Kenneth Gourlay is a PhD student in Sociology at Wayne State University. His focus is on public discourse around sex, sexuality, and gender.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
| Wayne State University Doctor of Philosophy, Sociology (expected 2026) Master of Arts, Sociology (2022) | Detroit, Michigan |
| University of Michigan Bachelor of Science, Education (2000) | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Chelsea High School Diploma (1996) | Chelsea, Michigan |
Honors, Awards, and Certifications
| Graduate Professional Scholarship Wayne State University | 2020, 2021, 2022 |
| Women of Wayne Scholarship Wayne State University | 2020, 2021, 2022 |
| Shirley Falconer Slayman Scholarship Wayne State University | 2020, 2021 |
| Mediation Training Certification Chance For Life Organization | 2014 |
| Leader and Facilitator Development Certification Chance For Life Organization | 2014 |
| University Honors University of Michigan | 2000 |
| National Merit Scholar National Merit Scholarship Corporation | 1996 |
Volunteer and Organizations
| MindMeditate WSU Vice President (2022–2023) | Detroit, Michigan |
| Voting Access for All Coalition Webmaster (May 2021–present) | Michigan |
| American Sociological Association Student Member (2020–present) | Washington, D. C. |
| Friends of Restorative Justice Member (March 2020–present) | Washtenaw County, Michigan |
| North Central Sociological Association Student Member (February 2020–present) | Westerville, Ohio |
| Still Mountain Buddhist Meditation Center Member (2018–present) Board Member (2020–2023) | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
Teaching Experience
| Curriculum Designer and Instructor Trade Skill Math Course (2017–2018) | Jackson, Michigan |
| Facilitator Secular Organization for Sobriety (2016–2018) | Jackson, Michigan |
| GED Program Tutor Michigan Department of Corrections (2009–2018) | Jackson, Michigan |
| Student Teacher Greenhills School (2000) | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
Employment
| Editorial Assistant Sociological Focus, North Central Sociological Association, through Wayne State University (2022–2025) | Detroit, Michigan |
| Web Developer, Designer, and Consultant Self Employed (2020–present) | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Social Media Marketing Consultant Art & Element (2018–present) | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Assistant Manager Zingerman’s Bakehouse (2018–2020) | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Assistant Carpenter Integral Works (2006–2007) | Detroit, Michigan |
| Project Manager Chimes, Inc. (2005–2006) | Troy, Michigan |
| Software Development Lead Chimes, Inc. (2003–2005) | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Information Technology Consultant Saline Area Schools (2000–2002) | Saline, Michigan |
| Productions Coordinator Access Productions, Inc. (1998–2001) | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Owner and Chief Technology Officer Chain Communications, Inc. (1997–2003) | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Programmer The Millennium Project, University of Michigan (1997–1998) | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Macintosh and Web User Services Computer Aided Engineering Network, University of Michigan (1996–1999) | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
Academic Publications
Gourlay, Kenneth, & Brewster, Zachary. 2023. “Seeing Red: Color Effects on Restaurant Tipping May Not Be as Significant as Thought.” Journal of Foodservice Business Research. doi: 10.1080/15378020.2023.2260276 (complimentary free access)
Gourlay, Kenneth. 2023. “Talking to Friends About Sex, and Why We Don’t.” Sexuality & Culture. doi: 10.1007/s12119-023-10116-9
Brewster, Zachary, & Gourlay, Kenneth. 2021. “The ‘Mask Effect’ on the Tips that Customers Leave Restaurant Servers.” International Journal of Hospitality Management. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2021.103068
Brewster, Zachary; Gourlay, Kenneth; & Nowak III, Gerald. 2021. “Are Black Restaurant Servers Tipped Less Than White Servers? Three Experimental Tests of Server Race Effects on Customers’ Tipping Behaviors.” Cornell Hospitality Quarterly. doi: 10.1177/1938965521103665
Presentations
Gourlay, Kenneth. 2024. “Machine Learning for Qualitative Social Science Research.” Presented at North Central Sociological Association Annual Meeting, March 30, 2024, Columbus, Ohio.
Gourlay, Kenneth. 2023. “Healthy Survivors: Do Parents Play a Role in Resilience to Childhood Sexual Victimization?” Presented at North Central Sociological Association Annual Meeting, March 24, 2023, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Gourlay, Kenneth. 2022. “Correlates of Barriers to Communication with Friends.” Presented at Michigan Sociological Association Annual Meeting, November 5, 2022, East Lansing, Michigan.
Gourlay, Kenneth. 2022. “Talking With Friends About Sex: Barriers to Sexual Communication Among Peers.” Presented at North Central Sociological Association Annual Meeting, April 2, 2022, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Gourlay, Kenneth. 2022. “Seeing Red During COVID-19: Lipstick and Mask Color Effects on Tipping.” Presented at Wayne State University Graduate Research Symposium, March 8, 2022, Detroit, Michigan.
Brewster, Zachary, & Gourlay, Kenneth. 2021. “Face Masks and the Color Red: Restaurant Tipping Behaviors During the Pandemic.” Presented at Wayne State University Humanities Center Brown Bag Colloquium Series, October 13, 2021, Detroit, Michigan.
Gourlay, Kenneth. 2021. “Queerness and Mental Health.” Presented at NCSA Annual Meeting, April 10, 2021, online.
Gourlay, Kenneth, & Sammons, Kyle. 2020. “Tweeting About Sex: A Content Analysis of Sex-Related Communication on Twitter.” Accepted for presentation at NCSA Annual Meeting (canceled due to COVID-19).
Other Publications
Gourlay, Kenneth. 2020. Lessons Learned: Life-Altering Experiences of Incarceration. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Author.
Gourlay, Kenneth, ed. 2018. Save Our Selves Participant Handbook. Jackson, Michigan: Save Our Selves.
Student Resources
Would you like to help support my academic journey? Take a look at this list of books and materials that will aid my research!