About Sociology and Anthropology
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
What We Do
Our department includes social scientists in anthropology, geography, and sociology who study people in different ways. Anthropologists look at modern human cultures around the world through the lens of culture and language, while the department’s archaeologists and bioanthropologists reconstruct ancient peoples’ lives from Mongolia to Mississippi. Geographers examine cultural, economic, urban, political, and environmental systems to understand how humans create, interact with, and transform spaces and places across the globe. Sociologists study social change and development in human societies today. We train our students in cutting-edge methods and theories to understand social processes and engage with communities we serve.
Who We Are
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology houses two research centers, the Center for Population Studies and the Center for Archaeological Research, that serve as a focus for faculty and graduate student research. The Grisham-McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement advances transformative service throughout the university and fights poverty through education in Mississippi. Department faculty also contribute to both the Critical Race Studies Group and the Slavery Research Group on campus.
The University of Mississippi is classified as an R1 university, a designation reserved for the top 2.5% of universities in the nation. As part of a research-intensive university, our faculty are at the top of their fields. Studying with R1 faculty matters because professors bring exciting discoveries into the classroom and students have a chance to work with them as they break newbarriers.
Faculty Spotlights
- Dr. Marcos Mendoza, Associate Professor of Anthropology, received the 2024 Howell Family Outstanding Teacher of the Year award in recognition of his classroom instruction, intellectual stimulation of students, and care for students' welfare.
Dr. Jodi Skipper, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Southern Studies, received the national 2025 Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty Award from Campus Compact. She was also recognized on campus with the 2024 Sandford and Susan Thomas Senior Professor Research Award in the Social Sciences from the UM College of Liberal Arts (photo above) in recognition of exemplary performance in sustaining communities, through research, scholarship, and or creative achievement.
- Dr. Jeffrey Jackson, Chair and Professor of Sociology and Dr. Charles Ross, Professor of History and African American Studies, received an Award of Merit from the Mississippi Historical Society in 2024 on behalf of the 58 faculty, staff, and students who contribute to the UM Slavery Research Group.
- Dr. Kate McGurn Centellas, Croft Associate Professor of Anthropology and International Studies, became the third Fulbright recipient from the department in five years by earning a Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad Award. She used the award to support travel with UM students to Bolivia to study with Bolivian university partners in public health and development.
- Dr. Jodi Skipper, Professor of Anthropology and Southern Studies, received the 2024 Sanford and Susan Thomas Senior Professor Research Award in the Social Sciences and the 2025 Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty Award for connecting teaching, research, and service to community engagement on campus and on a national level.
- Skipper and Associate Anthropology Professor Carolyn Freiwald, along with community partners in Holly Springs, also received an Excellence in History Award for the Behind the Big House Project.
Welcome from the Chair
We offer fantastic courses taught by dedicated and award-winning faculty. Introductory courses in sociology, anthropology, and geography provide "maps" of the exciting elements of our disciplines. Upper-division and graduate courses provide deeper insights into faculty members' areas of expertise and help you to develop a dynamic understanding of the social world. Whether you are a current major or minor, graduate student, faculty member, or someone who is simply curious about the social world (past or present), we are happy to make available the skills and tools that the social sciences have to offer - skills that are needed now more than ever.
