Kyler J. Sherman-Wilkins

Associate Professor

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

Role: Faculty

Campus: Springfield

Biography

Dr. Kyler James Sherman-Wilkins (he/him/his) is an Asssociate Professor of Sociology, Faculty Affiliate in the Gerontology program, and Founder and Director of the Health Equity Research Collective (HERC) at Missouri State University. A social demographer and life course sociologist by training, Dr. Sherman-Wilkins’ research centers around the social and structural determinants of health and health inequities, particularly as it pertains to cognitive health, across the life course. His work has appeared in Ethnicity and Health, Health Equity, the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Geriatrics, and, the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

He is a dedicated and award-winning teacher and adviser who focuses on empowering students to address challenges in their communities through activism and policy. Through HERC, he is committed to training the next generation of health equity researchers.

In addition to teaching and research, Sherman-Wilkins is engaged in professional, university, and community service and sits on several boards/committees including Missouri State University's Pre-Med Committee, Missouri Foundation for Health Board of Directors and Population Reference Bureau's Board of Trustees.

Details

Education

PhD, Sociology and Demography, 2017, The Pennsylvania State University
MA, Sociology and Demography, 2015, The Pennsylvania State University
BS, Human Development and Family Studies, 2011, Cornell University

Teaching

SOC 150 Introduction to Society
SOC 301 Research Methodology
SOC 220 Statistics for Social Research
GER 375/SOC 375 Social Forces and Aging
SOC 450 Population, Society, and Public Policy
SOC 480 Health Inequities Across the Life Course

Professional experience

Professional Affiliations

Committee Member, American Sociological Association Distinguished Teaching Award Committee
Board of Directors, Missouri Foundation for Health
Editorial Board, Journal of Health and Social Behavior
Committee Member, Midwest Sociological Society Nomination Committee
Member, Population Association of America
Member, Society for the Study of Social Problems
Vice President, NAACP-Springfield Chapter

Selected publications

Farmer, Heather R., Amy D. Thierry, Marina Armendariz, Kyler J. Sherman-Wilkins, and Roland Thorpe. "Exploring How Neighborhood Characteristics and Psychosocial Resilience Influence Cognitive Functioning among Older Black Adults." Ethnicity & Health.
Adkins-Jackson, Paris B... Kyler J. Sherman-Wilkins, et al. "Hang Ups, Let Downs, Bad Breaks, and Setbacks:' Impact of Structural Socioeconomic Racism and Resilience on Cognitive Change over Time for Persons Racialized as Black." Health Equity 8(1):254-268.
Thierry, Amy D., Kyler J. Sherman-Wilkins, Marina Armendariz, Allison Sullivan, and Heather R. Farmer. 2021. “Perceived Neighborhood Characteristics and Cognitive Functioning among Diverse Older Adults: An Intersectional Approach.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18:1-14.
Sherman-Wilkins, Kyler J., and Amy D. Thierry. 2019. “Education as the Great Equalizer? Racial and Ethnic Differences in Returns of Education on Cognitive Functioning in Late Life.” Geriatrics 4(51):1-13.
Alwin, Duane F., Jason R. Thomas, and Kyler J. Sherman-Wilkins. 2018. “Race, Social Relations and the Life Course.” in Social Networks and the Life Course, edited by D. Alwin, D. Felmlee, and D. Kreager. New York, NY: Springer.
Pudrvoska, Tetyana, Eric Reither, *Ellis Logan, and *Kyler J. Sherman-Wilkins. 2014. “Gender and Reinforcing Association between Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Body Mass over the Life Course.” Journal of Health and Social Behavior 55(3):283-301.

Research and professional interests

Social Determinants of Health
Health Inequities
Social Integration and Health
College Student Health
Intersectionality
Cognitive Aging and Dementia

Awards and honors

Missouri State University Foundation Award for Excellence in Service, 2023
W.E.B. DuBois Education Award, NAACP-Springfield, MO Chapter, 2022
Mellon Emerging Faculty Leaders Award, Institute for Citizens & Scholars 2021
Missouri State University Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2021
Curtis P. Lawrence Award for Excellence in Advising, Missouri State University, 2021
Division of Student Affairs’ Bridge Builder Award, Missouri State University, 2019
National Institute on Aging’s Butler-Williams Scholar, National Institutes of Health, 2019
Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center Research Scholar, Rush University Hospital, 2019
Science-Industry Research Collaborations Trainee, Stanford University, 2018
International Travel Award, Missouri State University, 2017
Diversity Scholar Award, Missouri State University, 2017

Additional resources

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Areas of Expertise

Health and wellness Sociology

Media Appearances

U.S. Supreme Court lacks legitimacy and structural changes needed to instill confidence
Springfield News-Leader
07/03/2022

Sociologist Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins expresses his views about the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions.

Are Numbers Really Neutral?
PRB
06/21/2022

Sociologist Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins writes about why numbers generated from statistics are powerful, but they're not neutral.

LGBTQ+ Missourians are more than twice as likely to not receive medical care
KY3
06/07/2022

Sociologist Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins explains why.

Gun violence in U.S. has clear proximate cause: access to firearms
Springfield News-Leader
05/29/2022

Sociologist Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins expresses his views about gun violence and access to firearms.

Attacks on trans community very real, but the community is resilient
Springfield News-Leader
04/24/2022

Sociologist Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins expresses his views about the resiliency of the trans community.

Black History Month: Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins
KOLR10
02/23/2022

Sociologist Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins shares his passion for research, inspiring the next generation of researchers.

Missouri’s 1st, 2nd Districts could be redistricting targets
Associated Press
08/13/2021

Sociologist Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins addresses population changes.

Q&A With Kyler Sherman-Wilkins
PRB
02/19/2021

Sociologist Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins shares about his new curriculum that aims to bring a deeper understanding of the roles of race and ethnicity in demographic research and methods.

Do you control your health?
KSMU
11/27/2018

Sociologist Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins addresses health outcomes and health disparities.

Dr. Kyler J. Sherman-Wilkins