vita

Amy Pucino, PhD
Associate Professor of Sociology 
Community College of Baltimore County
apucino@ccbcmd.edu

Research and Teaching Interests

Teaching Interests

Introduction to Sociology
Social Problems in American Society
Race and Culture
Methods of Social Research
Community-Based Learning and Research
Willingness to teach other courses

Research Interests
Inequality in education systems, particularly impacting immigrant, refugee and racial minority populations
Student social capital acquisition
Caring pedagogical relationships
Community-Based Learning & Research conducted by students in higher education
Community college student engagement
Contemplative practice in higher education

Education

PhD. Language, Literacy and Culture University of Maryland, Baltimore County Graduation Date: Spring 2014
Dissertation: A Mixed-Methods Exploration: Refugees’ Caring Relationships as a Source of Social Capital. Chair: Dr. Claudia Galindo

Masters of Arts in Sociology American University, Washington, D.C.
Focus: Public Sociology
Graduation Date: May 2007

Bachelors of Arts in Sociology Hood College, Frederick, Maryland
Graduation Date: May 2005

Teaching Experience

Professor of Sociology, Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC): Fall 2012- Present

  • Teach Introduction to Sociology, Racial and Cultural Minorities (sociology), Social Problems (sociology), Service-Learning and Women’s Studies
  • Incorporate community-based learning and research into curriculum
  • Teach in online, face-to-face, honors, and English as a Second Language environments
  • Served on hiring search committees
  • Serve on the Service-Learning Task Force

Other Teaching Experience: Fall 2006-Spring 2012

  • Adjunct Sociology Instructor, CCBC: 2010-2012
  • Adjunct Instructor of a senior sociology course Advanced Methods and Tools in Social Research, Hood College: Fall 2007
  • Teaching Assistant for Social Problems, Social Inequality, and Women of the Third World, American University: Fall 2006-Spring 2007

Coordinator/Facilitator Experience

Contemplative Community Circle Co-Facilitator: Fall 2017 to Fall 2020

    • Engage in the Contemplative Community Circle (CCC), founded by Stephanie Briggs,  and co-facilitate with David Hewitt. The CCC is a cross-campus, cross-disciplinary faculty and staff group that gathers learn contemplative practice for ourselves, for our classrooms and for the campus to try to build a culture that is less is mindful and focused.
    • Currently co-facilitating the Contemplative Community Circle. Working to expand  programming to students.
    • Co-planned and implemented CCBC’s 1st Annual Contemplative Community Mini-Conference in connection with Yaa Gyasi’s book, Homegoing in Fall 2018.
    • Presented with Stephanie Briggs, Sara Leu, and Jignasa Rami for professional development at CCBC, titled, Mindful Classroom: When Self-Care Becomes Pedagogy. January, 201.

Service-Learning Coordinator of Essex Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC): June 2014 to June 2018

    • Plan and coordinate the implementation of service-learning curriculum across all disciplines.
    • Conducted survey and focus group research on the Service-Learning Program initiatives.
    • Created and implemented faculty Service-Learning Workshop is co-coordinator, Jo Lewis. Train 15 to 25 faculty per year to incorporate service-learning into their classes.
    • Oversaw the work of the Service-Learning Assistant Coordinator
    • Planned and implemented special projects through the Service-Learning Program, including: video project of service-learning students; speaker series on relevant topics such as homelessness and human trafficking; community-based learning and research projects with the Refugee Youth Project, Reading Partners, and Healthcare for the Homeless
    • Formed a Service-Learning Steering Committee and collectively created an expansion plan for the Service-Learning Program

Co-Advisor for the CCBC Students for Social Justice: Fall 2017-Spring 2018

    • Helped students create a Student Life Club, the Students for Social Justice
    • Served as the co-advisor, facilitating bi-weekly meetings, trainings, speakers, and field trips

Faculty Advisor for CCBC’s Sociology Study Abroad Experience to Nicaragua: Winter 2015

During the Fall and Winter of 2015, I collaborated with Adrianne Washington to create a Sociology Race and Culture abroad course to Nicaragua through CCBC’s Study Abroad Program, led by Rebekah de Wit.

