Sociology Prof. Craig Lair enjoys discovering patterns and relationships between data and sharing knowledge about those connections with the students he teaches at Gettysburg College. Lair, who grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, received a bachelor’s degree in sociology at Arizona State University before earning both a master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Maryland. He joined the Gettysburg faculty in 2008 and previously served as sociology chair from 2018-2024.
Lair’s research focuses on the sociology of work, social theory, and economic sociology. Currently, he is working on a project looking at companies selling false academic credentials, such as high school or college diplomas. In examining how they assure their customers of trustworthiness, Lair found that the companies themselves are incredibly customer service-oriented and go to great lengths to help different customers in desperate situations.
Appointed as Gettysburg’s ombudsperson in 2021, Lair serves as a confidential resource for all Gettysburg employees. He listens to their concerns and helps them brainstorm solutions that could lead to mutual understanding and stronger relationships.
Lair teaches Introduction to Sociology, Wealth, Power, and Prestige—a course that centers on economic inequality—Field Methods, and regular and advanced theory courses. In his field methods courses, he often lets students work with data he has collected in past projects, letting them discover how human social behavior is interconnected.
“When I teach Introduction to Sociology, my goal is to show students the role that social connections play in our lives. My motto for that course is that connections matter,” said Lair, who enjoys reading, walking his dogs with his wife, and cooking. “It is easy to underappreciate just how influential social connections are, especially in America where we think primarily in terms of individuals and individual attributes. It is fun to see students come to appreciate the role of connections in our lives.”
By Katie Lauriello ’25
Photos provided by Craig Lair
Posted: 06/05/25