Missouri State University

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Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology 

Dr. Lora Vess

Office:  480 Strong Hall

Phone:  (417) 836-5985

E-Mail:  LVess@MissouriState.edu

Fall '09 Office Hours:  2:00-3:30 MW; 11:00-12:00 W; TR 3:20-4:00; or by appointment

Lora Vess joined the Missouri State University Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology as an Assistant Professor of Sociology in the Fall of 2008. Originally from Virginia, Dr. Vess received her B.A. from Virginia Tech in 1994.  She received a Masters in Applied Sociology from Northern Arizona University and her Ph.D from the University of Oregon in 2007.

Lora’s research interests include environmental sociology, sociology of health, social movements and social inequality. Her current research examines environmental health social movements. In particular, her doctoral dissertation examined how and why environmental health advocates mobilize to phase-out toxic PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastics from health care, buildings, and everyday products.

Lora is currently teaching Introduction to Society (SOC 150) and Social Movements (SOC 284). She is excited about the department’s growing emphasis on public sociology and looks forward to teaching a course on environment sociology in 2009.

Dr. Vess also is active in the Gender Studies Program and the Environmental Sciences Minor.