Toralf Zschau, Ph.D.

Toralf Zschau

Associate Professor

Phone706-864-1444

Office locationBarnes Hall, 204, Dahlonega

Overview

Tony Zschau: Student of Life; Student for Life.

Courses Taught

SOCI 1101     Introduction to Sociology

SOCI 1160     Social Problems

SOCI 3020     Research Methods

SOCI 3180     Collective Behaviors and Social Movements

SOCI 3510     Sociology of Religion

SOCI 3300     Globalization and Society

SOCI 3350     Political Sociology

SOCI 3410     Environmental Sociology

SOCI 4000     Social Capital and Deviance

SOCI 4850     Internship in Sociology

Education

  • Ph.D., Sociology, Oklahoma State University, 2010
  • M.S., Plant Biology, Arizona State University, 1999
  • B.S., Biology, Minor in Plant Biology, University of Idaho, 1997
  • Vocational Degree, Electrical Engineering, BBS Paul Schwarze (Dresden, Germany), 1988

Research/Special Interests

As a trained sociologist in the areas of environmental sociology, political sociology and social psychology, Tony is primarily interested in broad issues such as authoritarianism and personal freedom, alternative models of political organization (e.g. decentralized, non-hierarchical environmentally-sound face-to-face democracies), environmental justice and environmental concerns as well as the role of social movements (including new religious movements) in contemporary life. Seeing himself as a conflict theorist with a strong symbolic interactionist bend, he nevertheless feels comfortable enough to employ structural-functionalist lenses when appropriate (especially in their more modern social network variety). While most of his research until now has been hijacked by the “traditional research paradigm” (research-publish-research), he is slowing gravitating more toward an activist public sociology direction. If he gets really bored, he may even offer his (unwanted and unsought) advice to psychologists on issues he knows very little about (e.g. the role of social network dynamics in recovery trajectories of drug users subjected to institutional contexts such as the drug court).

Publications

PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES

Zschau, Toralf, Hosuk, Lee, Codey Collins, and Daniel L. Hatch. Forthcoming. "The Hidden Challenge: Limited Recovery Capital and Overreliance on Rehabilitation-Based Network Support in Drug Court Participants." Journal of Applied Social Science.

Meij, Jan, and Toralf Zschau. Forthcoming. "Environmental Justice in Oklahoma." in Addendum for Sociology: The Essentials, Oklahoma Edition, edited by M.L Anderson and H.F. Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thompson, Wadsworth.

Lee, Hosuk and Toralf Zschau. 2014. "New Horizons: Applying Political Ecology to the Study of Environmental Justice Issues.” International Journal of Science, Commerce and Humanities 2(6): 204-219.

Hatch, Daniel L., Toralf Zschau, Arthur Hays, Kristin McAllister, Michelle Harrison, Kelly Cate, Ryan Shanks, and Steven Lloyd. 2014. "Of Mice and Meth: A New Media-Based Neuropsychopharmacology Lab to teach Research Methods." Teaching of Psychology 41(2):167-74.

Zschau, Toralf, Alison Adams, and Tom Shriver. 2012. "Reframing the Biotechnology Debate: The Deconstructive Efforts of the Council for Responsible Genetics.” Symbolic Interaction 3:221-39.

Zschau, Toralf, Steven Getty, Corina Gries, Y. Ameron, Alejandro Zambrano, and Tom III   Nash. 2003. "Historical and Current Atmospheric Deposition to the Epilithic Lichen Xantoparmelia in Maricopa County, Arizona." Environmental Pollution 125:21-30.

Nash, Tom III, Corina Gries, Toralf Zschau, Steven Getty, Y. Ameron, and Alejandro Zambrano. 2003. "Historical and Current Atmospheric Deposition to the Epilithic Lichen Xantoparmelia in Maricopa County, Arizona." Journal De Physique IV France 107:921-24.

OTHER MANUSCRIPTS

Collins, Codey, Hubbard, Madison, Hatch L. Daniel and Toralf Zschau. Revise & Resubmit. “Demographic and Abuse Severity Related Indicators of Drug Court Participant Success.” Journal of Young Investigators.

Zschau, Toralf and Hosuk Lee. In Preparation. "The Authoritarian Cosmos: A New Conceptual Model." International Journal of Political Sociology.

Lee, Hosuk and Toralf Zschau. In Preparation. "The Cultural Constant: A Comparative Study between the US and South Korean Environmental Justice Movement". International Journal of Humanities and Social Science.

STUDENT THESIS PUBLICATIONS

Mayo, Brent. Forthcoming. "Burning More Than Grass: Understanding Normative Capital for Drug Court Participants." Bachelor of Science, Department of Sociology and Human Services, University of North Georgia, North Georgia Press, Dahlonega. Faculty Advisors: Hatch, Daniel L., Toralf Zschau and Stephen Smith.

Bryan, Heather. 2013. "The Sorority Priority: The Role of Interactional Feedback Mechanisms in Shaping Body Image in Sororities." Bachelor of Science, Department of Sociology and Human Services, University of North Georgia, North Georgia Press, Dahlonega. Faculty Advisors: Zschau, Toralf, Kathleen Dolan, Tanya Bennet, April Kilinski, and Stephen Smith.

Hayes, Arthur. 2012. "The Man Should Be the Head, Sort of: Exploring the Discrepancies in the Relationship and Gender." Bachelor of Science, Department of Sociology and Human Services, University of North Georgia, North Georgia Press, Dahlonega. Faculty Advisors: Zschau, Toralf, Daniel L. Hatch, and Stephen Smith.