Marci Cottingham
Degrees:
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, MA, Sociology 2009
Oral Roberts University, BA, Philosophy/Theology, 2006
Research Interests:
Social Psychology, Sociology of Religion, Qualitative Methods, Gender
Awards and Grants:
Graduate Student Paper Award, Society for the Study of Social Problems, Sport Division, 2009
Outstanding Graduate Student Award, IUP Sociology Department, 2009
Chancy Rawleigh Award, for excellence in AKD Theta Chapter of IUP, 2009
Symposium Grant ($1000) Alpha Kappa Delta, IUP, President and Author, 2009
Publications:
“Impact of Group Composition and Gender on Meals Purchased by College Students,” Molly Allen-O’Donnell, Marci D. Cottingham, Tom Nowak, and Kay Snyder. Journal of Applied Social Psychology. (revise and resubmit)
“Disaster Prediction and Warning,” William Donner, David Cohen, and Marci D.Cottingham. Encyclopedia of Geography, edited by Barney Warf.
Presentations:
“The Terrible Towel and Fair-Weather Fans: An Exploration of Steelers Nation as a Quasi-Religion,” Society for the Study of Social Problems. San Francisco, CA. August 8, 2009
“Blurring the Line between Sacred and Profane: The Subculture of Pittsburgh Steelers Fans as Quasi-religious,” Eastern Sociological Society. Baltimore, MD. March 20, 2009
“Managing Impressions through Food Purchases: Effects of Gender and Group Composition,” with Tom Nowak and Kay Snyder Eastern Sociological Society. Baltimore, MD. March 20, 2009
“Pittsburgh Steelers Fans as Quasi-religious: Analyzing the Sacred in Online Resources,” Pennsylvania Sociological Society. Harrisburg, PA. Nov 1, 2008
“Impact of Group Settings and Gender on Meals Purchased by College Students,” with Molly Allen-O’Donnell, Tom Nowak, and Kay Snyder. Pennsylvania Sociological Society. Harrisburg, PA. Nov 1, 2008
"Graduate Assistant Orientation: Experiences and Advice from Second-Year Graduate Assistants," Coordinated and led an informal presentation for first-year graduate assistants in the IUP sociology department. Indiana, PA. Aug 25, 2008
"Ethical Considerations as Graduate Students: Interdisciplinary Moral Strategies for Research and Pedagogy," IUP Graduate Student Association/English Graduate Organization (GSA/EGO) graduate interdisciplinary conference. Indiana, PA. March 1, 2008
"Navigating Roles in Graduate Work: Boundaries and Borders as Assistants and Students," Panel Chair, IUP GSA/EGO. Indiana, PA. March 1, 2008
Biography:
I was born and raised in northwestern Pennsylvania, but lived for 5 years in Tulsa, OK where I earned my bachelor of arts degree from a small, conservative Christian university in philosophy and theology. From there I returned to western PA to earn my masters degree in sociology from IUP. My working class background and interests in religion and culture converged in my thesis work on Steelers fans, which utilized participant observation and content and artifact analysis. I hope to use my time here at Akron to further explore the areas of sociology of religion and social psychology, teasing out the social processes and mechanisms by which people create and share meaning. Outside of research and coursework I enjoy the occasional pop culture fix--mostly via movies, and exploring/meeting new places, people, and ideas.
Contact information: mdc63@zips.uakron.edu