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Colin B. Olson
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CURRICULUM VITAE:
Education
Awards and Honors
Areas of Interest.......................................
Colin B. Olson
Department of Sociology
The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
505-232-7677
colino@unm.edu
Doctorate in Sociology, 2009
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Dissertation title: "Who Rules the City? How Growth Coalition Elites Believe They Influence Decision-Making."
Dissertation committee members: Dr. John M. Roberts, Dr. Richard L. Wood, Dr. Susan Tiano, and Dr. Harry Van Buren IIIMasters of Arts in Sociology, 2001
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Master’s Thesis: “Is Local Counter Discourse Dead? Mainstream and Alternative Newspapers in Albuquerque Compared.”
Thesis committee members: Dr. Beverly Burris (Chair), Dr. Richard Wood, and Dr. Everett Rogers
Bachelor of Science in Sociology, 1998
Cum Laude, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR
Thesis Title: “Ethnic Revitalization of the Siletz Indians of Western Oregon.”
Thesis Chair: Dr. Dean BraaAWARDS & HONORS
Conference Travel Award, Department of Sociology, UNM $800 (2009)
UNM Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship $1,000 (2007)
UNM College of Arts & Sciences Gunter Starkey Teaching Award $1,500 (2005)
Teaching Assistantships, Department of Sociology, UNM (2001-2004)
Graduate Assistantships, Department of Sociology, UNM (1998-2003)
Conference Travel Award, Department of Sociology, UNM (2002)
Conference Travel Award, Department of Sociology, UNM (2001)
Conference Travel Award, Department of Sociology, Western Oregon University (1998)
Academic Scholarship Award, J. Z. Knight Community Scholarship (1993)
Academic Scholarship Award, Yelm Community Scholarship Committee (1993)AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION & INTEREST
Social network analysis, political culture, mass media, social theory, methods, deviant behavior, and criminology
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Instructor, Department of Sociology, UNM (2001 - present)
Instructor, Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) (2003-present)
Instructor, College of Santa Fe Albuquerque (CSFA) (2004; 2006)
Research Assistant, for Dr. Paul Steele & Dr. Lisa Broidy at the Institute for Social Research, UNM (2002-2003)
Research Assistant, Fall, for Dr. Richard Boyle at the Institute for Social Research, UNM (1998-2002)
Graduate Assistant, Department of Sociology, UNM (1998-2001)
Research Assistant, Teach Research, Western Oregon University (1996-1998)
Peer Counselor, Central Advising Office, Western Oregon University (1996-1997)TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Introduction to Sociology (UNM; CNM)
This course introduces students to the sociological perspective. Students are exposed to social network analysis methods, including a reading of G. W. Domhoff’s Who Rules America? Students also undertake an interlocking directorate study of the university’s foundation board of directors to illustrate the types of organizations that contribute to the university. Students also gain an insight into one of the ways the university links up to the surrounding community. Substantive areas covered in the course are culture, socialization, social structure, sex roles, bureaucracies, deviant behavior, race relations, social stratification, group dynamics, and social change.
Crime, Public Policy & the Criminal Justice System (UNM)
The course introduces students to the study of crime, the criminal justice system and crime-related public policy. Discussion of key criminological concepts, measurement of crime and delinquency, its distribution in society, victimization, public opinion, the criminal justice system, crime control strategies and policies.Social Problems (CNM)
This course describes and analyses some of the major social problems facing American society. Employing the sociological perspective (imagination) focus is paid to the economic and political forces that contribute to the persistence of poverty, homelessness, crime and incarceration rates, race and ethnic relations, and gender problems.Deviant Behavior (UNM; CNM)
This course surveys the major forms of norm-violating behavior in American society, such as drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, criminal behavior and sexual deviance. Discussion of sociological explanations of the causes of, and attempts to address, these behaviors.Introduction to Research Methods (UNM)
The course examines the ways in which social scientists investigate society and social phenomena. Students are led through some of the same reasoning that researchers use when they think about doing their work in a professional setting. What distinguishes sociology as an orderly examination of social phenomena from the arbitrary manufacture of myth? Is sociology an art or a science? The course surveys major research issues and methods in both quantitative and qualitative study. Topics include research design: measurement; sampling logic; experiments; surveys; data analysis; association and causation; ethics and the uses of research. Finally, the course provides an introduction to the use of computers in social research, from data analysis to communicating and accessing information on the Internet.Causes of Crime and Delinquency (UNM)
