White Papers - College level

Five proposed research strengths for the College of Liberal Arts were developed from white papers submitted by faculty in the college. The college’s ad hoc Research Strengths Advisory Committee reviewed these papers and advised the dean on these strengths. The five strengths include brief descriptions of the specific areas and possible research clusters or combined areas of research interests associated with these strengths. All white papers submitted for this review were categorized as falling into one or more areas and are listed by the name of the submitting faculty and the paper title. Authors of white papers should feel free to seek a different association if they believe that their proposal is more appropriate for another research strength.
View the proposed research strengths

The submitted college white papers are as follows:

Political Violence -

Synergy and collaboration in studying the causes and consequences of political violence, can lead to a nationally visible research program, producing better understanding of and policy solutions for a grand challenge facing our society.
Authors: Quan Li, Ahmer Tarar, Nehemia Geva, Hyeran Jo, Michael Koch, Shuhei Kurizaki, Taehee Whang

Neuroscience and Health -

Developing areas of specialization within Neuroscience to address fundamental health issues.
Authors: Mary W. Meagher, Jim Grau

Evolutionary Ecology in Anthropology -

The field of evolutionary ecology concerns itself with the study of biology, behavior, sociality and ecology from an evolutionary perspective, and has been of growing influence in the field of Anthropology, the social sciences, and the liberal arts community as a whole.
Authors: Jeffrey Winking

Center for the Social and Demographic Study of Disparities -

This white paper is consistent with ongoing discussions at the National Science Foundation (NSF) on the development of Science Technology Centers focusing on the study of disparities.
Authors: Rogelio Saenz

Biological Anthropology -

Biological anthropology is uniquely positioned to inform students about the place of humans in the natural world, including their evolutionary relationship with all other living organisms.
Darryl de Ruiter, Sheela Athreya, Sharon Gursky, Lori Wright

Interdisciplinary Archaeological Research -

Cultural Heritage, in all of its manifestations, is characteristic of anthropological research, and this is especially true for archaeology, the major research strength of Anthropology at Texas A&M University.
Authors: Kevin Crisman, Ted Goebel, Donny L. Hamilton, Michael Waters

Third World Studies -

TAMU has a very strong base in Third World Studies with no fewer than 114 active scholars – 63 of which are in Liberal Arts; this area is critical to key questions in hard sciences, social sciences and the humanities – and has excellent external funding prospects.
Authors: Samuel Cohn

Cultural Computing -

Excellence in technology research enables new understandings of modern human identity, expression, and the heritage we build for the future.
Authors: Jeffrey M. Morris

Information Processing and Human Choice -

Abundance of information does not make us more informed decision makers. The project seeks to establish a multidisciplinary research thrust that focuses on information acquisition and processes as they lead to social and political choices.
Authors: Nehemia Geva

Globalization and Transnational Processes -

The proposed research strength examines the historical development of globalization and the effects of globalization and transnationalism on social life, cultural diversity, economic institutions, political entities, health, and the environment.
Authors: Cynthia Werner, Sara Busdiecker, Nicole Castor, Norbert Dannhaeuser, Tom Green, Neha Vora

Proposed Landmark Area: Diversity and Democracy -

The College of Liberal Arts and RESI are well situated to provide leadership in the Landmark Area of Democracy and Diversity; an area that encompasses the many important opportunities and challenges associated with incorporating many diverse populations within contemporary democratic societies.
Authors: Sarah Gatson, Reuben May, Wendy Leo Moore

Where are the Women? Representation of Historically Under-resprented Groups as a Grand Challenge for Governments and Society -

Lack of representation of diverse groups in policy debates and government, particularly under-representation of the half of society who are women, means a loss of information, ideas, policy preferences and perspectives that would enhance society’s capacity to address policy concerns.
Authors: Michelle Robinson-Taylor, Maria Escober-Lemmon, Sarah Fulton, Judith Baer, Sylvia Manzano, Harvey Tucker, Nikki VanHightower, Ashley Currier, Gina Yannitell Reinhardt, Edwina Dorch

The Study of Texas -

The study of Texas is an intellectually rich field that compliments and adds to the college's research and teaching emphasis upon comparative borders, transnationalism, and diversity.
Authors: Carlos Blanton, Walter Buenger, Armando Alonzo, Lisa Ramos, Glenn Chambers, Walter Kamphoefner

Popular Culture and/as Heritage -

Popular culture is a vehicle for creating, transmitting, and preserving heritage in the transnational economy.
Authors: Kirsten Pullen, Donnalee Dox

