Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Dr. Monita Hollis Mungo

Education

Ph.D. in Sociology, Wayne State University
M.A. in Dispute Resolution, emphasis in Organizational Behavior, Wayne State Univeristy
B.S. in Business Administration, emphasis on Youth and Human Services, Pepperdine University

Research Interests

I study social inequality in general and racial inequality specifically. All my research highlights some form of social inequality utilizing theoretical foundations to increase public understanding. I use theories from the conflict paradigm to show the individual-level and societal level outcomes of inequality in everyday practices and policies. Additional research interest areas are sociology of education, teaching and learning, and roots of social conflict.

I recognize that ontological and epistemological beliefs influence my research. Moreover, I know that humans created the social structures that act as barriers to hinder or ladders to uplift certain individuals in society. Therefore, humans can change them. It is this perspective that I bring to my research. As a Black woman, I experience our social world through racialized and gendered ways. I was a first-generation college student who attended a private predominantly white religious institution on an academic scholarship but struggled to find academic success. My C+ grade point average made graduate school challenging to enter. These experiences, and many more, have and continually influence what I study, how I study it, and to whom I share the knowledge. 

Current Projects 

* indicates graduate student co-author

• 2023 – 2026   Co-Principal Investigator with Leslie Berhan and Revathy Kumar. “Racial Equity: Pathway to Engineering or the Silent “T” in STEM? Understanding why African American Students Chose Engineering Technology and the Implications of this Choice.” (NSF - $ 707,521)
• Mungo, Monita and Desire Okpattah*. “Black Graduations: A Distinction for Difference” preparing for submission to Journal of Higher Education Management
• Mungo, Monita H. and Desire Okpattah.* “Ain’t Nobody Asked for That: The Consequences of Commodifying Social Identity” preparing for submission to TBD.

Undergraduate Courses Taught

SOC 1010 Introduction to Sociology (online and face-to-face)
SOC 1020 Social Problems (online and face-to-face)
SOC 2660 Race and Ethnic Minorities in the United States
SOC 3270 Social Research Methods
SOC 3290 Social Statistics
SOC 3800 Social Psychology (online and face-to-face)
SOC 4180 Medical Sociology
SOC 4980 Special Topics in Sociology: Medical Sociology in Community Practice

Graduate Courses Taught

SOC 5180 Medical Sociology
SOC 6280 Advanced Social Research Statistics
SOC 6930 Critical Race Theory Seminar
SOC 6930 Race and Racism Seminar