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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · 4d

Tomorrow!

MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · 11d

Please join us for the Fall 2025 Anthropologica lecture on October 9 from 1:00 - 2:25 pm in the College of Education building room 160 to hear Dr. Alisse Waterston deliver a lecture entitled "Writing to be Read: Crafting and Communicating Knowledge as if the World Depends Upon It."

Anthropologica for fall '25

Guest Speaker: Alisse Waterston

"Writing to be read: Crafting and communicating knowledge as if the world depends upon it"

October 9, 2025, 1-2:25 pm, COE 160

As students and academics, must we succumb to splitting ourselves between being a scholar and being a responsible global citizen or between the artistic and the scholarly in representing what we have come to learn? In this talk, I describe my experiments in multimodal anthropology with intimate ethnography and with the graphic novel designed to bring knowledge and understanding into the public conversation on critical issues. Identifying my own assumptions and the sense of urgency that has driven much of my work, I question
the value of public scholarship amid terrible political, economic, and military violence. I
wonder: Is it fantasy to think this work matters? What does it do for the world? Does that question even matter? What are we doing and why are we doing it?

MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · 5d

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Middle Tennessee State University invites applicants for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position (#129230) in anthropology at the rank of assistant or associate professor. careers.mtsu.edu/en-us/job/49...

MTSU Jobs | Middle Tennessee State University

careers.mtsu.edu

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · 11d

Please join us for the Fall 2025 Anthropologica lecture on October 9 from 1:00 - 2:25 pm in the College of Education building room 160 to hear Dr. Alisse Waterston deliver a lecture entitled "Writing to be Read: Crafting and Communicating Knowledge as if the World Depends Upon It."

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MTSU Sociology @mtsusociology.bsky.social · 11d

We're shining the spotlight on research by Sociology Assistant Professor Dr. Rachel Davis, who is reshaping how scholars understand intimacy, social class, and digital life! 🔍

She is developing a book on hypergamy, a form of romantic partnership marked by economic inequality. 💰⚖️

Photo of Dr. Rachel Davis

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Research Spotlight

Inside the Mind of a Digital Feminist
Dr. Rachel Davis is reshaping how scholars understand intimacy, class, and digital life. From the hills of Tennessee to a secluded island, she is developing a book on hypergamy, a form of romantic partnership marked by economic inequality. Dr. Davis sat down with us to discuss matrix logics, media myths, and the feminist contradictions that shape online sexual labor.

Q: What questions or problems are you currently exploring?
I am currently writing a book for Bloomsbury Publishing about hypergamy, a strategic intimate partnership between a man of high socioeconomic status and a woman of lower socioeconomic status, on Tumblr and TikTok. Some feminists denounce hypergamy as exploitative, while others celebrate it as empowering. This tension raises the question: How do we define and identify women’s exploitation and empowerment, and how can a phenomenon be labeled as both at once?

Q: What methods or theoretical approaches are central to your work?
For my book project, I utilized digital ethnographic research methods informed by a combination of intersectionality theory, particularly Vivian May’s concept of matrix logics, and Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of class distinction. As part of my digital ethnography, I combined social media content analyses, in-depth qualitative interviews, and statistical analyses. Overall, I prefer mixed-methods approaches like this.

Q: What insights or challenges have shaped your recent projects?
Studying social media involves constant challenges, as social media sites change features, algorithms, and data policies daily, often without disclosing them. This requires researchers to constantly change our data-gathering tactics and ethical considerations in response. It can be exhausting sometimes! But it keeps me on my toes.

Q: What insights or challenges have shaped your recent projects?
Studying social media involves constant challenges, as social media sites change features, algorithms, and data policies daily, often without disclosing them. This requires researchers to constantly change our data-gathering tactics and ethical considerations in response. It can be exhausting sometimes! But it keeps me on my toes.

Q: What led you to this area of research?
I became interested in the phenomenon of hypergamy in my undergraduate career, when I noticed that several feminists I followed on social media expressed an interest in having a sugar daddy, despite many other feminists denouncing sugar arrangements as exploitative and sexist.

Q: How would you describe your research to someone outside of academia?
I look at how social media shapes romantic relationships and the economic transactions that take place within them. More specifically, I study the similarities and differences between women who identify as sugar babies, high-value women, and spoiled girlfriends.

