Dr. Benjamin Waddell

Dr. Benjamin Waddell
Professor & Chair of Sociology & Human Services

Areas of Expertise

  • International migration
  • Poverty and inequality
  • Crime
  • Race and ethnicity
  • Research methods

Education

  • 2013    Ph.D., Sociology, University of New Mexico
  • 2009    M.A., Latin American Studies, University of New Mexico
  • 2005    B.A., International Relations, University of Colorado

Contact:

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Media Contact

Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.


About Dr. Benjamin Waddell

In the classroom, I aim to spur innovative thinking. To this end, I am a firm believer in active learning and community-based experiences. As an educator, I have facilitated community-based learning experiences in the US, and Latin America. I have also taught a wide range of courses, including poverty and inequality, social problems, and international migration. In each of my classes I incorporate a regional focus on the borderlands and Latin America. 

My research focuses on the intersection of international migration with development and crime in Latin America and the United States. I currently have two main research projects. The first addresses the social, cultural, and economic effects of international migration and crime on migrant-sending regions in Mexico. The second analyzes the impact of return migration on criminal activity in contemporary Latin American society. Together, these projects have aided me in thinking about the relationship between economic inequality and crime in the 21st century.


Publications

Waddell, B.J. (2018). “Emigration, Violence, and Human Rights Violations in Modern Mexico,” forthcoming. (University of Pennsylvania Press.) 

Waddell, B.J. (2017). “The Remittance Landscape in Context.” Journal of American Ethnic History, forthcoming.

Waddell, B.J. (2017). “A Review of Migrating into Financial Markets.” Contemporary Sociology, 46(6).

Waddell, B.J. (2015). “Remittance-led Development: An Untapped Resource for International Development?” Sociology of Development, 1(4), Winter 2015.

Waddell, B.J. and Matías Fontenla. (2015) “The Mexican Dream? The Effect of Return Migrants on Hometown Development.” The Social Science Journal.

Waddell, B.J. (2015). “Old Habits Die Hard: Political Patronage and Remittance-led Development in Guanajuato, Mexico.” Latin American Research Review, 50(1). 

Waddell, B.J. (2014). “Remitting Democracy? The Role of Migrant Remittances in Promoting Social and Political Change in Guanajuato, Mexico.” Journal of Community Positive Practices, XIV(1).


Presentations and conferences

Latin American Studies Association, “Latin American Studies in a Globalized World.” Barcelona, Spain. May 23-26, 2018. Presented article. 

Seminar on Emigration and Violence. El Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios de la Salud. Managua, Nicaragua. September 2, 2017. 

111th Annual American Sociological Association (ASA) Meeting, “Rethinking Social Movements.” Seattle, WA. August 20-23, 2016. Presented article.

Seminario Permanente De Investigación Sobre Dessarrollo Regional y Género, held at La Universidad de Guanajuato, Salvatierra, Mexico, June 5-8, 2016. Presented article. 

63rd Annual Conference of the Rocky Mountain Council for Latin American    Studies held in Santa Fe, NM. Wednesday, March 30-April 2, 2016. Presented article.

New England Council of Latin American Studies (NECLAS). Boston, MA November 6-8, 2015. Presented article. 

CIDE, “Human Rights in Mexico: Crisis and Opportunity.” Minneapolis, Minnesota. October 29-30, 2015. Presented article. 

110th Annual American Sociological Association (ASA) Meeting, “Sexualities in the Social World.” Chicago, IL August 22-25, 2015. Presented article.

Keynote speaker, Convocation, Adams State University. Friday, August 21st at Richardson Auditorium. 

62nd Annual Conference of the Rocky Mountain Council for Latin American    Studies held in Tucson, AZ. Wednesday, April 8-11, 2015. Presented article.

Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. Boise, ID April 9-11, 2015. Presented article.

Colorado Shared Governance Conference. Durango, CO September 5, 2014. Attended. 

109th Annual American Sociological Association (ASA) Meeting, “Hard Times.” San Francisco, CA August 16-19, 2014. Presented article. 

Keynote Speaker, Latin American Studies Graduation Ceremony. Friday, May 16th, 2014 at UNM Hibbens Center. 

56th Annual Conference of the Western Social Science Association (WSSA) held in Albuquerque, NM. Wednesday, April 2nd, through Sunday April 6th, 2014. 
    Presented article: “Remitting Change: The Role of Return Migrants in Hometown Development in Central Mexico.” 

