The search for a full-time professor of sociology is under way as the Baker University Department of Social Sciences has sifted through applications and moved on to interviewing candidates on campus.

“The sociology position is to replace (former professor Robert Miller) who retired after 35 years,” Timothy Buzzell, associate professor of sociology and chair of the search committee, said. “The process is the department appoints a committee, and what we do is collect applications, … and then we review those applications and rank candidates based on what we see as their fit to what we’re looking for.”

Buzzell said the committee, consisting of three professors and one student, is in the middle of a three-week process looking for candidates capable of teaching in the field of gender studies, social inequality, race and research methods.

“It’s exciting because it’s a chance for us to bring some ideas to the curriculum,” he said. “Some people who might make some contributions to our growing department and add some enthusiasm.”

Junior Stefanie Lindsay, a sociology major and the student on the search committe, said she enjoys bringing a student perspective to the search and the opportunity to seek professors capable of engaging students in classes.

“For me, the biggest part is that the person is relatable,” she said. “One of the things, because Baker’s such a small school, I really like the idea that I can just stop by any professor’s office and talk to them if I have a question about an assignment or really anything.”

Bruce Anderson, associate professor of political science and a member of the search committee, said the department is looking for someone who with added depth.

“This is somebody who should be bringing something to the table that we can’t currently offer,” he said. “We’re not just looking for somebody to come in here and do a job; they’ve got to be somebody pretty special.”

The candidate chosen will start teaching in August 2007.