Nicole Farris, Ph.D.

Professor, Sociology

Nicole Farris has devoted her life to the observation of people. In public settings, her habit of people watching often earned a warning from her parents. Today, whether it's working with students, collaborating with colleagues or writing her latest book, Farris longs to understand her world in new, exciting and profound ways. A Texan from birth, Farris felt at home when she arrived at A&M-Commerce. When she's not teaching or working on her latest project, Farris loves to spend time with her two pitbull babies, her crazy ginger cat, and hang out with her wonderful friends.

A Conversation with Dr. Farris

What would you tell a student who is thinking about attending A&M-Commerce?

I would tell them that they are making a great choice. We have the prestige of being the second largest regional institution in the Texas A&M University System and the closeness of a small and tight-knit community. I went to A&M College Station, and I loved it; but at a place like that (or any of the larger universities in Texas), you’re just a face in the crowd or a name on a roster. At A&M-Commerce we have the opportunity to get to know our students in a way that you just can’t do at a larger institution. I worked at a small university in Alabama before I came back to Texas, where I was born and raised. For me, coming to A&M-Commerce was like coming home.

What makes you passionate about your discipline?

So many things! I think sociology is super exciting, not only because I’ve devoted my life to studying it, but also because it is just so relevant in all aspects of life. One of my favorite things to tell my students when I teach an Introductory course is that “by the time you finish this course, you won’t be able to look at anything the same way again!” Music, movies, television, it is all able to be viewed through a sociological lens. I think sociology is also really important because sociology, more so than other social sciences, teaches students how to be empathetic and how to understand where people come from and why they do what they do. In this global economy, being able to be familiar and comfortable with people from a variety of backgrounds, whether it be racial/ethnic, gender, sexuality, religion, social class or whatever, is going to serve anyone well. Honestly, I love what I do and I just think it’s really fun. I try to project that whether I’m teaching about deviance or demography.

Tell us about an academic project you are working on or recently completed.

Too many! I published two books in 2020; both edited volumes. One was on Marriage and Family (The International Handbook of the Demography of Marriage and the Family) and one was Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the Digital Age. Both published by Springer Publishers and the best part is that both feature work from students I’ve had over the years, both undergraduate and graduate, at A&M-Commerce and other institutions. I love incorporating students into my research process because watching them grow and develop is so rewarding. I also remember when I was a student and how my advisor gave me such wonderful opportunities, so I try to pay it forward whenever I can! I’m working on a journal manuscript about masculinity and aggression in football players with a former student and a book proposal about foster care outcomes with a colleague from my department! I like to stay busy.

Educational Background

• Ph.D., Sociology, Texas A&M University-College Station, 2011
• M.A., Sociology, Texas State University, 2008
• B.A., Sociology, Texas A&M University-College Station, 2006

Academic Positions

• Professor of Sociology, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2023-Present
• Associate Professor of Sociology, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2018-2023
• Assistant Professor of Sociology, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2016-2018
• Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of West Alabama, 2012-2016
• Adjunct Instructor of Sociology, Austin Community College, 2012

Awards and Honors

• Recipient, OSP Grant Pyramid Incentive Program, 2015
• Chapter President-Elect, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 2014
• University of West Alabama Research Grant Recipient, 2012, 2013

Research Interests

• Demography/Statistics with an emphasis in gender
• Marriage/family
• Methodology

Professional Organizations

• American Sociological Association
• Southwestern Social Science Association
• Southern Demographic Association
• Population Association of America

Selected Publications

• Farris, D. Nicole and Burchan Aydin. “A Gender Comparison of Attitudes Toward Drone Pilots” (in progress)
• Farris, D. Nicole and Dudley L. Poston, Jr. “Poverty In  China.” A chapter in Joachim Singelmann and Marlene Lee (editors), International  Handbook of Poverty Populations. New York, NY: Springer Publishers, (in progress) 
• D'Lane R. Compton, D. Nicole Farris and Mary Ann Davis. “Prevalence and Trends in  Obesity Across Gender Identities.” in the International Handbook of the Demography of  Obesity eds. Dudley L. Poston, Jr. and Ginny Garcia. New York, NY: Springer  Publishers (Forthcoming 2023)     
• Jacob Armstrong, Elvira White-Lewis, D. Nicole Farris & Willie J. Edwards. 2021.   “Reevaluating factors associated with negative attitudes toward police: capturing information from college students.” Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, DOI: 10.1080/15377938.2021.1907827
• Farris, D. Nicole and A.J.J. Bourque. The International Handbook on the Demography of Family. New York, NY: Springer Publishers. 2020.
• Farris, D. Nicole, D'Lane R. Compton and Andrea P. Herrera. Gender, Sexuality and Race in the Digital Age. New York, NY: Springer Publishers. 2019.
• Farris, D. Nicole. Boomerang Kids: The Demography of Previously Launched Adults. New York: Springer Publishers. 2016.
• Davis, Jennifer Lauren, D'Lane R. Compton, D. Nicole Farris and Tony Love. “Implementing and Analyzing Social Media in Higher Education” The Journal of Faculty Development 29: 2; 9-16. 2015.

Featured Courses

SOC 1301 Intro to Sociology
SOC 332 Methods of Statistical Analysis