Sociologist named fellow of American Society of Criminology

by Jessica Hathaway

Gary F. Jensen, professor of sociology, recently was named a fellow of the American Society of Criminology.

According to the ASC Board, the honorary title of "fellow" recognizes individuals who have made a scholarly contribution to the intellectual life of the discipline. In addition, a fellow must have made a significant contribution to the field through the career development of other criminologists or through organizational activities within the ASC.

"Being named a fellow in the American Society of Criminology, an important inter-disciplinary professional association, is a very high professional honor," said Daniel Cornfield, professor of sociology and chair of the department. "It reflects Gary's life-long, continuing and unswerving commitment to conducting rigorous, theoretically incisive social scientific research on the causes, nature and consequences of crime. We in the sociology department are delighted by the recognition Gary has received for his scholarly accomplishments."

Jensen is the second Vanderbilt faculty member to be made a fellow. Jack P. Gibbs, Centennial Professor of Sociology, emeritus, was the first.

Only 105 fellows have been elected in the history of the American Society of Criminology, which was established in 1958. Its approximately 3,000 members include practitioners, academicians and students in the many fields of criminal justice. This international organization is concerned with embracing scholarly, scientific and professional knowledge concerning the etiology, prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency.