Thomas Stripling ’72

Thomas Stripling worked for 45 years in the field of “research, policy, program, and advocacy for people with disabilities.” A majority of his work involved “developmental disabilities and spinal cord injuries” within the NPC sector interacting with disability and veterans service agencies. Mr. Stripling notes many different parts of his career that utilized his sociological training, inlcuding “demographic estimations & confirmations, service needs & experience surveys, program operations analyses, legislative impact statements, [and] fundraising.” One thing that stuck with Mr. Stripling the most from his Sociology courses was statistics, dispite his initial distaste; “I realized public policies and business practices were based on many “dreamed” numbers rather than actually talking to or surveying target population segments.”

One of Mr. Stripling’s most valued classes was Social Research Methods, saying that “Most marketeers and practitioners initially are too eager to let data settle a score. But learning curves become generalized as practitioners become increasingly aware of NUMBERS.  Also, comparative sociology  across different markets and audiences is advisable.” One thing that Mr. Stripling would tell students who are thinking of studying Sociology is that “Patiences is a virtue!  Take your time and investigations do unfold.  Different directions are not always the solution because some practices however long are often incomplete or incompatible with ‘new learnings’. It’s trite but “learning” isn’t an end-game, rather a process!  Open thinking allows more data points to enter the process, because bias keeps things “small” and nearly understandable.  Learning isn’t just sensory, but rather contemplative.”