Martina L. Sharp GrierMartina L. Sharp Grier serves students as an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Stark State College and a Senior Lecturer of Sociology at the University of Akron. She engages with the broader educational and occupational sectors as a certified consutant and curriculum developer with the NAPE Educational Foundation. Martina is a scholar and public speaker with experience as a criminal justice professional, brief therapist, and military veteran. As a researcher, her indigenous, feminist approach centers narrative voicing. She acknowledges that it is important to understand the patterns associated with social phenomenon, but believes it is more important to understand why said patterns exist and what they yield for those who experience them. Martina received her MA and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Akron and her BS in Criminal Justice/Pre-Law from the University of Dayton. Her research and teaching interests spotlight identity formation and performance in both work and educational spaces, group processes, intersectional experiences, and the impact of changing politics on the lives of marginalized individuals. Read More Read Less