Part-Time Spotlight: McCoy Dodsworth, Sociology

McCoy Elizabeth Dodsworth is a sociologist, educator, mother and volunteer.

On faculty at Napa Valley College for 2 years now, McCoy loves her work with our awesome NVC students. She employs active learning to engage rookie social scientists, communicate warmth, and set high expectations. This work includes adept adaptation (ahem) of course material to various formats including online, in-person, and accelerated courses. She teaches Introduction to Sociology, Sex & Gender, and Social Problems. Previously, McCoy worked on an NIH funded follow-up study that investigated how women living long term with HIV/AIDS made reproductive choices. In addition to NVC, McCoy consults as a design researcher seeking to understand how employees navigate complex power dynamics. This research informs trainings that integrate the social science on presence with scene work on the performance of power.

Native to Arizona, McCoy was raised by quasi-Marxist, eco-Christian vegetarians. She resides in Marin County with her husband and two sons. There, she trains for trail marathons, rides bikes, drinks wine, orders things on the internet (but tries not to), and reads the news. She is currently obsessed with Stardew Valley, Eula Biss, Ibram Kendi, baby Yoda, and podcasts.

Her Bachelor's from the University of Colorado at Boulder is a double major in English & Latin American Studies with a minor in Atmospheric Science. Her Master’s Degree in Sociology was completed at California State University East Bay.