Pridemore named UGA Marienthal Professor

University of Georgia faculty member William Pridemore has been named the inaugural Marienthal Professor in Sociology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. The professorship was approved by the Georgia Board of Regents in fall 2024.

Pridemore is currently Franklin Professor and head of the UGA department of sociology in the Franklin College. A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the American Society of Criminology, Pridemore received his PhD in 2000 from the School of Criminal Justice at the University at Albany – SUNY and spent 2003-2004 as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard in the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies. He played a central role in the creation and was a founding Editorial Board member of Annual Review of Criminology, a leading journal in the field. He has been the American Society of Criminology’s liaison to the American Association for the Advancement of Science for over a decade, and helped revive US News & World Report’s ranking of PhD programs in the field of Criminology. 

Pridemore’s main research interests include the impact of social structure and culture on homicide and suicide rates, the role of alcohol in violence and mortality, and the sociology of health and illness. He is especially interested in the role of how economies, markets, and government policies influence these outcomes.

"I am incredibly honored to be named the Marienthal Professor. While I am still relatively new to UGA, already I recognize how lucky I am to be at this great university and to be in and lead such an excellent department of sociology," Pridemore said. "I am thankful to the faculty in our department for being brilliant colleagues, to Dean Stenport and Franklin College for recognizing and supporting my work with the Marienthal Professorship, and most importantly to the generous anonymous donor for the wonderful gift to endow this position."

The professorship was endowed by a longtime supporter of UGA and the Franklin College.

"The field of sociology figures prominently in helping address challenges across every sector and function of society and we are fortunate to have one of the leaders in the field guiding our campus efforts in this expansive discipline," said Anna Stenport, dean of the Franklin College. "Dr. Pridemore's scholarly acumen and administrative skills are complemented by his enthusiasm for learning and warm, collegial spirit. This is a truly-deserved honor."

Image: William Pridemore