Laurel R. Davis-Delano | Springfield College

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Due to the recent winter storm that brought significant snowfall on Sunday and Monday, Springfield College will operate remotely on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. This decision prioritizes the safety of our community and allows Facilities staff the necessary time to clear parking lots and sidewalks. The campus will reopen on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Please check your email for full details and updates.

Laurel R. Davis-Delano

Laurel R. Davis-Delano

Professor of Sociology

Contact Info

Office

Laurel Davis-Delano head shot
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 1992
  • Master of Arts, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 1987
  • Bachelor of Science, Springfield College, Springfield, Mass., 1984
Research Interests
  • Race, gender, and sexual orientation
  • Inequality and media
  • White American beliefs, practices, and representations associated with Native Americans
Courses Taught
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • Social Problems
  • Racial and Ethnic Relations
  • Poverty and Wealth: Class in Society
  • Media and Society
Certifications and Memberships
  • Massachusetts Mascot Coalition Steering Committee Member
  • Reviewed more than 100 submissions to academic journals, 1992-present.
  • Organized sessions at academic conferences, 1992-present.
  • Organized Scholars of Stereotypes of Native Americans in Sport to sign a legal brief, 2016.
  • Co-authored resolution passed by the American Sociological Association calling for elimination of Native American mascots, 2007.
  • Campus Service Includes: Curriculum Committees, Diversity Committees, Racial & Ethnic Issues Working Group, and Safe Zone Committee.

Selected Works

Presentations
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Galliher, R. V., Keene, A. J., Small-Rodriguez, D., & Gone, J. P. (2023). White American Historical Memory and Support for Native Appropriation. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Sociological Association. Philadelphia, PA.
  • Davis-Delano, L.R., Galliher, R. V., & Gone, J. P. (August 2022). Absence Makes the Heart Grow Colder: The Harmful Nature of Invisibility of Contemporary American Indians. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Sociological Association. Los Angeles, CA.
  • Davis-Delano, L.R., Gone, J. P., & Strother, S. (2021). White Pleasure and Native Struggle: Conveyance and Interpretation of Native American Identity. Paper presented at the (online) meeting of the American Sociological Association.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., McLauren, V., & Folsom, J. J. (2020). A People of the Past? Invisibility of Contemporary Native Americans. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Sociological Society, Philadelphia, PA
  • Eason, A. E., Davis-Delano, L. R., & Fryberg, S. A. (2018, August). The Role of Nationalism and Masculine Ideology in Support for Symbolism Harmful to Native Americans. Paper presented at the conference for the American Sociological Association, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., & Morgan, E. M. (2015, August). Exploring gender differences in heterosexual marking. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. Chicago, IL.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., & Pollock, A. (2008, November). Apologetic behavior among female athletes: A new questionnaire and initial results. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport meeting, Denver, CO.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., & Crosset, T. (2008, August). Using social movement theory to study outcomes in sport-related social movements. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Boston, MA.
  • Davis, L. R. (2001, August). Racial diversity in higher education: The connection to climate and competence. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, Anaheim, CA.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., & Morgan, E. M. (2016, March).  Bisexuality obscured: Dichotomous and antonymous cultural conceptions of sexual orientation revealed and reinforced by heterosexual marking. Paper presented at the conference of the Eastern Sociological Society, Boston, MA.

