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Sherry Mong
By Richard Morris, ’20
Sherry Mong ’03M is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Kentucky and went on to become a certified public accountant. Then her interest in social processes and problems led her to pursue a Masters in Sociology. In the years following she received her Ph.D. in Sociology from Ohio State University, and has been at Capital University since 2012.
From Accounting to Sociology?
Although she is often asked how she made the jump between two careers with seemingly nothing in common, Mong comments that there are a number of intersections between sociology and accounting. White collar crime, for instance, has ties to both professions; in addition, she notes that her background in business is extremely helpful when working with social agencies.
When asked why she switched to sociology and criminology, Mong’s answer was direct: “I had a deep passion to understand the social world… to know more about society and people.” Sociology enabled her to have a deeper understanding of the issues about which she cares deeply, such as inequality and problems of labor justice.
Current Work at Capital University
Since beginning her work at Capital University six years ago, Mong has made the most of her opportunity. She currently teaches six different classes: Introduction to Sociology, Social Stratification, Social Problems, Principles of Criminology, Victimology, and White Collar Crime. She is also heavily involved in her independent research, which presently revolves around “labor processes for unpaid caregivers who learn skilled medical labor, and the home health nurses who teach these skills.”
Much like her experience at Ohio University, which gave her an appreciation for working outside the classroom, Mong is adamant about working with students in “community-engaged and project-based learning.” Currently, her Social Problems students are working with Ethics students and other local partners “to co-identify and implement projects which meet community needs.”
Her OHIO Experience
Mong’s time spent with Ohio University was both very interesting and essential in leading her to where she is today. She attended the university’s Chillicothe branch (which offered the Masters in Sociology for a brief period of time), where she enjoyed working alongside a number of fellow students. Her student colleagues worked extensively in a number of professions, including corrections, counseling, and education. She was afforded the opportunity to gain knowledge from a number of different perspectives, as many colleagues had “valuable hands-on knowledge of fields relating to Sociology and Criminology.”
A number of excellent professors made an impression on Mong while she attended Ohio University. She specifically notes Dr. Martin Schwartz for his positive influence, as he offered her a great deal of support and aid in applying for a Ph.D. program.
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