Headshot of Thomas Arcaro

Thomas Arcaro

Professor of Sociology

Department: Sociology and Anthropology

Office and address: Lindner Hall - Arts & Sciences, Office 209C 2035 Campus Box ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, NC 27244

Phone number: (336) 278-6442

Professional Expertise

Linking sociology and social justice work through Critical Hydra Theory since 2019.

Brief Biography

Tom Arcaro is a professor of sociology and teaches courses in Introductory sociology, sociology through film, classical theory, global social problems, and many others. He founded the Periclean Scholars program at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ in 2003 and mentored the inaugural Class, the Class of 2006. Arcaro has been researching and studying the humanitarian aid ecosystem and related aid and development issues for nearly two decades. He published Aid Worker Voices in 2016, and his most recent works include Confronting Toxic Othering: Understanding and Taming the Hydra (2021) and Dispatches from the Margins of the Humanitarian Sector (2022). The third edition of Confronting Toxic Othering will be published in early 2026.

News & Notes

Education

1982  Ph.D., Sociology and Anthropology, Purdue University
1977  M.S., Anthropology, Purdue University               
1975  B.A., Sociology (cum laude), The Ohio State University            

Courses Taught

 

  • The Global Experience
  • Introduction to Sociology                                                    
  • Global Social Problems                                                 
  • Classical Theory
  • Sociology Through Film                                                      
  • Social Deviance
  • Criminology and Juvenile Delinquency                             
  • American Society
  • Sociology of War                                                                   
  • Popular Culture
  • Research Methods in Social Sciences
  • HIV/AIDS in the Developing World
  • Coming Home:  the impact of studying abroad
  • Advanced CORE courses taught include War and Society, Global Perspectives, Social Change in India, Coming Home:  returning from studying abroad, and Periclean Scholars

Leadership Positions

  • Founding Director of Project Pericles and the Periclean Scholars program at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ
  • Mentor of the Periclean Scholars Class of 2006
  • Director, Winter Term in London, 1988-1992
  • Director, Semester in London, 1989
  • Director, Semester in Costa Rica, 2014
  • Faculty Director, Global Start Semester in Dublin, 2025

Current Projects

  • Faculty advisor for Students for Peace and Justice.
  • Working on additional chapters for the third edition of Confronting Toxic Othering
  • Researching ex-Seventh Day Adventists using an online survey. Our team is now analyzing over 1100 responses.
  • Research on student opinions about the conflict in Israel/Palestine.
  • Continuing to support the Centre for Peace and Justice in Dhaka, Bangladesh, by teaching classes and workshops both online and in person.