Publications
  • Keene, A.J., Galliher, R.V., Small-Rodriguez, D., Epperson, A.E. & Davis-Delano, L.R. (2025). Native Opposition to Native appropriation and the role of connection to Native nations/communities. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 35(1), e70032.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Galliher, R. V., & Gone, J. P. (2024). Absence makes the heart grow colder: The harmful nature of invisibility of contemporary American Indians. Racial and Ethnic Studies. Advanced Online Publication.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Galliher, R. V., Keene, A. J., Small-Rodriguez, D., & Gone, J. P. (2023). White American historical memory and support for Native appropriation. Race and Social Problems. Advance Online Publication.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Morgan, E. M., Merolla, D. M., James, D., & Hoang, T. H. (2023). An exploration of positive stereotypes: Legitimating the system and naïve challenges to it. Sociological Inquiry. Advance online publication.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Galliher, R. V., & Gone, J. P. (2023) The same old story: Cultivation of the warrior stereotype of American Indians. International Journal of Communication, 17, 4645-4666.
  • Keene, A. J., Small-Rodriguez, D., & Davis-Delano, L. R. (2023). Native voices on Native appropriation. Ethnic and Racial Studies. Advance online publication.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Galliher, R. V., & Gone, J. P. (2022). Native appropriation in sport: Cultivating Bias Toward American Indians. Race and Social Problems. Advance online publication.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Strother, S. L., & Gone, J. P. (2022). Perceived indicators of American Indian identity in everyday interaction: Navigating settler-colonial erasure. Ethnic and Racial Studies. Advanced online publication, 45(11), 2025-2048.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Strother, S. L., & Gone, J. P. (2021). Native American identity work in settler colonial context. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 85, 227–235.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Folsom, J. J., McLaurin, V., Eason, A. E., & Fryberg, S. A. (2021), Representations of Native Americans in U.S. culture? A case of omissions and commissions. The Social Science Journal. Advanced online publication.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Galliher, R. V., Carlson, K. M., Eason, A. E., & Fryberg, S. A. (2020). White opposition to Native nation sovereignty: The role of “the casino Indian” stereotype and presence of Native nation gaming. Du Bois Review, 17(1), 55-80.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Kuchynka, S. L., Bosson, J. K., & Morgan, E. M. (2020). Heterosexual people’s reactions to same-sex romantic or sexual overtures: The role of attitudes about sexual orientation and gender. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(7), 2561-2573.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Gone, J. P., & Fryberg, S. A. (2020). The psychosocial effects of Native American mascots: A comprehensive review of empirical research findings. Race, Ethnicity, and Education, 23, 613-633.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Morgan, E. M., Gillard, A., & Davis, C. V. (2018). When heterosexuality is questioned: Stifling suspicion through public displays of heterosexual identity. Journal of Homosexuality, 65(13), 1683-1708.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., & Morgan, E. M. (2016). Heterosexual identity management: How social context affects heterosexual marking practices. Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research, 16(4), 299-318.
  • Morgan, E. M., & Davis-Delano, L. R. (2016). How public displays of heterosexual identity reflect and reinforce gender stereotypes, gender differences, and gender inequality. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 75(5), 257-271.
  • Morgan, E. M., & Davis-Delano, L. R. (2016). Heterosexual marking and binary cultural conceptions of sexual orientation. Journal of Bisexuality, 16(2), 125-143.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., & Gillard, A. (2015). Summer camp as context for girls’ and women’s same-sex attractions and relationships. Leisure/Loisir, 39(1), 1-36.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R. (2014). Characteristics of activities that affect the development of women’s same-sex relationships, Journal of Homosexuality, 61(10), 1355-1377.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., Pollock, A., & Vose, J. (2009). Apologetic behavior among female athletes: A new questionnaire and initial results, International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 44(2-3), 131-150.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R., & Crosset, T. (2008). Using social movement theory to study outcomes in sport-related social movements. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 43(2), 115-134.
  • Davis-Delano, L. R. (2007). Eliminating Native American mascots: Ingredients for success. Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 31(4), 340-373.
  • Davis, L. R. (2002). Racial diversity in higher education: Ingredients for success and failure. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 38(2), 137-155.
  • Davis, L. R. (2002). The problems with Native American mascots. Multicultural Education, 9(4), 11-15.
  • Davis, L. R., & Harris, O. (1998). Race and ethnicity in U.S. sports media. In L. A. Wenner (Ed.), MediaSport (pp. 154-169), New York, NY: Routledge.
  • Davis, L. R. (1997). The swimsuit issue and sport: Hegemonic masculinity in “Sports Illustrated.” Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
  • Davis, L. R. (1993). Protest against the use of Native American mascots: A challenge to traditional American identity.  Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 17(1), 9-22.
  • Davis, L. R. (1990). Male cheerleaders and the naturalization of gender. In M. A. Messner and D. Sabo (Eds.), Sport, men and the gender order (pp. 153-161), Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
  • Davis, L. R. (1990). Racism and the articulation of difference: White preoccupation with the question of racially-linked genetic differences among athletes. Sociology of Sport Journal, 7(2), 179-187.

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