Q: What themes or arguments does your research address?
My research suggests that some women are actively seeking economically unequal (hypergamous) relationships in lieu of egalitarian ones, potentially perpetuating gender inequality while simultaneously claiming feminist politics. On the other hand, hypergamy may be understood as a strategy for class mobility in an otherwise largely closed class system. In this context, hypergamous women have been harmed by legislative and corporate actions like FOSTA that restrict their freedom of speech, sexual autonomy, and sense of community, all in the name of feminism and social justice. By utilizing matrix logics, I hope to push our responses to these issues beyond binary concepts of victimization and exploitation so that we can better understand (and change) contemporary life.

Q: How does your research engage with contemporary issues?
My research engages with debates about sexual labor and criminal law. After the passage of Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) in 2018, social media platforms purged adult content, disproportionately affecting racial, gender, and sexual minorities. Ironically, this pushed the sex trade further underground, making it harder to identify and assist trafficking victims. My work aims to expose these contradictions and suggest more just policy approaches.

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MTSU Sociology @mtsusociology.bsky.social · 19d

We're shining the spotlight on Sociology Master's program alum Presley Powers, who graduated in 2021 and currently works as an Energy Analyst! 🔦🔍

Photo of Presley Powers

Text reads:

Alumni Spotlight

Current Job Title and Organization:
Energy Analyst III at EcoMetric Consulting

Presley Powers was recently elected Chair-Elect of the Rural Policy Research Interest Group within the Rural Sociological Society and presented her dissertation at the society’s annual conference. Her research explores public trust as an indicator for urban to rural migration, reflecting her commitment to understanding the social dynamics that shape communities. At EcoMetric, Presley evaluates utility energy-efficiency programs using social science research methods, including surveys, interviews, and market analysis. Her work focuses on customer experiences, trade partner engagement, and broader program impacts, contributing to evidence-based improvements and policy decisions. She also advances efforts to promote equitable access to energy.

Influence of MTSU Sociology Education
Presley describes her sociology education at Middle Tennessee State University as exceptional. Through rigorous coursework and thoughtful mentorship, she learned to think critically as a social scientist and developed a strong foundation in research methodology. Her studies also deepened her understanding of the cultural and social influences that shape decision making. One of her most memorable courses was Social Theory, where she especially appreciated reading The Women Founders. That text highlighted the contributions of women to sociological theory and expanded her perspective on the discipline’s intellectual history. This academic foundation has guided her professional development and continues to inform her work in applied research and policy.

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MTSU Sociology @mtsusociology.bsky.social · 25d

We're shining the spotlight on Sociology Master's student Vaun Baltimore! 🔍 His thesis examines algorithmic media curation across social media platforms, with attention to how platform personalization shapes adolescent content exposure. He plans to pursue a PhD in Sociology! 🎓

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · Sep 10

You can read more about the poster here: tennesseearchaeologycouncil.wordpress.com/2025/09/08/t...

If you have a favorite memory or photograph from an experience at one of MTSU’s (or another university’s!) field schools—as a volunteer, visitor, or student—please share it below!

The 2025 Tennessee Archaeology Awareness Month Poster

Paul Eubanks and Noël LorsonMiddle Tennessee State University Each year, Tennessee Archaeology Awareness Month celebrates the depth of our state’s archaeological record—and the people working to st…

tennesseearchaeologycouncil.wordpress.com

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · Sep 10

It's official: The 2025 Tennessee Archaeology Awareness Month Poster is hot off the presses! This year's poster celebrates public archaeology and outreach efforts in Tennessee, highlighting the role of the late Dr. Kevin Smith and the MTSU Archaeology Field School.

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MTSU Sociology @mtsusociology.bsky.social · Sep 8

We're shining the spotlight on Sociology Assistant Professor Dr. Rachel Davis! 🔦🔍

Fun Fact: Dr. Davis was an Odd Future fanatic in high school! She had the honor of being kicked in the head (accidentally) by Left Brain in the mosh pit of one of their shows. 😳

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · Aug 22

Congratulations again to Dr. Ida Fadzillah Leggett for her promotion to full Professor of Anthropology! We're glad you were able to celebrate and be celebrated at the university's recent reception!

Photo of Dr. Ida Fadzillah Leggett with her husband and colleague Dr. Will Leggett

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MTSU Sociology @mtsusociology.bsky.social · Aug 21

Demos' is coming to @mtsuofficial.bsky.social! And the husband-and-wife owners are both MTSU Sociology alums! Kristin highlights the impact their alma mater had on their success. "I think [Peter's] work ethic and stress management was founded in his college experience." mtsunews.com/demos-to-cam...