Faculty Advisor for CCBC’s Guatemala Service Trip: Summer 2016

Participated as the faculty co-facilitator with the Alternative Break Guatemala trip in August 2016. Attended preliminary trip meetings and post trip meetings and fundraisers. Spent a week in Guatemala with students, participating in programming and helping to facilitate group meetings and discussions.

Culturally Responsive Teaching Core Committee Member: Spring 2015-Spring 2016

  • Participated in monthly meetings.
  • Engaged in “Courageous Conversations of Race” retreat.
  • Presented “Social Capital, Learning and Caring” with David Truscello and Jadi Keambiroiro in the spring, 2015/summer, 2015 and the winter, 2016, respectively.
  • Utilized theory from my dissertation and applied to the CRT curriculum for the presentation.

Graduate Assistant for the Language, Literacy and Culture Doctoral Program: August 2008-August 2010

  • Served as the Chair of the Doctoral Student Advisory Board
  • Served as the student representative for the Steering Committee
  • Planned and coordinated new student orientations and research colloquiums

Training Coordinator for College Summit: February 2008 to August 2008

  • Planned, implemented and co-facilitated trainings for high school educators to assist more youth to enter college
  • Planned and implemented a software training for educators to assist high school students with the college application process

Service-Learning Program Coordinator at American University: January 2007 to January 2008

  • Planned and implemented training and reflection sessions for students who participated in the service-learning program
  • Connected students and faculty with the larger non-profit community of D.C.
  • Recruited students for the program, and assisted students with the set up of volunteer work
  • Assisted in the planning of the Community Research and Learning (CoRAL) Network conference, and the pursuit of grants for community projects

Project South Popular Education Workshops Organizer: August 2006 to May 2007

  • Worked with a small team of academics to bring together over 100 American University and Howard University students to discuss social justice themed texts and issues
  • Facilitated these workshops at Howard, American and the D.C. Social Forum

Research Experience

Research Assistant for Dr. Claudia Galindo, LLC, UMBC: August 2008 to 2012

  • Participated in the clean-up and early analysis of data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Birth and Kindergarten cohort (ECLS-B and ECLS-K) and engaged in the development of literature reviews

Contractor for Social Dynamics, a Sociological Research Firm: May 2007 to June 2008

  • Lead analysis on research for a foster care/adoption agency, using SPSS software
  • Collected, entered, organized and analyzed data for nonprofit organizations and companies in need of evaluation research

Papers and Publications

  • Pucino, A. (2022). Lessons from the Blurring of the Frontstage and Backstage: Community College Personnel’s Experiences and Use of Contemplative Practices During the Pandemic. Journal of Contemplative Inquiry, 9(2): 105-134. Here. 
  • Schoepflin, T., Strong, M., Nix-McCray, N., Pucino, A. (Eds.). (2019). Sociology in Stories: A Creative Introduction to a Fascinating Perspective: A Customized Version for The Community College of Baltimore County. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. Access here.
  • Pucino, A. (2018). Iraqi Refugee-background Adolescents’ Experiences in Schools: Using the Ecological Theory of Development to Understand Discrimination. In Shapiro, S., Farrelly, R., & Curry, M. (Eds.) Educating Refugee-background Students: Critical Issues and Dynamic Contexts. Channel View Publications.
  • Pucino, A. & Penniston, T. (2014). Service-learning and the Acquisition of Social Capital in the Community College Setting. In Katz, Z. & Traver, A. (Eds.) Service-Learning at the American Community College: Theoretical & Empirical Perspectives. New York: Pelgrave MacMillan.
  • Galindo, C. & Pucino, A. (2012). Latin American Families. SAGE Encyclopedia of Diversity in Education.
  • Galindo, C. & Pucino, A. (2012). Involving Multicultural Families. SAGE Encyclopedia of Diversity in Education.

