Joan Ferrante is a professor of sociology at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) as well as project director of the Campus Connect Student Philanthropy Project, which awards grants primarily to Kentucky and Ohio colleges and universities to support the integration of student philanthropy projects with academic coursework. In addition, Dr. Ferrante sponsors a Study Abroad Scholarship at NKU called "Beyond the Classroom." Open to any student who has used her introductory text (new or used), the scholarship annually awards funds to five students to support their studies outside the United States. Respected among instructors and students alike, Dr. Ferrante also is the author of SOCIOLOGY: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE, 9th Edition and co-editor of THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF RACE AND ETHNICITY IN THE UNITED STATES. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati.