opening Doors with Virtual Opportunities in Onslow County (co-writer, grant)
• The Food Assistance Landscape in North Carolina and Access to Food Assistance
• Newspaper Portrayals of Race and Crime: A Content Analysis Using the Public Arenas Model
• The Listening Project: Using Qualitative Methods to Understand Community Needs

Professional Associations
American Sociological Association

Education

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Management and Society, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Master of Arts (M.A.), Public Sociology, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Awards and Publications

Errante, Casey, Godwin, Kristin, Buffington, Daniel. 2019. “Increases in Income Inequality.” Trails, American Sociological Association.