George E. Dickinson
Sociology and Anthropology

2002 Distinguished Teacher-Scholar Award
2008 Distinguished Research Award

George E. Dickinson received his B.A. in Biology from Baylor University in 1962, his M.A. in Sociology from Baylor University in 1964, and his Ph.D. in Sociology from Louisiana State University in 1969. He came to the College of Charleston in 1985, having previously taught in Kentucky (7 years) and Minnesota (9 years). The recipient of both NSF and NEH grants, Dickinson has been the author/co-author of over 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 10 invited papers/editorials in journals, and 18 books/anthologies, primarily on end-of-life issues (Understanding Dying, Death and Bereavement 6th ed.,Wadsworth Publishers, 2007, and Annual Editions: Dying, Death and Bereavement 10th ed., McGraw-Hill, 2008). His research and teaching interest in end-of-life issues goes back to 1974 when he taught his first course in death and dying and 1975 when he began research on medical schools and physicians. He is on the editorial boards of Mortality (UK), the American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine (US), and The Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare (New Zealand).

He was the 2002 recipient of the Distinguished Teacher/Scholar Award and the 2008 recipient of the Distinguished Research Award at the College of Charleston and was given a SC Governor’s Distinguished Professor Award in 2003. In 1999 he was a Visiting Research Fellow in palliative medicine at the University of Sheffield’s School of Medicine (UK) and in 2006 at Lancaster University’s Institute for Health Research (UK).

Earlier, Dickinson did postdoctoral studies at Pennsylvania State University (gerontology), at the University of Connecticut (medical sociology), and at the University of Kentucky’s School of Medicine (thanatology).