Research Conference Presentations

Eastern Sociological Society Meeting, Boston MA Presented with Myron Strong, Shirley Leyro, Vondora Wilson, and Christina Wolfe: “Working at a Community College”. Presented in Boston, MA in March, 2019

Association of Faculties for Advancement of Community College Education (AFACCT), Cecil County, MD Presented with Cheryl Scott, Deborah Jones, and Stacie Miller, ” Learning Communities: A High Impact Practice Transcending the Traditional Classroom”. Presented in Cecil County, MD in January, 2019.

Eastern Sociological Society Meeting, Baltimore MD Presented with Jo Lewis, Ingrid Sabio-McLaughlin, Laura Taylor, and. Monica Walker: “Community” as an Essential Part of Community College Education: Building a Comprehensive Community- Engaged Learning Program at the Community College of Baltimore County. Sociological Narratives in Teaching. Presented  in Baltimore in February, 2018

National Collegiate Honors Council, Atlanta GA Presented with Jay Trucker and Michael Walsh, CCBC. Innovations in Honors Liberal Arts and Social Science Curricula: Analyzing Outcomes of Contemporary Thematic Honors Classes. Presented in November 2017, Atlanta GA.

Eastern Sociological Society, Boston MA Presented with Myron Strong, CCBC, Homelessness as a Tool for Teaching Community-Based Research in Service-Learning Classes. Presentation in Spring 2016.

American Educational Research Association Conference, Chicago, IL Presented with Travis York, Drew Allen, Kristina Brezicha, and Tom Penniston on our publications in Service-Learning and the American Community College at the American Educational Research Association Conference, Chicago, Ill. Presentation in Spring 2015.

American Educational Research Association Conference, Chicago, IL A quantitative analysis of the academic and socio-emotional impact of caring teachers on adolescents whose families came to the US for political reasons. Presentation in Spring 2015.

American Educational Research Association Conference, Chicago, IL Presented with Dr. Claudia Galindo, UMD, Expanding notions of care: A qualitative inquiry of adolescent Iraqi refugee perceptions of the meaning of teacher caring. Presented in section: Teacher Education in PK–16+ Settings; Section Chairs: Beatrice Fennimore, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Beth Wassell, Rowan University. Presentation in Spring 2015

Culturally Responsive Teaching Conference, Baltimore MD Homelessness as a Tool for Engaging Students Community Relevant Research. Presentation September 2015

American Educational Research Conference: Toward Justice: Culture, Language and Heritage in Education, Research, and Practice Expanding notions of care: A qualitative inquiry of adolescent Iraqi refugee perceptions of the meaning of teacher caring and its benefits. Paper Presentation April 2015

American Educational Research Conference: Toward Justice: Culture, Language and Heritage in Education, Research, and Practice Presented with Dr. Claudia Galindo, UMD. A qualitative analysis of Iraqi refugee adolescents’ caring relationships with their educators. Roundtable Presentation April 2015

American Educational Research Conference: Toward Justice: Culture, Language and Heritage in Education, Research, and Practice Presented with Drew Allen, Robert Bringle, Kristina Brezicha, Patti Clayton, Kathleen Edwards, Daniel Maxey, Tom Penniston, and Travis York. Service-Learning at the American Community College. Panel Presentation April 2015

6th Annual Service Learning and Civic Engagement Conference, Tufts University Presented with Zivah Katz and Amy Traver. Service-learning at the American Community College: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives, July 2013

6th Annual Immigration Summit, Towson University Presented with Kursten Pickup. Together En Route Towards Academic Success: Theory and Practice of Relationship Building between Refugee Youth and Their Teachers: November 2012

Maryland Consortium for Adjunct Faculty Professional Development Conference, Anne Arundel Community College. Presented with Adrianne Washington. You Are What You Teach: Philosophies of Teaching 101: Planned Date: October 2011

