Education

Teaching Interests

Classes taught

SOC 111: Introduction to Sociology

SOC 190: Foundation Scholars Service Project Planning

SOC 193: College Success

SOC 290: Foundation Scholars Service-Learning Boot Camp

SOC 225: Statistics

SOC 280: Global Cultures

SOC 435: Environmental Sociology

SOC 390:  Development and the Environment in Modern China (faculty-led study abroad)

SOC 490:  Development and Modern China (faculty-led study abroad)

RFS 397:  Roberts Fellows Seminar (Leadership seminar)

Research

Selected publications

Thomas, B. 2016.  2016 Midland County Food Security.  Report written for the United Way of Midland County and a collaboration of over 40 non-profit organizations.  (Report will be posted on their website.)

Thomas, B. 2015. Developing first-year university student leadership: Leadership development in a short term service-learning program. PRISM: A Journal of Regional Engagement, 4 (1). Retrieved from http://encompass.eku.edu/prism/vol4/iss1/1

Thomas, Brian J.  2013.  “Garbage as a tool for student engagement in service-learning.”  Community Works Journal.  http://www.communityworksinstitute.org/cwjonline/articles/aarticles-text/garbageastool_brianthomas.html

Thomas, Brian J. 2012. “Green Grocers” in K.K. White and L.A. Duram (Eds.) America Goes Green: An Encyclopedia of Eco-Friendly Culture in the United States (355-361) Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

Thomas, Brian J. 2012. "Food Deserts" in K.K. White and L.A. Duram (Eds.) America Goes Green: An Encyclopedia of Eco-Friendly Culture in the United States (361) Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

Thomas, Brian J.  2011. "A qualitative study of socioeconomic status, post-secondary education plans, and educational aspirations of students from a Michigan public school" Sociation Today.  9:1.  Available: http://www.ncsociology.org/sociationtoday/

Thomas, Brian J.  2011.  “Consumer agency and food retailer choice in an American urban neighborhood”  Journal of Social Inclusion 2:1.  Available: https://www104.griffith.edu.au/index.php/inclusion/article/view/143/119 

Works of Creativity

Selected academic presentations

Thomas, B. A. Ash, and L. Chen. 2018. “Shared Domestic and International Study Abroad Experiences.” Led Roundtable Discussion at the Global Engagement and Spaces of Practice Conference organized by AAC&U. https://www.aacu.org/conferences/global/2018

Thomas, Brian.  2016.  “2016 Midland County Food Security Survey Results Summary.”  Presented to the Food Security Committee organized by the United Way of Midland County.  Feb. 2, 2016.

Thomas, B. 2016.  “The happy zombie: consumer culture and happiness in the People’s Republic of China.”  Presented at the annual meeting of the Michigan Academy of Science Arts and Letters in University Center, MI.

Thomas, B. 2013.  “Service Learning as a form of activism: Transforming students into social change agents.”  Keynote address at the 2013 Michigan Sociological Association Meeting in University Center, MI 

Thomas, B., C. Cole, S. Jackson, and T. Kosaski. 2013.  “The Saginaw Valley State University Student Pantry.”  Presentation at the 2013 Michigan Sociological Association Meeting in University Center, MI.

Thomas, Brian.  2012.   “Teaching Garbage: Educating about consumer culture through a hands-on service-learning project.”  Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Michigan Sociological Association (Oct. 27) in Grand Rapids, MI.

Thomas, B.J., Giordano, A., Goodnight, H., Kirk, V., Moore, A., McNutt, B., & Nicol, E. (2012, March) “Perceived Community Needs of a Michigan Low-Income Urban Neighborhood.”  Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Michigan Academy of Arts, Sciences, and Letters.  Alma, MI.

Community Engagement

Selected Community Activities

November, 2016.  Invited keynote talk for the Children’s Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region for the Hearts of Hope Luncheon

September, 2016.  Invited presentation at TEDxSVSU titled “1,000 miles of ultrarunning through grief.”

September, 2016  Completed an ultramarathon while raising $7,860 in donations for the Children’s Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region.

2016-present.  Working with the Healthy Weight Team of the Midland County Health Improvement Plan to implement a child health survey.

2015-present.  Food Security Committee Member.  Community collaborative organized by the United Way of Midland County.  Food Awareness Subcommittee Member.

2012-present.  Assist the Roberts Fellows Program in developing and implementing service-learning projects at the rate of 2 per year for community groups including from Major Chords for Minors, Pulse3 Foundation, the Girl Scouts of America, and Shelterhouse.

2013-2014.  Member of the Saginaw-Tittabawassee Rivers Contamination Community Advisory Group.

2007-present.  Steering Committee Member.  Bay Commitment.  This is a scholarship program funded by the Bay Area Community Foundation to fund Bay City School District Students to attend either Delta College or SVSU.

2011-2013.  Organized the Foundation-Scholars Service-Learning Boot Camp, which implemented service projects with Saginaw County Headstart/Early Headstart, the Houghton-Jones Center, the Good Neighbors Mission, White Pine Middle School, and the Saginaw Promise Zone.

Leadership

Selected Leadership Positions

2007-present.  Steering Committee, Bay Commitment Scholarship

2013-present.  Presidential Liaison to Ming Chuan University

2013-2019.  Faculty advisor to the SVSU Chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

2017-2019.  Director of Global Engagement

2016   Served on the University Strategic Planning Community Engagement Sub-committee.

2015-2018.  Food Security Committee Member.  Community collaborative organized by the United Way of Midland County.  Food Awareness Subcommittee Member.

2013-2017.  Acting Director of Strategic Partnerships

2013-2014.  Member of the Saginaw-Tittabawassee Rivers Contamination Community Advisory Group.

2008-2010  Sociology Department Chair.

Honors and Awards

2017   Promoted from Associate Professor to Professor

2016    Award of Appreciation from the Saudi Club of SVSU

2014    Ruby Award Recipient (a community award to highlight and acknowledge some of the area’s best and brightest professionals under the age of 40 who have made their mark in their professions and are having an impact throughout the Great Lakes Bay area.)

2012   Granted sabbatical for 2012-2013 to conduct research and professional development on “Service-Learning as a Mechanism for Public Sociology in Higher-Education”

2012   Promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor at SVSU

2010   Granted Tenure at SVSU

2010  Ruben Daniels Community Service Award at SVSU