Department History
The Sociology and Anthropology Department at UTEP was founded in the early 1960's and is the historical home of Border Studies in the United States. Ellwyn Stoddard, a pioneer of U.S. Mexico border studies, today a vibrant international field of study, joined the department in the 1960's. Other distinguished scholars have been associated with the department include: Archaeologists Richard McNeish and Jamie Litvak King, as well as sociologist, Julius Rivera (the first Colombian to receive a PhD in Sociology). Work on border studies has continued through the work of Josiah Heyman, now director fo the Center for Interamerican and Border Studies. In recent years, the department has expanded its areas of expertise to include: Latino Studies, immigration, gender, environment society relations, human geography and health.