61st Annual Conference of the Rocky Mountain Council for Latin American    Studies held in Durango, CO. Wednesday, April 2nd, through     Saturday April 5th, 2014. Presented article: “The Effect of Migrant Remittances on Voting Trends in Michoacán, Mexico.”
    Presented article: “Fiscal Decentralization and Participatory Governance: The case of Mexico's 3x1 Program.”

8th Annual Western Slope Undergraduate Sociology Conference. Grand Junction, Colorado March 8th and 9th, 2014. 

108th Annual American Sociological Association (ASA) Meeting, “Interrogating Inequality.” NYC, NY August 10-13, 2013. Presented article. 

Faculty Series Lecture, Adams State University, “Controlling “Illegal” Immigration: An Economic Development Approach.” Alamosa, CO May 1st, 2013. 

7th Annual Western Slope Undergraduate Sociology Conference. Alamosa, Colorado March 29th and 30th, 2013. 

60th Annual Conference of the Rocky Mountain Council for Latin American    Studies held in Santa Fe, NM, Wednesday, April 3rd - Saturday April 6th, 2013.
    Presented article: "Remitting Democracy? The Role of Migrants in Driving Political Change in Guanajuato, Mexico."

University of New Mexico Paper Series; Department of Sociology, ""Remittance-led Development in Guanajuato, Mexico."" Friday, August 31st. 

107th Annual American Sociological Association (ASA) Meeting, “Real Utopias.” Denver, Colorado August 17-20, 2012. Presented article. 

6th Annual Western Slope Undergraduate Sociology Conference. Grand Junction, Colorado April 13th, 14th and 15th, 2012. 

59th Annual Conference of the Rocky Mountain Council for Latin American Studies held in Park City, Utah, Wednesday, March 28th - Sunday, April 1, 2012.
    Presented article: "The Political Economy of Remittance-Led Development in Guanajuato, Mexico."

1st Annual Immigration Conference, held in Las Vegas, NM, Friday, Sep. 30th - Sunday, October 2nd, 2011. Attended. 

106th Annual American Sociological Association (ASA) Meeting, “Social Conflict: Multiple Dimensions and Arenas.” Las Vegas, Nevada August 20-23, 2011. Presented article.

5th Annual Western Slope Undergraduate Sociology Conference. Gunnison, Colorado April 22nd and 23rd, 2011. 

University of New Mexico Paper Series; Department of Sociology, ""The Role of Women in Mexican Hometown Associations."" Friday, November 19, 2010. 

60th Annual Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) Conference, "Social Justice Work" on August 13-15, 2010, held at The Sheraton Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, GA.  
    Presented article: "The Deconstruction of Hegemonic Patriarchy: Mapping Out the Role of Women in Mexican Hometown Associations."

57th Annual Conference of the Rocky Mountain Council for Latin American Studies held in Boulder, Colorado, Wednesday, April 7 - Sunday, April 11, 2010.
    Presented article: "Urban fractures: The Practice of "Othering" in San José, Costa Rica."

 


In the news

 


Grants and awards

2016 | UNM, Dissertation of the Year. The nomination process works on a three-year cycle. My dissertation, completed in 2013, competed with Social Science nominations from the last three years. $2,500

2015 | Southern Colorado Film Festival, Best of Colorado Award for ethnographic video, Voices of the Valle. 

2015 | ASU Keynote speaker, Convocation, Adams State University. $1,000

2014 | ASU Presidential Teacher Award (Teacher of the Year, 2014-2015). $1,500

2014 | ASU Excellence in Student Centered Instruction. (Nominee, 2014) 

2014 | Keynote Speaker, Latin American Studies Graduation Ceremony. 

