TRACY XAVIA KARNER

Tracy Xavia Karner is the director of Visual Studies and Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Houston. A visual sociologist and long time member of the IVSA, she uses visual sources to study the social construction and transformation of self and identity. She has explored these processes on the individual, social-cultural, organizational, and community levels in a variety of contexts, including hospitals, community service agencies, nationalist movements, and the mass media.

Much of her research falls within the area of medical sociology, where she focuses specifically on transitions or turning points that occur in the illness experience.

Her publications, which deal with gender, mental health, social policy, art aesthetics, ethnicity, and nationalist movements, have appeared in such peer reviewed journals as Symbolic Interactionism, Qualitative Health Research, Ethnic and Racial Studies, Communication and Cognition, American Studies Journal, masculinities, Clinical Sociology Review, Journal of Aging Studies, Journal of Aging and Mental Health, American Sociologist, Journal of Applied Gerontology, and Journal of Aging and Social Policy.

The recipient of an award from the American Sociological Association and of over $2.7 million in grants, she is also co-author, with Carol Warren, of Discovering Qualitative Research: Field Methods, Interviews, and Analysis (2005).

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Sociology, University of Kansas, 1994
Dissertation title: Masculinity, Trauma, and Identity: Narratives of Vietnam Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
M.A. Sociology, Idaho State University, 1988
Thesis title: Gender and Evaluation in Fine Art
B.S. Design, University of California-Davis, 1983

TEACHING HONORS AND AWARDS

Ross Lence Teaching Excellence Award, Social Sciences, University of Houston, 2007
Finalist, UH Teaching Excellence Award in Tenure/Tenure Track, 2006
Finalist, UH Teaching Excellence Award in Innovative Teaching, 2006

BOOK

Warren, C.A.B. and T.X. Karner. 2005. Discovering Qualitative Research: Field Methods, Interviews, and Analysis. Los Angeles, Roxbury. 2nd Edition with Oxford University Press, forthcoming 2009.

REFEREED PUBLICATIONS

Karner, T.X. "Changing Lens: an Autoethnographic Account of Seeing and Knowing" International Qualitative Research, University of Guanajuato, Mexico, forthcoming.

Karner, T. X. "If only time healed all wounds: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Older Men" Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, special issue edited by Edward Thompson, forthcoming.

Karner, T. X. and Donna Bobbit-Zeher. 2006. "Losing Selves: Dementia Care as Disruption and Transformation" Symbolic Interaction, 28(4): 549-570.

Karas, J. and T.X. Karner. 2005. "Understanding the Diabetic Body-Self" Qualitative Health Research, 15(8): 1086-1104.

Whitney, Julie, Mark E. Kunik , Victor Molinari , Frederick G. Lopez , Tracy X. Karner. 2004. "Psychological Predictors of Admission and Discharge: Global Assessment of Functioning Scale Scores for Geropsychiatric Inpatients" Journal of Aging and Mental Health, 8(6): 505-513.

Montgomery, R., T.X. Karner and K. Kosloski. 2003. "Weighing the Success of a National Demonstration to Create State Responsibility for Long Term Care," Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 14(3-4): 119-139. Reprinted in: F. Caro & R. Morris (Eds.), Devolution and Aging Policy. New York: Haworth, (2002).

Starns, M., T.X. Karner, and R. Montgomery. 2002. "Exemplars of Successful Alzheimer's Demonstration Projects," Home Health Care Quarterly, 21 (3-4): 141-175. Reprinted in A New Look at Community Respite Programs: Utilization, Satisfaction, and Development (R. Montgomery, editor) Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, Inc. 2002.

Karner, T.X. and Hall, L.C. 2002. "Successful Strategies for Serving Diverse Populations," Home Health Care Quarterly, 21 (3-4): 107-132. Reprinted in A New Look at Community Respite Programs: Utilization, Satisfaction, and Development (R. Montgomery, editor) Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, Inc. 2002.

Montgomery, R., T.X. Karner, K. Kosloski, and J. Schaefer. 2002. "Initial Findings from the Evaluation of the Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grant to States Program," Home Health Care Quarterly, 21 (3-4): 5-32. Reprinted in A New Look at Community Respite Programs: Utilization, Satisfaction, and Development (R. Montgomery, editor) Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, Inc. 2002.

