Susan Webb, professor of sociology at Coastal Carolina University, was recently elected to a two-year term as president of the National Council of State Sociological Associations (NCSSA). The election took place at a NCSSA meeting held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA), Aug. 12-16, in Philadelphia.

NCSSA members are officers and representatives of state and area sociological associations throughout the United States. The organization links state associations by providing communication, sponsoring workshops and internships and by serving as a liaison to the ASA. About 30 state and area organizations are involved in NCSSA, which hopes to foster growth of new state and area groups over the next two years.

Webb earned a Ph.D. in 1984 from North Carolina State University. She teaches social problems, social demography, criminology, and seminars on AIDS and on the South. Her research and community service focuses on victimology, rural poverty and service sector employment in tourism. She also coordinates the sociology internship program placing majors in human services and criminal justice settings.

Webb's association with NCSSA began with her involvement in the South Carolina Sociological Association (SCSA). The late Bill Davis, Coastal's first full-time sociology professor and a founding member of the South Carolina association, encouraged her to get involved in the organization, which she chaired from 1997 to 1999.

"In state associations faculty at research universities, four year colleges, community and technical colleges get to know each other, share information, and collaborate on research and teaching," Webb said. "Many state associations also include sociologists working in public and private agencies, and that leads to consulting, research and other collaborations as well as to internships and employment opportunities for our students."