Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences

Faculty & Staff

 

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. Four faculty members  (Day, Fallin, 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). Dr. Susan Caplow earned UM’s 2023 Faculty Service Award for her impact on and off campus.

Environmental Studies Faculty

Dr. Susan Caplow  
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
(205) 665-6176 Fallin Hall 302
scaplow@montevallo.edu
Courses: Environment & Society, Environment & Sustainability, Ethical Challenges to Environmentalism

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty

Mr. Kyle Crider
Instructor of Environmental Studies
M.P.A., University of Alabama at Birmingham
kcrider@montevallo.edu
Courses: Environment and Society

Dr. Caplow


Geography Adjunct Faculty

Ms. Mackenzie Coan
Instructor of Geography
M.S., Auburn University
mcoan@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu
Courses: United States, Technology, Southern, Military

Dr. Wilson Fallin, Jr.
Professor Emeritus of History
Ph.D., University of Alabama

Dr. Clark Hultquist
Professor of History
Ph.D., Ohio State University
(205) 665-6188 Fallin Hall 215
hultquic@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu
Courses: United States, Military, Alabama, Southern, Diplomatic

Blake Hudson and Scott Turner

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@montevallo.edu
Courses: World Civilizations I and II

Mr. William “Bill” Carmichael
Instructor of History
M. Ed., University of Montevallo
wcarmich@montevallo.edu
Courses: World Civilizations I and II

Mr. Ryan Tullock
Instructor of History
M.A., History, East Tennessee State University, MA, History, University of Alabama,
MDiv, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University
rtullock@montevallo.edu
Courses: World Civilizations I and II

I

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@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu Courses:  Foundations, Lifespan Development, History of Psychology, Diverse Family Systems, Psychology in Media, Psychology of Death, and Psychology of Human Sexuality

Dr. Shannon Pinegar
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Ph.D., Ohio University
(205) 665-6187 Fallin Hall 214
spinega1@montevallo.edu
Courses: Foundations, Social Psychology, Descriptive Statistics, Research Methods, Social Issues, Cognitive Psychology

Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Richardson
Associate Professor of Psychology
Ph.D., University of Alabama Birmingham
(205) 665-6446 Fallin Hall 327
erichar5@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu
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, with Ms. Brady in background

 


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@montevallo.edu
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@montevallo.edu
Courses: Social Problems, Aging & the Life Course, Social Change, Environmental Sociology, Contemporary Chinese Society, Sociology Capstone

Dr. Derrick Shapley
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Ph.D., Mississippi State University
(205) 655-6183 Fallin 203-B
Courses: Stratification, Research Methods, Medical Sociology, Sociological Theory, Sociology of Education
dshapley@montevallo.edu

Dr. Stephen Parker
Professor Emeritus of Sociology
Ph.D., Indiana University
parker@montevallo.edu

Jim Day, 2019 recipient of the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award

Dr. Condrey (BSS Alumnus Award recipient), Dr. Parker, and Dr. Webb (ENG)

 


Staff

Ms. Stacia Brady
Administrative Assistant II
B.S., University of Alabama at Birmingham
(205) 665-6180 Fallin Hall 210
sbrady2@montevallo.edu

Ms. Brady

BSS faculty at Homecoming reception

BSS alumnus Josh Barronton and Ms. Brady