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People Background
Matt Aronson PhD

Matt Aronson PhD

Professor of Sociology

Contact Information

970.943.7126 maronson@western.edu
Kelley Hall 220

Academic Divisions

Behavioral & Social Sciences Department Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity

Functional Areas

Criminal Justice Sociology and Criminal Justice Principles of Health Navigation & Peer Support Rural Community Health Community Counseling Sociology and Criminal Justice with MBS in Rural Community Health Master of Behavioral Science (MBS) Restorative Facilitation

Education

Ph. D., Colorado State University, Sociology
MA, Colorado State University, Sociology
BA, University of Montana, Native American Studies and Sociology

Biography

Brief Bio:

I teach sociology at Western and have served as faculty advisor for Sociology Club/AKD, Queer Collective, and Native American Student Council. I’m grateful for a chance to live in the spectacular Gunnison Valley, where I spend lots of time with loved ones, food, books, bicycles, skis, and trails.

Teaching:

Deviance, Sociological Theory, Sociology of Families, Interviewing & Field Methods, Self & Society, Sociology of Education, Ethnicity & Race, Questionnaires & Survey Methods, Senior Capstone, and others.

Applied Research:

In the past, I worked as a researcher for OMNI Institute and as a researcher on various projects funded by the National Science Foundation, the United Way, the University of California, and many others. My applied research has ranged from conducting interviews and focus groups among homeless youth in Denver, to classroom observations of kindergarteners as they interact with science exhibits, to in-depth interviews with environmental activists, bureaucrats, ranchers, police officers, and city leaders.

Publications:

My research has been in the areas of symbolic interactionism, the sociology of education, life-course stratification and survival analysis with longitudinal survey data. Peer-reviewed journal publications:

  • Aronson, M. and S. Bialostok. 2016. “’Do Some Wondering’: Children and Their Self-Understanding Selves in Early Elementary Classrooms.” Symbolic Interaction 39(2).
  • Bialostok, S. and M. Aronson. 2016. “Making Emotional Connections in the Age of Neoliberalism.” Ethos 44(2).