UWG News Archive

Anthropology Department established

September 29, 2003

CARROLLTON, GA - The Department of Anthropology has been established at the University of West Georgia, making it a separate entity from the former Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology.

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved a request from Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna, UWG president, after an institutional program review indicated academic leadership at the departmental level would be more effective with the reorganization.

Dr. Thomas Hynes, vice president for academic affairs, noted that even as an administration component of a larger department, the anthropology faculty had responsibility for activities usually associated with an academic department.

“This faculty was responsible for organizing the curriculum, supporting through instruction and advising anthropology students, and administering and directing activities associated with the Waring Endowment program, such as the student scholarship program and the endowed lecture series,” Hynes said. “Department status should further support the ability of the program to advance these activities.”

The Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology included three undergraduate degrees in three disciplines and two graduate degrees programs. Separate departmental status will make this structure less cumbersome for all programs and allows development of discipline-specific evaluation criteria.

Dr. Lisa Gezon, associate professor of anthropology, was named chair of the new department. Dr. Marc LaFountain, professor of sociology, remains the chair of the renamed Department of Sociology and Criminology.

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