Chad Richardson
Professor of Sociology

Dr. Chad Richardson is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Borderlands Research Center at the University of Texas-Pan American.  He received his Ph.D. in sociology in 1975 from the University of Texas at Austin.  His specialties in sociology include Organizational Behavior, Sociology of Education, Social Inequality, Research Methods, and Populations of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.  In addition to his position as full professor at the University of Texas-Pan American, he has taught short courses on organizational behavior, human resource management, and research methods in Mexico, Bolivia, Spain, Chile, France and Central America (mostly as adjunct professor for Monterrey Tech).  In addition he has presented training to Wal-Mart executives and managers, preparatory to their opening stores in Mexico.
     Dr. Richardson has worked extensively as a consultant/trainer for a wide variety of community  and professional organizations.  He has conducted evaluations and training for Early Head Start in Texas and New Mexico, has done training and text development for Texas Tech University (Institute for Child and Family Studies), has served on a state-wide environmental needs assessment panel (State of Texas Environmental Priorities Project, 1995) and helped conduct a needs analysis for family planning for maquiladora workers (San Diego State University and Pew Charitable Trusts).  He has conducted evaluation research projects for the Levi-Strauss Foundation (Summer 2002), the Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone, and the Community Action Corporation of South Texas.  In addition, he has worked with grassroots community organizations, including BARCA (Border Association for Refugees and Colonia Advocacy Executive Committee) and Border Region Youth Soccer Association (organizer and first president).   His publications include the book, Batos, Bolillos, Pochos, and Pelados: Class and Culture on the South Texas Border (University of Texas Press, 1999), an introductory sociology text (Using sociology: A bicultural and Binational Approach (Harper Collins Custom Books, 1995), and several journal articles and chapters in published books.
     Dr. Richardson is currently finalizing a co-authored book on Leadership in Early Childhood Organizations.   He is also finalizing a follow-up book to the Batos Volume on crime and other social issues on the South Texas border.  The latter book has been contracted by the University of Texas Press and presents work from several research projects of the U. S. – Mexico borderlands, including cultural practices of Mexican-origin residents of Texas, displaced manufacturing workers in South Texas (CBEST sponsored), undocumented workers, immigration agents, border auto theft, drug smuggling, Mexican border jails and prisons, and Hispanic dropouts.  His most recent research (still underway) is an ethnographic analysis of the impact of the USVisit program (CBEST sponsored).

Tel. (956) 381-2377
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