Publications

PUBLICATIONS (books in bold), 

  • , second edition, Innovative Ink Publishing, December 2023.
  • Foreword in by Seyuder Rahman, 10 October 2023
  • Foreword in by Roshidullah Kyaw Naing, Evincepub Publications, India, 1 September 2022.
  • Carpe Viam Press, 2022.
  • sole author) Carpe Viam Press, 2021.
  • , Class of 2016, edited by Morgan Abate, Sally Hewett, Jenna Mason and April Post, Carpe Viam Press, 2016. 
  • , (sole author) Carpe Viam Press, 2016. 
  • , (authored and edited by Tom Arcaro, Sam Burch, Taylor Glenn, Mikayla Shaw and Erin Tanhauser), Carpe Viam Press, 2015.
  • (authored by ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Students, Edited by Evan Small, Edited by Kim Lilienthal) (executive editor and publisher), Carpe Viam Press, 2015.
  • (edited by Kelsey Lane, Samantha Lubliner, and Erin Luther) (executive editor and publisher) Carpe Viam Press, 2015.
  • (by Charla Bilson), (executive editor and publisher) Carpe Viam Press, 2015.
  • (edited by Robin Gottleib and Tablitha Core, authored introduction chapter), (executive editor and publisher) Carpe Viam Press, 2014.
  • (executive editor and publisher) Carpe Viam Press, 2014.
  •   (authored by GST 336 students) (executive editor and publisher) Carpe Viam Press, 2014.
  • by Blanca Neihhaus (executive editor and publisher), Carpe Viam Press, 2014.
  • , (authored by GST 336 students), (executive editor and publisher) Carpe Viam Press, 2013.
  • “The Stigma of Being an Atheist” Skeptic Magazine, Volume 15, No. 4 (2010)
  • Understanding the Global Experience, Allyn-Bacon, Boston, MA, 2010
  • A Collection of Essays on Being Human, (online publication at ), 2002
  • Carpe Viam Press, Burlington, NC, 2000
  • (Book chapter) "Periclean Scholars: An Interdisciplinary Model of Civic Engagement on College Campuses" Edited by  and , Cambridge University Press, 2018. 
  • "Some further thoughts on being human: the million-dollar cap, Bill Gates and my salary at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College" The Humanist Sociologist Vol. 23, No. 1, February 1999
  • Guided Field Journal for Aboriginal Australia, internal publication, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College, NC, 1997 (revised 1998)
  • "What is Humanist Sociology, Anyway?" Humanity & Society Vol. 20, No. 2, April 1996
  • "Who are Humanist Sociologists?," The Humanist Sociologist Vol. 20, No. 1, February 1996
  • "Some Thoughts on Teaching and Professing Sociology," The Humanist Sociology Resource Book, edited by Martin Schwartz, American Sociological Association, 1992, 1996
  • "An Examination of Poverty and Welfare: A Classroom Debate," The Humanist Sociology Resource Book, edited by Martin D. Schwartz, American Sociological Association, 1992, 1996
  • "Ganesh Meets Buddha in the Heavyweight Division Finals," Pegasus, Spring 1992
  • "Some Thoughts on Constructing a Sociology of Human Motivation," The Critical Criminologist, Vol. 3, No. 2, June 1991
  • Allen and the True Fish Story (children's interactive coloring story book) Carpe Viam Press, 1992.
  • Talking About War and Other Scary Stuff Is Not Fun (children's interactive coloring story book) Carpe Viam Press, 1992.
  • "Once Again, to Mac," Pegasus, Fall, 1991
  • "New Voices: A Review," Humanity and Society, Vol. 11, No. 3, September 1989
  • "On the Concept of Prehistory: A New Look at Marx," The Humanist Sociologist, Vol. 14, No. 3, Fall 1989
  • "Human Motivation: Eros and Thanatos," Humanity & Society, Vol. 12, No. 2, June 1988
  • "Some Thoughts on Teaching and Professing Sociology," Pegasus, Winter, 1988
  • "Some Thoughts on Students and the Problem of Grading," Pegasus, Winter, 1987
  • "A Response to the Love Project: An Open Letter to Chuck Flynn," The Humanist Sociologist, Vol. 9, No. 2, May 1984
  • "Self Identity of Female Prisoners: The Moral Career of the Inmate," Humanity & Society, Vol. 8, No. 1, February 1984
  • "They're Here to Follow Orders, Not to Think: Some Notes on Academic Freedom in Prison," Journal of Correctional Education, Vol. 34, Issue 4, December 1983
  • "Humanism, Feminism, and Cultural Relativity: Contradictions and Ambiguities," The Humanist Sociologist, Vol. 8, No. 2, June 1983

Public Scholarship

  •  , February 2026, published in the Sanford Herald, Sanford, NC, and the Greensboro News and Record.

  • February 2026, published in the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Peddulum. is the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ News Network interview about the op-ed.

  • , November 2025 published in the Burlington Times-News.

  • October 2024, published in The Observer, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

  • March 2023 published in The Business Standard, Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • September 2022, published through Restorationnewsmedia.com.
  • August 2021, published in The Daily Star (Bangladesh).
  • May 2020, published on Art Garden of the Rohingya website.
  • "" December 2019, published on the Rohingya Post website. 
  • "Today is World Humanitarian Day" August 2018, published in local and regional newspapers.
  • April 2018, published in several regional newspapers.
  • "Mass deportations will have major consequences" February 2018, published in the
  •  November 2017, published in the Burlington Times-News and .
  • "The unstoppable force of artificial intelligence vs. the immovable object of capitalism, September 2017, published in the Burlington Times-News.
  • , August 2017, published on the web page.
  • , November 2016, published in The Conversation.
  • , April 2016, published in The Guardian.

