Jelena Nikolic Khatatbeh

Motivated sociology educator with teaching and research experience, recognized for creating engaging curricula that promote critical thinking. Notable achievements include contributions to NSF-funded research on minority rights, medical sociology and social inequality, along with presentations at esteemed international conferences. Expertise lies in motivating students to explore sociological theories and their practical applications, resulting in improved academic performance and a deeper understanding of societal issues. Focused on advancing the field of sociology through innovative teaching and impactful research.

• Midwest Sociological Society Student Member
• Southern Sociological Society Student Member
• Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society

SIU Research & Creative Activities Forum, Assigned to Judge Undergraduate Sociological Research, 2021

• How to Dismantle Workplace Discrimination of American Muslims: Suggestions and Strategies for Creating Safe Workplace for American Muslims, Nikolic, Jelena, forthcoming, Journal for Muslim Minority Affairs
• Navigating Telehealth Challenges: Rural perspectives on technology access and trust, Nikolic, Jelena, Jessica Crowe, Ruopu Li, 2024, Journal of rural and community Development
• The Digital Health Divide; Understanding telehealth adaptation across rural-urban and racial lines, Crowe, Jessica, Jelena Nikolic, Ruopu Li, 2024, Journal of Population Health
• The impact of Poverty and Rurality on Broadband accessibility and Online Education, Crowe, Jessica, Jelena Nikolic, Ruopu Li, Anthony Cusmano, under review, Journal of Rural Sociology

• David Briscoe Book Scholarship, 2021, Department of Sociology
• Research Assistantship on the NSF-granted project 'Overcoming the Smart Divide in Rural America by Enhancing Information Communication Technology and Social Infrastructure', 2022-23
• Dissertation Research Assistantship (DRA), 2024, Southern Illinois University

• Telehealth Practices in Southern Illinois: Evaluating the Impact of Geographic Residence and Race, 04/24, Midwest Sociological Society Annual Meeting, Des Moines, IA
• Can you see beyond my Hijab? Muslim women's employment experiences in Southern Illinois, 03/23, SIU Conference on Women, virtual
• Why are they covering their hair? Understanding Muslim Hijabi Women, 03/22, SIU Conference on Women, virtual
• Dismantling Discrimination against American Muslims in the Workplace, 04/22, Midwest Sociological Society Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL
• How to Dismantle Discrimination against Muslims at the Workplace, 04/22, Southern Sociological Society Annual Meeting, Birmingham, AL
• War, art and Ukrainian women, 04/22, Ukrainian ProEnglish Theatre Conference, virtual
• Overcoming the Smart Divide in Rural America by Enhancing Information Communication Technology and Social Infrastructure, 08/22, Rural Sociological Society Annual Meeting
• Working Women and Society, 08/22, Conference on Empowering Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities, Amman, Jordan