McNair Scholars

Shane Boyd

Shane Boyd is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Mathematics, with minors in Sociology and Philosophy. He anticipates graduating in June of 2013. This is Shane’s third reinvention of himself. In the past he has been a business manager, soldier, and machinist.

Shane’s focus is on locating trends and connections in large social data sets. In particular he is interested in looking at violence in American society at both micro and macro levels. He wants to identify the proximal and ultimate causes of violence and the effects of violence in society. Additional areas of interest to Shane are the role of religion in society and various public policies and their related effects on various segments of the American population.

Shane is a meticulous, detail oriented individual who requires new challenges to occupy his time. He spends his time applying logic and both quantitative and qualitative data analysis to explore social phenomenon. Through years of creating artwork, as well as machining and designing parts, he has developed the abilities of visualizing spatial relations and finding connections.

Shane is a charter member of the newly created Veterans Club at Southern Oregon University. He is facilitating veterans in gaining government benefits and is tutoring veterans in mathematics. For the past four years Shane has been tutoring students in mathematics, philosophy, and sociology at Southern Oregon University and at Rogue Community College.

Shane will excel in graduate school. After earning a Ph.D. he intends to either teach at a research university where he can expand the current body of knowledge in sociology or to work with a private research institute where his research will directly impact social policy. He is intent in contributing to social justice through his career by engaging in research and publishing.

In his free time Shane enjoys creating pastel paintings. Shane is a bibliophile, reading whenever he has the chance. He does not watch television, and divides his free entertainment time between reading non-fiction in physical sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, and social sciences, as well as a mix of fiction for relaxation. He looks forward to the day when he will contribute his own works to the shelves of bookstores and libraries.

Faculty Mentors:
Dr. Shamsul Alam, Associate Professor of Sociology
Dr. Curtis Feist, Asociate Professor of Mathematics

Curriculum Vitae