  • " was published in five local and regional newspapers, February 2016

  • published in two local and regional newspapers, September 2014

  • "" was published in five local and regional newspapers, July 2014

  • "" was published in two local and regional newspapers in June 2014
  • "Our global community is alive and well," published in six local and regional newspapers, November, 2013.
  • "Supporting those on the front lines of support" was published in three local and regional newspapers in October 2013
  • Changing the narrative of the future in Honduras & the world” published in two local and regional newspapers, September 2013
  • Anti-nationalism and atheism from a Founding Father?” published in four local and regional newspapers, July 2013 
  • “” published in six local and regional newspapers, May, 2013
  • ,” published in six local and regional newspapers, April 2013
  • Public apologies won't end soon” was published in five local and regional newspapers in May, 2012
  • A call to learn more:  my travel to Haiti” was published in two regional and local newspapers in September, 2012
  • When every child is not treated equally” was published in four regional and local newspapers in December, 2012
  • “” published in the Greensboro News and Record, December 2011
  • published in the Greensboro News and Record, (with Anthony Hatcher) March, 2010

Presentations

.

PRESENTATIONS

  • "The Anatomy of a Campus Realignment: Evolving Student Opinion on Israel/Palestine Conflict (Oct 2024, October 2025", presentation at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Sociological Association, UNC-Wilmington, 27 March, 2026.
  • "Introducing Critical Hydra Theory." Invited lecture to advanced sociology students at Dublin Business School, 10 December 2026.
  • "A Longitudinal Analysis of Evolving Student Opinion on the Conflict in Israel/Palestine at a Liberal Arts University"Invited talk presented at "Understanding Social Justice, Equality, and Contemporary Humanitarian Challenges" interdisciplinary seminar, Dublin Business School, 2 December 2025.
  • “I wasn’t believed”: The aftermath of psychological and sexual abuse from former Seventh-day Adventists” (with Rene Drumm, Duane McClearn, Jeff Wright, and Petr Cincala), Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association (AHSRA), June 2025.
  • “Long-lasting effects of Adventism on ex-Adventists’ lives, paper presented at the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Pittsburgh, PA, October 2024.
  • "God's church is not an organization": Ex-Adventists—Who they are and why they left." Drumm, R. Arcaro, T., McClearn, D., Wright, J., Adventist Human Subjects Researchers Association Conference. Andrews University. Berrien Springs, MI., May 2024.
  • Three day workshop entitled "Social Justice in Action: Unmasking Power Dynamics in Humanitarian Response" organized by the Brac University Centre for Peace and Justice, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, August 2023.
  • talk presented at the Women's Peace Cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh August, 2023.
  • "" Hawkes Learning Innovative Educators Virtual Summit, March 17, 2023.
  • "Volunteer online teaching of refugees and nationals in Bangladesh in partnership with a local NGO" presented at the first annual International Workshop on Volunteerism in the Post Covid-19 Era sponsored by the Turkish Red Crescent Academy, December 2021.
  • "Privileging Forces in the Humanitarian System: Power and Marginalization", International Humaitarian Studies Associartion meeting, Paris, November 2021.(online presentation)
  • Invited presentation "Confronting Toxic Othering" for Life@ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, November 2021
  • Invited presentation "Views on the Humanitarian Imprerative" for Life@ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, April 2021
  • Invited presentation "Violence via social media" with student Megan Casner ('22) on a Zoom conference organized by the Kurdish Regional Government and the Ministry of Culture and Youth, Department of Gender Equity November 2020.
  • Invited presentation "Switching to online teaching and how it affected the curriculum in the United States" (with Dr. Ahmed Al Fadaam). Virtual international scientific conference co-sponsored by WHO and the University of Qadisiya about the impact of COVID19 on individuals and societies. April 2020.
  • Served on a panel discussion about the situation in Myanmar on 17 July 2020. The segment aired live on Indus News (Pakistan) for a program called "Scope with Waqar Rizvi". 
  • "Publishing Books with Classes: Engaged Learning with Concrete Deliverables" presented at the annual Teaching and Learning Conference, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, August 13, 2015 with Michael Vaughn and Samantha Burch.
  • "Commitment to Dialogue:  Two Effective Practices in Establishing the University's Role in Civic Dialogue" annual meeting of North Carolina Campus Compact, February 18, 2015 (with Jason Husser, Constance Ledoux Book, Catherione Parsons and Madison Taylor).
  • "Lost in Translation?  From National Aspirations to Campus Practices" annual national meeting of the American Association for Colleges and Universities held in Washington, DC, January 24, 2015 (with Cass Freedland of Goucher College and Amy Koritz of Drew University). 

