Deborah M. Merrill '84

Major: Sociology

M.A., Brown University, 1988

Ph.D., Brown University, 1991

Where do you live and work? I live in Sutton, MA which is just south of Worcester. I moved to the Worcester area 11 years ago so that I could teach at Clark University. I chose Sutton because I like living in the country and because it is an easier commute for my husband who works in the Boston area.

What is your occupation? I am an Associate Professor of Sociology and the Associate Dean of the College at Clark University. I chose to teach sociology rather than be a researcher because I wanted to provide the kind of mentoring that I had received at Bowdoin. Clark seemed like the sort of university that would support this and where I could also have a research career (my areas of specialization are gerontology, medicine, and demography). Two years ago I became the Associate Dean of the College. This career move seemed like a good opportunity to have a direct impact on the undergraduate curriculum.

What did you do immediately after graduating from Bowdoin? After graduation from Bowdoin, I went to Indiana University for one year where I was in a Master's in Public Administration program. IU has a very good program, but I wanted something more intellectually challenging. So I took a year off and got a job working at The RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, CA. I worked as a survey analyst and research assistant. I really enjoyed what I was doing, but I knew that I would need an advanced degree to oversee my own research. I was interested in Demography, so I went to Brown University which has a terrific Population Studies and Training Center.

What has been your most worthwhile professional experience? My most worthwhile professional experiences are when I can help students. I have been able to assist students who might otherwise have quit school by, for example, helping them to find a program or career goal that could help them to stay focused. I have also been able to make things a little easier for students who have been struggling and to challenge our very best students. I have received awards for my research, but nothing means as much as a "thank you" from a student.

What are the one or two events, courses or people that stand out in your mind from your time at Bowdoin? Please explain. Professors Craig McEwen and Liliane Floge were my mentors at Bowdoin. They helped me immeasurably by teaching me about social science research and helping me with my writing. They have been role models for the kind of professor that I have tried to be.

Has studying sociology or anthropology impacted your perspective (personally, professionally or other)? If so, how? Sociology certainly changed my life, so much so that I went on to study it in graduate school. It helped me to make sense of the world around me and the events in my life. It gives me something to think about and to challenge by mind.

Is there a piece of advice you wish someone had offered you while still an undergraduate student in Brunswick? If so, what is this piece of advice? Most of the courses that I took were in the social sciences. I wish that I had taken more art history, music, math, and chemistry. I would encourage anyone to take a wide range of subjects because they might not have another chance to do so.