Team Bio

The team consists of myself and my research assistant, Sofia Pedroza. Sofia walked into my office as a sophomore and asked if she could gain original research experience as she was planning to attend graduate school. Her contributions have strengthened the project immeasurably. This funding would allow her to spend the summer completing transcription, and training her replacement, prior to her leaving as she was recently accepted to graduate school for the fall.

Faye Linda Wachs

Faye Linda Wachs- is a professor of Sociology in the Department of Psychology & Sociology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She has also served as a visiting assistant professor at the University of North Florida, Loyola Marymount and the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Wachs received her Phd. in Sociology from the University of Southern California, along with a graduate certificate in gender studies. Dr. Wachs’ published work focuses on gender equity, health, fitness, media, sport, sexuality and consumerism. Her book, Body Panic: Gender, Health and the Selling of Fitness, co-authored with Shari Dworkin was the recipient of the North American Society for Sport Sociology (NASSS) Distinguished Book Award in 2010. She is the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 2012 Provost Award Winner for Distinguished Service as well as the 2009-10 Cal Poly Pomona College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences Outstanding Advisor. Dr. Wachs is the former president of an international academic organization, the North American Society for Sport Sociology, and also served as secretary for the same organization. She has also held committee appointments in the Pacific Sociological Association, and in Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociological honor society.

Dr. Wachs is a mixed methodologist, with experience with survey research, focus groups, in-depth interviewing, content and textual analysis, and participant-observation.

Dr. Wachs was the Co-PI on a NSF GSE/RES Grant that examined the effects of stereotype threat on girls’ math performance. She was also the primary grant writer of, and faculty liaison for, a Department of Education Carol M. White Physical Education Grant. This grant provided teacher training, equipment, and afterschool physical education programs in Pomona.

In her spare time, Dr. Wachs enjoys hiking, running, biking, sailing, knitting/crocheting/sewing and spending time with her family and dogs.

Sofia Pedroza

Sofi is an outstanding student who has been on the President’s list each quarter. Sofi has also served as a department peer mentor, assisting other students succeed in our program and working to create beneficial workshops and panels. Sofia is a member of the Kellogg Honors College, she formerly served as an Sociology Honor Society (Alpha Kappa Delta -AKD) board member, works with orientation services as a Student Leader, volunteers at the Violence Prevention and Women’s Resource Center and with the David and Margaret Foster Family Agency, building bridges to the community and gaining experience in grant writing. She is the recipient of the Forester’s Scholarship for community service, The Ernest Chioffe Scholarship given by the Department of Psychology and Sociology at CPP, The Lowell Overton Scholarship also awarded by the Department of Psychology and Sociology at CPP, and an Alpha Lambda Scholarship for dedication to academic and career goals. She is also the winner of the Oral Presentation Award at the 3rd Annual CPP Research Awards for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. Sofia will be graduating in June and has been accepted to graduate school in the Fall.