Dr. Paul Prew’s research and personal interests all revolve around the growing concerns regarding the destruction of our environment. Of particular interest is how these environmental threats are forcing changes in indigenous groups as well as in poorer nations around the world. To get a first-hand look at these issues, Dr. Prew has traveled to Ecuador to learn from an indigenous group, Sarayaku (http://www.sarayaku.com/), and struggles by other groups resisting environmental degradation and threats to their livelihood (link to Ecuador Study abroad page?).
Dr. Prew is a local Midwesterner, living most of his life a mere four hours drive from Mankato. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, he received his Masters in Sociology from MSU-Mankato when it was still Mankato State University. Dr. Prew returned to teach at MSU-Mankato after his PhD program at the University of Oregon where he specialized in environment, Marxist theory and labor studies. Currently, he is in the process of publishing portions of his thesis analyzing a nation’s role in the world-economy and their environmental degradation.
You may see Dr. Prew riding his bicycle up Stadium hill on his way to class, listening to his collection of blues, alt country, metal, classic country, punk, southern rock and whatever else he happens to come across. Aside from enjoying a little exercise on the way to school, Dr. Prew likes to travel, especially cross-country motorcycle rides to visit friends and see the scenery. He is also known to attend a protest or two and was in Seattle for the 1999 protest against the World Trade Organization.
Environmental Sociology, International Political Economy, Globalization, Sociological Theory, Labor Studies.
Introduction to Sociology, Sociology of the Environment, Sociological Theory, Medical Sociology, Sociology of Developing Areas, Social Problems, Political Sociology, Marxist Sociological Thought, The Nature of Labor, Amazon Expedition (Co-taught with Professor Carlos Fontes), Issues in US Society.
