Jorge Fontdevila

Dr. Jorge Fontdevila is Professor of Sociology at California State University, Fullerton. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Columbia University with dissertation research on HIV risk behaviors in social contexts of masculinity among heroin-involved heterosexual men in Harlem. His extensive research portfolio includes socio-behavioral studies with vulnerable populations affected by HIV/AIDS, ethnographic research on Mexican gay and bisexual immigrant men, and qualitative studies on stigma-related barriers to HIV biomedical interventions among Latino MSM in Orange County.

Education:

• Ph.D. Sociology, Columbia University (2002)
• M.A. Cultural Anthropology, University of Chicago (1990)
• Licenciatura, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona (1988)

His research explores the intersection of language semiotics and social networks to understand risky decision-making mechanisms, with particular focus on health disparities, sexualities, migration, and network theory. Dr. Fontdevila's work consistently demonstrates how linguistic and symbolic systems mediate health behaviors in marginalized communities.

His publications show a consistent focus on HIV/AIDS in vulnerable populations, theoretical examinations of language and social networks, and Latino sexual health. Recent works increasingly incorporate semiotic frameworks and interpretive sociology to examine stigma mechanisms in health contexts.

Teaching: Dr. Fontdevila teaches Social Interaction, Sociology of Sexualities, and graduate seminars including Sociology of Medicine/Health, Sexuality and Society, and Advanced Theories of Social Behavior.