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Curriculum Vitae

SARAH MICHELE FORD
ford@soc.umass.edu

Education:

  • PhD Candidate in Sociology; University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Anticipated graduation date: September 2010.
    Dissertation in Preparation: “Public and Private in the ‘Blogosphere.”
  • M.A. in Sociology; University of Massachusetts, Amherst. May 2004.
    Masters’ Projects: “Are We to Be Forever Trapped Between the Two? Modernity, Postmodernity, and the Internet” and “’ROFLMAO! :D ’: (re)Embodying the Web-Based Chat Room.”
  • B.A. cum laude in Sociology and Anthropology; Carleton College, 1999.
    Certificate of Advanced Study in French and Francophone Studies.
    Senior Thesis: “Contemporary Legends and Contemporary Values: A Cycle of Mutual Influence.”

Teaching and Academic Experience:

  • Part Time Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, New York, Academic Year 2009-2010, Fall 2007.
    Plan, teach, and grade courses: Introduction to Sociology (Fall 2007, Spring 2010), Sociology of Race & Ethnicity (Fall 2009).
  • Instructor, Niagara University NUSTEP program at Mt. St. Mary Academy, Tonawanda, NY, Sproing 2009.
    Plan, teach, and grade course:  Sociology.
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York, Spring & Summer 2006; Summer 2007; Fall 2008.
    Plan, teach, and grade courses: Sexuality and Society (Summer 2006); Internet and Society (Spring 2006, Summer 2007 & 2009); Introduction to Sociology (Fall 2008 ).
  • Instructor, Department of Sociology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Spring 2005, Spring 2002.
    Plan, teach, and grade courses: Writing in Sociology (Spring 2005) and Race/Ethnicity, Class, and Gender (Spring 2002).
  • Participant, Oxford Internet Institute’s Summer Doctoral Programme, Oxford, England, July 2004.
    Attended highly competitive, intensive, multidisciplinary two-week summer school for graduate students working in Internet Studies at the Oxford Internet Institute.
  • Rose Fellow, ASA Rose Series in Sociology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Academic Year 2003-2004.
    Served as liaison between editors, authors, reviewers, editorial board, and publisher. Tracked submissions and manuscripts in progress, coordinated editorial meetings, planned author visits to campus. Lead Editors: Douglas L. Anderton and Robert Zussman.
  • Instructor, Division of Continuing Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
    Plan, teach and grade courses: Race/Ethnicity, Class, and Gender (Winter 2003); Sexuality and Society (Summer 2002); Drugs and Society (Summer 2001 and Winter 2001); Introduction to Problem Solving with the Internet (Summer 2000).
  • Teaching Assistant, Department of Sociology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Fall 1999 – Fall 2001; Fall 2002 – Spring 2003.
    Led discussion sections for Race, Class, Gender and Ethnicity (Fall 2000). Assisted professors with teaching and grading of Drugs and Society (Fall 1999); Theory and Perspectives (Spring 2003 and Spring 2000); Self, Society and Interpersonal Relations (Spring 2001); Social Problems (Fall 2001); and Introductory Statistics (Fall 2002).

Research in Preparation:

  • “LJ: Critical.  Learning from the Layoffs”.  Under review for Bulletin of Science, Technology, and Society.
  • “Public and Private in the ‘Blogosphere.” PhD Dissertation in preparation.

Publications:

Conference Presentations:

  • “LiveJournal: Critical.  Learning from the Layoffs.”  Internet Research 10.0 in Milwaukee, WI, October 2009.
  • “Space and Place: The New Playgrounds of 21st Century Life.”  Co-Authored with Mark Gammon.  Internet Research 8.0 in Vancouver, October 2007.
  • “Public and Private on LiveJournal.” Internet Research 5.0 at the University of Sussex, Brighton, England, September 2004.
  • “’ROFLMAO! :D ’: Re-Embodying the Web-Based Chat Room.” Internet Research 4.0 in Toronto, October 2003. Session: Carl Couch Internet Research Awards.
  • “ASL Everyone!: The Creation and Maintenance of Gendered Identities in Web-Based Chat Rooms.” Internet Research 4.0 in Toronto, October 2003. Session: Gendered Subjectivities.
  • “Are We to Be Forever Trapped Between the Two? Modernity Postmodernity, and the Internet.” Annual Meetings of the Eastern Sociological Society in Philadelphia, March 2003. Session: The State of the Discipline.
  • “I am THE Bitch: Presentation and Maintenance of Feminine Identities in Web-Based Chat.” American Sociological Association Annual Meetings, in Chicago, August 2003. Session: Student Roundtables.
  • “The Newest Gender Gap: Computing Among Elementary School Students.” Institute for Research and Education on Women and Gender Graduate Student Symposium, University at Buffalo: Buffalo, New York, March 2000.

Research Experience:

  • Research Assistant, Spring/Summer 2001. Local Community Research Group, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Evaluation of C/W Mars library services; Dr. Michael Lewis, Principal Investigator.
    Conducted focus group with librarians from libraries in Western Massachusetts. Summarized results for final report.
  • Research Assistant/Supervisor, Fall 2000. Local Community Research Group (University of Massachusetts, Amherst) evaluation of Community Land Trusts for the Institute for Community Economics. Dr. Michael Lewis, Principal Investigator.
    Supervised administration of national telephone survey. Participated in data analysis.
  • Research Assistant/Supervisor, Spring 2000. Local Community Research Group, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Evaluation of two employment centers for the Regional Employment Board of Hamden County, Massachusetts; Dr. Michael Lewis, Principal Investigator.
    Supervised administration of regional telephone survey. Participated in data analysis.

Awards and Honors:

  • Selected for Oxford Internet Institute’s Summer Doctoral Programme, July 2004.
  • Rose Fellow, ASA Rose Series in Sociology. University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Academic Year 2003-2004.
  • “’ROFLMAO! :D ’: Re-Embodying the Web-Based Chat Room. Second place in the Carl Couch Internet Research Award competition, 2003.
  • Andy B. Anderson Outstanding Teaching Assistant, 2003. Department of Sociology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
  • Juliette Gordon Low Leadership Scholarship; Magic Empire Council of Girl Scouts. Tulsa, Oklahoma, Spring 1995.

Service:

  • Reviewer, Internet Research 8.0 and 10.0 (Association of Internet Researchers).
  • Secretary-Treasurer, Sociology Graduate Student Association, Academic Year 2003-2004. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
  • Co-Chair, Sociology Graduate Student Association, Academic Year 2002-2003. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
  • Reviewer, Qualitative Sociology.
  • Member, Sociology Department Undergraduate Policy Committee, Academic Year 2001-2002. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
  • Chair, Sociology Department Social Committee, Academic Year 2001-2002. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
  • Member, Sociology Department Social Committee, Academic Year 2000-2001. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
  • Departmental Representative, Graduate Student Senate, Academic Year 1999-2000. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Professional Memberships: