Our Faculty
The Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences prides itself with a well-qualified, full-time staff with twenty-one of twenty-two faculty with doctoral degrees. Three faculty members (Day, Newell, and Richardson) have been named our “University Scholar” and five others have earned UM’s National Alumni Association Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award (Drs. Barone, Day, Hultquist, Newell and Truss).
Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Mr. Kyle Crider
Instructor of Environmental Studies
M.P.A., University of Alabama at Birmingham
kcrider@51rkb.com
Courses: Environment and Society
Geography Adjunct Faculty
Ms. Mackenzie Coan
Instructor of Geography
M.S., Auburn University
mcoan@51rkb.com
Courses: World Regional Geography, Physical Geography, Alabama Landscapes
History Faculty
Dr. Robert W. Barone
Professor of History
Ph.D., Ohio State University
(205) 665-6181 Fallin Hall 331
baroner@51rkb.com
Courses: England, Renaissance and Reformation, Medieval European
Dr. James S. Day
Professor of History; Department Chair
Ph.D., Auburn University
(205) 665-6117 Fallin Hall 211
dayjs@51rkb.com
Courses: United States, Technology, Southern, Military
Dr. Clark Hultquist
Professor of History
Ph.D., Ohio State University
(205) 665-6188 Fallin Hall 215
hultquic@51rkb.com
Courses: Modern Europe, France, The Holocaust, Modern Japan, Environmental History
Dr. Ruth Truss
Professor of History; Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Ph.D., University of Alabama
(205) 665-6508 Ramsay Hall 121
trussr@51rkb.com
Courses: United States, Military, Alabama, Southern, Diplomatic
BSS Distinguished Alumni Award Winner, 2023, Blake Hudson, Dean, Cumberland School of Law, Samford University and Scott Turner
History Adjunct Faculty
Mr. Scott Ellison
Instructor of History
M.A., University of Montevallo
ellisons@51rkb.com
Courses: World Civilizations I and II
Dr. Hultquist presents at the Faculty Research Symposium as Dr. Day listens.
Political Science Faculty
Dr. Carl Doerfler
Associate Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., Texas A & M University
(205) 665-6178 Fallin Hall 329
doerflerc@51rkb.com
Courses: Public Policy, American Government, Constitutional Law, Research Methods
Dr. Andrea Eckelman
Associate Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., University of Houston
(205) 665-6189 Fallin Hall 213
aeckelma@51rkb.com
Courses: Public Policy, Public Administration, Identity Politics, Gender in World Politics, Women in Politics, Morality Politics
Dr. Scott Turner
Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., University of Georgia
(205) 665-6199 Fallin Hall 330
turners@51rkb.com
Courses: International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, Model UN, Capstone/Senior Seminar, World Politics, Political Film
Dr. Eckelman, victor in the Life Raft Debate, with Dr. Beal (SWK)
Dr. Turner presents BSS Alumnus Award to Dr. Steve Condrey.
Psychology Faculty
Dr. Kristen Gilbert
Professor of Psychology; Assistant Provost for Assessment and Accreditation/SACSCOC Liaison
Ph.D., University of Memphis
(205) 665-6445 Humanities Hall 301-B
gilbertk@51rkb.com
Courses: Cognitive, Senior Seminar in the History of Psychology
Dr. Rachel Jubran
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Ph.D., University of Kentucky
(205) 665-6435 Fallin Hall 212
rjubran@51rkb.com Courses: Foundations, Lifespan Development, History of Psychology, Diverse Family Systems, Psychology in Media, Psychology of Death, and Psychology of Human Sexuality
Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Richardson
Associate Professor of Psychology
Ph.D., University of Alabama Birmingham
(205) 665-6446 Fallin Hall 327
erichar5@51rkb.com
Courses: Foundations, Forensic Psychology, Psychology of Pain, Psychopathology, and Biological Psychology
Dr. Melissa Shepherd
Associate Professor of Psychology
Ph.D., Florida State University
(205) 665-6447 Fallin Hall 326
mshephe1@51rkb.com
Courses: Psychology of Personality and Intimate Relationships, Social Psychology, Descriptive Statistics, Research Methods, Health Psychology
Drs. Beal (SWK), Eckelman (POS), and Shepherd (PSYC)
Dr. Jubran and students
Social Work Faculty
Dr. Brendan Beal
Associate Professor of Social Work
Ph.D., University of Georgia
(205) 665-6193 Fallin Hall 203-A
bbeal@51rkb.com
Courses: Research in Social Welfare, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Social Work Practice with Groups
Ms. Johnna Matthews
Clinical Instructor of Social Work
M.S.W., University of Alabama
(205) 665-6185 Fallin Hall 312
jmatthews@51rkb.com
Courses: Skills for Social Work Practice, Practicum, Seminar
Dr. Jason Newell
Professor; Director of the Social Work Program
Ph.D., University of Alabama
(205) 665-6184 Fallin Hall 304
jnewell2@51rkb.com
Courses: Research, Mental Health; Social Welfare, Individuals and Families, Practice
Dr. Meredith Tetloff
Associate Professor of Social Work
Ph.D., University of Georgia
(205) 665-6190 Fallin Hall 306
mtetloff@51rkb.com
Courses: Substance Abuse, Social Work Practice, Social Policy
Social Work Faculty: Dr. Jason Newell, Ms. Johnna Matthews, Dr. Meredith Tetloff, and Dr. Brendan Beal
Drs. Newell and Hultquist
Sociology Faculty
Dr. Christopher Bounds
Associate Professor of Sociology; Criminology Concentration Coordinator
Ph.D., Mississippi State University
(205) 665-6192 Fallin Hall 203-B
cbounds1@51rkb.com
Courses: Life Course Criminology, Substance Use, Desistance from Crime
Dr. Deb Lowry
Professor of Sociology
Ph.D., Michigan State University
(205) 665-6182 Fallin Hall 214
dlowry1@51rkb.com
Courses: Social Problems, Aging & the Life Course, Social Change, Environmental Sociology, Contemporary Chinese Society, Sociology Capstone
Jim Day, 2019 recipient of the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award
Dr. Day and BSS Alumni, Terry Hughston, J.D. Ard, and Olivia Ard
Staff
Ms. Hayley Roberts
Administrative Assistant II
B.S., University of Montevallo
(205) 665-6180 Fallin Hall 210
hrobert5@51rkb.com
BSS faculty at Homecoming reception
