Dr. Kyler J. Sherman-Wilkins
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
Postal mail
Biography
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.
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
Area of expertise
Health and wellness SociologyMedia 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.
LGBTQ+ Missourians are more than twice as likely to not receive medical care
KY3
06/07/2022
Sociologist Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins explains why.
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.
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.