John J. Leveille, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Sociology

Dr. Leveille received his doctorate from the University of California, San Diego, and after teaching at various colleges throughout the country he landed at West Chester. His major academic interests include sociological theory, the historical study of knowledge systems and sets of practices that are put into the service of social control. He is interested in understanding how institutional, economic, and social arrangements influence the shape of knowledge systems and how these knowledge systems inform, influence, or determine the professional practices within fields of social control, such as the fields of mental illness, law, science, etc.

Toward that end, Dr. Leveille has spent the last several years research the history of the professional response to mental illness in America. He has published a number of articles in this field and has recently completed a book length manuscript on the topic, which he is hoping to have published in the near future. His new research is on the Occupy Movement. He is currently engaging in a study of Occupy Philadelphia. This study involves the use of participant observation methods and interviews. in addition, he is also going to analyse the role of the media, both conventional and the internet social media, in this social movement.

Selected Publications (PDF)

Courses Taught

Sociological Theory
Perspectives on Mental Illness
Sociology of Mental Illness
Introduction to Sociology
Sociology of Religion

Courses He Would Like to Teach:

Social Movements
Advanced Sociological Theory
Contemporary Sociological Theory
Senior Seminar
Qualitative Methods

Areas of Interest

Social Movements
Sociological Theory (specializing in twentieth century European theory)
Historical Sociology of Mental Illness
Sociology of Culture, Knowledge, and Science
Sociology of Religion
Deviance and Social Control