Dr. O’Brien joined the faculty at UW-Whitewater from the University of Colorado at Boulder where he taught courses such as Introduction to Sociology, Drugs in U.S. Society, and Deviance in U.S. Society. His areas of interest include criminology and delinquency, social control, and social psychology. He has been a member of the Society for the Study of Social Problems since 2005.

Now that you have completed your first year as a faculty member at UW-Whitewater, can you share one reflection in the year?

I am very lucky to have found myself here at UW-Whitewater.

 What is his favorite thing about UW-Whitewater so far?

The people – because everyone is very nice and accommodating. The university is not too large and the communication is very open and the students are great as well.

What made him want to teach?

Dr. O’Brien grew up in a teaching family.  Both of his parents are teachers. He enjoys being in the classroom, the energy, and the ability to break through traditional beliefs and thoughts.

What is his approach to teaching and what can students expect in the classroom?

 He uses both lecture and in-class exercises that allow students to apply the skills they are learning. Sometimes these exercises involve team work. He enjoys challenging the students.  He likes to keep the classroom laid back so that the students feel comfortable talking about any  topic, and to ensure that there is a definite sense of respect and that students feel they are treated fairly. Additionally, students will encounter lectures that lead into tangents where Dr. O’Brien gets very animated about the subject matter. 

What book would he recommend to his students?

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemmingway because it’s a book he has read multiple times and it’s fantastic literature.

What does he like to do outside of work?

 He enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants and bars as well as seeing live music, hiking outdoors, riding around on his motorcycle, and enjoying the sunshine.