Dr. Jason Ulsperger
PROFESSOR
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Ulsperger obtained his B.S. from the University of Central Arkansas as an H.L. Minton Scholar. He earned his M.A. in Sociology from Arkansas State University and soon after received the Student Award of Excellence from the Southwest Society on Aging. He completed his Ph.D. in Sociology at Oklahoma State University with concentrations in Crime/Deviance, Social Psychology, and Gerontology. While there, he won the O.D. Duncan Award. He holds ATU Faculty Awards of Excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. Sociological Spectrum recognized one of his articles as “Article of the Year.” He is co-author of Elder Care Catastrophe: Rituals of Abuse in Nursing Homes, published by Routledge; author of The 53: Rituals, Grief, and a Titan II Missile Disaster, published by Lexington; and co-editor of several oral history projects. His publication record includes approximately 80 scholarly and professional works. Dr. Ulsperger has shared his research and community education work through nearly 100 professional and community presentations. The International Organization of Social Sciences and Behavioral Research recognized one of his co-authored manuscripts on stalking and victimization as “Best Paper.” He is a former president of the Mid-South Sociological Association and a former regional representative for Alpha Kappa Delta, the international honor society of sociology. He is an award-winning faculty sponsor for AKD and Alpha Phi Sigma, the international criminal justice honor society. Under Dr. Ulsperger’s guidance, both honor societies won national service awards. He and his students actively engage with nonprofit and government agencies, including the Arkansas Supreme Court, Pope County Department of Youth Rehabilitation, River Valley Child Advocacy Center, and CASA of the 5th Judicial District.
EDUCATION HISTORY
- BS-University of Central Arkansas
- MA-Arkansas State Univ-Main Campus
- PHD-Oklahoma State Univ-Main Campus
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Ulsperger's research revolves around Structural Ritualization Theory. He is currently using SRT to study organizational deviance as related to technological disasters and survivor grief. He also studies law formation processes. Several of his studies use SRT to analyze criminal behavior in a variety of environments, such as corporations and long-term care facilities. Some of his work focuses on ritualized strain and its relation to mass homicide. A well-known former member of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit recently described it as an "interesting and unique perspective" on crime.
Recently Taught Courses
- CJ 4143 - SEM: SERIAL & MASS MURDER
- CJ 4143 - SEM: SEX CRIMES
- CJ 4143 - SEMINAR: VICTIMOLOGY
- CJ 4206 - THE LAW IN ACTION
- SOC 1003 - INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY
- SOC 4143 - SEM: SERIAL & MASS MURDER
- SOC 4143 - SEM: SEX CRIMES
- SOC 4143 - SEMINAR: VICTIMOLOGY