New England Sociological Association

The New England Sociological Association is pleased to announce the theme and location of the 2009 Spring Conference: “The Sociological Imagination” will be held on Saturday April 11th from 9AM to 4PM at Western New England State College in Springfield, MA in Sleith Hall.

Conference Program and Call for Conveners

Interested in convening a session at the Spring Conference? If so, please be sure to check out the program below and connect with conference organizer, Michaela Simpson at bsimpson@wnec.edu.

FINAL VERSIONS of the conference materials are now posted! Please click the below links for the final versions of the program and ‘at a glance’ conference schedule.

• Conference Program
• Conference at a Glance

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

The Sociological Imagination in an Era of Global Cybernetic Power
Stephen Pfohl is a Professor of Sociology at Boston College where he teaches courses in social theory, deviance and social control, women’s studies, cultural studies, postmodernism, psychoanalysis, criminology and the sociology of art. Stephen received his B.A. from The Catholic University of America (1971), M.A. and Ph.D. (1976) from The Ohio State University, and was completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Yale University (1981-82). His book Predicting Dangerousness: the Social Construction of Psychiatric Reality was published in 1978 by D.C. Heath, while a first edition of Images of Deviance and Social Control: a Sociological History was published by McGraw-Hill in 1985. In 1992, Death at the Parasite Cafe: Social Science (Fictions) and the Postmodern was published by St. Martin’s Press. Professor Pfohl is also the author of numerous articles and chapters on topics ranging from child abuse, criminal violence and mental health policy to critical social theory, poststructuralist sociology and the politics of postmodern culture.

Sociologist of the Year Award

This year’s recipient for the Sociologist of the Year for his service to the broader community of sociologists and to NESA is Dr. Melvin Manson, Professor of Sociology at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. Mel has been at Endicott since 1970, has served as an adjunct professor at North Shore Community College since 1974 and currently serves on the Executive Council of NESA - a longtime active member! One of Mel’s interest is the inclusion of Critical Thinking methods in the teaching of Sociology. We thank him for all his efforts over the years!

Registration Information

Avoid the on-site registration fee of $5 by registering early! To register for the 2009 Spring Conference, please complete and mail (or email) the 2009 Spring Conference Registration Form  Conference fees can be paid in check if mailing your registration in early OR via cash, check or money order on site on the day of the conference.

DIRECTIONS to Western New England College, Springfield, MA

The conference will be held at Western New England College’s Sleith Hall. Parking is available outside Sleith Hall and near the campus Welcome Center. Enter either by the first Wibraham Road entrance or the Law School entrance (see campus map link below)
Western New England College is located in the western region of Massachusetts in the city of Springfield. Described as being at “The Crossroads of New England,” the intersection of I-91 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, Springfield is located approximately 90 miles from Boston, 30 miles from Hartford, CT, and 150 miles from New York City.

For Directions to the campus, click here

To View a campus map, click here