About Us
Since 1948, our department has grown in response to changes in Florida’s government, interests in criminal justice careers and academic trends. Learn about us and how our fields have evolved.
Welcome To The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
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Dr. Phyllis Welch, Department Chair - Dr. Phyllis Welch is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Sociology
and Criminal Justice within the College of Social Sciences, Arts, & Humanities at
FAMU at Florida A&M University.
The Faculty, Coordinators, and Staff of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice enhance the learning environment at FAMU.
Our Faculty encourages learning in many ways that encompass, but is not limited to, quality instruction, applied research, scholarly activity, and service that support the University’s mission. Faculty also create initiatives that benefit students’ academic success and preparation for the future.
The Faculty, Coordinators, and Staff of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice enhance the learning environment at FAMU.
Our Faculty encourages learning in many ways that encompass, but is not limited to, quality instruction, applied research, scholarly activity, and service that support the University’s mission. Faculty also create initiatives that benefit students’ academic success and preparation for the future.
Department Faculty
Bailey, Jeremiah, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor
E: jeremiah.bailey@famu.edu
Baker, Kathleen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
E: kristen.bowen@famu.edu
Bennett, Carl, M.A.
Assistant Instructor
416B PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 599-3670 E: carl.bennett@famu.edu
Bowen, Kristen, M.S.
Instructor
414C PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 561-2258 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: kristen.bowen@famu.edu
Brethauer, Helen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
416C PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 561-2255 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: helen.brethauer@famu.edu
Brown, Clifton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
414A PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 561-2257 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: clifton.brown@famu.edu
Bushong, Lee C, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
412B PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 561-2260 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: lee.bushong@famu.edu
Darks, Taylor, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor
E: taylor1.darks@famu.edu
Davis, Cynthia, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
E: cynthia.davis@famu.edu
Dix-Richardson, Felecia, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
303C PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 599-8857 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: felecia.dix@famu.edu
Hernandez Hiraldo, Samiri, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor
407B PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 412-5797 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: samiri.hiraldo@famu.edu
Hughes, Brenda, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
416A PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 561-2256 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: brenda.hughes@famu.edu
Metzger, Nzinga, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
310C BL PERRY BUILDING
P: (850) 599-8856 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: nzinga.metzger@famu.edu
Munroe, Monneka, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
E: monneka.munroe@famu.edu
Parker, Keith D., Ph.D.
Professor
414B PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 599-8285 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: keith.parker@famu.edu
Robertson, Ray Von, Ph.D.
Professor
208 WALTER SMITH ARCHITECTURAL BUILDING
P: (850) 561-2224 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: ray.robertson@famu.edu
Thompson, Annie Gainous, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
212A TUCKER HALL
P: (850) 599-8475 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: annie.thompson@famu.edu
Turnquest, Roscoe, M.A.S.S.
Instructor
302C BL PERRY BUILDING
P: (850) 412-7568 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: roscoe.turnquest@famu.edu
Washington-Johnson, Kenya, JD
Associate Professor
230 WALTER SMITH ARCHITECTURAL BUILDING
P: (850) 561-2225 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: kenya.washington@famu.edu
Welch, Phyllis, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Associate Professor
403D PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 599-3316 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: phyllis.welch@famu.edu
Coordinators
Adams Lippett, Carla, M.A.S.S
Internship, Recruitment and Career AssistanceCoordinator, Academic Support Services
301C BL PERRY COMPLEX
P: (850) 561-2259 Fax: (850) 599-8862 E: carla.adamslippett@famu.edu
Matthews, Eugene, MAT, M.Ed.
Graduation Check & Certification, Reentry, Retention & MatriculationCoordinator, Student Administrative
412C PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 561-2261 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: eugene.matthews@famu.edu
Main Office Staff
Lauray, LaTricia
Office Manager, CSSAH Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice
403 PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 561-2252 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: latricia.lauray@famu.edu
Meeks, Vivian
Secretary, CSSAH Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice
403 PERRY PAIGE BUILDING
P: (850) 599-3316 Fax: (850) 599-8541 E: vivian.meeks@famu.edu
Achievements
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice is committed to excellence. This is demonstrated by faculty and students in academic and research achievements.
Faculty in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice are a talented group of professionals. The Faculty seek to distinguish themselves both within and outside the university community.
These activities align with FAMU’s Strategic Priority 2 Goal 1: “Promote faculty excellence by recruiting, supporting and retaining a diverse faculty with a commitment to teaching, research, and community engagement consistent with a doctoral-research university.” The following are current significant highlights:
- Dr. Phyllis Gray-Ray, Co-Investigator and Lead Social Scientist (2016-2021). National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), (Larry Robinson, PI). Cooperative Agreement
awarded ($15,496,597) to create the NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
(CCME).
- Dr. Phyllis Gray-Ray: Grant Awarded ($1,500,000) to conduct a study on “The Effects
of Social Capital and Cultural Models on the Retention and Degree Attainment of Women
and Minority Engineering Undergraduates."
- Dr. Mila Turner, Opinion Contributor - 8/13/2021 - article published in the popular political newsletter, The Hill. The title of the article is "Building a culture of environmental preparedness at HBCUs."
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice is committed to ensuring programs, activities and experiences that enhance our students’ academic curriculum. Students participating in these activities demonstrate the highest level of excellence. The achievements align with FAMU’s Strategic Priority 1: Goal 3: “Increase the proportion of student completing high-impact co-curricular experiences.” The following are highlights of some of these achievements:
- During 2019-2020, LAE and NABCJ hosted numerous forums and symposiums focused on
careers in criminal justice enforcement.
- Members of LAE and NABCJ served as tutors/mentors at Bond Elementary School.
- Students published articles in Southern Sociological Society and made presentations on various issues pertaining to racial attitudes and African Americans in America.
Faculty in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice are committed to teaching, research and community engagement. Numerous faculty members have presented research at conferences and completed works for publication in books and journals pertaining to African Americans and related issues. Other members also participated in community initiatives. They participate in many activities to accomplish these achievements. The following are a few highlight topics:
- Marijuana legalization and racial disparities
- Drug and law enforcement laws in African American communities
- Police use of excessive force against African Americans
- African-American collegians view of law enforcement
- Black male disproportionality in the criminal justice system
- Youth and Law community initiative
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice sponsored a brown-bag luncheon event: The Anatomy of Social Justice Challenges in Our Community, on March 30, 2022 in the Grand Ballroom. The guest speaker and facilitator was Sergeant Scherri Bryant of the Tallahassee Police Department. The event provided an opportunity for open dialogue and question/answer interaction with Sgt. Bryant and the students. Also in attendance from TPD was Captain Danielle Davis. We had over 100 attendees between students and faculty. Lunch boxes and drinks were provided by Metz Food Service. We look forward to future opportunities to interact with the awesome students of our department.
On April 22, 2022, Dr. Phyllis Welch, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Chair, and Dr. Annie Gainous Thompson, Assistant Professor, represented Florida A&M University (FAMU) at the 2nd Annual HBCU Summit on the beautiful campus of Florida Memorial University (FMU), in Miami Gardens, Florida. The HBCU participants were FMU, FAMU, Bethune-Cookman University (BCU), and Edward Waters University (EWU). The attached is a summary of the event. HBCU Summit
