Charles Westerberg

Charles Westerberg is the Brannon-Ballard Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Sociology Department at Beloit College. He has served in multiple roles over his 23-year tenure, including Associate Dean for 10 years, overseeing career development and community engagement initiatives. His research focuses on the criminal justice system and models of undergraduate education. He holds a BA from Beloit College, an MA, and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Key educational background:

• B.A. in Government & Sociology, Beloit College (1990s)
• M.A. Sociology, University of Missouri-Columbia
• PhD Sociology, University of Missouri-Columbia

Research interests include criminal justice systems, social stratification, deviance, and the sociology of sports. He emphasizes how social structures shape individual decisions and constrain/enhance opportunities. His work spans book chapters, journal articles, and encyclopedia contributions, alongside a published book.

Teaching portfolio includes courses like Criminal Justice, Sociology of Deviance, Social Stratification, and Classical Sociological Theory. He prioritizes collaborative research with students, mentoring McNair Scholars, and supervising independent projects during academic terms and summers.

Labs/Teams: None explicitly mentioned, but active in undergraduate education innovation and community-engaged research.