Kenneth Sean Chaplin

Kenneth Sean Chaplin serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at John Carroll University, where he teaches foundational and specialized courses including Introduction to Sociology, The Sociology of Sport, and Diversity in Sport Organizations.

His academic credentials include:

• B.A. in Political Science with a minor/certificate in Race and Ethnic Studies from Florida Atlantic University
• M.Ed. in Multicultural Foundations of Education with an emphasis in Ethnic Studies from Florida Atlantic University
• Ph.D. in Sociology with a focus in Race & Ethnicity, Culture, and Education from Texas A&M University

Dr. Chaplin's research employs Grounded Theory ethnography to investigate micro-level social dynamics among collegiate and recreational sports participants, with particular emphasis on racial/ethnic relations, gender constructions, and cultural negotiations within athletic contexts. His dissertation analyzed pickup basketball players' interactions in university recreational facilities, revealing how structural hierarchies and identity formations emerge through everyday sporting practices.

His distinguished recognitions include:

• U.S. Fulbright Scholar Award (2018-2019) for a $45,000 residential fellowship at The University of West Indies
• Faculty-Student Organizational Advisor of the Year Award (2018) from Black Students in Action

Through significant grant-funded initiatives and sustained student organization mentorship, Dr. Chaplin has established robust community-academic partnerships focused on racial justice and inclusive pedagogy, particularly through his Fulbright fellowship in Trinidad & Tobago and co-advisement of both Black Students in Action and the Latin American Student Association.