This academic year marks Professor Sheryl Grana’s 30th year at UMD. Over the years, Professor Grana has taught numerous courses in both the Sociology and Criminology programs including “Introduction to Criminology” and “Law and Society.” Over the last decade, she has been the primary faculty member in the Sociology program teaching our Inequality classes – e.g., “Stratification,” “Race & Ethnic Relations,” “Women & Justice,” and others. This subject matter ties in well with the focus of much of Professor Grana’s research – namely, domestic violence and domestic femicide, critical race theory, and oppression studies. Professor Grana is author of the following books: The Social Context of Law and Women and (In)Justice: The Criminal and Civil Effects of the Common Law on Women's Lives – both of which are in second editions.
While students will know her most from having had classes with her, Professor Grana has also served as Department Head of both Sociology-Anthropology and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She also served as Associate Dean in the college. You might say that Professor Grana is “at your service.” Name a committee – at any level – and chances are, she has served on it with steadfast dedication. Her service contributions are not confined to the university setting. Professor Grana is active in the wider community and in the Sociology profession. She has been involved with the nonprofit organization SOAR Career Solutions, which provides career planning services for members of the community. Another organization to which Professor Grana has been committed is the Women’s Coalition, now called Safe Haven, the mission of which is to aid and house battered women and children. While Professor Grana has done a great deal within the Sociology profession, most notable is her long-standing relationship with the Midwest Sociological Society, where she has presented papers, chaired important committees, served as Treasurer, and is a past recipient of the President’s Special Service Award.
Outside of the academic setting, Professor Grana is an avid baker and cook, well known for her delicious meals and treats. At potlucks, guests always want to know which dish she brought because they know it will taste great and be gobbled up quickly. She cooks for us here at the university, for her faith community at Temple Israel, and for a variety of organizations in town. She looks forward to retirement to have more time to devote to her passions – spending time with her children and grandchildren and friends, cooking and baking, working on DIY home projects and her other crafty endeavors (she loves to mosaic!), as well as time for travel, sleep and more spontaneous activities. She plans to write a cookbook, continue volunteer work in the community, and continue her work on social justice issues. Professor Grana anticipates having no problem filling her time in retirement and is grateful for the 30 years she has had at UMD while also looking forward to this next phase in her life.