American Educational Research Conference, Denver, CO. Presented with Claudia Galindo. Examining the Effects of the Latino Family on Children’s Kindergarten Social Competence: April 2010

School Health Interdisciplinary Program Conference, Towson, MD. Invited to present on a School and Community Partnerships Panel led by Young-chan Han, Family Involvement Specialist of Baltimore City Public Schools: November 2010

Graduate Student Conference, University of Maryland Baltimore County A Pilot Study of Perceptions and Expectations of English as a First Language Teachers, who are U.S. Citizens, who Plan to Teach English Abroad: April 2009

Other presentations, trainings, invited talks 

Service-Learning Presentations Each semester I present at professional development opportunities at CCBC. Presentations include: What is Service-Learning? Incorporating Service-Learning into Your Online Classes; The Importance of Reflection in Service-Learning; Service-Learning as a High Impact Practice. Present two or three sessions each year, from 2010 to the present. Sample below:

  • Teaching and Learning Fair, CCBC Panel (Winter, 2016): Organized and Implemented an interdisciplinary panel of CCBC faculty for TLR, called Community Collaborations Panel. Included Fawcett Dunstan (English), Melissa Lane (Criminal Justice), Myron Strong (Sociology), Amy Pucino (Sociology), Judie Boyle (Nursing), Lester Burney (Human Resources), Tim Faith (Law), Robin Minor (Biology), Theresa Robinson (Education)
  • Professional Development Conference, CCBC (Spring, 2016):Jo Lewis, Amy Pucino, Adrianne Washington, and Candy Carr-Smith presented, “Incorporating Service-Learning in Online Environments”
  • Professional Development Conference, CCBC: Amy Pucino presented with the Community Book Connection (Spring, 2016): “New Beginnings for the Community Book Connection: Launching “Between the World and Me”
  • DevED/GenEd Symposium, CCBC (Fall 2016): Jo Lewis and Amy Pucino presented, Engaging Students in Service-Learning as a High Impact Practice; Michael Walsh discussed service learning as a high impact practice at the Eastern Communications Conference in Baltimore in March of 2016 as well as at the Developmental Education/General Education Symposium in August.  He also discussed service learning at a breakout session at the Dev Ed/Gen Ed conference that day.
  • Fall Focus, CCBC (Fall 2016): Elsbeth Mantler, Pete Carver, and Amy Pucino presented “CCBC Takes on Homelessness: Classroom Learning, Service, Research and Activism incorporated as a High Impact Practice to Address Homelessness”
  • CETL 2nd Saturday Series for adjuncts, CCBC (Fall, 2016): Jo Lewis and Amy Pucino presented, “What is Service-Learning?”
  • Communications Arts Department Meeting, CCBC (Fall, 2016): Amy Pucino and Jo Lewis discussed service learning in a “high impact practice circle roundtable discussion” at the Communication Arts Department Meeting in August; 17 faculty members participated.

Mindful Classroom: When Self-Care Becomes Pedagogy, CCBC Presented with Stephanie Briggs, Sara Leu, and Jignasa Rami at CCBC’s Teaching and Learning Professional Development on the benefits of contemplative practice for faculty and students. January, 2017

JUMP Presentation, CCBC Presented at CCBC to refugee-background students participating in Program JUMP on the importance of building social capital. Fall 2016

Teaching Assistants Fair, UMBC Presented to future UMBC Teaching Assistants on participating in Prof-It, a professor training course: September 2010, August 2011

Advanced Qualitative Methods (LLC646), UMBC Presented on using Qualrus, a qualitative research software, to a graduate level methodology course: April 2009

Sociology Day, American University School and Community Partnerships across the Socioeconomic Composition of the School: April 2007

Introduction to Sociology (SOC101), American University Presented on facilitating popular education workshops in an entry level sociology course taught by Bette Dickerson at American University: November 2007

Research Course, American University Presented on Community Based Research in an advanced, undergraduate research course taught by Salvador Vital Ortiz at American University: November 2007

