Diane Sabenacio Nititham

Diane Sabenacio Nititham serves as Professor of Sociology and Sociology Program Director at Murray State University, where she teaches courses including Introduction to Sociology, Popular Culture, Sociology of Education, Migration, and Inequality. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Sociology from University College Dublin, Ireland, an MA with distinction in Social and Cultural Foundations in Education, and a BA in Communication from DePaul University.

Dr. Nititham's research focuses on diaspora, transnational social practices, and notions of home and belonging, particularly examining how these dynamics manifest for people within asymmetrical power relations and social policies. Her work employs feminist critiques of home and belonging while exploring critical pedagogy and social justice in education. She has conducted extensive research on Filipina migrants in Ireland, examining how they navigate identity, cultural practices, and community building across national boundaries.

Her publication portfolio reveals a consistent focus on migration, identity, and transnational communities, with recent work expanding into digital communities during the pandemic, academic labor conditions, and the intersection of fan culture with identity formation. Her scholarship bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in education and community engagement.

• MSU Emerging Scholar Award (2017)
• Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award (2021)

As Sociology Program Director, Dr. Nititham oversees curriculum development and academic advising while maintaining active research collaborations. She has participated in comparative projects examining the integration of Nigerian, Lithuanian, Indian and Chinese communities in Ireland through a 16-person interdisciplinary team. Her international perspective is further demonstrated through teaching courses in Dublin for Murray State's Education Abroad programs, connecting classroom learning with global contexts.