2512 Manor Road

York, PA 17408

Dear Colleagues,

My name is Todd K. Platts. I am a recently minted PhD in sociology from the University of Missouri. My

objective in this letter is to broaden my prospects in seeking tenure-track employment in sociology, media

studies, film studies, American studies, or equivalent fields. From the outset, I will mention that I am

willing to relocate anywhere in the world. I am also willing and able to teach courses in a wide a variety

of topics, including, but not limited to: introduction to sociology, criminology, criminal justice, social

deviance, research methods, sociology of culture, sociology of media, qualitative methods, and social

psychology (please refer to my homepage for sample syllabi, also note that I will be adding more syllabi

in the coming weeks: https://independent.academia.edu/ToddPlatts/Employment-Portfolio).

As an instructor dedicated to creating a quality learning environment, my primary aim will be to execute

my in-class duties to the utmost of my ability. (For a broader statement of my teaching philosophy see

here: https://www.academia.edu/3177389/Teaching_Philosophy.) With that being said, I recognize

learning entails more than simply showing up to class and that my quality as a professor requires more than treating my assigned course-load as my only responsibility. As such, I will take a number of steps to

enhance my effectiveness as an instructor:

-First, if desired by the hiring institution, I can help develop courses of interest to the colleges student body (e.g. a human rights centered criminology course, a course on zombies, or a course

in public sociology).

-Second, I will become involved in student life. This can include helping to coordinate a student-

centered academic conference (for a sample call for papers and FAQ see here:

https://www.academia.edu/5874135/Sample_Call_for_Papers_and_FAQ_for_Proposed_Student_

Centered_Conference), sponsoring existing student organizations, and starting new ones

dependent upon student demand.

-Third, for students interested in attending graduate school or have a general interest in writing, I

am willing help prepare superlative work for publication in either undergraduate research journals

or professional peer-review journals.

-Fourth, I will forge working relations with local businesses and organizations to establish gainful

internships and a vibrant graduation-to-employment pipeline. Relatedly, I will work diligently

with advisees to ensure their completion of the appropriate coursework and post-graduation

success.

Although I consider myself an educator, first and foremost, I maintain an active publication track. To

date, I am the only sociologist to have published an article on the sociology of zombies in a peer-review

sociology journal. In addition to what I have already published, I have several articles in press and several

more in progress. If desired by a hiring institution, however, I can easily shift my research program to a

media-based and/or an ethnographic-based criminology program.

If you have any interest please email me at: toddkplatts@gmail.com. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Todd K. Platts