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Department of Sociology welcomes new chairman
[08.27.2010]

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida College of Arts and Sciences has named Robert Benford as the chair of the Department of Sociology.

Benford said he accepted the challenge of serving as chair of sociology because of its outstanding faculty, talented students and dedicated staff. He also said USF has “amazing infrastructure and a supportive community.”

“I know of no other university that has adjusted as rapidly to the needs of the 21st century as USF has,” Benford said. “Whether you’re a member of the student body, staff or faculty, this is an exciting time to be part of the USF community. The Bulls are indeed ‘unstoppable.’”

Benford comes to USF from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he was professor and chair of the sociology department. Prior to his 10 years at SIU, Benford taught at University of Nebraska-Lincoln for 13 years.

Benford, who received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin, devotes most of his research efforts to identifying and analyzing social movement dynamics. His published works have appeared in various sociological and multidisciplinary journals, books and encyclopedias. He was recognized by the American Sociological Association for having co-authored one of the 18 most influential articles published since 1936 in the American Sociological Review.

“We are thrilled to welcome Robert Benford to the College of Arts and Sciences,” Associate Dean John Cochran said. “He brings with him 5 years of administrative experience as the chair of a doctoral degree granting department. He is an accomplished teacher, scholar and a long-standing friend of the Department of Sociology at the University of South Florida.”

-USF-

Filed under:Arts and Sciences School of Social Sciences Sociology   
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Author: Michele Dye
Contact: mdye@usf.edu