Advanced Methods and Tools in Sociology (SOC472), Hood College Presented on the usage of a sociology degree for an advanced sociology course taught by Roger Reitman at Hood College: Spring 2006 and 2007

Grants

Maryland Humanities Council Grant (2015)

  • Received a Maryland Humanities Council Grant with Nina Brown of CCBC to put together the Service-Learning and Social Justice Speaker Series presentation
  • Put on panel discussions and workshops related to activism done through the humanities, called, “Reimagining Baltimore: Creativity, Civic Engagement and Neighborhood Transformation”. Participating faculty included Trisha Kyner, MFA, Assistant Professor of Art, Design and Interactive Media, Myron Strong, PhD, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Jessica Walton, MFA (Humanities Scholar), Assistant Professor of Art, Design and Interactive Media, and Michelle Wright, M.A. (Humanities Scholar), Assistant Professor of History and Africana Studies

Community College of Baltimore County Summer Grant (2015). Title: Students Working on Homelessness: Community-Based Research and Projects at CCBC.

  • Awarded grant to create community-based research projects for implementation in social science courses at CCBC. Met with site coordinators at nonprofit organizations for individuals experiencing homelessness.
  • Developed a menu of projects for participating faculty. Organized speakers and events related to homelessness.
  • Homelessness Symposium Video, edited by Mumtaj Ismail.

Additional Experience

Editorial Board Member of Journal Traverse, An Undergraduate Journal for the Liberal Arts and Social Sciences: September 2020 to present

  • Review student submissions for publication in Journal Traverse.
  • Assist students whose articles have been accepted for publication with polishing their work.

Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Journal Traverse, An Undergraduate Journal for the Liberal Arts and Social Sciences: June 2014 to September 2020

  • Founded and Editor with of Traverse with Jay Trucker of CCBC, an online publication for student research from the liberal arts and social sciences.
  • Website: http://journaltraverse.com

Volunteer for the Refugee Youth Project as a Family Mentor: August 2010 to 2015

  • Assist recently settled Iraqi family with learning English, accessing social services, getting to know Baltimore
  • Communicate with teachers, social workers, social service providers, case managers, and refugee program coordinators about family strengths and concerns
  • Attend program meetings with other mentors to reflect on the experience

Taught elementary and middle school students reading at the Monocacy Valley Public Charter Montessori School, Frederick, Maryland: 2004 to 2007

  • Used the Orton Gillingham method for teaching students with reading differences to read
  • Planned and administered lesson plans

Participated in Americorp/Bonner Scholar program: Spring 2002 to Spring 2005

    • Volunteered as a camp counselor and computer tutor of the Pittsburgh Salvation Army Homeless Shelter summer camp
    • Instructed reading at a camp for students with dyslexia
    • Worked as a skills trainer for persons with disabilities
    • Worked for Hospice aiding near-death persons
    • Served as an assistant to a case worker at the Pittsburgh AIDS Association

Special Training/Workshops

The Science of Mindful Awareness Meditation Teacher Training, The Mindfulness Center. Certification complete in March 2021.

CMIND 15th Annual Summer Session on Contemplative Learning in Higher Education Main topic: Decolonization. Smith College, Northampton, MA: Summer 2019.

Mindful Schools Courses Summer 2019.

Trauma Informed Partnering for Safety and Performance – Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting Baltimore City Department of Social Services, Completed 27 hour training on resource parenting: Fall, 2018.

Spanish Emersion Classes Casa Xalteva in Granada Nicaragua. Completed Spanish emersion/home stay courses. July 2016 & July 2008.

Teaching Online Training Course Community College of Baltimore County, Completed 40 hour training course on teaching online: January 2011

Prof-It Professor Training Program: Fall 2009-Spring 2010 CCBC and UMBC partnership to train and mentor new teachers

Secondary Analysis of Large-Scale Data Source Training: January 2009 to present Paid training on the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Database (ECLS)

Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certification LADO Washington DC, Completed 150 hour training course: May 2008

Awards/Memberships