  • "Community Engagement in Study Abroad Programs" Drew University, Wednesday, Sept. 24th, 2014.

  • "Understanding the Global Experience: Shaping Responsible World Citizens in Global Studies Classrooms" annual meeting of the Global Studies Association conference held at Palos Verdes, Calif., June 7-9, 2013 (with Rosemary Haskell).

  • “Assessing the global citizenship of Periclean Scholars at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ” presented at the first annual meeting of the Intercultural Strategies for Civic Engagement conference in New York City, October 4, 2012
  • “Exemplary Global Citizens” presented at the winter convocation at the University of Monterrey, Monterey, Mexico January 25, 2012
  • “Global Citizenship in a multiracial world” presented at North Carolina Central University April 10, 2012
  •  “Becoming and Being a Global Citizen:  Some Definitions and Data to Move the Discussion of Global Citizenship Forward” presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology held November 3, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois.
  • "" video presentation, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 
  • “Leadership and participation in the New Atheism:  Where are all the women?” presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology held November 3, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois.
  • “Higher Responsibility: The Role of Higher Education in Nurturing Effective Global Citizens” invited presentation at Thames Valley University 28 January 2011
  • “The Periclean Scholars at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ and their Partnership with Sri Lanka” comments at the opening ceremony of the LEAF summit 24 January 2011 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  • “Exemplary Global Citizens” invited address to the delegates at the Training for Trusteeship event organized by the Weeramantry International Centre for Peace Education and Research, Galle, Sri Lanka 6 September 2011.
  • “Coming Out as an Atheist:  a survey” presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology in 6 November 2010.
  • “The Stigma of Being an Atheist” presented at religion roundtable session at the American Sociological Association meetings in Atlanta, GA, 22 August 2010.
  • “Global Citizenship in the 21st Century” presented at humanist sociology special paper session at the American Sociological Association meetings in Atlanta, GA 23 August 2010. 
  • “Planting Seeds in Fertile Soil: ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s campus culture and the case of the Periclean Scholars program” presented at the annual meeting of the AAUP in Denver, Colorado October 19, 2007.
  • “HIV/AIDS in Namibia” Presentation and training session for United States Peace Corps, Namibia, Africa, August 8, 2005.
  • ”Humanistic Sociology and Darwin:  An Argument for a Sociobiological Approach” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology held October 11, 2002 in Madison, Wisconsin.
  • “A case for Humanistic Universal Darwinism: The Humanistic Implications of Evolutionary Psychology, Sociobiology and Memetics and the Co-evolution of Memes and Genes” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology in Austin, Texas, October 12-15, 2000.
  • “Of Memes, Universal Darwinism, and Humanism:  Some Further Thoughts” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology November 5-7, 1999 in Memphis, TN.
  • "Some Further Thoughts on Being Human: Epistemological Considerations Underlying a Fourth Main Theoretical Perspective in Sociology or How I Came to be a Neo-Darwinian Sociobiologist Who Still Really Likes Marx but Feels the Need for Moving on to Other Paradigms" paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology held in Austin, Texas, November 6-9, 1998.
  • "The Self Identity of a Triathlete: A Participant-Observer Reports" paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology held in Austin, Texas, November 6-9, 1998.                
  • "Mind, Consciousness and Being Human: Thoughts on the Deep Ecology of Brain, body and Gaia," paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology held in Pittsburgh, PA, November 6-9, 1997.
  • "Passing on the New Survey technique to Village Health Workers in India," paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology held in Pittsburgh, PA, November 6-9, 1997.
  • "General Studies Core Courses: The Pilot," paper presented at the first annual conference on Undergraduate Teaching held September 25-27, 1997 at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College, NC.
  • "Vico Meets Gaia: Humanism for a More Just Planet," paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association meetings in San Francisco, California on November 20, 1996.
  • "Evaluation of Studies Abroad," paper presented at the annual conference of the North Carolina Association of International Educators, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College, March 29, 1996
  • "Women and Grassroots Movements in Rural India," paper presented at the annual conference of the Association for Humanist Sociology, Columbus, Ohio, October 1996
  • "Presidential Address: What are Humanistic Social Sciences?" paper presented at the Presidential Plenary session of the annual meetings of the Association for Humanist Sociology, Columbus, Ohio, October 1996
  • "Community Coalitions: A Dilemma Revisited," paper presented at the annual conference of the American Sociological Association, Washington, DC, August 19, 1995
  • "The Likert Scale Goes Marathi: A `New' Technique for Survey Research in the Developing World," paper presented at the XXXII Congress of the International Institute of Sociology "Dialogue between cultures and changes in Europe and the World," Trieste, Italy, July 3-7, 1995
  • "Self Esteem of Village Health Workers in Jamkhed, India," paper presented at the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College Women's Studies international conference on "Violence and Violation in Women's Lives: Myth, Metaphor, and Reality," February 24, 1995
  • "Community Coalitions and the War on Drugs or What's a Humanist Sociologist Doing in a Place Like ACADA?" presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 1993
  • "Social Change in India: The Case of CRHP" presented at the Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Sociological Association, Fayetteville, North Carolina, April 1993
  • "Visual Sociology: Theory and Practice" presented at the Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Sociological Association, Boone, North Carolina, March 1991
  • "Teaching Strategies for Introductory Classes" presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology, Atlanta, Georgia, October, 1988
  • "Coming Home to Weirdness: A Quasi-Marxian Approach to Understanding the Vietnam Veteran" presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Sociological Association, Memphis, Tennessee, April 1987
  • "Human Motivation as Viewed by Miquel de Unamuno and Ernest Becker" presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology, Philadelphia, PA, October 1986
  • "Praxis in the Classroom: The Issue of Hunger" presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology, Atlanta, Georgia, November 1985
  • "Reaching the Student: A Humanist Approach," Roundtable session organized at the Annual Meeting of the North Central Sociological Association, Louisville, Kentucky, April 1985
  • "They're Here to Follow Orders, Not to Think: Some Notes on Academic Freedom in Prison," presented to the North Central Sociological Association, Louisville, Kentucky, April 1985
  • "On the Poverty of Graduate Education in the United States" presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology, Hartford, Connecticut, October 1983
  • "Self Identity of Female Prisoners: The Moral Career of the Inmate," presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology, Washington, District of Columbia, October 1982
  • "The Malaise in Academia: Structural Sources and Human Consequences," presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Humanist Sociology, Louisville, Kentucky, October 1981

