Docking Institute Staff
Policy Fellows
Student Staff
Left to right: Jian Sun, Tanner Bartholomew, Mike Walker, Lynette Boys and Gary Brinker
The Docking Institute's staff and fellows have a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. The Docking Institute draws upon university and field-based experts. The vast levels of expertise allow each person to contribute to the overall success of the Institute. This collection of individuals offers a complete and rounded organization.
The staff and fellows bring specialized knowledge and experience in the areas of program evaluation, research, grants facilitation, economic development, government, natural resource issues, healthcare, business, telecommunications, and education. Each person involved in the success of the Docking Institute is highly qualified to achieve excellence in the field of policy research.
Gary Brinker, Ph.D
Director
e-mail: gdbrinker@fhsu.edu
Dr. Gary Brinker has been the director of the DockingInstitute and an associate professor of sociology in the Department ofSociology and Social Work at Fort Hays State University since August 2008. Hewas previously the director of the Center for Social Sciences and Public PolicyResearch at Missouri State University, from May 2002 to July of 2008, and theassociate director from August 1997 to May 2002. His teaching interests includeresearch methods, social problems and quantitative analysis. His sponsoredresearch projects define an eclectic research agenda. Gary has been the principal investigator formore than 75 applied research projects, including program evaluations, needsassessments, economic impact studies, population projections and public opinionsurveys in the areas of education, substance abuse, environment, education,politics, family planning, aging, community health and marketing. He is theeditor of the Missouri Electronic Journal of Sociology and a member of the MidwestSociological Society, Southwest Social Sciences Society and the Hays Chamber ofCommerce. He has published articles in the International Journal of Sociologyof the Family, Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology, Journal of AppliedSociology, North American Journal of Psychology, Social Development Issues,Journal of Population and International Review of Modern Sociology. Gary earneda Master of Arts degree in sociology in 1994 and a doctorate degree in appliedsociology in 1997 at Baylor University.
Michael Walker, M.S.
Assistant Director
e-mail: mwalker@fhsu.edu
Mike Walker is the assistant director of the DockingInstitute and an instructor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work atFort Hays State University. He joined the Institute in 2000 as a researchscientist. He designs a variety of research projects involving survey research,focus group research and strategic planning. He has been the lead researcherfor dozens of labor and employment studies in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.Mike is a member of the Rural Sociological Society, the Community DevelopmentSociety, the Midwest Sociological Society, and the Population Association ofAmerica. Prior to coming to Fort Hays State University, he performedethnographic and survey research in California, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Nebraska.Mike also participated in archeological digs in southern Utah, completed apolitical internship in Washington, DC, and served in the U.S. Army. Heregularly teaches urban/rural sociology, community theory and development,demography and social research methods. Mike received his Master of Sciencedegree in sociology from Utah State University in 1995 and is currentlypursuing a doctorate in sociology at Kansas State University.
Jian Sun, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
e-mail: jsun@fhsu.edu
Dr. Jian Sun joined the Docking Institute in July 2007 as aresearch scientist. His responsibilities include survey design, surveyadministration, data analysis, and report writing. His research interestsinclude housing prices, urban developmental policies, and publicadministration. He was involved in several planning projects in the UnitedStates and China, including land use planning, transportation analysis, andcommunity economic development. He has published in the academic journalsEnvironmental and Planning A, Journal of Real Estate Literature, Journal ofHousing Economics, Journal of Urban Affairs, Journal of Public AffairsEducation, Real Estate Economics, and Journal of Current Chinese Affairs. Jianis also an assistant professor in FHSU’s Department of Political Science,teaching public administration courses. Jian received his doctorate from the University of Louisville in 2007.
Lynette Boys
Administrative Specialist
email: lrboys@fhsu.edu
Lynette Boys joined the Docking Institute in June 2008 as theadministrative specialist. Responsibilities include budget records, billingcontracts, management of accounts, monitoring of fund balances, assigningexpenses, payroll, and maintaining the website. She oversees student employmentthrough JobX and supervises and coordinates the student activities. She is alsoresponsible for design and publication of the Institute’s annual report. Priorto joining the Institute, Lynette worked in the Academic Advising and CareerExploration office. She received her bachelor of arts degree in communicationsfrom Fort Hays State University in 1992.