WGSS Professor Mary Thomas is one of the recipients of the 2019 Ronald and Deborah Ratner Distinguished Teaching Award!

The Ratner is an award of up to $20,000 that goes to tenured faculty members within the Division of Arts and Humanities who have shown themselves to engage, motivate, and inspire students. Recognized faculty members are especially noted for impacting and making a difference in their students’ lives, educations, and careers. Up to five awards are given to selected faculty members each year.

Throughout the year, Dr. Thomas teaches courses on juvenile justice, girlhood, and incarceration. For the first time this spring, she is teaching Feminist Perspectives of Incarceration in the US (WGSST 3300.01S). This new service-learning course is an Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program where OSU students visit the Marion Correctional Institution and engage in classwork with incarcerated students. During the semester, the class discusses mass incarceration, racial justice, and engages with feminist analysis. Dr. Thomas is also the current co-chair of the department’s Speakers and Events/Research and Development Committee, which brings department guests to campus for lectures, supports faculty and graduate research, and administers department grant programs.

Thank you for your hard work Dr. Thomas, and congratulations on your achievement!