Teaching Philosophy
Teaching and mentorship has been, and is, an ongoing process of growth for me for a long time. I love to share this passion with others. My concept of sharing of ideas is informed by my belief that scholarship is a combination of writing, teaching and research. It is from this background that teaching as a subject and practice has become part of my career interest, which I would like to share with students. I have had the opportunity to teach many courses in sociology, research, and technology – both in Uganda and in the USA – to a diverse set of students (to traditional and non-traditional students, to primarily undergraduate or high school students). This experience has helped shape my outlook on mentorship. I get satisfaction when I am able to make a change in a person’s life and career and after words that person comes back to says, “Thank you very much; you changed my life to what it is today!”
I believe that mentoring means letting people understand the world around them and letting them appreciate insights into the world while allowing them identify options that make their lives better by making use of the potentials at their disposal. Thus, I see mentoring as one way to help the disadvantaged members of our community or those that have been socially disadvantaged, not because they cannot take initiatives but rather because of different socio-political and historical impediments, that society has placed on them. Therefore, if am able to make a difference in one’s life for the better tomorrow, then mentoring is one such opportunity at my disposal that I can use to help others. Read More
Area of interest and professional specialization
Political Sociology, Livelihood studies, Sociology of Development/Development Studies, Social Network Analysis, Sociological Theory, Social Movements, and Sociology of Higher Education
Current Research
- The Role of Poultry Livelihoods in Uganda sponsored by United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) 2008-2009.
- What can Uganda learn from recent developments in Kenya? Sponsored by DFID 2008
- Doctoral Dissertation International Research Grant (The Graduate School), University of Minnesota 2003-2005
- MacArthur/Compton Peace Scholar Fieldwork Research Support 2003-2004
- Graduate Research Partnership Program (GRPP) with Professor Ron Aminzade under College of Liberal Arts, summer 2003.
Selected Publications
Bakeera Solome, Sarah Wamala, Sandro Galea, Andrew Ellias State, Stefan Peterson, and George B Pariyo. 2009. “Community perceptions about barriers and facilitating factors influencing healthcare utilization in Uganda.” International Journal for Equity in Health 8:25
State, Andrew Ellias. 2008. “Uganda: History and Politics” in New Encyclopedia of Africa. Edited by John Middleton (Editor in Chief) and Joseph C. Miller (Editor), volume 5, p. 124-127. Detroit: Charles Scribner’s Sons (print ISBN 9780684314549; e- ISBN 9780684315577)
State, Andrew Ellias. 2007. “Livelihood patterns and social change: implications for the rural youth in Uganda.” Mawazo 8(2):72-88.
State, Andrew Ellias. 2007. “Livelihood Patterns and strategies in the shadows of colonialism and colonial resistance in Kibaale district, Uganda.” Uganda Journal 51:27-37.
Atekyereza, Peter and Andrew Ellias State. 2007. “Bourdieu’s Habitus and Development Aid for International Cooperation.” Pp. 63-80 in Policy – Programmes - Projects: People Oriented Development Cooperation from the Perspective of Bourdieu, edited by Gotschi, Elizabeth, Andreas Hunger and Klaus Zapotoczky. Linz: Johannes-Kepler-Universitat, Linz (ISBN 3-85499-164-9 and ISBN 978-3-85499-164-9)
State, Andrew Ellias. 2005. “A Network Approach to the Improvement of Rural Livelihoods in Uganda: The Case of Informal Rural Credit Schemes in Kabarole District.” Pp.269-284 in Confronting Twenty-First Century Challenges: Analyses and Re-dedication, edited by Ruth Mukama and Murindwa-Rutanga, Kampala, Makerere University Press. (ISBN 9970-05-011-7)
State, Andrew Ellias. 1997. “Implication of the Urban Housing Policy in Uganda: Displacement and Relocation in Namuwongo Upgrading and Low Cost Housing Project, Kampala.” Mawazo: 7(2):1-7.
State, Andrew Ellias. 1995. “Urban Displacement and Relocation in Namuwongo” in Involuntary Resettlement and Rehabilitation papers, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Economic Development Institute of the World Bank, PP 81-90. |
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