Featuring Dr. Jeff Shelton, an associate professor of sociology at Wayne State.
Ask Dr. Jeff Shelton about the success of Wayne State’s sociology graduates and he turns into a proud father beaming about the success of his own kids. Shelton, an associate professor of sociology at Wayne State, is this week’s subject of the Faculty Spotlight Series.
“We’re extremely proud of our sociology graduates from Wayne State,” said Shelton, who began teaching at Wayne State in 2020. “They have gone on to pursue graduate degrees in counseling, social work, psychology, and sociology, and many former students now work in a variety of fields, including healthcare, state and city government, education, law enforcement, and the military.”
Shelton said sociology is the scientific study of individuals, groups, and society.
“Students should enroll in sociology at Wayne State because our courses help them see the world in new and meaningful ways,” said Shelton, a native of Fresno, Calif. “Through hands-on activities and research, students learn to analyze data, think critically, and connect theory to real-world issues. Whether planning a career in healthcare, education, law enforcement, or social services, sociology students gain insight into people, communities, and the systems that connect them.”
Shelton's teaching and research interests are medical sociology, research methods, the study of work and professions, and social policy. His most recent project uses a mixed methods approach to explore and examine crucial factors influencing nurse practitioners' job satisfaction and professional identity development.
Wayne State recently hosted the annual Inter-Professional Education (IPE) event, a collaborative meeting with the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s (UNMC) College of Nursing (Northern Division). The event featured students from Wayne State’s Social Policy class and UNMC’s Health and Population class. The goal was for students from two or more professions to learn from, with, and about each other, enabling effective collaboration and improving health outcomes throughout future work and chosen professions.
In classes and independent study projects, Shelton works with students on their research and writing interests, which includes preparing them to present their work at state and regional conferences. Wayne State faculty members also provide opportunities for students to participate in regional service and community outreach projects. Through these initiatives, Wayne State strives to improve the lives of individuals and the surrounding communities.
In addition to serving on several Wayne State faculty committees, including the Institutional Review Board and Faculty Senate, Shelton is the faculty advisor for Wayne State’s Psychology and Sociology Club and Wayne State’s PRIDE (People Respecting Individuals, Diversity, and Equality) organization.
Shelton is a member of the American Sociological Association, the Midwest Sociological Society, the British Sociological Association, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Shelton earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Sociology from Portland State University, and his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Georgia. He has a Nebraska Postsecondary Teaching Permit with a Sociology endorsement, allowing him to teach dual credit sociology classes for grades 7-12.
Fun Fact: “I’ve visited or traveled through 41 states. On one adventure to the West Coast, I swam with a family of seals in the Pacific Ocean.”