Name: Kara Hoofnagle
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Year: Second Year Applied Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice

Excitement is what most individuals feel when they are accepted into graduate school. However, as the first day of your first year of graduate school draws near anxiety sets in, and you realize you are stepping into the unknown.  Indeed, entering graduate school can be a scary thing. Your first day of class in Old Dominion’s Applied Sociology program will make you leave wondering what you were scared of. The class experience is incredible. The small class size (usually no more than 20 people) allows for a unique learning experience. Each student is given ample opportunity to share their thoughts, interact with others, and receive individual attention by the professor. Because the program is small, you make good friends and you have several individuals to help encourage you on your journey. From the time the department has an orientation prior to the first day of school, you have made the friends that you know you cannot survive without on the two-year trek through graduate school.
Our professors are exceptional. The small size of the graduate program allows for the opportunity to really get to know the professors. All of the professors have your best interest in mind. They want you to succeed and do every thing possible to ensure your success. They are very approachable and are willing and eager to help students.  The professors know everyone by name and truly go out of their way to make all students feel comfortable. Furthermore, because you need the professors to get through the two years of graduate school, it is very important to have instructors that are knowledgeable in the subject matter, kind, approachable, and eager to help students; this describes our professors. We couldn’t ask for better professors.
 The Applied Sociology program strives to prepare you for your future endeavors. Students in the program have a variety of goals, as some have chose to do a criminal justice emphasis, some a sociology emphasis, and others a women’s studies emphasis. The faculty has done their best to ensure that no matter what your future plans are, you will have a good foundation when you enter the workforce.  I feel that the program has helped me to prepare for doctoral candidacy.   The professors, if you tell them what your future plans are, will go out of their way to expose you to different things that you need to know, or may encounter in the future. Furthermore, because the professors are so helpful, you can talk with them, ask questions, and ask for advice, and they will provide honest counsel.
 If you want a graduate school experience that is truly extraordinary, the Old Dominion Applied Sociology program is for you. If you want to be at a school that offers many activities, both on and off campus; ODU is for you.  If you want to make friends that have common interests, and that will understand and encourage you through graduate school; ODU is for you. If you want to have professors that truly care about you and look out for your best interest; ODU is for you.  If you want to be involved in a program whose professors are highly respected by other schools and professionals in the field; ODU is for you.  If you want to have no regrets about the graduate program that you chose to enroll in; ODU is for you.  If you want to be prepared for your future; ODU is for you. Simply put; ODU IS FOR YOU! 

The graduate student orientation is an online source, which allows new and prospective students to become more aware of the opportunities that Old Dominion can provide them. 

The Applied Sociology Program at Old Dominion in the perfect place for students to embark on a long lasting academic career.  With the help of strong relationships with the professors, many old dominion students have published articles in the area of interest.  

Poarch, Renae and E. Monk-Turner.  Forthcoming.  "Gender Roles in Children's Literature:  A Review of Non-Award Winning "Easy-to-Read" Books".  Journal of Research in Childhood Education.

Bisciglia, Mike and E. Monk-Turner.  2002.  "Distance Education:  Differences in Attitudes Between On-Site and Distant-Site Students."  The American Journal of Distance Education.

Harpster, Paula and E. Monk-Turner.  1998.  "Why Men Do Housework:  A Test of Gender Production and the Relative Resources Model."  Sociological Focus.

Gainey, Randy R.; Brian K. Payne; and Mike O'Toole.  2000.  “Time in Jail, Time on Electronic Monitoring, and Recidivism: An Event History Analysis.”  Justice Quarterly.

Cynthia S. Glass and Katarina Wegar, “Teacher Perceptions of the Incidence and Management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.”  Education.

Payne, Brian K.; Gray, Charles. “Theoretical Orientation and Response to Abuse among
Ombudsmen.” Journal of Social Work in Long-Term Care.

Payne, Brian K.; Gray, Charles. “Fraud by Home Health Care Workers.” Criminal Justice Review.

Payne, Brian K.; Berg, Bruce L.; and Toussaint, J. "The Police Response to Elder Abuse." Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management.

Payne, Brian K.; Berg, Bruce L.; and James, La Donna. “Attitudes about Sanctioning Elder Abuse Offenders among Police Chiefs, Nursing Home Professionals, and Students.” International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.

Payne, Brian K.; Berg, Bruce L.; and Byars, Kristin. "A Qualitative Examination of the Similarities and Differences of Elder Abuse Definitions among Four Groups," Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect.

Payne, Brian K.; Fletcher, Laura (under review).  “Nursing Home Directors’ Responses to Elder Abuse.” Violence and Victims.

Mercier, Peter J.  1998.  On-line Crime:  In Pursuit of Cyber Thieves, Software Pirates, and Other Computer Criminals.  Pp. 197-217 in Criminal Justice Technology in the 21st Century, edited by L. J. Moriarty and D. L. Carter.  Springfield, IL:  Charles C. Thomas.

Mercier, Peter J., and Judith D. Mercier.  2000.  Battle Cries on the Home Front:  Violence in the Military Family.  Springfield, IL:  Charles C Thomas.

Mercier, Peter J.  2002. "Victim Reporting: Strategies to Increase Reporting." Pp. 35-55 in
Policing and Victims, Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ, edited by L.J. Moriarty.