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Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice
with Marriage and Family Therapy
The faculty, staff, and students of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice are fully committed to the missions of Valdosta State University and the University System of Georgia. Within these frameworks, we seek to accomplish the following:
- To provide a teaching/learning environment that sustains instructional excellence and intellectual inquiry across a variety of graduate and undergraduate degree programs, serves a diverse student body committed to excellence and high levels of achievement, and provides academic advising and other support to students as they move through the university and into their careers;
- To be professionally productive as active scholars engaged in significant professional activities at the regional, national, and international levels while also conducting sound academic and applied research as seen in publications in refereed research journals, monographs and books, and reports to various public and private agencies that might sponsor such work;
- To support regional and area development as well as the improvement of the quality of life in our region by using our professional knowledge and skills in service to our region, state, and nation..
Outstanding Alumnus Award
Starting in 2011, the Department and the College of Arts and Sciences has honored outstanding departmental alumni. The 2012 outstanding alumni is Mr. Vernon Keenan, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. We honor and appreciate our alumni’s outstanding contributions to their profession.
2012 Alumnus
Mr. Vernon Keenan
Mr. Keenan is the Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and has served in this capacity since 2004. He has been employed by the GBI since 1973 holding several administrative and line level positions. He is responsible for 822 employees, the State’s Crime Laboratory, the GA Crime Investigation Center, and the Investigation Division of the Bureau. After graduating from VSU in 1972 and majoring in Criminal Justice, he worked for one year at the Dekalb County Police Department. Mr. Keenan obtained a MPA from Columbus State University in 1979 from the Georgia Chiefs of Police Command College. He is a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy where he is a guest lecturer and he has been recognized for his outstanding leadership in policing. He and his wife and two sons live in Cherokee County. He is the recipient of the 2012 Valdosta State University College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Alumnus Award.
2011 ALUMNUS
Ms. Zola Myers
Gaining her undergraduate degree in 1996 and her M.S. in Sociology in 2010 from VSU, Ms. Myers has, for the past fourteen years, been working as Executive Director of the Cook County Family Connection. Under her direction, the Connection has experienced tremendous growth in its annual budget thanks to Myers’ grant writing abilities. She has also developed House of Grace, a community of previously homeless men, and is the author of “Dancing with the Dragon: An Honest Look at Addiction.