Kosloski, K., J. Schaefer, T.X. Karner, and D. Allwardt. 2002. "The Role of Cultural Factors on Clients' Attitudes toward Caregiving and Perceptions of Services," Home Health Care Quarterly, 21 (3-4): 65-88. Reprinted in A New Look at Community Respite Programs: Utilization, Satisfaction, and Development (R. Montgomery, editor) Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, Inc. 2002.
Karner, T.X. 2001. "Caring for an Aging Society: Cohort Values and Eldercare Services," Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 13(1): 15-36.

Kosloski, K., R. Montgomery, and T.X. Karner. 1999. "Differences in the Perceived Need for Assistive Services by Culturally Diverse Caregivers of Dementia Patients," Journal of Applied Gerontology, July: 239-256.

Karner, T.X. 1998."Retelling Selves through Visual Narratives: The Reciprocity of Culture and Identity" Communication and Cognition, (Michael S. Ball, guest editor), 3(2/3): 145-60.

Karner, T.X., R. Montgomery, D.Dobbs, and C.Wittmaier. 1998. "Increasing Staff Satisfaction: The Impact of Special Care Units and Family Involvement," Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 1998, 24(2): 39-44.

Karner, T.X. 1998. "Professional Caring: Homecare Workers as Fictive-Kin," Journal of Aging Studies, 12(1): 69-82.

Karner, T.X. 1996. "Fathers, Sons, and Vietnam: Masculinity and Betrayal in the Life Narratives of Vietnam Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," American Studies Journal, 37(1): 63-94.

Karner, T.X. 1995. "Medicalizing Masculinity: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Vietnam Veterans," masculinities. 3(4): 23-65.

Karner, T.X. and C. Warren. 1995. "The Dangerous Listener: Unforeseen Perils in Intensive Interviewing," The Clinical Sociology Review, 13: 80-105.

Kelly, M.E. and T.X. Karner. 1994. "Reclaiming and Inventing Ethnic Identity: Lithuanians and Finns at the Turn of the Twentieth Century," Ethnic Forum, 1994, 14(2): 5-21.

Karner, T.X. 1991. "Ideology and Nationalism: The Finnish Move to Independence, 1809-1918," Ethnic and Racial Studies, 14(2): 152-169.

Karner, T.X. 1991. "Gender and Evaluation of Fine Art," Mid-American Review of Sociology, 15(1): 53-69.

Warren, C. and T.X. Karner. 1990. "Permissions and the Social Context," The American Sociologist, Summer: 116-135.

INVITED PUBLICATIONS

Karner, T.X. 2003. "Vietnam War" Encyclopedia on Men and Masculinities, (M. Kimmel and A. Aronson, editors). ABC-Clio Press.

Karner, T.X. 2000. "Social Capital" in Encyclopedia of Sociology, Revised Edition (Edgar F. Borgatta and Rhonda J.V. Montgomery, editors), New York: Macmillan Reference.

Karner, T.X. 1999. "Racconti visuali di esperienze. Ri-raccontare se stessi attraverso una narrazione culturale del Vietnam" in Mondi da Vedere - Verso una Sociologia Piu' Visuale, (Patrizia Faccioli and Douglas Harper, editors), Milano: Angeli.

Karner, T.X. 1999. "Demonstrated Lessons: Case Management Strategies for Serving Ethnically Diverse Families" Geriatric Care Management Journal, 9(2): 9-12.

Karner, T.X. 1998. "Introduction: Identity Issues in Research on Aging", (as Guest editor for special issue), Research on Aging, 20(1): 6-10.

Karner, T.X. 1998. "Engendering Violent Men: Oral Histories of Military Masculinity", in Masculinities and Violence (Lee H. Bowker, editor), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, pps.197-232.

Montgomery, R. and T.X. Karner. "Respite Care: Strategies for the Future," Invited (white paper) outcomes document of the Alzheimer's Association Issues Forum, Chicago, February 3, 1996.

