Delaware County Daily Times
Stuart Eimer, PhD
- Co-Chair of Department of Sociology
- Professor
Media Expertise:
- Social Justice
Affiliated Programs
Education
- PhD, Sociology (2000)
University of Wisconsin--Madison (WI)
About Me
It is my goal to kindle an interest in learning, introduce students to the ever-growing body of sociological knowledge, and provide them with the skills and experience needed for post-college careers and active citizenship. I create a rich classroom environment that introduces students to theory and research, while also cultivating their capacity to critically engage and reflect on sociology as a body of knowledge.
I also incorporate service-learning into many of my classes. These courses allow students to explore an academic subject in a classroom setting while also engaging in a service project in the community that is related to the subject at hand. The classroom learning helps inform and guide the service, while the service experience helps facilitate better understanding of the course content. These courses generate what might be called a virtuous circle of learning. Students leave my classes with a much better understanding of how the society within which they are embedded shapes their lives and with a better idea of how they in turn have the capacity to shape the society around them.
Research Interests
My research primarily focuses on organized labor in America. This work has explored the history and function of AFL-CIO central labor councils. This historical work ultimately led to research on contemporary labor councils and a co-edited book that has become the authoritative text on the subject. It also resulted in a Political Power and Social Theory article on the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), the American Labor Party, and Third Party Politics in the United States.
It also resulted in an article on the Milwaukee County Labor Council, which is one of the 50 most-cited articles in the Labor Studies Journal. My most recent work explores innovative organizing strategies being employed by the Service Employees International Unions (SEIU).
Media Expertise
- social justice
- social and economic inequality
- labor politics
- organized labor
Publications
- Eimer, S. (2006). Organized labor and third party politics in New York City: The rise and fall of the CIO-ALP. In D.E. Davis (Ed.), Political power and social theory, volume 18 (pp. 133–171). Cambridge, MA: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
- Ness, I., & Eimer. S. (Eds.) (2001). Central labor councils and the revival of American unionism: Organizing for justice in our communities. New York, NY: M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
- Eimer, S. (1999). From "business unionism" to "social movement unionism: The case of AFL-CIO Milwaukee county labor council. Labor Studies Journal, 24(2), 63–81.
Awards
- Widener University, College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence (2009)
- Widener University, Borislow Community Engaged Faculty Research Fellowship (2014)
In the Media
Noteworthy
Widener commends faculty at 2025 awards event
Widener University honored faculty members for distinction in areas of civic engagement, institutional leadership, research, as well as innovative and distinguished teaching. Various faculty were awarded at the ceremony, held Wednesday, Oct. 29 in the University Center. Honors included:
• The Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award , given to a faculty member who has exemplified a history of teaching at the highest level of distinction. It is endowed by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation, a Philadelphia-based foundation that provides grants to institutions of higher education for the promotion of excellence in teaching. The recipient was Commonwealth Law School Associate Professor Amanda Sholtis of Enola, Pennsylvania.
• The Faculty Award for Civic Engagement, which recognizes the outstanding contributions faculty members have made in accordance with Widener’s civic engagement mission, as well as solidifying Widener students’ understanding of their social responsibilities, and the impact of their disciplinary learning. This year's recipient was College of Arts and Sciences Professor Stuart Eimer of Collingswood, New Jersey.
• The Outstanding Researcher Award, given to a faculty member who has participated in research and scholarship nationally or internationally, and made a significant contribution through their research, while advancing their profession or discipline as well as the university’s mission and vision. The recipient was Associate Professor Hilary Barnes of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Barnes teaches in the Jack & Nancy Dwyer School of Nursing.
• The Fitz Dixon Innovation in Teaching Award highlights an individual who has designed, implemented, and assessed an innovative or experimental teaching and learning project. This award was presented to College of Arts and Sciences Associate Teaching Professor Catherine Safran of Bear, Delaware.
• The Faculty Institutional Leadership Award recognizes a record of leading initiatives that further the university’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives. This year’s award recipient was College of Arts and Sciences Professor Hemlata Mistry of Wallingford, Pennsylvania.
Photo shows, from left, Interim Provost Mark Nicosia, Professor Hemlata Mistry, Professor Stuart Eimer, Professor Hilary Barnes, Associate Teaching Professor Catherine Safran and Associate Professor Amanda Sholtis.
Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-commends-faculty-2025-awards-event