Jeffrey T Jackson
Chair of Sociology and Anthropology and Professor of Sociology
Department Leadership and Support
Jeffrey Jackson
- Chair of Sociology and Anthropology and Professor of Sociology
Amy McDowell
- Associate Professor of Sociology and Associate Chair
Marcos Mendoza
- Associate Professor of Anthropology and Associate Chair
James Thomas
- Professor of Sociology and Sociology Graduate
Carolyn Freiwald
- Professor of Anthropology
Kristin Hickman
- Croft Associate Professor of Anthropology and International Studies and Anthropology Graduate Program Coordinator
Anthropology Faculty
Katherine Centellas
- Croft Associate Professor of Anthropology
Simone Delerme
- Associate Professor of Anthropology and McMullan Associate Professor of Southern Studies
Carolyn Freiwald
- Professor of Anthropology
Kristin Hickman
- Croft Associate Professor of Anthropology and International Studies and Anthropology Graduate Program Coordinator
Christine Lee
- Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Joshua Lynch
- Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Bridget Martin
- Croft Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Korean Studies
Marcos Mendoza
- Associate Professor of Anthropology and Associate Chair
Matthew Murray
- Instructional Professor of Sociology and Anthropology
Jodi Skipper
- Professor of Anthropology
Nora Sylvander
- Croft Assistant Professor of Anthropology and International Studies
Jesse Tune
- Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director, Center for Archaeological Research
Shelly Volsche
- Instructional Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Sociology Faculty
Scott Barretta
- Lecturer in Sociology and Anthropology
Anne Elizabeth Cafer
- Associate Dean for Research, Scholarship and Graduate Education and Associate Professor of Sociology and Interim Director of the Center for Population Studies
Miguel Centellas
- Instructional Associate Professor of Sociology and Sociology Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Kirsten Dellinger
- Associate Dean for Access and Strategic Initiatives and Professor of Sociology
W Mark Franks
- Instructor in Sociology & Anthropology
Frank Hull
- Volunteer Research Associate
Jeffrey Jackson
- Chair of Sociology and Anthropology and Professor of Sociology
Zeyd Koytak
- Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology
Amy McDowell
- Associate Professor of Sociology and Associate Chair
Diane Lindley
- Lecturer in Sociology and Anthropology
Albert Nylander
- Professor of Sociology and Director of the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement
Minjoo Oh
- Associate Professor of Sociology
Brenna Paola
- Instructor in Sociology and Anthropology
Ryan Parsons
- Assistant Professor of Sociology and Southern Studies
Richard Patti
- Assistant Professor of Sociology
Jennifer Sinski
- Instructor in Sociology
Alexis Slade
- Instructor in Sociology and Anthropology
James Thomas
- Professor of Sociology and Sociology Graduate
Ana Velitchkova
- Croft Associate Professor of Sociology and International Studies
Centers and Institute
Center for Archaeological Research (CAR)
The Center for Archaeological Research investigates and raises awareness of the archaeological resources of Mississippi and the South through field, laboratory, and collections-based research; trains graduate and undergraduate students in the methods of archaeology; educates the public; and serves as a repository of archaeological collections.
Center for Population Studies
The Center for Population Studies educates, conducts research, and engages in public outreach concerning population issues. The CPS is the lead agency for the State Data Center (SDC) of Mississippi and the Federal-State Cooperative for Population Estimates (FSCPE), both in collaboration with the US Census Bureau.
Grisham-McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement
With the mission to advance transformative service throughout the University and fight poverty through education in Mississippi, the Grisham-McLean faculty, staff, and students partner with community and statewide organizations to conduct research and take action.
Campus-wide Contributions
The contributions of anthropology, geography, and sociology courses extend far and wide across campus, an indication of the importance of these social science fields for many different areas of study. Here are the programs, besides anthropology, geography, and sociology, that include our courses:
Within the College of Liberal Arts: African American Studies, Allied Health Studies, Art History, Cinema Studies, Creative Writing, Disaster Sciences, East Asian Studies, Environmental Studies, Film Production, Gender Studies, International Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Linguistics, Museum Studies, Society & Health, and Southern Studies.
Non-CLA Majors and Minors: Communication Sciences and Disorders, Criminal Justice, Dietetics and Nutrition, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Exercise Science, Law Studies, Hospitality Management, Management (International Business Management), Public Health, Social Work, and Sport and Recreation Administration.
Our Community
A Place That Ever Calls
Located 70 miles from Memphis and surrounded by the natural beauty of Northern Mississippi, Oxford boasts thriving music, art, and literary scenes along with great restaurants. UM's athletics provide many opportunities to watch and participate in sports—and one of the world's best tailgating parties.
With everything Oxford has to offer, it's no wonder USA Today named Oxford as one of the Top Six College Towns in the Nation.
Come see why.