Brett Zollinger, Ph.D.
Sociology Professor and Chair; Docking Institute of Public Affairs Director
Dr. Zollinger is Professor and Chair of Sociology Programs and Director of the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University. He has taught Sociological Theory, Community Theory and Development, Rural and Urban Sociology, Introduction to Sociology, Methods of Social Research, Survey and Field Research, and Applied Sociology.
He has published in several academic journals including, eJournal of Public Affairs, Rural Sociology, Journal of the Community Development Society, Research in Community Sociology , Economic Development Quarterly, Complimentary Health Practice Review, and the Online Journal of Rural Research and Policy. He also has a book chapter in the edited book, Mad About Wildlife. He received the Rural Sociological Society's Dissertation Award in 1997.
Dr. Zollinger has designed and conducted survey research projects at local, state and regional levels on a wide variety of topics including: public health/wellness awareness, attitudes and behaviors; attitudes toward wildlife management approaches and recreational hunting practices; labor availability; health care needs assessment; housing and city services satisfaction, quality of life; crime and domestic victims' issues; and use of conservation tree plantings. He also conducted dozens of program evaluation studies and organizational and community development strategic planning sessions. One of most notable combined research and strategic planning projects was the statewide 2005 Kansas Prosperity Summit research and planning process on behalf of the Kansas Department of Commerce and five partner state agencies, which culminated in an economic development plan for Kansas issued by Governor Kathleen Sebelius. He has over $2.5 million of applied research and planning funded.
Dr. Zollinger's primary research interests are in the areas of community and economic development, public health/wellness programming, human dimensions of wildlife management, and environment/natural resources sociology. Prior to joining Fort Hays State Universityin 1998, Dr. Zollinger earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from Utah State University and worked in USU's Institute for Social Science Research on Natural Resources. In his spare time he enjoys golfing, hunting, and spending time with his family.