Last year, our department hired three professors of teaching. These individuals excel in the classroom and provide outstanding education to Ohio State's undergraduate students. Learn more about two of our professors of teaching below.
Kim M. Lopez, MA
Associate Professor of Teaching
In 2009, I joined the sociology department as a lecturer, teaching The Sociology of Death and Dying. Shortly thereafter I added in several other courses including Social Psychology in Sociological Perspective, Child and Society, Introduction to Sociology, and Medical Sociology to my teaching experience. I grew up as a working-class kid in Newfoundland, Canada, and going to college was not expected of me. However, I was the first in my family to graduate from Grade Twelve, attend college and eventually earn a master’s degree in clinical psychology and specialization in grief therapy. As a kid, I could never have imagined that I would one day become an associate professor of teaching, let alone teach at Ohio State!
These early experiences shaped my perspective, and I see myself reflected in many of my students who are navigating the challenges of higher education. For some, it can be overwhelming and even intimidating, especially if they are first-generation college students. That’s why I strive to create a sense of belonging in my classrooms—a space where students feel supported and encouraged.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of my work is watching students develop their sociological perspective and strengthen their critical thinking skills as they explore the world around them. I am so lucky to teach courses on thanatology and medicine which not only broaden students’ perspectives on these topics but provides opportunities to apply the material to their own lives both personally and professionally. My hope is that they learn about these topics, but also how to live meaningful, fulfilling lives, care for themselves, and support others in their own journeys—through life and even death. I love getting emails from former students saying that what they learned in their sociology courses has made a difference in their lives.
When I’m not teaching, I enjoy dabbling in art, watching silly videos, helping in a community garden, playing with our dog Charlie, and spending time with family, particularly my adult children, Sarina and Anthony. Life is good!
Danielle Schoon, PhD
Assistant Professor of Teaching
My training is in cultural anthropology and my research and publications have been in the areas of migration, performance, and the politics of Roma identity in contemporary Turkey. I was a lecturer at Ohio State from 2015 to 2024, teaching in the Department of Sociology but also in the Departments of Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures, Dance and Political Science, among other departments. I am currently a full-time assistant professor of teaching in sociology and a COIL Fellow in the Office of International Affairs. I love teaching, and I regularly take part in professional development opportunities to enhance my pedagogy. I am an advocate of universal design, active learning and intercultural development, in particular, and I use these methods and tools in my own classes. I have been awarded numerous internal grants from the Office of International Affairs, the Drake Institute and other entities at Ohio State. I was named Outstanding Lecturer in the Department of Sociology in 2021, and my teaching was highlighted by the Office of Distance Education. I'm also deeply invested in community engagement and advocacy. In 2021, I co-organized an interdisciplinary virtual symposium with Prof. Victor Espinosa, “Bringing the Border to Columbus,” funded by the Global Arts + Humanities Discovery Theme and co-sponsored by the Department of Sociology.
Looking ahead, I am thrilled to be developing a section of SOC3200 Sociology of Immigration with a COIL component. COIL stands for Collaborative Online International Learning and involves an online partnership between Ohio State and an international higher education institution. The COIL component of the course will be built around a multi-week collaborative project that works toward achieving equitable participation by all enrolled students from both countries and that culminates in a signature assignment. COIL benefits students by fostering intercultural learning and connecting them to international peers and perspectives on important global issues like immigration. I have led the COIL Learning Community at Ohio State for the last two years, and I taught a COIL course in the Department of Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures last year. I'm excited to bring these experiences to the Department of Sociology!