Welcome to the Department of Social Sciences!We’re delighted you’ve found our department’s website. The Department of Social Sciences is home to more than 500 students and over 30 full-time faculty members. We offer six Bachelor of Arts programs, three graduate degrees, and a variety of certificates and minors.Our undergraduate programs include:
Criminal Justice Health, Society, and Policy Nonprofit Leadership and Administration Political Science Sociology Social Work (BSW, accredited)At the graduate level, we offer:
Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies Master of Public Administration (NASPAA-accredited) PhD in Intelligence, Defense, and Cybersecurity Policy (launching Fall 2025)Despite the variety of our programs, they share a common mission: to equip students with the skills needed to strengthen public service. We build these skills by emphasizing active learning in the classroom, experiential learning in the field, and study abroad opportunities. Our faculty are accomplished researchers who publish in leading academic journals and bring their expertise into the classroom to enrich the student learning experience.Students in our department frequently participate in study away and study abroad programs. One of our most notable initiatives is the Model United Nations program, which includes a visit to the UN headquarters in New York City. We also support internships that provide valuable work experience, and we host numerous career-focused events in collaboration with AU’s Career Services to help students launch successful careers in the social sciences.Our main administrative office is located in Allgood Hall, Room N-312, and our majors have access to a dedicated computer lab on the second floor of Allgood Hall.We invite you to reach out to learn more about our programs and community. We hope you will consider joining one of our majors and contributing to the future of public service.
Criminal Justice
Dr. Melissa Bemiller, Associate Professor
Dr. Kim Davies, Pamplin Dean, Professor
Dr. Allison Foley, WGST Director, Professor
Ric Goolsby, JD, Adjunct Instructor
Richard Goolsby, JD, Adjunct Instructor
Dr. Candace Griffith, Associate Professor
Paula Owens, Adjunct Instructor
Dr. Todd Powell-Williams, Professor
Health, Society, and Policy
Dr. Elizabeth Culatta, Assistant Professor
Dr. Andrew Goss, Department of History, Anthropology and Philosophy, Professor
Dr. Pamela Hayward, Department of Communication, Professor
Dr. David Hunt, Associate Professor
Dr. Wendy Turner, Department of History, Anthropology and Philosophy, Professor
Nonprofit Leadership and Administration
Valerie Cato, Department of English and World Languages, Senior Lecturer
Dr. Allison Foley, WGST Director, Professor
Dr. Augustine Hammond, Associate Professor
Dr. Will Hatcher, Chair, Professor
Dr. David Hunt, Associate Professor
Political Science
Dr. Craig Albert, MAISS Director, Professor
Dr. Christos Bourdouvalis, Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Instructor
Dr. Giancarlo Gonzalez, Lecturer
Dr. Augustine Hammond, Associate Professor
Dr. Will Hatcher, Chair, Professor
Dr. John "Jay" Heslen, Associate Professor
Nadia Jilani-Hyler, Senior Lecturer
Dr. Mary-Kate Lizotte, Professor
Dr. Wesley Meares, MPA Director, Associate Professor
Chris Mezzetti, Adjunct Instructor
Dr. Rhucha Samudra, Associate Professor
Dr. Paolo Spadoni, Associate Professor
Dr. Raymond Whiting, AVP of Curriculum and Instructional Innovation and Professor
Sociology
Dr. Dustin Avent-Holt, CSSR Director, Professor
Dr. Melissa Bemiller, Associate Professor
Dr. Elizabeth Culatta, Associate Professor
Dr. Kim Davies, Pamplin Dean, Professor
Dr. David Hunt, Associate Professor
Dr. Melissa Powell-Williams, Professor
Social Work
Penny Alderman, Senior Lecturer
Thomas Dorn, Adjunct Instructor
Shannon Dunavan, Adjunct Instructor
Morgan Fields, BSW Director, Senior Lecturer
Master of Public Administration
Dr. Melissa Bemiller, Associate Professor
Dr. Allison Foley, WGST Director, Associate Professor
Dr. Emily Boykin, Assistant Professor
Dr. Augustine Hammond, Associate Professor
Dr. Will Hatcher, Chair, Professor
Dr. Mary-Kate Lizotte, Professor
Dr. Wesley Meares, MPA Director, Professor
Dr. Saundra Ribando, Retired; Professor Emerita
Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies (MAISS)
Dr. Craig Albert, Graduate Director: National Defense Studies, Professor
Dr. Aaron Gold, Assistant Professor
Dr. John "Jay" Heslen, Associate Professor
PhD in Intelligence, Defense, & Cybersecurity Policy