Professor receives sociology awards

In 1966, Edgar S. Furniss received the Wilbur Lucius Cross Medal for his contributions to the fields of scholarship, teaching and academic instruction. Now, 46 years later, Bernice Pescosolido has kept it in the family.

Pescosolido, distinguished and chancellor’s professor of sociology at IU, has been honored for her research on social issues.

Pescosolido received the Cross Medal as well as Leonard I. Pearlin Award for Distinguished Contributions from the American Sociological Association’s Section on Sociology of Mental Health. The Pearlin award honors a scholar who has contributed to research of mental health.

The Cross Medal was awarded to Pescosolido by her alma mater, Yale University. Furniss is her son’s great grandfather.

“It’s interesting, all these years later I’m awarded the Wilbur Cross Medal as well,” Pescosolido said.

She has also served as the director of the Indiana Consortium for Mental Health Services Research.

“I think it’s a wonderful recognition for the work my consortium does and the resources Indiana University gives us,” Pescosolido said. “It’s about the work of the deeper way society functions and making things better for people who are vulnerable.”

Pescosolido specializes in the understanding of health, disease and health care utilization through social networks.

Pescosolido’s Network-Episode Model has evolved through several decades and has influenced her research in three areas: health care services, stigma and suicide.

“I’ve always been fascinated with how people recognize and respond to health problems,” Pescosolido said. “My work was aimed at developing a scientific model of people which represented facing stigma. I think looking at one problem opened doors to others.”

She began to see how people dealt with problems in society through networks. Uncovering these facts helped her become aware of existing stigmas.

“Each time I dug deeper, it led to a new level of research and added to the complexity of it all,” she said. “If we had solved the problem as a society there wouldn’t be any need for this kind of research, but these problems continue to exist and dampen the recovery for people who have health problems.”

Alex Capshew, associate director for the Indiana Consortium for Mental Health Services Research, said he does most of the research administration and project management for Pescosolido’s funded studies.

“What I appreciate is that the awards give her a national and international platform to create awareness of mental health issues,” Capshew said. “She has a strong platform, and we translate her research findings in order to improve the lives of real people. The recognition gives her a voice in reaching a broader community.”

Pescosolido was also named a member of the scientific advisory board of Bring Change 2 Mind.

Led by actress Glenn Close, the campaign is an anti-stigma movement dedicated to removing misconceptions about mental illness.

“My job is to help the foundation understand the science being done and use it to create effective programs,” Pescosolido said.

“The last 15 years we have taken new directions in understanding stigma, and that will be a foundation for the programs.”

Despite this progress, Pescosolido said there doesn’t appear to be a link between understanding and tolerance. She continues to explore what approach can be taken in order to lessen rising prejudices.

“I’m in the middle of an 18-country study of the stigma of mental illness,” she said.

“We’re trying to do some myth busting in developing countries in figuring out which are more tolerant and what we can learn from them here in America.”

Pescosolido has also been the recipient of other universities and disciplinary teaching and mentoring awards.

“I am proud to be part of the organization and working for a director that is so well recognized and respected,” Capshew said. “I first started here and said I could never envision myself working in the same place more than three years because it gets monotonous. I’ve worked for her for 10 years. She keeps things interesting and keeps the staff motivated.”

IU graduate student Ann McCranie said Pescosolido’s leadership and awards have helped bolster her own study, as McCranie is pursuing a graduate degree in sociology and Pescosolido is chair of her dissertation.

“I say I work with Bernice and people know who she is,” McCranie said. “She is very helpful in that she wants to work with graduate students to get them into the best place in their careers. She is helping to create the next generation of mentors. She’s a great mentor, teacher, teacher of teachers and researcher, but she’s also a great person. She’s the whole package.”