Helen M. Brethauer
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Current Semester Schedule

Dr. Helen Brethauer, an esteemed Associate Professor at Florida A&M University, retired in 2024 after a distinguished academic career.

About Me

Dr. Helen Brethauer is an Associate Professor at Florida A & M University in Tallahassee, FL. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas and her M.A. from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. A cultural sociologist heavily influenced by social psychology, symbolic interaction, stratification, and systems.

Areas of Interest

  • Self-Definitions
  • Effects of Various Social Structures on Individual Behaviors 
  • Culture as a Social System
  • Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences
  • Sexual Harassment

Education

  • Texas Woman’s University • 2008
    Ph.D. in Sociology
  • University of South Florida • 2001
    M.A. in Sociology
  • University of South Florida • 1998 
    B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, Sociology & Social Work 

Work History

  • Associate Professor • 2014 - Present 
    Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL
  • Assistant Professor • 2008 - 2014 
    Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL
  • Adjunct Instructor • 2006 - 2008
    North Central Texas College, Corinth, TX 
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant • 2004 - 2008
    Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX
  • Adjunct Instructor • 2001 - 2003
    University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant • 1999 - 2001
    University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Academic Accomplishments

 
Works in Progress

The Constitution of Sexual Harassment. Paper for submittal to a peer reviewed journal. 

Publications
 

Brethauer, Helen M. and Felecia Dix-Richardson. 2022. “Student Perceptions and Experiences of Note-Taking. “Pp. 116-140 in Experiences and Research on Enhanced Professional Development Through Faculty Learning Communities, edited by R. J. Blankenship, C. Y. Wiltshire. and B. A. Moten. Hershey, PA: IGI Global Publisher.

Brethauer-Gay, Helen. 2012. “Does the Political/Ideological Status of a Nation-State Increase a Personal Sense of Free Choice and Control?” Lincoln Journal of Social and Political Thought. 8(1):47-69.

Cook, Cynthia, Helen Brethauer-Gay, Amitra Hodge-Wall, and Jessica Smart Gullion. 2011.Voices in Sociology: An Introduction to the Core Concepts. San Diego, CA: Cognella.

Brethauer-Gay, Helen. 2011. “The Measurement of Parental Involvement.” The Griot.TheNewsletter of the Association of Black Sociologists. September 2010.

Brethauer-Gay, Helen. 2010. “Effects of Multiple Social Structures on Free Choice and Control in Tanzania and South Africa.” Lincoln Journal of Social and Political Thought. 7(1):30-76.

Brethauer-Gay, Helen. 2009. The Effects of Multiple Social Structures on Individual Attributes
A Cross-National Comparative Analysis. Germany: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller.

Gay, Helen. 2004. "Social Integration and Employees with Disabilities: Their View." Disability Studies Quarterly. 24(1).
http://www.dsq-sds.org/_articles_html/2004/winter/dsq_w04_gay.html

PaPer Presentations

Dix-Richardson, Felecia and Helen Brethauer. 2021. “Holding Students Accountable and Keeping Them Engaged: The Effectiveness of Cognitive Wrappers and Other FCCI Strategies.” Presented as a Brown Bag: Faculty Reflections. The Faculty Development Center of Florida A & M University.

Brethauer-Gay, Helen and Felecia Dix-Richardson. 2021. “The Constitution of Sexual Harassment.” Paper presented at the Southwestern Social Science Association Meeting, April 17, 2021, New Orleans, LA (Virtual).

Brethauer-Gay, Helen and Felecia Dix-Richardson. 2019. “Understanding the Adverse Experiences (ACEs) of Florida Youth: Assessing Educational Values and Employment Success: Delving Deeper.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Southern  Sociological Society. April .10-13. Atlanta, GA.

Schulterbrandt Gragg III, Richard D., Ellen Iverson, Helen Brethauer-Gay, John Warford, Lisa  Gilbert, and Kathryn Sheriff, and Cathy Manduca. 2019. Impact of InTeGrate Teaching  Materials on Student Geoscience Interests, Literacy and Learning Outcomes at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Oral Session Oral Presentation. Earth Educators' Rendezvous. July 15 – 19. University of Tennessee, Nashville. 

Brethauer-Gay, Helen. 2018. Round Table Discussion Leader. Effects of Religious or Spiritual Beliefs on Global Warming and Reactions to It. Earth Educators' Rendezvous. July 16-20. University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. 

Brethauer-Gay, Helen and Felecia Dix-Richardson. 2018. “Understanding the Adverse Experiences (ACEs) of Florida Youth: Assessing Educational Values and Employment  Success.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Social Science Association, October 11-13, Orlando, FL.

Brethauer-Gay, Helen and Karen Hale. 2018. “Determinants of Gun Ownership Revisited.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Social Science Association, October 11-13, Orlando, FL. 

Brethauer-Gay, Helen. 2018. “Religious Ideologies and Environmental Change.” Paper presented at Southern Sociological Society Annual Meeting, April 4-7, New Orleans, LA. 

Felecia Dix-Richardson and Brethauer-Gay, Helen. 2018. “An Evaluation of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Understanding the Adverse Conditions in the Lives of Florida Female Delinquents.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Sociological Association, April 4-7, New Orleans, LA.

Professional Training
  • March 13, 2022 • Credential in Effective College Instruction. The Association of College and University Educators and the American Council on Education
  • Summer 2021 • Florida A & M University Freshman Centric Course Certification Initiative (FCCI).
  • 2020 • Florida A&M Online Teaching Certification Training CITI
    Kognito At Risk for College Students Research for Social and Behavioral Sciences Responsible Conduct of Research Conflict of Interests
  • 2019 •  Florida A&M Write on FAMU Training 
  • June 2018 • Annie E. Casey Foundation, Florida HBCU Expanding the Bench Results Based Accountability (RBA) Faculty Training, Orlando, FL
  • October 2017 •  Participant: Putting Sustainability Into Action Workshop, InTeGrate,  Carleton College, HBCU Geoscience Working Group through FAMU School of the Environment, Florida A&M University. 

 

Awards


scholarships 
  • Teaching Assistantship, Texas Woman’s University • 2004 - 2008
  • Texas Public Education Grant • 2007 - 2008
  • Former Students Association Scholarship • 2005 - 2007
  • Bertha and Morris Levy Endowed Scholarship• 2005 - 2006
  • TWU Academic Scholarship • 2005 - 2006
  • Teaching Assistantship, University of South Florida • 1999 - 2001
  • Society of Women Engineers, Manatee Community College • 1984 - 1985

Courses Taught At FAMU


Traditional Undergraduate
  • Medical Sociology 
  • Stratification and Inequality
  • Social Problems 
  • Sociological Thought 
  • Social Statistics 
  • Sociology of Culture 
  • Social Psychology
  • Inter-group Relations in America
  • Social Change
  • Deviant Behavior 
  • Introduction to Sociology 
  • Aging in America
  • Senior Seminar 
Traditional Graduate
  • Advanced Applied Statistical Research 
  • Social Dimensions and Issues in Health Care
  • Social Foundations of Education  
Online Undergraduate
  • Deviance and Social Control 
  • Aging in America
  • Medical Sociology
  • Senior Studying Portfolio