Compiled by Katrina Hageman, junior in agricultural communication
Shawn Dorius is a professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
What influenced your decision to work at Iowa State?
The Land Grant Mission sets Iowa State apart from all the public and private institutions of higher education in Iowa. That mission empowers Iowa State’s scientists and educators to address practical problems, work with communities and serve the needs of the working class and the public. Iowa State does a great job on this front, bringing tremendous value to the state and its citizens, which was a real draw for me.
What is your favorite class to teach and why?
I teach a social demography course that introduces students to the dynamics of human populations, including human reproduction, morbidity, and mortality. I use a team-based pedagogy, which has students working in small groups throughout the semester to learn and apply demographic theories, concepts, and methods to U.S. and international demographic problems. Students learn a lot about population science, but they also learn about themselves and their classmates, often making new friends along the way.
What are your hobbies outside of work?
I enjoy activities that get me outside like fly fishing, skiing, biking and hiking. Spring on the water in my canoe or sunset on a paddleboard at Ada Hayden during the dog days of summer is always a good time.
What are you currently reading or listening to for fun?
I’m reading Polio: An American Story by David Oshinsky, and The Optimist: A Case for the Fly Fishing Life, by David Coggins. Polio is a fantastic American success story about one of the great scientific accomplishments of the 20th century. It’s a reminder that progress isn’t linear, despite some theories to the contrary. Fly fishing novelists like Coggins have a knack for finding universal truths in something as odd as standing in a river waving a stick while being devoured by mosquitos. I’m convinced that almost any problem in the world has its answer and parallel in a clean, cold creek full of brook trout.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Seeing students grow, develop new skills, and move closer to their life goals is great. Conducting impactful research, applying new methods, researching designs to real-world problems and chasing discovery are all rewarding aspects of my job. Moving from problem to solution through a process of scientific discovery never gets old.