VITA
Lawrence H. Stern

PRESENT POSITION

Professor of Sociology
Collin College
2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway
Plano, Texas  75074
(972) 881–5608
email: lstern@collin.edu
web page: http://faculty.collin.edu/lstern

EDUCATION

Columbia University, New York, N.Y.

M.A., June, 1975; ABD, June, 1982
Graduate Scholarship, 1980–1981
President's Fellow, 1976–1977

Brooklyn College, City University of New York

B.A. (cum laude), June, 1973

ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT

Full–Time Positions

Collin College	1990–present
Southwest Texas State University	1988–1990
Stephen F. Austin State University	1987–1988
Texas A&M University	1984–1987
College of the Holy Cross	1981–1983

Part–Time Positions

Worcester Polytechnic Institute	1981–1982
Barnard College	1980–1981
New York University	1980–1981
Hunter College (CUNY)	1980–1981
Mercy College	1976–1981
Herbert H. Lehman College (CUNY)	1975–1976

GRANTS AND AWARDS

Mellon Foundation/American Council of Learned Societies Community College Faculty Fellowship, (40K), July, 2021 - December, 2022

Faculty Study Grant (Collin College) of $4,200 awarded, Summer 2012: "Sociology, Social Activism, and the Quest for Objectivity."

Piper Outstanding Professor Nominee, 2007

Professor Larry Stern Scholarship established by the President of Collin County Community College in recognition for engaged scholarship.

Faculty Study Grant (CCCCD) of $2,500 awarded, Spring 2001: "The Reciprocal Relationship of Religion and Society."

National Endowment for the Humanities: $3,000 award to study “The Evolution of the ‘Nature-Nurture’ Debate: The Reciprocal Effects of Science and Society,” Summer, 1995

“Distinguished Paper Award” presented at the Seventieth Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Social Science Association,  “The Reception of ‘Extraordinary Scientific Claims.’” March 1992.

“Outstanding Faculty Award,” Stephen F. Austin State University, 1988.

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS

"The Reception of Extraordinary Scientific Claims: The Search for the Elusive Engram." Pp. 267-290 in Michael Levin and Dany Spencer Adams, eds., Ahead of the Curve: Hidden Breakthroughs in the Biosciences, IOP Publishers, 2016

"The Worm Runner's Digest," The Psychologist, Vol. 6, Part 4, (April 2013), p. 310 - 311

"Psychological Hijinks," APA Monitor, Vol. 44, No. 1 (January 2013), p. 22ff

"The Memory-Transfer Episode," APA Monitor, Vol. 41, No. 6 (June 2010), p. 28ff

"Review of Susan Currell and Christina Cogdell, eds., Popular Eugenics: National Efficiency and American Mass Culture in the 1930s, Journal for the History of the Behavioral Sciences, Vol. XLIV, NO. 3 (Summer 2008), pp. 282-284.

“The Impact of Gunther Stent’s ‘Prematurity Thesis’: Humpty-Dumpty and the Selective Accumulation of Knowledge in Science.” In Ernest B. Hook, ed., The Prematurity in Scientific Discovery: On Resistance and Neglect, University of California Press, 2002.

“Review of Barry Barnes, T.S. Kuhn and Social Science,” Journal for the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 20 (July, 1984): 241–243.

“Review of Seymour H. Mauskopf, ed., The Reception of Unconventional Science,” American Journal of Sociology, 87 (September, 1981): 512–514 .

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS: DISCIPLINARY CONFERENCES

Robert K. Merton: Sociologist, Social Critic, Public Intellectual, and the Ethic of Responsibility," Fiftieth Annual Meeting of Cheiron (The International Society for the History of Behavioral and Social Sciences), University of Akron, June 2018.

"David Krech: Thirty Tantalyzing Months on the Trail of the 'Eidola.'" Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, History of Psychology Division, Orlando, Florida, August 2 - August 5, 2012.

"James V. McConnell and the Rise and Fall of Project Hercules: The Collision of Pedagogical and Entrepreneurial Worlds" (with Barbara Lusk). Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, History of Psychology Division, Washington D.C., August 4 - August 7, 2011.

"The Scotophobin Saga: Georges Ungar and the Search for a Molecular Code for Memory." Forty-Third Annual Meeting of Cheiron (The International Society for the History of Behavioral and Social Sciences), University of Calgary, June 2011.

"'Cooperative Competition' and the Search for Memory Molecules: Sociological Ambivalence Redux." Forty-First Annual Meeting of Cheiron (The International Society for the History of Behavioral and Social Sciences), Pennsylvania State University, June 2009.

