Department History

In 1944-45, what we now know as the Department of Sociology was part of a multidisciplinary Social Sciences Department, "Economics, Sociology, Political Science, and Anthropology," located in the Arts Building (now Hellems).

Hellems remained the home of Sociology until we moved into Ketchum Hall in 1983-84. Ketchum, named after long-time Dean of Engineering Milo Ketchum, was built in the early 1930s.

Economics, Sociology, Political Science, and Anthropology was headed from 1944-47 by an economist, Morris E. Garnsey. Another economist, Earl C. Crockett, was Department Chair 1947-49.

In 1950, the Department was renamed "Social Science," and was headed by a sociologist, Gorrdon Barker. In 1951-52, Earl Crockett again served as chair.

In 1952-53, sociologist Gordon Barker again became Chair of Social Science, and Omer C. Stewart was the head of the Sociology division.

As far as we can tell, the Social Science Department disappeared in 1956-57, and that year Sociology became a separate department.

Here is a list of Chairs of the Sociology Division, and starting in
1956-57, the Sociology Department:

1953-55 Howard Higman
1955-56 Ed Rose
1956-60 Gordon Barker
1960-63 Ed Rose
1963-66 Blaine Mercer
1966-70 Merle E. Adams
1970-74 Howard Higman
1974-76 Jules Wanderer
1976-79 Merle E. Adams
1979-81 Blaine Mercer
1981-84 Ray P. Cuzzort
1984-85 Howard Higman
1985-88 Paul Wehr
1988-91 Jim Downton
1991-92 Joyce Neilsen
1992-96 Gary T. Marx
1996-97 Jules Wanderer
1997-2004 Dennis Mileti
2004- present Michael Radelet