Rate My Professor Norah P. Shultz

Norah P. Shultz is Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at San Diego State University, where she also serves as Director of Inclusive Curriculum for the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity and as doctoral faculty in the EdD Educational Leadership Community College and Post-Secondary Education Program. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from Bryn Mawr College in 1988, M.A. in Sociology from Bryn Mawr College in 1984, and B.A. Summa Cum Laude with Honors in Social Science/Sociology Concentration from Rosemont College/Villanova University in 1978. Dr. Shultz's early research, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, examined the intersection of volunteerism and aging. For over two decades, her scholarly work has concentrated on the sociology of higher education, including the relationship of multiculturalism and internationalization in global curricula, general education, leading change in higher education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and student success. Her primary teaching responsibilities center on research methods, and she is currently involved in student success projects with the College of Education’s Center for Teaching Critical Thinking and Creativity and the College of Engineering.

Dr. Shultz has edited significant volumes such as Revising the Curriculum and Co-Curriculum to Engage Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Routledge, 2024) and Challenges of Multicultural Education: Teaching and Taking Diversity Courses (Routledge, 2015, co-edited with Jeffrey Shultz). Her refereed journal articles, published under Norah Peters-Davis or Norah P. Shultz, appear in outlets including The Gerontologist, Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, and Activities, Adaptation & Aging, addressing topics such as family caregiving typologies, mental health of caregivers, children-in-law in caregiving families, and student course scheduling effectiveness. Career highlights include Professor at San Diego State University since 2016 (Undergraduate Program Director 2022–2023), Professor at Pennsylvania State University Abington College (2011–2016, Senior Associate Dean 2014–2016), and at Arcadia University (Professor 2000–2011, Founding Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 2009–2011, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Faculty Development 2001–2007). Earlier roles encompassed Senior Research Scientist at Abramson Senior Center’s Polisher Research Institute (1988–1994).