Gail E. Thomas, PhD
Professor of Sociology Soka University
- Aliso Viejo CA
Professor Thomas is a sociology professor who specializes in the analysis of higher education.
Social
Biography
Prior to joining the faculty at SUA, Thomas was Professor of Sociology and Founder and Director of the Race and Ethnic Studies Institute at Texas A&M University. She has also been a Visiting Professor at Harvard University and was Principal Research Scientist at the Center for Social Organization of Schools at John Hopkins University.
Thomas received her BS in Sociology with honors from A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina and her MA and Ph.D. in Sociology with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Thomas is the editor of three books. Her most recent book is Meeting the Challenge of U.S. Race Relations in America, 1990 and Beyond. Her work has been widely published in sociological and educational journals, including the Quarterly, Harvard Education Review, American Education Review Journal, International Journal of Higher Education, and the South African Journal of Higher Education.
Thomas is the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Education Research Association’s “Distinguished Scholars Award,” Texas A & M’s “Outstanding Service Award,” Gustavus Myers Center “Human Rights Book Award,” U.S. Fulbright “Research Award to South Africa,” Bennett College’s “Women Achievement in Higher Education Role Model Award,” and an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities and Arts conferred by Bennett College.
Thomas has served as a consultant for the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, the Southern Education Foundation, the Spencer Foundation and the “Kinte Historical Research Project” which was the basis for the subsequent television production of the late Dr. Alex Haley’s “Roots.”
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
Honorary Doctorate Award
2008
Bennett College
Consortia of Women Doctorates Honoree and Award
2004
Women Making a Difference in Orange County Award
2001
OC Metero
Women's Achievement and Role Model in Higher Education Award
1998
U.S. Fulbright Scholar Award
1996
Best Book Human Rights Award
1996
Gustavus and Myers Center
Education
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Ph.D.
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
M.A.
A & T State University
B.S.
Articles
Alternative Theories, Pedagogy and Education for Fostering Creativity in a Diverse Global World
Open Journal of Social SciencesGail E. Thomas
2016
Fostering creativity and social responsibility in children and youth are essential for more effectively addressing society’s most pressing problems. This article proposes alternative pedagogy and methods for fostering creativity and enhancing teaching and learning for creativity. It emphasizes the importance of connecting the goals of teaching creative education to the broader goal of education for social and global responsibility. Two schools attempting to implement the latter are described.
Social, Contextual and Psychological Correlates of Alcohol and Illegal Drug Use by College and Non College Attending Youth
International Journal for Innovative Education and ResearchGail E. Thomas and Stephanie Kimura
2014
Adolescent and young adult alcohol and illegal drug use and abuse in the U.S. are public health and social problems of epidemic proportions. This study attempts to identify social, contextual and psychological correlates of levels of alcohol and illegal drug use for a local sample of college and non-college youth. Results from regression analyses indicated a significant influence of friends on level of alcohol and marijuana use and on illegal use of prescription and other drugs. Frequency of marijuana use was significantly associated with being male and frequently feeling depressed. In addition, attending a four-year college was positive and significantly related to higher levels of alcohol consumption. Implications for college and university and social policymakers and for future research are discussed.
Black Colleges and College Choice: Characteristics of Students Who Choose HBCUs
The Review of Higher EducationGail E. Thomas and Kassie Freeman
2002
While researchers know a great deal about the experiences of African Americans in different types of higher education institutions (e.g, Allen, 1992; Epps, 1972; Fleming, 1984; Nettles, 1988; Wilson, 1994), curiously less is known about the characteristics of African American students who choose to attend HBCUs. Our intent in this research is to increase researchers' and educators' understanding of African American high school students who choose to attend HBCUs. We examine the characteristics of students who chose to attend HBCUs in the past and compare them with students who are currently choosing to attend HBCUs.
The Role and Activities of American Graduate Schools in Recruiting, Enrolling and Retaining United States Black and Hispanic Students
Educational Testing Service, Princeton NJGail E. Thomas, Toni Clewell, and Willier Pearson
2000
Access to Higher Education: The Importance of Race, Sex, Social Class, and Academic Credentials
The School Review (a.k.a. American Journal of Education)Gail E. Thomas, Karl L. Alexander, and Bruce K. Eckland
1979
The 30 years following World War II represent a period of unprecedented growth in higher education in the United States. Total enrolments climbed from 1,364,000 just before the War (1939) to 8,560,000 in 1974. Much of this increase was initially due to returning veterans furthering their education and, later, to high postwar birth rates.
Participation and Degree Attainment of Black and Hispanic Students in Graduate Education Relative to Other Racial and Ethnic Groups: an update from Office of Civil Rights Data
Harvard Education ReviewGail E. Thomas
1992
In this article, Gail Thomas uses 1988-1989 degree completion data from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights Survey to track the number of Black and Latino students awarded graduate degrees in engineering, mathematics, and science by U.S. institutions of higher education. Her study reveals the severe underrepresentation of Black and Latino students in graduate programs in these fields. Given the changing racial composition of the United States and projected shortages of science and engineering professionals and faculty by the year 2010, Thomas's findings challenge higher education administrators and policymakers to examine and correct the conditions that hinder the participation of U.S.-born minorities in science, mathematics, and engineering graduate programs and professions.
Meeting the Challenge: Race Relations in America: 1990 and Beyond
Taylor and Francis1990