Montgomery, R. and T.X. Karner with J.Riggs, K.Maslow, and M.Williams "Respite Care: Experiences from the Past and Challenges for the Future," Invited (background paper) for the Alzheimer's Association Issues Forum, Chicago, February 3, 1996.

INVITED REVIEWS

Locating Memory: Photographic Acts by Annette Kuhn and Kirsten Emiko McAllister, editors, in Visual Studies, 2008. forthcoming.

Trauma and Visuality in Modernity by Lisa Saltzman and Eric Rosenberg, editors, in Visual Studies, 2007, 22(3):319.

Visual Cultures of Science by Luc Pauwels, editor, in Visual Studies, 2007. 22(1): 95-97.

The Making of English National Identity by Krishan Kumar in Contemporary Sociology. 2004. 33(6):685-687.

Conflict and Compromise in Multilingual Societies: Volume 3, Finland by Kenneth D. McRae in Ethnic and Racial Studies, 2001, 24(3): 505-506.

The Spitting Image: Myth, Memory, and the Legacy of Vietnam by Jerry Lembcke in Social Forces, 1999, 78(1): 389-90.

Warrior Dreams: Paramilitary Culture in Post-Vietnam America by James William Gibson in Sociological Inquiry, 1995, 65(2): 410-12.

SELECTED (VISUAL) PAPER PRESENTATIONS AT PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES

Karner, T.X. "Changing Lens: an Autoethnographic Account of Seeing and Knowing" accepted for presentation at the International Visual Sociology Association, New York City, August 2007.

Karner, T.X. "Changing Lens: an Autoethnographic Account of Seeing and Knowing" accepted for presentation at the International Qualitative Research Conference, University of Guanajuato, Mexico, May 2007.

Karner, T.X. "Visualizing Selves: Auto-Photography as Participatory Research" accepted for presentation at the International Visual Sociology Association, Urbino, Italy, July 2006.

Karner, T.X. and Sara J.A. Clark, "Transforming Identities: the Embodied Self Before and After Critical Illness" accepted for presentation at the International Visual Sociology Association, Dublin, August 2005.

Karner, T.X. "Constructing Eternal Selves: A Visual Ethnography of Grave Markers" International Visual Sociology, Southampton, United Kingdom, July 8-10, 2003.

Karner, T.X. and J.L. Bratter. "Race, Class, and Gender Texas Style: Analyzing the mythology and the fantasy of the Lone Star State in Cinema" American Sociological Association, Atlanta, August 14-19, 2003.

Karner, T.X. "The Material Projection of Identity: The Construction of the Final Self in Grave Markers" American Sociological Association, Atlanta, August 14-19, 2003.

Karner, T.X. "The Fluidity of Age and its Shifting Meanings" accepted for presentation at the American Society on Aging, 46th Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 25-28, 2000.

Karner, T.X. "How Old do I Look: Age as a Visual Discourse" accepted for presentation at the International Visual Sociology Association meetings, Antwerp, Belgium, July 14-18, 1999.

Karner, T.X. "Retelling Selves through Visual Narratives," accepted for presentation at the American Sociological Association Meetings, San Francisco, August 21-25, 1998.

Karner, T.X. "Retelling Vietnam: The Past of the Mind" accepted for presentation at the Oral History Association meetings, Philadelphia, October 10-13, 1996.

Karner, T.X. "Visual and Experiential Narratives: Retelling selves through a cultural narrative of Vietnam" accepted for presentation at the International Visual Sociology Meetings, Bologna, Italy, July 8-12, 1996.

Karner, T.X. "Self-Representation: Women Identified Women in Cinema" accepted for presentation at the Midwest Sociological Society, Chicago, April 11-14, 1990.

Karner, T.X. "Gender & Evaluation of Fine Art," accepted for presentation at Sociologists for Women in Society Section meetings, Atlanta, August 23, 1988.

OTHER (VISUAL) ACTIVITIES

Advisory Council member, Houston Center for Photography, Fall 2007-present.

Instructor, Photography as a Mirror of the Self, Jung Center Houston, Spring 2007.

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