Dr. Jerry Daday - Assistant Professor of Sociology

PhD, University of New Mexico - 2004 Research interests: Criminology, Work and Occupations, and Comparative Sociology.
E-mail: jerry.daday@wku.edu
Office: 119 Grise Hall
Phone: (270) 745-8764
Website: www.wku.edu/~jerry.daday

My primary teaching and research interests are in the areas of criminology, victimology, and comparative sociology.  In the areas of criminology and victimology, I have published three co-authored articles with my colleagues from the University of New Mexico (UNM) examining the overlap and divergence between offenders and victims in violent crimes.  Currently, I am working on three additional papers that 1) examine the correlates of household and non-household victimization at the individual and neighborhood level (with Dr. Krull and colleagues from UNM), 2) the influence of neo-liberal economic reforms and corruption on cross-national homicide rates (with Lisa Broidy from UNM), and finally 3) access to health care and homicide lethality in the United States (with Dr. Kanan). 

I am also developing a new research agenda through a collaborative effort with Dr. Mike Stokes in the Biology Department at WKU and Dr. Charles Kimwele from the University of Nairobi (UN).  Our research examines the intersection of extreme poverty, the prevalence of wildlife poaching, and conservation efforts in a rural area of Southeastern Kenya.  We spend three or four weeks each summer working with faculty and students from both universities collecting survey and interview data among the residents living in several villages in this part of Kenya.  One component of this research represents an attempt to understand the factors promoting and hindering socioeconomic developing in these villages and how these factors relate to human-wildlife conflict and conservation efforts in the area.

In addition to these projects, I am assisting several graduates with their research projects by serving as the chair of their MA thesis committee.  These projects include (1) a study examining the influence of social capital on homicide rates (Brent Lovitt); (2) a cross-national study exploring the effects of education and human capital formation on development indicators in three African Countries (Matt Moore); (3) a study testing the principle of homophily using on-line personal advertisements (Amanda Schrock); and (4) a study examining the effects of unionization on layoffs among a sample of corporations (Jason Gaddie). 

I would happy to assist any undergraduate or graduate student with interests in criminology, victimology, comparative-development, or work/occupations.  Please feel free to stop by my office (Grise Hall - Room 119) or to send me an e-mail (jerry.daday@wku.edu) anytime.