Getting to know Zachary Brewster

Zachary Brewster received his Ph.D. from North Carolina State University, M.A. from Western Kentucky University and his B.S. from Grand Valley State University. Prior to joining the faculty at Wayne State, he taught at West Virginia State University. His research interests include work and organizations; medical sociology; race and ethnicity; everyday racism/discrimination, inequality and social stratification; scholarship of teaching and learning.

The professor

Tell us about your research.

I am currently developing several papers on various aspects of racial/ethnic inequities within the context of the restaurant industry. Along with one of our graduate students, Amanda Levitt, one of these papers explores the independent and interactive effects of race and obesity on consumers’ confidence in being the recipients of high-quality, personalized service in restaurant establishments.

What’s been your best moment as a professor?

Given that life as a professor is pretty good, I’d say my best moment was when I became a professor.

What advice do you have for a student thinking about a graduate degree in sociology?

My advice would be not to pursue a graduate degree in sociology unless they are 100% committed to the endeavor. This is especially the case for those with an M.A. who are currently thinking about pursuing a doctoral degree in the field. In the absence of 100% commitment, graduate school is not likely to be enjoyable and it should be enjoyable otherwise, why pursue a career as a professional sociologist?

What is your favorite class to teach and why?

I enjoy all of the classes that I teach for different reasons but if I had to choose a single favorite course to teach, I’d say it would be our introductory course. I really enjoy exposing students to the ideas offered by our great discipline.

The person

When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you pass the time?

I usually think about what I could do that would be productive. Then I just waste the 30 minutes doing anything but something productive.

What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?

Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd).

What jobs have you had outside of academia?

I’ve had a lot of jobs outside of academia. My first job was bailing hay for a local farmer. I’ve also worked as a sales associate in a farm store, a laborer for a residential contractor, a commercial janitor, a laborer on a demolition crew, a member of the green chain in a lumber mill and a counselor in a residential facility for troubled kids. My last job outside of the academy was in a homeless shelter in Raleigh, North Carolina.

What celebrity do you get mistaken for?

I don’t get mistaken for any celebrities but some friends of mine once told me that I look like a smaller and fatter version of the police officer in the movie Bad Boys II.

What is your favorite book?

I don’t know what my favorite book would be but anything Malcolm Gladwell writes is pretty good! I am also a big fan of Mitch Albom’s book, Tuesdays with Morrie.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

I would love to be able to meet any of my ancestors but particularly my great grandpa Ben (Benjamin W. Brewster).

If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?

I would never change my first name. It is the name my parents gave me.