Course Developers and collaborators
Dr. Catherine Jeppsen holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and Demography from Penn State. After teaching in higher ed for over 10 years, Dr. Jeppsen transitioned to applied practice. Dr. Jeppsen specializes in customer experience management at B2B tech companies and is currently working in Global Customer Experience at Microsoft. Before joining Microsoft, Dr. Jeppsen consulted for the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah and the Utah Women and Leadership Project at Utah Valley University and held research and consulting positions at Overstock.com, Qualtrics, and GitHub.https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinejeppsen/
Dr. David Swanson one of the most respected voices in Applied Demography. He has served as Scientific Adviser for the U.S. Census Bureau and is Professor of Sociology at the University of California Riverside. He has published extensively in the area of Applied Demography. His article titled “What is Applied Demography?” is considered a classic in our discipline, and was the first one to define the activities performed by applied demographers. He has given hundreds of presentations before professional associations not only in Demography but also in Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Studies and Sociology. He completed his Ph.D. in Sociology and Population Studies at the University of Hawaii (1985). He has written more than 5 books in the area of Applied Demography and its applications to policy, business, and local projections.
Dr. Matthew Martínez has a Ph.D. in Applied Demography from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an M.A. in Sociology from Baylor University. He has experience in a variety of demographic settings from serving in AmeriCorps VISTA, coordinating Communities in Schools, and as Research Analyst for Baylor University and University of Texas at San Antonio.
He is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences (S4) at Brown University.
Dr. Nathan Frey is an alumni of the Ph.D. Program in Geography at Penn State University. He was a Research Intern for the Climate Institute and has performed analysis in prestigious institutions such as Abt Associates, and Casey Trees. He has taught at Penn State and co-designed the “Coastal Hazards” course. During his time at Penn State he taught for the Geography Department. He is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences (S4) at Brown University.
Dr. Corey Sparks is an alumni of the Ph.D. Program in Anthropology and Demography at Penn State University. He is Associate Professor of Demography at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He has published extensively on the area of residential segregation and the use of spatial statistics to study various topics (segregation, health, mortality, and crime). He has an Adjunct Associate Professor appointment at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA).
Daniel Ramírez-Smith is a PhD Students in Sociology and Demography and a Student Affiliate of the Population Research Institute (PRI).
He developed content for Principles of Demography (APDEM 801) and served as reviewer for Demographic Techniques (SOC 573).
Erik L. Hernandez is a PhD Student in Sociology and Demography and a Student Affiliate of the Population Research Institute (PRI). He developed content for Principles of Demography (APDEM 801).
Dr. Johnelle Spar
ks is an alumni of the Ph.D. program in Rural Sociology and Demographer at Penn State University. She is an Associate Professor of Demography at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She has published extensively on the area of health disparities and other various topics. She developed our Applied Demography and Health course.