When Dr. Pamela Anne Quiroz became the new director of the Center for Mexican American Studies in August, she brought to the University of Houston with her the editorial offices of one of the nation’s top generalist journals in the field of sociology.
Quiroz, who is a professor of sociology, currently serves as editor of the academic journal, Social Problems. In that role, one of her responsibilities is to manage the journal’s editorial staff which includes a 28-student member editorial board, 70 faculty advisory editors, and 10 associate editors.
In addition, she works closely with the journal’s assistant and managing editors, roles which now belong to two CLASS students. The Assistant Editor is Hannah Richards, a graduate student in sociology. The Managing Editor, Maira Alvarez, is a graduate student in Hispanic Studies. Both now work out of Quiroz’s sociology office on campus.
“Social Problems being housed at CLASS provides our students with opportunities to acquire a hands-on understanding of the process of research and publication, not to mention professional development,” says Quiroz.
Quiroz was named editor of Social Problems in 2014, making her the first Latina editor of a leading sociology journal. She was initially offered the opportunity to serve as editor for two terms (three years each), but she decided to serve one four year term which concludes in 2018.
The quarterly journal is the official publication of The Society for the Study of Social Problems and covers a variety of topics from race and gender to labor relations to environmental issues and human rights.
“The journal is a nationally recognized and prestigious journal in sociology and it publishes research in other disciplines that focuses on addressing the pressing social problems of our time,” says Quiroz. “Increasingly, our authors, contributors, and advisory board members are highlighted in such national presses as The New York Times, Washington Post and New Yorker.”
According to Quiroz, two of the journal’s associate editors are renowned scholars in the disciplines of sociology, education and social work, Professors David Embrick (Loyola University-Chicago) and Roberto Gonzalez (Harvard University) and each will be presenting a talk here at UH this spring.
“The support of the University of Houston and the high profile of the journal will also increase the profile of the University of Houston. It is a signal of the standing of UH and its faculty,” says Quiroz.
Dr. Quiroz is also the North American Editor of Children's Geographies, an international and interdisciplinary journal that focuses on the intersections of place, space and children, youth and family. Her editorship for this journal also concludes in 2018.