"James V. McConnell and Behavior Modification: Hyperbole and Practice." (with Barbara Lusk) Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, History of Psychology Division, Boston, MA, August 17 - August 20, 2008.

"The Search for Memory-Transfer at Berkeley: Controversial Science and the 'Cheshire Cat Affect.'" Fortieth Annual Meeting of Cheiron (The International Society for the History of Behavioral and Social Sciences), Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada , June 26 - June 29, 2008.

"The Memory-Transfer Episode and the 'Phoenix Phenomenon' in Science." Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, History of Psychology Division, San Francisco, CA, August 14 - August 17, 2007.

"The Strange History of the Memory-Transfer Phenonenon in Psychology: Cannibalistic Worms, Professor Burgers, Scotophobin, and the (Not So) Fanatical Fringe." Second Annual Psychology Synergy Conference, October 4 - October 6, 2007.

"James V. McConnell's Advocacy of Memory-Transfer: Juggling Three Different Personae - While Walking a Tightrope - Without a Net." Thirty-Eighth Annual Meeting of Cheiron (The International Society for the History of Behavioral and Social Sciences), Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY, June 29 - July 2, 2006.

 "The Memory-Transfer Episode: Professor Burgers, Scotophobin, and the (Not-so) Fanatical Fringe," Thirty-Seventh Annual Meeting of Cheiron (The International Society for the History of Behavioral and Social Sciences), University of California - Berkeley, California, June 23-26, 2005.

"The Reception of 'Extraordinary Scientific Claims': Georges Ungar, Scotophobin, and the Search for a Molecular Code for Memory," Meetings of the International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Science of Biology, Oaxaca, Mexico, July 1999.

"Surveying the Biological Briar-Patch, Roses, Thorns, Thistles and All: Recent Work on the Biological Aspects of Social Action," Seventy-Fifth Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Social Science Association, March 23 - 25, 1997, New Orleans, Louisiana.

"The ‘Nature-Nurture’ Debate: An Inquiry in the Sociology of Knowledge,"  Seventy-Third Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Social Science Association, March 23 - 25, 1995, Dallas, Texas.

"The Pursuit of 'Extraordinary Scientific Claims,'" Seventieth Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Social Science Association, March 27 - 30, 1992, Austin, Texas.

"The Reception of 'Extraordinary Scientific Claims,'" Sixty–Ninth Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Social Science Association, March 27 - 30, 1991, San Antonio, Texas. (This paper received the “Distinguished Paper Award” at these meetings.)

"Critical Thinking, Creative Disagreement, and Learning to Learn," Remarks delivered at the College of Liberal Arts Award Ceremony, Southwest Texas State University,  April 14, 1989.

"The Reception of Extraordinary Scientific Claims: Lessons Learned from the 'Memory–Transfer Episode,'" 12th Annual Meetings of the Society for Social Studies of Science,  November, 1987.

 "The Reception Process in Science: The Accommodation and Pursuit of a Molecular Code for Memory," Paper presented at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology,  November, 1983.

"The Reception of Unorthodox Claims in Science," Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, September, 1982.

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS: SEMINARS

“Boundary Work: Sociological Issues in the Historical Development of Psychology: Spiritualism & Psychic Research,” Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active in Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, Collin College, Spring, 2014 .

"Sociology, Social Activism, and the Quest for Objectivity." Collin College Faculty Development Conference, January 11, 2013.

"The Reception of Extraordinary Claims in Science: The Memory-Transfer Episode." Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active in Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, CCCCD, February 1, 2007.

"Politics in the Living Room: The Use and Impact of Television in Electoral Politics." Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active in Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, CCCCD, September 14, 2006.

"Apples Falling From Trees, Bad Seeds, and Chips off the Old Blocks: The Depiction of Nature & Nurture in Popular Culture." Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active in Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, CCCCD, January 26, 2006.

"The 'Intelligent Design' Controversy: The Intersection of Institutional Domains: Church, State, Science, and Education." Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active in Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, CCCCD, October 6, 2005.

"The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree (. . . but sometimes it rolls around a little): The Nature - Nurture Debate in Popular Culture." Presentation to Honor’s Institute, Collin County Community College, April 21, 2005.

"The Scientific, Legal, and Social Construction of Race." Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active In Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, CCCCD, January 18, 2005.

"Death in Gaza: Socialization of Hate." Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active In Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, CCCCD, December 3, 2004.

"The Mass Media and Electoral Processes: The 2004 Presidential Debates." Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active In Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, CCCCD, October 14, 2004.

