Academics

Christopher Todd Beer

professor in his office talking with a student

Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology

Areas of Specialization

Globalization; Social Movements; Environmental Sociology; Climate Change and Climate Justice; East Africa; Survey Methodology

Education

PhD Indiana University
MA Humboldt State University
BFA The Savannah College of Art & Design

Courses Taught

Introduction to Sociology and Anthropology
Principles of Social Organization
Globalization, Modernity, and Culture
Racism and Ethnic Relations
Sociology of Work
Environmental Sociology
Social Movements and Society
Quantitative Methods
Climate Change Across the Disciplines

Publications

“Do Black Lives Increasingly Matter?” Contexts 17(1): 90-91. (2018).

“Expansive and Complex Pathways to World Society: The Global Connections of Kenyan Environmental Organizations and Their Support for Climate Change Scripts.”Sociological Perspectives 59(2): 419-440. (2016).

“Rationale of Early Adopters of Fossil Fuel Divestment” International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education 17(4): 506-519. (2016).

“Climate Justice, the Global South, and Policy Preferences of Kenyan Environmental NGOs” The Global South 8(2): 84-100 (2015).

“NGOs: Between Advocacy, Service Provision, and Regulation.” (Lead author, with Tim Bartley and Wade Roberts) in the Oxford Handbook of Governance (Oxford University Press 2012).

“Ferguson and Rapid Response Teaching.”Contexts 14(1): 75. (2015).

“Global Warming” in the Encyclopedia of Globalization (Sage Press 2012).

The Sociology Toolbox blog: https://thesocietypages.org/toolbox/

Ongoing Research

“Reform or Revolution? Variation Within the Climate Change Movement” (in progress)

“Support for Climate Justice Policies Among US Climate Marchers”

“Globalization of Education, the Environment, and Gender Rights among the Maasai in Ugulului region of Kenya.

Selected Conference Presentations and Participation

Presentation. “A Complex Pattern of Global Scripts and Actors” 2013 American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, New York. Globalization Panel.

Presentation.“Teaching Race Through the ASA’s Amicus Brief” 2013 North Central Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Indianapolis. 

Discussant. “Organizations and Activists: Collaboration and Independence” 2013 Midwest Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Chicago. 

Presentation. “Climate Justice, Mistrust of the State, and Its Impact on NGOs in Kenya” 2011 American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Las Vegas.

Presentation. “Does Time Off Matter?: The Effects of Time Off From Academia on the Doctoral Student Experience” 2009 International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISOTL) Annual Conference. Bloomington, IN.

Presentation. “World Society Scripts and the Structuring of Collective Action Frames Among the Diverse Groups Protesting the Beijing Olympics” 2009 American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco.

Additional Teaching Experience

Co-developer and facilitator. Africa Yoga Project’s “Seva Safari”, Kenya (2011-12)
Instructor, Global Routes. Kenya (2007), Tanzania (2008), and Nepal (2009)
Instructor, Adventure Treks (1999-2005)
Instructor, ADPP Child Aid Mozambique (1997-98)

Honors and Awards 

Leiber Associate Instructor Award, Indiana University
Social Action Award, Indiana University
Teaching Innovations and Professional Development Award, Sage/Pine Forge Press
Sutherland Teaching Award, Indiana University
Preparing Future Faculty Fellow, Indiana University

Professional Affiliations

American Sociological Association