This course surveys criminological theories and explores why some people are more likely to engage in crime than others and why crime rates vary over time and space and across social groups. Attendant policy issues are also discussed. Significant emphasis is placed on the link between white-collar crime and street crime.Social Control (UNM)
This course is the study of informal and formal social control strategies for guiding and monitoring individual behavior and social interaction. In this class social control is viewed in relation to social order in late modern society. Particular attention is paid to the increase in surveillance in contemporary society.Juvenile Delinquency (CNM)
This course offers an overview of sociological theories and research on juvenile delinquency in the United State. What is juvenile delinquency? How do we define this concept? How do we measure it? What kinds of data are available to measure juvenile delinquency? What is the distribution of juvenile delinquency across races and classes? Next, we talk about sociological theories of delinquency. What do sociology/ criminology theories have to offer in regards to the causal explanations of juvenile delinquency? In the process of doing that, we talk about different forms of social control (formal and informal) against juvenile delinquency. Throughout, we want to be critical – do the sociological/criminological explanations or the policies/programs based on them succeed or fail to succeed in reducing juvenile delinquency. How do we know? We will read a number of theories as well as empirical studies concerned with juvenile delinquency in an effort to have a systematic understating of juvenile delinquency. In addition we will also explore the environmental influences on delinquency and finish the semester with preventing and controlling delinquency.Classical Social Theory (UNM)
This course exposes students to the dominant sociological traditions, including the conflict, utilitarian, Durkheimian, and microinteractions traditions. Students first analyze the classic statements within each tradition, with particular emphasis on Engles and Marx, Weber, Locke, Durkheim, Colley, and Mead. Then students read contemporary selections within each tradition. It seems that authors writing about classical theory fall along two discursive models. The first model is storytelling, of which Randall Collins is representative. In this model the authors take us on a journey through time and through theoretical development, noting personalities, biographies, parallel developments in other realms of society, and theoretical traditions. This “tour guide” approach can be very useful as it can make the material more pleasant to students new to the theories and theorists. The second model, or approach, is more formal, using block models to highlight the core theoretical insights of a particular theory, theoretical tradition, or theorist. This model is more typical of Jonathan Turner and David Held. Their models of the sociological theories that Randall Collins discusses in his book Four Sociological Traditions are drawn upon to help round out his discussion.Culture, Politics, and Society: The Political Economy of the Mass Media (UNM)
This course examines the contemporary studies on the mass media in the United States and the United Kingdom with special focus on the intersection of politics, economics, and culture. Attention is paid to alternative and mainstream media and their role for democracy.Introduction to Cultural Studies (CNM; CSFA)
This course explores the cultural constructions of differences, including but not limited to gender, race, ethnicity, social class and sexual orientation in contemporary U.S. society. Patricia Collins’ concept of the matrix of domination is used as a key organizing framework.Social Psychology (CSFA)
This course focuses on sociological approaches to social psychology, emphasizing symbolic interactionism and social constructionism. The course is designed to illustrate how the individual and social interaction shape and are shaped by the cultures and social structures in which they exist. Topics covered include the nature and scope of social psychology, symbols and symbolic communication, the structure of social interaction, the development and maintenance of the social self, and the production and influence of culture.Social Change (CSFA)
This course gets to the heart of one of sociology’s primary theoretical contributions: explaining how and why societies change. Beginning with some of the classic theories on social change, including Marx, Weber, and Durkhiem, the class ends with Sewell, Swidler, Giddens, Lumhmann, and Fuchs.Graduate Teaching Assistant, various courses, UNM, 1998-2003
Institute for Social Research, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 1998–2004:
Project Assistant, US Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Analyzed homicide and aggravated assault data; conducted special analysis with ArcView GIS software; assisted in the construction and evaluation of crime prevention intervention programsProgram Evaluator, Ready to Learn. Program evaluation for PBS Kids KNME, Albuquerque, NM
Project Assistant, Starting Early Starting Smart. Designed and oversaw data collection for evaluation of Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Conducted interviews, trained and supervised research team, analyzed site date, attended research and program meetings.
Interviewer, ADAM Project. Supervised interviewing of arrestees at Bernalillo County Detention Center in Albuquerque for National Institutes of Justice drug use study.
