HELLO, I'M
Ellen Meiser
Sociologist and Writer.
About
MY BACKGROUND
Alaska-grown sociologist interested in qualitative research, with expertise in social psychology, emotions, and the culinary industry. Co-creator and co-host of
The Social Breakdown, the sociology podcast nobody wants, but everybody needs.
Education
2015-2021
University of Hawaii at Manoa – Honolulu, HI
Doctor of Philosophy Degree, Sociology
Dissertation title: "Making It: Success, Mediocrity, and Failure in the Commercial Kitchen"
2012-2014
University of Hawaii at Manoa -- Honolulu, HI
Masters of Arts Degree, Asian Studies (China)
Thesis title: "Human Smuggling from China's Fujian Province to
New York City"
2007-2011
University of Alaska Anchorage -- Anchorage, AK
Bachelor of Arts Degree, Hospitality Business Management
2008-2009
Culinary Institute of America -- St. Helena, CA
Certificate, Baking and Pastry
Publications
“Understanding Discrimination Through Multimedia.” (2020) ASA TRAILS.
"The Normalization of Violence in Commercial Kitchens Through Food Media.” With Penn Pantumsinchai. (2021) Journal of Interpersonal Violence. DOI:10.1177/08862605211005138
“Podcasting and Pedagogy.” (2021) City University of New York, the Center for the Humanities.
"Resource Guide for Improving Diversity and Inclusion Programs for the Public Transportation Industry." With Dave Keen and Janine Kyritsis. (2021) The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. DOI:10.17226/25230
“Theoretical Script Writing: A Creative Project for Social Theory Courses.” (2022) ASA TRAILS.
"Enduring, Avoiding, and Resisting: Responses to Workplace Violence in Commercial Kitchens." With Eli Wilson. Work, Employment and Society (R&R)
The Social Breakdown
Listen to Penn, Omar, and I breakdown our complex world one topic at a time using our sociological imagination! We release new episodes every two weeks.
Reviews and Media Coverage
"Podcast Review: The Social Breakdown" Teaching Sociology,
Dec. 4, 2021
"How Food Media Warps Our View of Real-World Kitchen Abuse" New York Magazine, Aug. 25, 2021
"Study Reveals How Shows Like Hell's Kitchen Are Making the Restaurant Industry Worse" Mashed.com, Aug. 26, 2021
"Do TV Cooking Shows Make Abuser Chefs Seem Normal?" TheCounter.org, Aug.27, 2021
Other Podcast Appearances
The Sociologist's Dojo - "Episode 21: The Lord of the Rings with Dr. Ellen Meiser"
The Sociologist's Dojo - "Episode 10: The Godfather Saga with Dr. Ellen Meiser"
The Sociologist's Dojo - "Episode 4: The Big Lebowski Featuring Ellen Meiser"
Queens Podcast Lab - "Meet the Social Breakdown Podcast"
Queens Podcast Lab - "New Digital Inequalities (Matt Rafalow)"
Queens Podcast Lab - "Inequality in the Restaurant Industry (Eli Wilson)"
Professional Activities
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2022-2023 President of the Hawaii Sociological Association
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“Movement, Scars, and Taste: Embodying Cultural Capital in Commercial Kitchens” presented at a paper session at the American Sociological Association 2022 conference
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“Podcasts in the Classroom” webinar sponsored by Teaching Sociology journal on August 18, 2021
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“Enduring, Avoiding and Resisting: Responses to Workplace Violence in Commercial Kitchens” presented with coauthor Dr. Eli Wilson virtually at a roundtable session at the American Sociological Association 2021 conference
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“Working Outside of Academia” workshop presented virtually at the Hawaii Sociological Association 2021 conference
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“How to Podcast in the Academy: Legitimizing and Creating Alternative Media” workshop presented virtually at the American Sociological Association 2020 conference
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“The Normalization of Abuse in Commercial Kitchens Through Food Media” presented virtually at a roundtable session at the American Sociological Association 2020 conference
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“Resisting Abuse in the Commercial Kitchen” presented at the Canadian Sociological Association 2020 (conference cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)
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Guest peer reviewer for Social Process in Hawaii (2020)
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“Podcasting and Public Sociology: Alternative Forms of Knowledge” workshop presented at the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology 2019 conference
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“Hawaii’s Opportunity Probation with Enforcement: Research Opportunities” presented at the Society for the Study of Social Problems 2016 conference
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“Race-Specific and General Theories of Crime and the Reporting of Crime” presented at the Hawaii Sociological Association 2017 conference
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“Crime Reporting and Theories of Crime” presented at the Society for the Study of Social Problems 2017 conference