Darrell Steffensmeier, professor of sociology and criminology at Penn State, was recently named Liberal Arts Research Professor for his outstanding scholarship, teaching, and service over the years.
Liberal Arts Research Professors are appointed by the dean in the College of Liberal Arts to recognize outstanding scholars and teachers. They are outstanding leaders in their fields of scholarship and creative activity, have sustained a record of excellence in teaching, and are leaders in their departments.
Steffensmeier received his bachelor of arts degrees in philosophy and history from St. Ambrose College, and his master of arts degree and Ph.D in sociology from the University of Iowa. He has been a faculty member at Penn State since 1976.
Steffensmeier’s research focus is understanding how stratification and culture impact level of crime and social control efforts. He has published widely across multiple areas of criminology and criminal justice, and two of his books have won major awards for outstanding scholarship. He is a fellow of American Society of Criminology and past President of the International Association for Study of Organized Crime. Steffensmeier recently received a major three-year grant from the National Institute of Justice to study the causes of serious forms of white-collar corporate financial crime.