Deeb Kitchen

Background

About Deeb Kitchen

I am an Associate Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Department of Applied Social Sciences at Marian University. I direct four academic programs: Sociology, Criminal Justice, Peace and Justice Studies, and Public Health. My academic career spans over a decade and includes prior faculty positions at Florida Gulf Coast University, Drake University, and the University of Florida, where I earned a PhD in Sociology. My teaching and research focus on social inequality, race, gender, popular culture, and symbolic interactionism. I also specialize in the sociological study of death, dying, and grief. I've developed and taught courses such as Sociology of Death and Dying, End-of-Life Accompaniment, Race and Ethnic Relations, Human Trafficking, and Drugs and Social Policy. I frequently lead campus and community events on grief support, end-of-life care, and other pressing social issues. My scholarly work has examined topics including requested death, social media and relationships, medical ethics, and cultural narratives around sex and gender. I share my work through publications, academic conferences, and volunteer education initiatives. I completed End-of-Life Doula training through the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine and am recognized as proficient by the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance. I have also completed intervention training in Human Trafficking (Polaris) and Green Dot Instructor Training for Sexual Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking (Alteristic). I've held leadership roles in academic service and professional organizations, including a graduate student association focused on improving labor conditions in higher education. I’m a member of the American Sociological Association, the Peace and Justice Studies Association, and the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance. My honors include Marian University’s Franciscan Values Award, FGCU’s Commitment to Service and Junior Instructor Teaching Awards, and the Thought & Action New Scholar Award from the NEA’s peer-reviewed journal of higher education. To connect, collaborate, or learn more, contact me at dpkitchen@marian.edu.