معرفی
Zachary Palmer serves as Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for Gender Studies in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at East Texas A&M University, where he has held academic positions since 2019. Previously known as Texas A&M University-Commerce, the institution renamed in 2023, and Dr. Palmer was promoted from Assistant Professor (2019-2023) to his current role in 2023 while also serving as Graduate Coordinator for Sociology (2021-2023).
His educational background includes:
- Ph.D. in Sociology from Purdue University (2019)
- M.A. in Sociology from Ball State University (2014)
- B.S. in Sociology from Truman State University (2012)
Driven by sociological curiosity about power structures and unconventional social phenomena, Dr. Palmer's research focuses on gender dynamics in non-traditional communities. He investigates how individuals navigate hybrid masculinities in spaces like the Brony fandom (adult male My Little Pony fans), digital gaming environments, and social media platforms. His work bridges micro-level identity negotiation with macro-level social inequality frameworks, emphasizing the 'weird' and 'why' of human behavior through qualitative analysis.
His publication pattern reveals consistent thematic threads across digital platforms: examinations of gender performance in women-dominated spaces (The Sims 4), identity fluidity in niche communities (Brony fandom), and information ecosystems in marginalized online groups (Trans TikTok). These works collectively advance understanding of how digital spaces reshape gender expression and community formation through intersectional lenses.
Dr. Palmer teaches core sociology courses including Introduction to Sociology, Sociology of Gender, Racial and Ethnic Diversity, and Sociological Theory, while maintaining active membership in the American Sociological Association, Sociologists for Women in Society, Southern Sociological Society, and Alpha Kappa Delta.