Constitutionalism, Law, and Politics -

A proposal to designate Constitutionalism, Law, and Politics as a Signature Research Area in the College of Liberal Arts.
Authors: Judith Baer, Roy Flemming, James Rogers, Joseph Ura

Comparative Border Studies -

In a global society, Border Studies produces knowledge that facilitates encounters between cultures as they come together to forge common goals.
Authors: José Villalobos, Hilaire Kallendorf, Esther Quintana

Practical Wisdom: Knowledge Construction, Management, and Implementation -

The study of practical wisdom addresses how we construct, manage, and implement knowledge to solve social, scientific, political, and environmental problems.
Authors: J. Kevin Barge, Joshua Barbour

Transnational Citizenship and Emerging Economies -

Research in this area of strength address the putatively transnational contours of citizenship that Emerging Market Economies, by shifting the faces and sites of identity and community, produce in and across national borders.
Authors: David Donkor, Nicole Castor

Digital Humanities -

Digital humanities is an interdisciplinary field in which humanists, computer scientists, librarians, new media researchers, and others respond to the “digital transition” (the displacement of print, film, and similar media by digital media).
Authors: Maura Ives, Patrick Burkart, Amy Earhart, Eduardo Urbina

Texas A&M: A Multidisciplinary Center for Excellence in Security Studies -

A white paper proposal for a landmark research program designed to capitalize on Texas A&M’s existing strengths in security issues, and further to make this university a center for international affairs in the twenty-first century.
Authors: Terry Anderson, James G. Bradford, James Burk, Joseph G. Dawson, Jeffrey Engel, Brian McAllister Linn, Jason Parker, Adam Seipp

Preparing for Challenges of the New China -

The College of Liberal Arts is well positioned to lead development of a multi-college research center focused on preparing decision-makers to address a broad range of significant challenges posed by the new China.
Authors: Robert Harmel, Dudley Poston, Li Gan, Randy Kluver, Lu Zheng, Min-Hua Huang, Dongxiao Liu

Organizational Studies for the 21st Century -

Texas A&M University is uniquely situated to advance interdisciplinary research in organizational studies on such questions as how organizations change and innovate, how they respond to a rapidly changing and increasingly global environment, and how they contribute to and help resolve financial and political crises and conflicts.
Authors: Robert Harmel, Harland Prechel

Coping with an Aging Population: Understanding Health Care Markets and Health Care Reform -

This white paper proposes a landmark research program to investigate the theoretical and empirical implications of an aging population on health care markets, government spending, economic growth, generational burdens, and lifecycle behavior.
Authors: Li Gan, Qi Li, Thomas R. Saving

Eurasian and Central and East European Studies at Texas A&M University -

Eurasian and Central and East European Studies are an established and enduring field at Texas A&M University.
David Chroust, Brett Cooke, Olga Cooke, Jonathan Coopersmith, Chester Dunning, Alan Houtchens, Arnold Krammer, Clinton Machann, Alexander Pacek, Roger Reese, Jennifer G. Wollock

The Politics of Representation and Civic Responsibility -

Ethical issues regarding representation and cultural appropriation in an age of globalization are examined by multiple departments within the College.
Authors: Martin Regan

Researching the Americas: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Address the Grand Social Challenges in Our Hemisphere -

The College’s research strength in the study of Latin America, and its ties to the U.S. and Canada, addresses the interrelated global challenges of reducing poverty and spreading liberty and good governance, with a wide range of policy implications.
Authors: Marisa Kellam, Maria Escobar-Lemmon, Sylvia Manzano, Michelle Taylor-Robinson

Causes, Consequences, and Governance/Regulation of Globalization -

A multidisciplinary research program on globalization, based on faculty talents in the college and university, will produce intellectual innovations that help us address many important globalization-related questions of our times.
Quan Li, Patrick Burkart, Heidi Campbell, Maria Escobar-Lemmon, Kishore Gawande, Nehemia Geva, Amy Glass, Hyeran Jo, Harland Prechel, Guy Whitten

Beyond Lawmaking: Legislative Bodies -

Inter‐disciplinary research on legislative bodies (broadly conceived to include elected and non‐elected and democratic and non‐democratic) will advance knowledge about how representation is achieved and how participation can be expanded.
Authors: Maria Escobar-Lemmon, Jon Bond, Sarah Fulton, Gary Halter, Hyeran Jo, Marisa Kellam, Michelle Taylor-Robinson, James R. Rogers, Harvey Tucker