2013 | UNM, Dissertation Defense. (Pass with distinction) 

2018 | School for International Training (Travel Grant). $2,500

2016 | ASU Faculty Travel Support (Travel Grant); Department of Sociology, Adams State College. $1,000

2016 | Ethnographic Research Grant: BLM $65,000

2016 | Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, Research Grant. $15,000

2015 | Invited Speaker. “Human Rights in Mexico: Crisis and Opportunity.” Minneapolis, Minnesota. October 29-30, 2015. $1,500

2015 | ASU Faculty Travel Support (Travel Grant); Department of Sociology, Adams State College. $1000

2015 | Keynote Speaker, Adams State University Convocation Speaker. Friday, August 21 at Richardson Auditorium. $1000

2015 | ASU Faculty Travel Support (Travel Grant); Department of Sociology, Adams State College. $1000

2015 | UNM Office of Provost (Study Abroad Award for co-led exchange program, "Sustainable Development in Nicaragua"; funding sought with Dr. Matías Fontenla. $13,500

2015 | UNM Latin American and Iberian Institute (Grant to Set up Travel Abroad Program to Cuba); funding sought with Dr. Matías Fontenla. $7,500

2014 | ASU Faculty Travel Support (Travel Grant); Department of Sociology, Adams State College. $1000

2014 | Ethnographic Research Grant: BLM $30,000

2014 | Title V Student Engagement Grant. $30,000

2014 | ASU Presidential Teacher Award (Teacher of the Year, 2014-2015). $1,500

2014 | ASU Faculty Travel Support (Travel Grant); Department of Sociology, Adams State College. $1000

2014 | UNM Office of Provost (Study Abroad Award for co-led exchange program, "Sustainable Development in Nicaragua"; funding sought with Dr. Matías Fontenla. $13,000 

2013 | ASU Faculty Travel Support (Travel Grant); Department of Sociology, Adams State College. $1000

2013 | ASU Faculty Travel Support (Travel Grant); Department of Sociology, Adams State College. $1000

2013 | UNM Office of Provost (Study Abroad Award for co-led exchange program, "Sustainable Development in Nicaragua"; funding sought with Dr. Matías Fontenla. $17,000 

2012 | ASU Faculty Development Fund (Travel Grant); Department of Sociology, Adams State College. $750

2012 | ASC Faculty Travel Support (Travel Grant); Department of Sociology, Adams State College. $1000

2012 | UNM Office of Provost (Study Abroad Award for co-led exchange program, "Sustainable Development in Nicaragua"; funding sought with Dr. Matías Fontenla. $12,000 

2011 | ASC Faculty Development Fund (Travel Grant); Department of Sociology, Adams State College. $500

2011 | ASC Faculty Development Fund (Travel Grant); Department of Sociology, Adams State College. $1000

2011 | Latin American and Iberian Institute Study Abroad Grant for co-led exchange program, "Sustainable Development in Nicaragua”; funding sought with Dr. Matias Fontenla. $7,500 

2011 | UNM Office of Provost (Study Abroad Award for co-led exchange program, "Sustainable Development in Nicaragua"; funding sought with Dr. Matías Fontenla. $10,000

2010 | Fulbright Scholar (Garcia Robles Fulbright, Semester Mobility Grant). $8,000

2010 | UNM Office of Provost (Study Abroad Award for co-led exchange program, "Sustainable Development in Nicaragua"; funding sought with Dr. Matias Fontenla. $10,000

2009 | Korzeniewicz Endowment Fund (Travel Grant); Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico. $500

2009-2010 | TAship/GAship Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico. 

2007-2010 | TAship Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of New Mexico. 

2006 | University of New Mexico, Office of Graduate Studies 3% Scholars Award. $2,000

2004 | School for International Training (SIT), Study Abroad Grant. $2,000

2004 | Benjamin Gilman Grant, International Scholarship Program—U.S. Department of State. $5,000

Boards and committees


  • Human Resources comm. (SIT), LA rep.: 2017-2018
  • Faculty Senate (ASU), vice-president: 2015-2016
  • Faculty Senate (ASU), senator: 2015-2016
  • Counseling Education Retention Comm., member: 2015
  • Sociology Retention Comm., member: 2015
  • English Search Comm. (ASU), member: 2015 
  • Sociology Search Comm. (ASU), member: 2013
  • Library Search Comm., member (ASU): 2014
  • Summer Salary Comm., member and chair (ASU): 2013-2014
  • Title V Steering Comm., member (ASU): 2014-2015

Community outreach

  • Center for Restorative Programs (Alamosa, CO): 2014-2017
  • Immigration Resource Center (Alamosa,CO): 2011-2014 
  • Peace and Justice Center (Albuquerque, NM): 2007-2010
  • Intercambio (Boulder, CO): 2003-2005