Dr. Charles Jarrett Photo courtesy of Mike Donley.
Dr. Charles Jarrett, Associate Professor of Sociology, received the Regional Higher Education Outstanding Professor Award for 2016-17. This award recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to Ohio University.
Jarrett attended Marshall University before graduating with his doctorate in Rural Sociology from The Ohio State University in 1982. He teaches sociology and psychology courses for Ohio University-Southern, publishes articles and short stories, and serves the university and people of southeastern Ohio. Some of his short stories have been featured on South Carolina Public Radio and National Public Radio (NPR).
He was featured in the Ohio University Communications & Marketing series, “Profiles in Faculty Achievement.” The series highlights and celebrates outstanding educators and researchers on all of Ohio University’s campuses. View a video in which Jarrett talks about the value of the Gullah/Geechee culture.
Gullah Culture
Jarrett has been studying Gullah/Geechee culture for about 20 years and says that his experiences in South Carolina have enriched his teaching and service to the university.
Gullahs (or Geechees) are descendants of enslaved Africans living on the Sea Islands and coastal regions of South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida. This distinctive culture and language are threatened with extinction by economic development along the southeastern seaboard. Jarrett seeks to help preserve this unique culture and language.
Teaching
Jarrett has developed a style of teaching that stresses enthusiasm in the classroom, student engagement, and plenty of activities designed to address topics of interest.
“I have always believed the keys to a successful classroom experience involve preparation, motivation of students, and establishing a relaxed learning environment,” he says. “I believe teaching is an art form, and the instructor must bring a certain level of passion and enthusiasm into the classroom.”
In 2014, the enthusiasm of his students earned him recognition in “Excellence in Education” in Ohio Magazine.
Community Service
Jarett has applied his expertise with research and student engagement to provide opportunities for university community service by developing a cultural enrichment program based on his Gullah/Geechee Research Project in South Carolina.
He created “Journey to Wholeness” to introduce community members and students to this unique group of people and in an effort to assist in the preservation of Gullah culture and language.
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