Graduate Students
Luke Blanton
Luke is working towards his master's in Sociology in the applied sociology track.
He joined the program after earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at ETSU. Luke's
academic interests are broad with regard to human behaviors and interactions. His
specific research interests are examining the causes and effects of workplace dysfunction,
investigating the role of religion in mental health, and understanding how emotions
influence perception. His Hip-hop all-time top 3 are MF DOOM, Kendrick Lamar, and
Billy Ray Cyrus.

Jeremy Dubhrós

Jeremy is a Master's candidate in both the Sociology (applied concentration) and Appalachian
Studies programs at ETSU. His focuses are Social Psychology and Cognitive Anthropology,
which he approaches with symbolic interactionist leanings. He has strong interests
in cognitive mapping, cultural evolution, and folklore etiology.
Before ETSU, he earned Honors Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Anthropology and Sociology
from the University of Texas in Arlington, completed specializations in Social Psychology
& Diversity, and became a McNair Scholar. Jeremy's current research focuses on how
culture affects the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, particularly for veteran
populations. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology to continue his research on
the cultural impact on access to mental health services.
Tyrese Grant
Tyrese is pursuing his master's in Sociology via the applied track. His research interests include health and wellness, social issues, and sports psychology. An avid "sneakerhead," he spends his free time tending to and seeking out new additions for his collection. In the future, Tyrese plans on being a Juvenile Social Worker.

Alicia Gwaltney
Alicia is a second-year student from the accelerated Bachelor's to Master's program offered by the Sociology department at ETSU. She is on the applied track and is set to graduate in the Fall of 2022. Her research interests involve non-profits, religion, and LGBT+ issues.
Niki Dolfi-Hall
Niki is a first-year thesis track student. She earned a B.A. in Global Studies with a minor in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies at North Park University in Chicago, IL. She studied abroad in Israel/Palestine to focus on the religious and secular methods and attitudes in the peacemaking process. She is currently researching social perceptions of the discrimination of Atheists and other nontheists. Her areas of interest are religion, pop culture, and politics. She hopes to continue her education and pursue a Ph.D. after graduation. In her free time, she likes to grow plants from around the world, sing alt-rock, cook international foods, and binge-watch tv shows and movies, especially period pieces and sci-fi.

Daniel Martin

Daniel is a graduate student working on his thesis. He is an ETSU employee, husband, and father to three daughters, residing in Johnson City, TN. Dan has worked for Fortune 500 companies in Boston, MA, and has earned bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Clinical Psychology, both from ETSU. His research studies have included distracted learning outcomes, substance use and addiction, and environmental sociology.
Lily Martin
Lily is a second-year student on the applied sociology track. Before joining the program,
she attended UNC Asheville and received a bachelor's degree in Sociology with a minor
in Anthropology. She currently works with the Applied Social Research Lab (ASRL) as
a graduate assistant and greatly enjoys the community-based research through which
she is involved. After earning her master's in sociology, she plans to continue her
education, applying to Dr.PH programs, where she may continue to pursue her research
interests: community health and social determinants of health, underserved and vulnerable
populations, and maternal health & birth work. Supplemental to her doctoral interests,
she would like to become a certified doula, taking a more hands-on approach to maternal
and infant health, deepening and personalizing her engagement with the community.

Abraham Neis-Eldridge
Coming soon.
Heather Osborne
Heather is a first-year grad student, currently pursuing her M.A. in Sociology along
the thesis track. In the Summer of 2021, she earned a B.S. in Psychology with a Minor
in Sociology. Her research interests include Social Psychology, Social Theory, Historical
Sociology, Comparative Sociology, Sociology of Knowledge, and Social Control. In her--admittedly
limited--free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and engaging in discourse on a
Whitman's sampler of topics. Looking toward the future, Heather plans to enter a Ph.D.
program with an eye toward teaching.

Emerson Todd

Emerson is a second-year thesis track student. His interests encompass social psychology, social inequality, community health, and developing research applications to address real-world problems. His thesis research focuses on embodiment and how queer individuals relate to and feel about their bodies. After completing his MA in Sociology from ETSU, Emerson is excited about joining Pennsylvania State University's Ph.D. program in Social Psychology in Fall 2022. His long-range plans are for a career in academia. When he is not on campus, he can be found at home, buried in books alongside his two cats. If you see him out and about, feel free to ask what he's currently reading!