I earned my bachelors degree in criminal justice and sociology from the University of Northern Colorado in May 2007. I plan on graduating with my master’s in sociology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the spring of 2009. I will then continue working towards obtaining my PhD here at UNL. My main research and teaching interests are social inequality, with a focus on race/ethnicity, education, family, crime and deviance. In the past I have been a recitation instructor for the Introduction to Sociology course, assisted with the Introduction to Sociology online course, assisted Dr. Hoyt with the Sociology of Crime summer and online course. This summer I will be the Sociology of Crime instructor, which I strongly look forward to. I am currently working on my thesis which utilizes quantitative survey data from the Nebraska Risk and Protective Factor Student Survey (NRPFSS) in 2005. My thesis applies Travis Hirschi’s social control theory as it relates to adolescent alcohol use among middle- and high-school students residing in Nebraska. The goal of this study was to address whether parental attachment and school attachment serve as protective measures against alcohol consumption. This paper demonstrates that an adolescent’s attachment to school and parents does serve as a protective measure against alcohol consumption. I would like to build upon these findings with Dr. Dan Hoyt to examine race/ethnic differences and incorporate a qualitative component. During my free time, I enjoy being around my family and friends, bike riding, working out, reading, and spending time with my dog Jazz. B.A.: University of Northern Colorado Email: ssanchez3@unl.edu |