FILMS PRODUCED                          

  • "The Comprehensive Rural Health Project: An Introduction"  (1991)
  • "Introduction to India: Goat Sacrifice" (1991)
  • “Throwaway People:  the Global Economy’s Dirty Secret” (2003)
  • “Understanding War:  The People of Alamance County Ask Questions About Iraq” (2004)
  • “A Measure of Our Humanity:  HIV/AIDS in Namibia” (2004)
  • “You Wake Me Up:  Women and AIDS in Africa” (2005)
  • “The Shining Lights of Opuwo” (2004)
  • “Young Struggles, Eternal Faith” (2006)
  • “Testing Positive” (2006)
  • “On Our Own” (2007)
  • “Painting Without Permission” (2008)
  • “A River’s Reach” (2008)
  • “My Name is Anita” (2010)
  • “The Elephant in the Room” (2011)
  • “Health for All” (2012)

Service Activities

Advisor to Students for Peace and Justice.

Personal Information

140.6 and multiple 70.3's, dozens of shorter triathlons.

Awards

  • Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, 2024
  • Carnegie Foundation United States Professor of the Year for North Carolina, 2006
  • Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2005
  • ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College, the College of Arts and Sciences, “Excellence in Service/Leadership Award”, 2005
  • Student Government Association Teacher of the Year, 1986-87 and 1987-88
  • Fulbright Study Tour in India, 1990
  • Travel grant from Faculty Research and Development Committee, 1995
  • Sabbatical grant from Faculty Research and Development Committee, 1997, 2002, 2008, 2015