Alan J. Lizotte and Scott J. South Raised to the Rank of SUNY Distinguished Professors

Newest UAlbany SUNY distinguished faculty Alan J. Lizotte and Scott J. South.

Albany, N.Y. (May 12, 2016) — Two faculty researchers of national and international reputation have been elevated to the Distinguished Faculty Rank of the State University of New York. The appointments of Alan J. Lizotte of the School of Criminal Justice and Scott J. South of the Department of Sociology were recently approved by SUNY’s Board of Trustees.

Alan J. Lizotte has contributed significantly to the School of Criminal Justice as scholar, teacher, mentor, and administrator and had a tremendous influence on the field of criminology. His research has centered upon two fields: delinquency and firearms (including gun ownership and gun violence).

“Alan has been a central part of our School for 30 years,” commented William Alex Pridemore, dean of the School of Criminal Justice. “He is a world class researcher who has had a major impact on the School of Criminal Justice, UAlbany, and our field. His record reflects what is expected of this distinction and I was proud to nominate him for Distinguished Professor.”

Lizotte was a co-founder of the Rochester Youth Development Study, one of the world’s most important longitudinal studies of the causes of delinquency. Its investigations included how adolescents enter into and desist from criminal careers. Known for his objectivity in an area where even researchers have staked out emotionally charged positions, Lizotte focused on careful design and measurement in carrying out research on the determinants of gun ownership, patterns of illegal gun carrying, the role of guns in gang behavior, and the effectiveness of gun control.

He is a Fellow of the American Society of Criminology, a member of the editorial boards of several leading journals, and a grant referee for the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Justice, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scott J. South's research into family demography and urban/community sociology have had major impacts on these fields, identifying key consequences of sex ratio imbalances and illuminating the dynamic processes underlying migration and residential racial segregation.

"Professor South is a scholar of the highest caliber whose contributions to sociology and to demography in particular are recognized internationally,” said Edelgard Wulfert, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “His impactful research program has attracted 25 years of continuous federal support, not to mention a stream of talented faculty collaborators and students eager to work alongside him at our University. He has clearly led a distinguished career, and his elevation to his new rank is fitting and well-deserved.”

Winner of UAlbany’s Excellence in Research Award in 2003, South’s productivity has continued apace since then. He has published nearly 100 scholarly articles, and his publications are consistently in the top-tier journals of the profession. His extraordinary productivity and the high quality of his scholarship are clearly reflected in the customary indicators of academic eminence (citation counts and impact indices).

While making sustained contributions to the overall mission of the University, Scott has earned 16 significant grants from external sources. Among the funding agencies for his research have been the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

In announcing the 29 new appointments, SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher said, “The SUNY distinguished faculty are truly the best of the best. Through innovative instruction, unique research opportunities, and engaging applied learning opportunities, they deliver a top quality higher education for our students that is second to none.”

Since the program's inception in 1963, SUNY has appointed 371 faculty to the rank of Distinguished Professorship. The SUNY release may be read here.

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