Mental Health and Well-being -

The Department of Psychology proposes that Texas A&M University identify “Mental Health and Well-being” as a Landmark area.
Paul J. Wellman, Les Morey, Heather Lench, David Rosen, Richard L. Street, Mark Fossett, Richard Krieder, Dottie Carmichael

Eliminating Health Disparities: Communication, Policy, and Behavioral Intentions -

As a Liberal Arts Research Strength, “Eliminating Health Disparities” integrates nationally prominent research programs in communication, sociology, and psychology into a coherent and thematic unit tackling social and behavioral contributors to health disparities.
Authors: Richard L. Street, Jr., Mark Fossett, Paul Wellman

Closing the Gaps through Education Policy -

This white paper proposes an innovative research program that will bring (and develop) systematic best practices to the evaluation of K-12 education reform experiments, with a particular focus upon assessment of Texas reforms.
Authors: Li Gan, Timothy Gronberg, Dennis Jansen, Lori Taylor

Diversity and Disparity: Addressing differences to fulfill human potential -

Psychology faculty research on the influence of human diversity on mind and behavior, coupled with theories and research on socioeconomic structures and historical-cultural contexts, can be used to realize the full potential of all people regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or age.
Authors: Gerianne M. Alexander, Mindy Bergman, Rachel Hull

Textual Technologies: Bibliography, Textual Studies, Book History, and Digital Humanities -

Textual technologies builds on the existing research strength at Texas A&M University in an area of fundamental importance, the multidisciplinary study of the physical means by which texts as bearers of our cultural heritage are preserved, understood, and transmitted.
Authors: Craig Kallendorf, J. Lawrence Mitchell, Eduardo Urbina

Post-Classical Classical Studies and the Transmission of Culture -

Post-classical classical studies (PCCS) builds on the existing research strength at Texas A&M University in an area of fundamental importance, the transmission of classical culture from its points of origin to the points where it provided the fundamental base line against which modern culture began to define and redefine itself.
Authors: Federica Ciccolella, Craig Kallendorf

Early Modern Studies and the Origins of Modern Culture -

Early Modern Studies (EMS) builds on the existing research strength at Texas A&M University in an area of fundamental importance, the multidisciplinary study of the roots of our cultural heritage at the earliest point in which the basic issues and attitudes of modernity can be located.
Authors: Craig Kallendorf, Hilaire Kallendorf

Analytical and Positive Psychology, Spirituality, Well-being, and Healing -

Research reveals that hope, spiritual meaning, and the creative expressive arts are healing by decreasing anxiety and depression as well as improving well-being.
Authors: David H. Rosen

Communicating Citizenship in a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Culture -

By illuminating the construction of the “good citizen,” we can bring critical insight and leadership to the negotiation of human relationships in racially and ethnically diverse communities.
Authors: Leroy G. Dorsey

Social Justice -

How to resolve the practical and ethical challenges associated with the allocation of resources both domestically and globally is a major challenge confronting society.
Maria Escobar-Lemmon, Elisabeth Ellis, Michelle M. Taylor-Robinson, James Rogers, Daniel Conway, Colleen Murphy

Landmark Area of Research in Children's Obesity -

This proposal suggests the need for further research into the social, psychological, and economic factors that produce poor eating habits and obesity in children.
Authors: Marisol Perez, Oral Capps, Pam Doughty, Rick Kreider, Karen Kubena, Chanham Lee, Lisako McKyer, Peter Murano, Alex McIntosh

White Paper on Environmental Health -

This white paper deals with not only the effects of environmental factors on human health, but also on the social and other factors involved with how humans deal with their changing environment.
Authors: Kathryn Henderson, Alex McIntosh, Amanda Stronza, John Thomas, Sherry Blame, Gil Rosenthal

Transnational Stages and Places of Performance -

Transnational Theater and Performance reflect the current preoccupation with space and place as Neo-liberal economic policies and discourses of globalization have led in recent years to a hybridization and contagion of cultural, social and economic practices throughout the world.
Authors: Sarah M. Misemer, Hilaire Kallendorf, Donnalee Dox

Environmental Values -

The Environmental Values research initiative would seek solutions to ethical, social, and political problems inextricably linked to global environmental challenges.
Authors: Elisabeth Ellis, Gary Varner, Roger Sansom, Michael LeBuffe, Colleen Murphy, Tom Dunlap, Paolo Gardoni, Tazim Jamal, Amanda Stronza, Wendy Jepson

Gender as Research Strength -

A focus on gender as a category of analysis is a principal strength of the Department of History with 11 faculty actively engaging in the field.
Authors: Julie Blackwelder, Cynthia A. Bouton, Harold C. Livesay, Rebecca Hartkopf Schloss

