At the end of the Spring 2008 Semester, two long-time Department faculty members retired from Missouri State University- Robin Amonker and Gary Brock. We wish these people the best as they begin a new chapter in their lives.
Dr. Robin Amonker came to Missouri State University in 1968 as an Assistant Professor of Sociology. He subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from St. Louis University in 1973. During his 41 years at Missouri State, Robin influenced thousands of students through his sociology courses, honors sections, IDS 110, the GEP 397 capstone course, along with his frequent participation in the Missouri-London Program. Dr. Amonker received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Missouri State Foundation in 1986, the Outstanding IDS 110
Teacher of the Year Award in 1999, a College of Humanities and Public Affairs (CHPA) Award for Research in 2005, and a CHPA Award for Service in 2006. In addition to these accomplishments, Robin authored or co-authored 19 refereed publications, gave over 40 paper presentations at international, national, regional, and state professional meetings, and authored numerous contract and grant reports in the area of demography. Many of his research endeavors were co-authored with junior faculty, for whom Dr. Amonker served as a professional mentor. Even though Robin officially retired from the University, he plans to continue teaching courses for the Department into the foreseeable future, along with spending time enjoying his grandchildren.
Dr. Gary Brock came to Missouri State as a faculty member in the Department of Religious Studies in 1983, the same year he earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from St. Louis University. In 1987, he joined the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work. Over his career, Gary developed a reputation as an excellent and student-centered instructor. He regularly offered various courses in sociology, specializing in the introductory course. He taught honors sections along with numerous sections of IDS 110. Brock was instrumental in the service learning movement on campus as well as serving as the faculty advisor for Alpha Kappa Delta, the sociology honor society, from 1987 – 1999. Gary also was a key player in revising our “Social Problems” course so that it directly addressed community-based issues and provided integration of community agencies into the student experience. Dr. Brock was a leader of various committees on campus, including the First Year Programs Committee and the Sociology Program Committee, and he was very active in the community serving organizations such as the Religion Collaborative of Springfield, reflecting his teaching and research expertise in the sociology of religion. Brock frequently appeared as an expert consultant in various local news media providing opinions on sociological topics and issues. During retirement, he plans to spend extensive time with his wife and enjoying his grandchildren.