MSU Sociology Professor Emerita awarded the American Sociological Association's Distinguished Professor Award

August 13, 2025

MSU Sociology Professor Emerita Jualynne E. Dodson received the Cox-Johnson-Frazier Award from the American Sociological Association during its August 2025 annual conference in Chicago. 

Born in Florida and having received her graduate training in sociology in California, Dodson has held professorships at institutions including the Union Theological Seminary and the University of Colorado. She is currently professor of sociology emerita at Michigan State University. Dodson first made her mark in the study of religion and the global Black diaspora. She has completed groundbreaking qualitative research on Black religions in Cuba. Her influential books include Sacred Spaces and Religious Traditions in Oriente Cuba (University of New Mexico Press 2008) and Engendering Church: Women, Power, and African Methodism (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers 2002).

Dodson’s scholarship has had a global reach in settings that include China, Japan, Greece, Spain, Argentina, Costa Rica, Brazil, and more. She has been involved in such professional communities the World Council of Churches convening, Board member of the Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora, as well as the International Sociological Association and its Research Committee #22.

Dr. Mary Pattillo, who wrote in support of Dodson’s nomination, observed that she “has devoted her scholarly work to elevating underserved communities and promoting institutional equity, particularly within higher education.”

As the 1998 Founding Director of the African Atlantic Research Team, Dodson has supported more than 75 students from historically marginalized backgrounds at MSU for more than 20 years and supported their pathways to the academic PhD. In 2001, she also received the A. Wade Smith Award for Teaching, Mentoring, and Service from the Association of Black Sociologists.

Princeton University’s Dr. Afe Adogame also wrote “At professional meetings, Prof. Dodson stands out in mentoring early-career scholars and graduate researchers. She often volunteers and participates in providing professional guidance during special sessions for young sociologists’ career trainings and at workshop sessions on research methodology.”

Dr. Carla A. Pfeffer, Chair of the MSU Sociology noted, “Sociology, at its core, is a discipline that challenges structural barriers to broader social inclusion and equity. Dr. Dodson’s life’s work and career have been about chipping away at these barriers, carving out seats at the table, and bringing new generations of scholars into Sociology as experts and leaders. The long and accomplished list of scholars who’ve previously received this award are people who have done the difficult and critical work of building our discipline in ways that better reflect and embody our diverse society—often at great personal cost. The wisdom of these scholars’ voices, expertise, experiences, mentorship, and perspectives are deeply needed in these difficult times. I’m so thrilled to see one of MSU Sociology’s own, Dr. Jualynne Dodson, added to this impressive list of sociological leaders and trailblazers and grateful for her long history of contributions to sociology, our Sociology program, and our department.”