Meet J.E. Sumerau
Associate Professor, Sociology; Director, Applied Sociology
Preferred Pronouns: they/them
Phone: (813) 257-6321
Email: jsumerau@ut.edu
Address: 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33606
Mailbox: Q
Building:
PH
Room: 216
Education
2008 Augusta State University, B.A.
2010 Florida State University, M.S.
2012 Florida State University, Ph.D.
Courses Taught
Sociology of Sexualities
Sociology of Sports
Medical Sociology
Clinical and Counseling Sociology
Sociology of Gender
Applied Sociology
Career Specialties
J. Sumerau is a social psychologist, teacher and writer focused on meaning systems related to sexualities, gender, health, violence and cultural artifacts (i.e., music, (non)religion, literature, science and sports).
Professional and Community Activities
Sumerau is the director of the applied sociology program at The University of Tampa and an associate professor, teaching courses focused on the application of social sciences and humanities to individual and collective contexts and experiences over time.
Since coming to The University of Tampa in 2012, Sumerau has published over 100 books, peer-reviewed articles and chapters in edited volumes examining meaning systems related to sexualities, gender, health, violence and cultural artifacts. Their latest non-fiction book is an examination of masculinities in society, entitled Violent Manhood.
Alongside such research, Sumerau is the author of seven novels and shorter fictional works and poems in sociological magazines, literary journals and medical humanities outlets. Their latest novel is an award-winning southern gothic epistolary coming of middle age story entitled Transmission.
Honors and Awards
Agent of Change Award. University of Tampa, 2023.
The 2021 George Garrett Fiction Prize for Transmission: A Novel. Texas Review Press, a member of the Texas A&M Consortium, 2022.
American Sociological Association Section for Sexualities Early Career Award. American Sociological Association, 2022.
Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction Early Career Award. Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction, 2020.
Mid-South Sociological Association Sociological Spectrum Article of the Year Award for “Understanding Gender as a Fundamental Cause of Health: Simultaneous Linear Relationships between Gender, Mental Health and Physical Health over time” (with Brittany M. Harder). Mid-South Sociological Association, 2019.
Faculty Volunteer of the Year Award. University of Tampa, 2017.
College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education Outstanding Scholar Award. University of Tampa, 2017.
American Sociological Association Section for Religion Distinguished Article Award for “Contemporary Religion and the Cisgendering of Reality” (with Ryan T. Cragun and Lain A.B. Mathers). American Sociological Association, 2016.
Sociologists for Women in Society South Early Gender Career Scholar Award. Sociologists for Women in Society South, 2016.
Unsung Hero Award. University of Tampa, 2015.