Pictured outside the new location, from right, are alumni and owners Peter Demos and Kristin Demos and their son, Jamey Demos, who will manage the restaurant. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · Aug 7

Congratulations to Dr. Ida Fadzillah Leggett for her promotion to full Professor of Anthropology!

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MTSU Sociology @mtsusociology.bsky.social · Aug 6

Sociology professor Dr. Ugur Orak and his co-authors Ozden Ozbay and Sabuha Bindik have a new article entitled "Social class and deviance among young adults in Türkiye" published in the International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice! Read it at www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Social class and deviance among young adults in Türkiye

Existing criminological and sociological research in the Western world typically presents a negative relationship between social class and deviance, such that individuals with a lower social class ...

www.tandfonline.com

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MTSU Sociology @mtsusociology.bsky.social · Aug 4

Congratulations to sociology professor Dr. Ugur Orak, who has been chosen for the 2025 - 2026 cohort of the MTSU Provost's Faculty Leadership Development Institute!

Image of Dr. Ugur Orak with the text "Congratulations!"

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · Jul 2

Congrats to Dr. Ida Fadzillah Leggett, who recently received an instructional support grant to develop resources using Microsoft Sway for her Engage-certified classes! Engage-certified classes foster a culture of engaged learning by supporting students’ growth as integrative, reflective thinkers.

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · Jun 12

MTSU Archaeology students are getting hands-on with history through ongoing research at the site of one of Nashville’s first post-Civil War Black neighborhoods. Read this story and more at liberalarts.mtsu.edu/publications/

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · Jun 9

To honor his legacy, contributions may be made to the K.E. & C. Smith Archaeology Fund or the John T. Dowd Student Paper Award, both of which support archaeological research and student training, by going to mtsu.edu/give and selecting "Other," then entering the name of the chosen fund.

mtsu.edu

MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · Jun 9

Kevin was a great friend and mentor to MTSU faculty and students alike and a dedicated servant to MTSU and the department. He will be sorely missed but leaves an exceptional legacy in Tennessee and Southeastern archaeology and in the many lives he impacted.

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · Jun 9

A Celebration of Life for Dr. Kevin E. Smith will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, in the MT Center in the Ingram Building, from 2 to 5 pm.

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MTSU Sociology @mtsusociology.bsky.social · Jun 8

Check out this article from MTSU's research magazine about Sociology professor Rachel Davis's research with undergraduate student Melissa Guinn on law enforcement perceptions of sex trafficking!

MTSU Research 2025

Middle Tennessee State University's annual magazine for the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

issuu.com

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · Jun 6

Check out this Out of the Blue interview with Dr. Shannon Hodge, our department chair, about where curiosity meets career—and how MTSU grads are using their people skills to make a real-world impact in everything from nonprofits to public service.

Why People Do What They Do: Insights from Sociology & Anthropology

People are fascinating—and at MTSU, we’ve got a whole department dedicated to figuring them out! Sociology and Anthropology may be two different fields, but ...

youtu.be

MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · Jun 5

Great write-up about Tennessee's award-winning Archaeology Awareness Month poster design! mtsunews.com/mtsu-archaeo...

MTSU represents state in winning national Archaeology Awareness Month poster contest

Middle Tennessee State University, representing the state of Tennessee, won national recognition for the Archaeology Awareness Month poster design contest held annually by the Society for American …

mtsunews.com

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · Jun 2

Join us on June 7th!

MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · May 16

MTSU is once again hosting its Volunteer Archaeology Days program at the Castalian Springs Mound Site! If you’d like to visit or help us excavate, the site will be open to the public on May 31 and June 7, weather permitting. Note: Site requires crossing a shallow creek. All ages are welcome!

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · May 16

MTSU is once again hosting its Volunteer Archaeology Days program at the Castalian Springs Mound Site! If you’d like to visit or help us excavate, the site will be open to the public on May 31 and June 7, weather permitting. Note: Site requires crossing a shallow creek. All ages are welcome!

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MTSU Anthropology @mtsuanthropology.bsky.social · May 15

Congrats to Dr. Ida Fadzillah Leggett, who completed the MT Engage Summer Institute yesterday! She is pictured here with Drs. Jordan Solomon (Sociology), Ugur Orak (Sociology), and Brian Hinote (former faculty member in Sociology and current Vice Provost for Faculty and Strategic Initiatives).

Photo of Drs. Ida Fadzillah Leggett, Jordan Solomon, Ugur Orak, and Brian Hinote.

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