Natalie Sheets

Natalie Sheets serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology within the College of Arts & Sciences at Appalachian State University. With over 11 years of teaching experience in higher education, she instructs courses including SOC 1100: Social Problems in American Society and SOC 2050: Social Diversity and Inequalities, while representing the university as Western Sociological Representative for the North Carolina Community College Sociology and Psychology Association (NCCCSPA).

She earned her Master’s degree in Sociology from East Tennessee State University, where her thesis research examined the experiences of single mothers and religiosity. Her academic journey reflects a sustained commitment to understanding societal structures through empirical and theoretical lenses.

Her research program centers on the critical intersection of religion and social stratification, extending to broader analyses of social inequality, diversity dynamics, and systemic challenges in American society. She emphasizes cultivating critical thinking skills in students to deconstruct social issues and community life, viewing education as a transformative tool for societal engagement.

Deeply inspired by her role as a mother of two sons, Natalie integrates personal commitment with professional practice to advance student success and educational equity within her teaching philosophy and community involvement.