"The Sociology of Knowledge." Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active In Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, CCCCD, February 5, 2004.

"The Affirmative Action Debate: Recent Court Rulings and Concerns," Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active In Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, CCCCD, October 23, 2003

"Biotechnology: Recent Developments and Ethical Quagmires," Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active In Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, CCCCD, October 16, 2003

“Nature & Nurture”: Historical Lessons and Contemporary Concerns,” Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active In Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, CCCCD, March 20, 27, & April 7, 2003

“Accountability in the Public Schools,” Presentation at Seminar for School Administrators sponsored by Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd, & Joplin, P.C., February 7, 2003.

“Cultural Ambivalence: S.C.O.P.E and F.R.A.U.D. in 1950s America,” Visiting Faculty Series, Seniors Active In Learning (S.A.I.L.) program, CCCCD, October 17, 2002

“You May Have a Computer in Your Home Someday: Or, Then Again, You May be Instantly Annihilated,” Presentation to the “Emeritus Program” at Richland College, September 13, 2002

“Science & Law: Ambivalent Suitors and a Shotgun Marriage.” Presentation at the Bench/Bar Foundation of Collin County, Westin Conference Center, Frisco, TX, May 31, 2002.

“Tainted Blood, the Menace of the Feebleminded and Race Suicide: Eugenics in the United States.” Presentation to the “Emeritus Program” at Richland College, February 14, 2002.

“Religion and Politics: A Cross-Cultural Look at Fundamentalisms.” Presentation to Honor’s Institute, Collin County Community College, February 7, 2002.

“The Reciprocal Relationship of Religion and Society,” Presentation at All-Staff Day, Collin County Community College, January 4, 2002.

“Can Science Save the World When Scientists Can't Agree Among Themselves?: Rhetorical Strategies, Creative Disagreement, and Processes of Controversy in the Selective Accumulation of Knowledge.”  Paper presented with Kay Mizell at the “Connections:  Civilization at Risk” Program, March 14 & 15, 1991 at Collin County Community College.

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS: COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS:

"Dialogue on Race: White Privilege and the Color of Fear." Presentation to Leadership McKinney, April 6, 2006

"The Power of One: Ubuntu: A Community Dialogue." Collin College, February 23, 2006

"The Scientific, Legal, and Social Construction of Race." Presentation to Leadership McKinney, April 7, 2005.

"Biomedical Technology: Legal Issues, Ethical Dilemmas, Moral Concerns, and Social Controversy." Presentation to Leadership McKinney, December 2, 2004

"Genderlects in Private and Corporate Settings." Presentation to Leadership McKinney, January 14, 2004.

“The Biomedical Briar-Patch: Roses, Thorns, Thistles & All.” Presentation to Leadership McKinney, December 3, 2003.

“Sociobioethics  in the 21^st Century.” Presentation to Leadership McKinney, December 18,2002.

“Perceptions of Cheating and Cheaters: Absolving the Rich While Demonizing the Poor.” Presentation to the McKinney Chamber of Commerce,  April 16, 2002.

“Patterned Sources of Misperception Between the Sexes: Can We Just Talk?” Presentation to Leadership McKinney, January 9, 2002.

“Biomedical Technology: Letting the Genie Out of the Bottle or Opening Pandora’s Box?” Presentation to Leadership McKinney, November 14, 2001.

“The New Biotechnology: Frankensteins, Frankenfoods, Food for Thought.” Presentation to Leadership McKinney, February 8, 2001.

“Genderlects and Communication Styles in Society.” Presentation to Leadership McKinney, a group of McKinney citizens drawn from the business and social service community that attend monthly seminars to discuss current social issues, November 9, 2000.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Interim Executive Officer, Cheiron, The International Society for the History of Behavioral and Social Sciences 

Associate Editor (Book Reviews), 4SReview, Journal of the Society for Social Studies of Science,1981–1986.        
News Editor, “International News Section,” Scientometrics, 1980–1981.
“Editorial Liaison” between 4S (Society for Social Studies of Science) and PAREX, 1980–1981.

COLLEGE SERVICE (Recent)

Chair, Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2006 - 2013
Co-Administrator, Study Grant Committee, 2005 - present
Chair, Sociology Search Committee, 2005
Chair, Sociology Program Assessment, 2003-2004
Chair, Anthropolgy Search Committee, 2004
Member, Honor's Council, 2000-2005
Member, Study Grant Committee, 2001-2005
Chair, Sociolgy Search Committee, 2000
Coordinator, Sociology Department, 1999-2000