Sociology Professor Spends Sabbatical Year Researching and Mentoring

Dr. Michael L. Dougherty, a professor of sociology at Illinois State University, spent his sabbatical year (2025-2026) working on research projects, developing new courses, and mentoring students.

One project he worked on with Dr. Utkarsh Kumar involved studying the governance role of Caterpillar, Inc. in global extractive supply chains. Despite initial difficulties in securing access to the company's data, the team was able to analyze secondary data and publish two peer-reviewed articles in prominent sociology journals.

Dougherty also started two new research projects during his sabbatical. One focuses on how people working in renewable energy industries understand the increasing politicization of their field, while the other examines migration from Guatemala to the United States through the lens of climate change.