By Sam Chipman, Staff Writer
Meet Dr. William Ryan Force, a member of the Western New England University faculty since 2011, who started as an Assistant Professor of Sociology in the Criminal Justice and Sociology Department. Since 2017, Force has been an Associate Professor of Sociology while being the Faculty Advisor of Feminists Unite! and the Director of Women’s & Gender Studies Minor.
Force has taught a variety of different courses throughout his career in higher education. Throughout his work life, he has always managed to contribute and be a part of groups with the mission of equity, advising Feminists Unite! since 2013 as well as the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) from 2012-2014. Force is somewhat of a radical philosopher and falls outside of the stereotype of most PhD’s.
Dawned with tattoos on both arms, he can often be found wearing converse, jeans and a quirky t-shirt pertaining to one or another of his favorite movie scenes or inside jokes. The young professor is also educated in music culture as well as film and philosophy. In the spring semester of 2021, he gave a lecture about 90’s rap culture and societal implications, which was open to Western New England University students and faculty.
During the same semester, he led a class on “Misogyny, Misanthropy and Society in Film” highlighting inextricable characteristics of famous auteur filmmakers such as Stanley Kubrick, Paul Thomas Anderson, and the Coen Brothers. In the class, he focused on making the students aware of societal undertones, history and toxic male masculinity in modern culture, creating riveting discussions both inside and out of the classroom. There is no need to fret if you missed last semester’s film class; Professor Force will be holding “Men and Masculinity in Film” running Mondays 3:30-6:30 p.m. this coming semester of Spring 2022.
Professor Force’s favorite movies are “There Will be Blood” (2007), “The Big Lebowski” (1998) and “Goodfellas” (1990). He is an advocate for justice, social equity, diversity and inclusion. Will believes that movies are important because they reflect societal feelings, fears and values.
In his free time, Force enjoys riding his bicycle and record hunting and listening. He also enjoys “watching stupid reality TV with my partner, traveling to new cemeteries and tiki bars,” says the film buff. Along with his partner, Force enjoys the company of his two mongrels, Rigby and Kiley. Rigby is a Joe Cocker Spaniel and Kiley is a Chug (Chihuahua and Pug mix). “They are magnificent creatures,” he says.
Looking forward, Force seeks to publish a book based on tattoo culture and Instagram. The doctor himself has many tattoos and may be called a tattoo aficionado by some. He has already published one academic journal on the premise and plans to further his research and knowledge on the subject.
Force is a cultural swiss army knife, well versed in music, film, ethnography and tattoo culture, making for an ultimately rad college professor. When asked what quote most defines his personal philosophy, he replied: “Radical simply means grasping things at the root” – Angela Davis.
