Mary Ann Davis, Ph.D. - Adjunct Instructor

In which online degree program do you teach?

Bachelor of Science in Sociology.

Which classes do you teach online?

SOCI 2301, 3310, 3330, 4300, 4385.

Why did you start teaching?

I was a clinical social worker from 1971 to 2006. I wanted to share my love for sociology and social work with others.

What's the best advice that you ever received?

Make a to-do list every morning. Know that every job has seasonal and annual tasks. Find out due dates and pace yourself.

What's the best advice that you could give your students?

Read the syllabus and pace yourself. Buy cheap texts online, get in a study group and share learning with others.

What is the one book you think everyone should read?

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond

What qualities make someone particularly successful in sociology?

Stay current with news and research. Write, edit and rewrite.

What do you think is the biggest challenge that people in the profession face today?

Sociologists are liberal art professionals so the employment market will be continually changing. Expect to have multiple positions. Be flexible, stay current and keep up with research.

Tell us something your students may not know about you.

I attended Lamar University in the 1960s at a time of rapid change. When I lived at Gray Hall, there was a tall fence with barbed wire between the female and male dorms. Freshmen had an 8 p.m. curfew. Bess Gentry was the Dean of Women and took time to meet with students. Females could only wear slacks/jeans on campus if the weather was bad. I laugh at the old movie First Wives Club because we wore white pearls, just like in the movies.