Ronald P. Cochran

Professor, Sociology and Anthropology
Ph.D. Syracuse University
406.657.1080
Morledge-Kimball Hall 206
cochranr@rocky.edu
Office hours: TTH 10:45 - 12 

Biography

When it comes to rating a professor, Dr. Ron Cochran consistently receives high marks from RMC students. "Not a lot of homework, but a lot of reading," one student evaluator said. "He forces you to step outside your paradigm and examine what realities there are, not just what you want to believe." This may be why Dr. Cochran has been recipient of three teaching awards during his tenure at RMC.

Dr. Cochran has offered courses in the social sciences, the humanities, and the natural sciences. He teaches a wide range of sociology and anthropology courses, with the goal of developing students' "sociocultural imaginations," to understand how their own behavior is influenced by that of other people. “I am an individual.” Dr. Cochran likes to chant along with the students in his introductory classes. Exactly like everyone else.

Dr. Cochran has been involved in a number of interesting research projects outside the college and at RMC. Some of his anthropological studies grew out of his work as a sex offender counselor. He developed a new treatment modality for adult Native American sex offenders, and designed a prevention education curriculum for Indian children. Sociologically his research on student retention at RMC led to the creation of the Rocky Freshman Experience program which partners’ faculty from different disciplines and small classes of first year freshman.

What advice do you have for a prospective student?

Please don't bring your parents to a meeting with me.

What is your favorite class to teach and why?

SOC 324 Sociocultural Theory, because it requires puzzling in various ways about the reasons why people behave the way they do.

What are you currently reading?

The Emperor of All Maladies, Comanche Empire, We Have Met The Enemy

What do you do outside of class?

I like to do demonstration experiments, like standing in front of the Dollar Store and giving a dollar to each child who enters. Interesting to see how the culture responds.

What is your favorite getaway location?

I am not telling, although it is in the Pryor Mountains, near where the LIttle People live. 

What is your favorite thing about RMC?

Egalitarian ideology despite stratified behavior.