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College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Frank Beck

Associate Professor
Sociology and Anthropology
Office
STV Stevenson Hall 435B
Office Phone
(309) 438-7770office
phone
Email
fdbeck@ilstu.eduemail
Website
stevensoncenter.org/website
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Research

Biography

Beck works in the area of community economic development, local policy, and persistent poverty. He is currently researching the relationship between geography, spatial inequality, place labeling, and the historical consequences of negative labels for community well-being.

Current Courses

361.001Architecture, Power, and Interaction: Urban Social Life

497.002Capstone Research In Applied Community & Economic Developmnt

477.001Community Project Design And Management

398.005Professional Practice:Internship In Sociological Research

Teaching Interests & Areas

Community and Urban Sociology; Community Development; Demography; Sociology of Education; Social Statistics (undergraduate and graduate); Urban Soc.; Community; Intro. Soc.; Senior Experience; Foundations of Inquiry.

Research Interests & Areas

Community and economic development practice, rural community well-being, spatial inequality, persistently poor communities

Ph D Sociology

The Pennsylvania State University
State College, Pennsylvania

MS Sociology and Demography

The Pennsylvania State University
State College, Pennsylvania

BA Sociology

University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio

Outstanding Service Award

Illinois State University College of Arts and Sciences
2008

University Teaching Initiative Award

Illinois State University
1999

Panhellenic Council Outstanding Teacher

Illinois State University Panhellenic Council
1998

Book, Chapter

Willetts, M., Sprecher, S., & Beck, F. Overview of sexual practices and attitudes within relational contexts. The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships (2004): 57-85.

Journal Article

Willetts, M.C. , & Beck, F.D. (2020). The influences of Buddhism and development on the well-being of Bhutan's street dogs. Animal Studies Journal 9 (2), 56-86. https://ro.uow.edu.au/asj/vol9/iss2/4
Billger, S., & Beck, F. The Determinants of School Closures: Lessons from Longitudinal Data throughout Illinois. Journal of Education Finance 38.2 (2012): 83-101.

Presentations

Race, DUIs, and Policing. Midwest Sociological Society. (2022)
When Can One Point to Systemic Racism? Evidence from a Jail Study. Midwest Sociological Society. (2022)
African Americans Spend More Time in Our Jail than Whites. Why?. Sociology and Anthropology Colloquium Series. Department of Sociology and Anthropology. (2021)
Strategies for Jail Reduction. Endurance, Expansion, & inclusion: Adult Redeploy Illinois - Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils Summit. Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Loyola university Chicago, McCormick Foundation. (2019)
Gross National Happiness in Promoting the Well-Being of Bhutan's Street Dogs. University Club. Illinois State University. (2018)
Trends in Use of the McLean County Jail. Westminster Village Community Forum. Westminster Village. (2015)
Managing an Interdisciplinary, Applied Graduate Sequence: Relationship Lessons. Higher Learning Commission. North Central Association. (2014)
ADP initiatives I: Incorporating pedagogy for civic and political engagement in the classroom. Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology Symposium on Teaching and Learning. (2010)
Presenting the new civic engagement and responsibility minor. Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology Symposium on Teaching and Learning. (2010)
Best practices and institution values: Development of an interdisciplinary minor in civic engagement. Annual Meeting of the American Democracy Project. (2009)

Grants & Contracts

BNCRC: Bloomington Normal Climate Responsive Community. US Environmental Protection Agency. Federal. (2024)
Data Analysis for McLean County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. McLean County, IL. Local. (2020)
Scott M. Elliott Cross-Disciplinary Pilot Grant. Department of Economics, College of Arts and Sciences. Illinois State University. (2020)
Data Analysis for McLean County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. McLean County, IL. Local. (2019)
Data Analysis for McLean County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. McLean County, IL. Local. (2018)