Carson Mencken
Professor of Sociology
Education
Ph.D. Sociology, Louisiana State University, 1994
M.A. Sociology, Louisiana State University, 1989
B.S. Sociology, College of Charleston, 1987
Biography
F. Carson Mencken is professor of sociology and chair of the sociology department. He received his BS degree summa cum laude from the College of Charleston (SC) in 1987, and his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in 1994. His areas of research expertise include civic engagement, religiosity, and research methods. Recently, with Dr. Charles Tolbert he has been examining the impact of changes in the banking industry on the availability of capital for local businesses and entrepreneurs in rural America. This research has been funded by two competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He has authored over 40 professional publications. He has received competitive grant funding for his research from such sources as the Tennessee Valley Authority, the United States Department of the Interior, the United States Department of Justice, and the John Templeton Foundation.
He and his family are actively involved with the Dayspring Baptist Church of Waco.
Recent Publications
Mackenzie Brewer, Jodien Johnson, Kyra Davidson and F. Carson Mencken 2024. “Disability and COVID-19 Financial Hardships: Findings from a Predominantly Rural Sample” Journal of Rural Social Sciences 39 (2): 10-25.
F. Carson Mencken, Kyra N. Neill, Jesse L. DeDeyne, Daniel M. Allen & Amanda C. McGowan. 2024. “Religiosity and Fear of Crime Victimization” Sociological Focus, DOI: 10.1080/00380237.2024.2330467
Mencken, F.C., Carpenter, C.W., Lotspeich-Yadao, M. and Tolbert, C.M. 2023. "Bank on it: Do Local Banks Contribute to Rural Community Prosperity?". Rural Sociology. https://doi.org/10.1111/ruso.12488
F. Carson Mencken, Christopher Bader and Ed Day. 2022. “Fear of Crime on Community Engagement: Nonadditive and Nonlinear Effects by Gender.” The Sociological Quarterly. 63(2), pgs. 379-399. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380253.2020.1850189
Books
Paranormal America: Ghost encounters, UFO sightings, Bigfoot hunts and other Curiosities in Religion and Culture. 2nd Edition ( w/ Christopher Bader and Joseph Baker). 2017. New York University Press. ISBN: 978-1-4798-1965-2 (hardback) ISBN: 978-1-4798-1528-9 (paperback). (311 Pages)