1. Rich Ellefritz Curriculum Vitae
2020 Valley Rd. Stillwater, OK 74075 | Mobile: (309)313-3100 | Email: richard.ellefritz@okstate.edu
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Enthusiastic and dedicated sociology educator with multi-faceted expertise in environmental sociology, social stratification,
social theory, social psychology, social problems, and marriage and family seeking a full-time assistant professor position.
Collaborative communicator and colleague with a high proficiency in research methods and passion for higher education
and constructivist, student-centered learning.
EDUCATION
2006 Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
Bachelor of Arts, dual major Psychology and Sociology (cum laude)
2008 Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
Master of Arts, Sociology
2014 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Doctor of Philosophy, Sociology
Environmental Sociology and Social Stratification
ACADEMIC
EXPERIENCE
2014 – Current Visiting Assistant Professor, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Teaches and taught Research Methods, Social Theory, Social Psychology (online and face-to-face), Social
Stratification, Racial and Ethnic Relations, Social Problems, Collective Behavior, Sociology of Aging,
and regular and Honors Introductory Sociology.
2015 – 2016 Adjunct Faculty, Northern Oklahoma College, Stillwater, OK
Taught Introductory Psychology.
2008 – 2014 Teaching Assistant, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Facilitated and taught Introductory Sociology and Social Stratification courses. Conducted full teaching
responsibilities, including course and lecture design, activity and exam construction and administrative
duties.
2008 & 2013 Graduate Assistant, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Conducted basic assistant duties for two faculty members during the fall 2008 semester, in Social
Psychology and Rural Sociology, and for another professorin 2013 for Environmental Sociology. The duties
included attending classes, guest lecturing, proctoring exams, writing and grading quizzes and exams,
attending field studies, and tutoring students.
2007 & 2008 Adjunct Faculty, Spoon River College, Macomb, IL
Taught Introduction to Sociology (fall 2007/spring 2008) and Sociology of Marriage and Family (fall
2007).
2006 – 2008 Assistant to Director, Western Survey Research Center, Macomb, IL
Managed undergraduate class projects for phone and mail survey research studies as well as engaging in
these same types of projects. These projects included building contact lists, designing surveys, constructing
survey instruments, engaging in survey interviews, coding and analyzing data, and writing final reports.
2. Rich Ellefritz Curriculum Vitae
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2006 – 2008 Graduate Assistant, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
WIU Social Studies Resource Center
Managed the resource library utilized by education majors during social studies curriculum, including
updating the library and maintaining the website, serving on adjudication committees and proctoring
exams.
PUBLICATIONS
Ellefritz, Richard. 2012. “Editorial Cartoons as Education: Political Cartoons as Pathways to
the Pedagogy of Popular Culture." Pp. 105-132 in Pedagogy of Pop, edited by E. Janak and D.
Blum. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
Ellefritz, Richard. (2016). “Patriarchal Prosumerism on Web 2.0: The Sociological Vectors of
the Pathogenic Internet Meme, ‘Get Back To The Kitchen’.” Sociology and Your World: How
Culture Designs Power and Privilege in our Everyday Lives, edited by D. Tawwater. San Diego,
CA: Cognella, Inc.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Ellefritz, Richard. 2013. “On Learning Associated with Getting Students to Read – Let’s Talk
about Last Night’s Reading…” Roundtable presentation at the 2013 Mid-South Sociological
Association. Atlanta, GA.
Ellefritz, Richard. 2013. “‘I’m Not a Conspiracy Theorist, but…’: Virtual Insiders Operating
Outside Permissible Boundaries of Discourse.” Paper presented at the 2013 Society for the
Interdisciplinary Study of Social Imagery. Pueblo, CO.
Ellefritz, Richard. 2012. “Political Cartoons as Pop Cultural Pedagogy: Using Editorial
Cartoons as Ciphers for Decoding the Symbolic Universe of Social Problems.” Paper presented
at the 2012 Society for the Study of Social Problems. Denver, CO.
Ellefritz, Richard. 2011. “Editorial Cartoons as Education: Pop Culture, Politics and History.”
Paper presented at the 2011 National Popular Culture & American Culture Conference. San
Antonio, TX.
Ellefritz, Richard and Gordon Rands. 2009. “Environmental Education and University Co-
Curriculum: Measuring Changes in Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors.”
Paper presented at the 2009 American Sociological Association. San Francisco, CA.
Ellefritz, Richard. 2008. “The Effects of Participation in Environmentally Themed Co-
Curricular Events on the Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of College
Students.” Paper presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Sociological Society,
St. Louis, MO.
Tollini, Craig, Ellefritz, Richard, and Newman, Isaac. 2008. “The Power of a Definition: The
Framing of Intelligent Design in the News and by Its Opponents and Supporters.” Paper
presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Sociological Society, St. Louis, MO.
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE
2011 – Current Textbook Publishing Consultant, Pearson & McGraw-Hill Publishing
Paid reviewer for new editions and textbooks for Introductory Sociology, with experience reviewing both
chapters and full editions. Attend symposiums for marketing and development programs as needed.
2013 – Current Digital Faculty Consultant, McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Conduct workshops on using program to teach sociology course and run webinars to support faculty users
with construction and course design. Create and deliver presentations related to course design and
program. Moderate social media communications and develop social media content to enrich use of digital
learning solutions.
3. Rich Ellefritz Curriculum Vitae
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2010 Survey Research Internship, Sundance Research Institute, Spearfish, SD
This six-week internship consisted of assisting in grant writing, literature reviews, instrument
construction, survey interviews, data analysis, and writing the final report and engaging in a main study
about perceptions of the quality of health and medicine implemented on a Native American reservation in
North Dakota.
2006 Peer Mentor, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
This position was part of WIU’s university-wide co-curricular program. Individual senior-level students
were selected by faculty who were part of the program to lead student discussions, organize co-curricular
events, and to help orient first-year students to scholarly work in an academic setting.
Professional Textbook Reviews
(2013) Croteau, David and William Hoynes. Experience Sociology. McGraw-Hill.
(2012) Schaefer, Richard T. Sociology, 12th Edition. McGraw-Hill.
(2011) Manza, Jeff (ed.). The Sociology Project. Pearson.
(2010) Henslin, James. Mastering Sociology. Pearson.
SERVICE WORK
I advise and operate the OSU CineCulture Club, which screens documentaries to the OSU
and surrounding communities twice a month. I organize the film selection and screening
process, as well as host guest speakers. When no speaker is available, I lead discussions
during the post-screening session. We partner with PBS’s POV affiliate, who I work
closely with the community engagement and education director, Aubrey Gallegos.
I have served on all available textbook search committees in my department, and I have
led two workshops designed to teach our faculty how to better utilize our department’s
Introductory Sociology online program.
I have moderated during our university’s research week, as well as for my department’s
regional sociology conference.
I have led a workshop at the MSSA on how to better structure courses to incentivize and
motivate students to read assigned readings.
ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
Mid-South Sociological Association, Member (2013)
American Sociological Association, Member (2008-present)
Society for the Study of Social Problems, Member (2012-present)
Popular Culture Association, Member (2011)
OSU CineCulture Club, Treasurer (2010), President (2011-2014), Adviser (2014-present)
Sociology Graduate Student Association (OSU), Treasurer (2008-9 & 2012-13), Vice-
President (2009-10), President (2010-11)
Graduate and Professional Student Government Association (OSU) representative (2011-
2012)
Graduate Student Organization (WIU), Treasurer (2007), Vice-President (2008)