RESEARCH TOOLS
Pajek: social network analysis software; ArcView GIS software; SPSS ; Excel; Atlas TiPROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
“Who Rules the City? How Growth Coalition Elites Believe They Influence Decision-Making.” UNM Sociology Department Faculty/Graduate Student Speaker Series. UNM (April, 2009)
“Finding the Community Power Structure: Comparing Social Network Analysis Methods.” Pacific Sociological Association Annual Meeting. San Diago, CA (April, 2009)“Spatial Distribution and Relationships for Homicides: Analysis in Support of New Mexico's Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative.” Bureau of Justice Statistics/Justice Research and Statistics Association National Conference, San Francisco, CA (October, 2003)
“Is Local Counter Discourse Dead? Mainstream and Alternative Newspapers in a Southwest City Compared.” American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA (August, 2001)
“Ethnic Revitalization of the Siletz Indians of Western Oregon.” Pacific Sociological Association Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA (April, 1998)
RESEARCH CONFERENCES
Project Safe Neighborhoods Analysis Conference, 2004, San Diego, CA
Data Analysis Work Group, 2001, St. Louis, MO
Data Analysis Work Group, 2000, St. Louis, MO
Data Analysis Work Group, 2000, San Francisco, CAOlson, C.B., submitted, Newspapers and Social Change: Mainstream and Alternative Newspapers in a Local Context Compared: Media, Culture & Society.
Olson, C.B., submitted, Who Rules the City: Uncovering the Urban Power Structure Through Affiliation & Prestige Networks: City & Community.Olson, C.B., submitted, Urban Elites & Community Issues: Coordinating the City for Economic Development: Urban Studies.
In Process (4)Olson, C.B., Urban Elites & Economic Development: Issue Networks for Economic Growth to be submitted to the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research.
Olson, C.B., Choosing the Appropriate Level of Analysis in Community Elites Studies: Organizations or Individuals? to be submitted to the journal Organizational Research Methods.
Olson, C.B., Differences in Cultural Orientations of Central and Peripheral Urban Elites to be submitted to Community Development Journal.
Olson, C.B., Networks of Action: Urban Elite Networks as Resources and Schemas to be submitted to the journal Urban Studies.
President, Sociology Graduate Student Association, UNM (2000-2001)
Vice-President, Sociology Graduate Student Association, UNM (1999-2000)Working Paper Series editor, Sociology Graduate Student Association, UNM (1998-1999)
Peer Counselor, Central Advising Office, Western Oregon University (1996-1997)
MEMBERSHIPS
American Sociological Association (1998-present)
Pacific Sociological Association (2001-present)
REFERENCES
John M. Roberts, Department of Sociology, UNM. (505) 277-2501
Richard L. Wood, Department of Sociology, UNM. (505) 277-2501
Susan Tiano, Department of Sociology, UNM. (505) 277-2501
Richard Boyle, Institute for Social Research, UNM. (505) 277-3490
Beverly Burris, Department of Sociology, Chair, UNM. (505) 277-2501
Phillip B. Gonzales, Department of Sociology, Associate Dean: Arts & Sciences, UNM. (505) 277-2501This study explores the cultural and structural processes through which urban elites seek to control the destiny of an American city. I first provide a sketch of how growth coalition elites come to understand power in the community and how they believe they influence decision-making. Understandings and beliefs are decidedly cultural realms. In this study, culture is defined as situated or positional knowledge, in that what becomes knowledge is determined by the position actors occupy in the social structure. To rule the city, what must be won are not just proposals and programs, but the city itself, as a cognitive structure. Which positional culture of the city will prevail? Which is prevailing, and why? Second, I link this cultural account to a structural account of how elites rule, drawing on social network analysis techniques in order to bring to the fore the ties of influence that work to weave together the city’s various apparatuses of control. Ultimately, these two themes seek to establish the relationship between elite network arrangements and their positional cultures that together condition action, and are conditioned by action. The challenge in this paper, then, is to weave together cultural and structural methods to provide an answer to the questions: Who rules the city? How do they rule? And, how do growth coalition elites believe they influence decision-making? To carry out this study, 95 interviews were conducted with community elites that were identified through interorganizational affiliation and prestige networks of a city with a population of over 500,000 people. Respondents were asked to comment on their involvements in the city as well as identify their associates and affiliations in the city.
for a PDF copy of my dissertation (3.64 MB)