Steve Derné

Steve Derné is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the State University of New York at Geneseo, where he has been a faculty member since 1993. He currently holds the James & Julia Lockhart Endowed Professorship (2023–2026), reflecting his distinguished contributions to teaching and scholarship. He is based in Bailey Hall 243 and teaches core sociology courses including SOCL 240: Sociology of Religion, SOCL 303: Classical Sociological Theory, and SOCL 476: Religious Experiences.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley

His research centers on the sociology of religion, emotion, well-being, and cultural transformation, with a deep regional focus on India, the Himalayas, Burma, and the Pacific Islands. He explores themes of mystic and peak experiences, supernatural encounters, wonder, and wandering, integrating ethnographic insights with sociological theory. His work examines how globalization, media, and modernity reshape identity, gender, and spiritual life, particularly in South Asia.

Derné's recent publications reflect a trajectory from studies of media, masculinity, and class in India toward broader inquiries into well-being and mystical experience. His latest book, Tantra and Technology: Practicing Wonder in Daily Life (2023), signals an evolving interest in transformative practices and the integration of spirituality into everyday life.

Scientific Awards:

• James & Julia Lockhart Endowed Professor (2023–2026)

Derné has advised numerous students, particularly through senior capstone projects in his religious experiences course, though specific advisees are not listed. His curriculum vitae indicates sustained scholarly productivity and engagement with sociological theory and ethnographic research. He maintains regular office hours and continues to contribute actively to the academic life of the department.

While no formal research lab or team is mentioned, his ethnographic fieldwork in India and spiritual explorations suggest a deeply personal and immersive research methodology. His future work is likely to expand on the interplay between technology, tradition, and transcendent experience in contemporary life.