Roscoe Scarborough

Roscoe Scarborough serves as Chair of the Department of Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Sociology at the College of Coastal Georgia. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Virginia in 2015, following an M.A. from the same institution in 2009 and a B.S. in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University in 2007. His academic journey includes positions as Graduate Instructor at the University of Virginia (2011-2015), Visiting Assistant Professor at Franklin & Marshall College (2015-2018), Assistant Professor at College of Coastal Georgia (2018-2022), and promotion to Associate Professor (2022-present) with subsequent appointment as Department Chair (2023-present).

Dr. Scarborough's research focuses on culture and inequality, with specific attention to media, public sociology, and theoretical frameworks. His work examines how people consume 'bad TV,' the status systems of musicians, belonging and inequality in the fire service, and the experiences of contingent faculty in higher education. As an associate scholar of the Reg Murphy Center, he regularly contributes to the 'From the Murphy Center' column in The Brunswick News, addressing contemporary social issues.

His scholarly publications reveal consistent engagement with cultural sociology, particularly examining how institutional contexts shape behavior and identity. Recent work like 'The Nonperson Treatment in Higher Education' demonstrates his commitment to addressing structural inequalities within academic institutions, while his fire service research shows how institutional cultures can mitigate individual biases. His publications span high-impact sociology journals including Sociological Forum, Sociological Inquiry, and Poetics.

• The Nonperson Treatment in Higher Education: The Case of Contingent Faculty (2024)
• Negotiating Masculinity in the Fire Service (2023)
• Risk a Lot to Save a Lot: How Firefighters Decide Whose Life Matters (2017)
• Making It in a Cover Music Scene (2017)

As Department Chair, Dr. Scarborough oversees curriculum development and faculty mentorship while maintaining an active research agenda. His public sociology work through The Brunswick News demonstrates his commitment to translating academic insights for broader audiences, addressing topics ranging from crime perception to mental health trends. His teaching portfolio includes foundational sociology courses like Introduction to Sociology and Introduction to Social Problems, reflecting his dedication to undergraduate education.