Border Studies: A White Paper for Interdisciplinary Research in Transnationalism -

The Departments of History and English propose Border Studies, scholarship on global forces that challenge or reinforce boundaries between nations and people in history, society, and culture, as a research strength in Liberal Arts.
Walter Buenger, M. Jimmie Killingsworth

The Promise and Performance of Democratic Governance -

A white-paper proposal for a landmark research program on problems of democratic governance in the 21st century.
Authors: Kim Quaile Hill

Care -

This paper argues for the importance of considering the development and provision of “care” across psychological, sociological, and institutional research contexts.
Authors: Katherine Miller

Research with an Emphasis on the Latino Population - Multidisciplinary research at Texas A&M University with a particular emphasis on the Latino/Hispanic population of Texas and in the U.S. is proposed.
Authors: Edward Murguia

Information and Human Decision-Making -

A white paper for the landmark research area of human decision-making.
Authors: Paul M. Kellstedt, David A.M. Peterson

Quantitative Methods of Social Science -

A white-paper proposal for a landmark research program on statistical methods in the social sciences.
Authors: David A.M. Peterson, Guy Whitten, Marisa Kellam, Quan Li, B. Dan Wood, Paul Kellstedt, Hyeran Jo, Joe Ura, Evan Parker Stephen

The Future of Heritage -

Departments within and across colleges are examining contemporary challenges to and opportunities for the analysis, construction, dissemination, preservation, and uses of heritage, broadly construed.
Authors: Judith Hamera, Alfred Bendixen

Media, Culture, and Change -

The interdisciplinary study of Media, Culture, and Change addresses the interactions of culture, art, and entertainment, industry, law, and technology, communication and audience activity, across social differences, history, and international borders.
Authors: Eric W. Rothenbuhler, Judith Hamera, Anne Morey, Randy Sumpter

Globalization: The Comparative Borders Approach -

Comparative Border Studies is an approach to the study of the past that interrogates shifting boundaries in diverse international and cultural settings with a focus on the ways in which groups create, articulate, enforce, and challenge difference.
Authors: Julie Kirk Blackwelder, Thomas Dunlap, April Hatfield, Harold C. Livesay

Social Dilemmas, Conflict and Risk -

We propose an interdisciplinary research program focusing on solutions to social dilemmas.
Authors: Walter Peacock, Charles Samuelson, Jane Sell, John Van Huyck, Joan Wolf

Embracing Diversity and its Impact on Behavior -

This white paper proposes a landmark research program studying the impact of increased diversity on behavior of small groups of individuals focusing on the Hispanic Population.
Authors: Brit Grosskopf, Rajiv Sarin

Diversity, Disparities, Democray and Public Policy -

White paper proposal for a landmark university research program in racial and ethnic diversity and its linkages to representation, public policy, and policy outcomes.
Authors: Kenneth J. Meier, Sylvia Manzano

Sustaining Civil Societies in an Age of Religious Diversity -

How does the transnational circulation of religions -- mainstream, fundamentalist, radical, new, alternative, indigenous, implicit – affect civil societies, especially new and emerging democracies?
Authors: Donnalee Dox

Modern Global Health Care and the Challenges of Religious Diversity -

The study of religious and spiritual beliefs shows how religion affects people’s responses to health care and provides information that can be used to improve global health initiatives.
Authors: Donnalee Dox

Ethics and Justice in Modern Civil Societies -

Formations of justice and ethics are essential for the maintenance of civil societies and require continual study if global conflicts are to be successfully mediated.
Authors: Donnalee Dox, Marian Eide

The Politics of Global Climate Change -

A white paper proposal for a landmark research program in the politics of global climate change.
Author: B. Dan Wood

Democratic Responsiveness, Leadership, and Accountability -

A white paper proposal for a landmark research program in democratic responsiveness, leadership, and accountability.
Author: B. Dan Wood

Investigation of Diversity as a Research Strength -

A theme cutting across disciplines and colleges at Texas A&M is the investigation of human diversity and its social, public policy, and physical manifestations.
Authors: Nandini Bhattacharya, Sylvia Hoffert, Claire Katz, Anne Morey, Claudia Nelson, Ramona Paetzold, Esther Quintana, Michelle Taylor-Robinson, Joan Wolf

Culture & Social Conflict -

Across a range of units, Texas A&M scholars offer unique insights into the role that culture plays in shaping social conflict.
Authors: Harris M. Berger, Giovanna P. Del Negro, Rola El-Husseini