Sociology and Anthropology Department
Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Colorado
Fields: corporate social responsibility, mass media, social movements, sustainability, peace and conflict, ethical consumerism
Email: ejones@holycross.edu
Office Phone: 508-793-3478
Office: Beaven 219
PO Box: 50A
Office Hours:
Biography
Ellis Jones received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. As a public sociologist, he is committed to reaching out to a variety of publics as a part of his academic work. He has spoken across North America at colleges, universities, religious groups, sustainability symposiums, and global citizenship summits. He has been interviewed for radio and television both in the US and Canada and was featured in the documentary film, 50 Ways To Save The Planet. To complement a background in international relations and international peace studies, he has lived, studied, and worked for a number of years in parts of Europe, Asia, and Central America. His early work investigated the myriad ways individuals can actively contribute to the resolution of global social and environmental problems, culminating in the release of The Better World Handbook (2nd Ed 2007). A more concise version of this work tailored for sociology students appears as a chapter entitled "Creating a More Just & Sustainable World" in Sociological Odyssey: Contemporary Readings in Introductory Sociology (2010). His most recent work focuses on understanding the role of the ethical consumer in influencing companies to evolve in more socially and environmentally sustainable directions. This research has led to the publication of The Better World Shopping Guide (4th Ed 2012). His Holy Cross courses include Consumer and Corporate Social Responsibility, Sociology of Television and Media, Utopian and Dystopian Worlds, the Montserrat course, You - The Global Citizen (Fall), You - The Ethical Consumer (Spring), and The Development of Social Theory. This last course has resulted in the student publication of both a book of theorists (now in its 3rd edition) and a social theory smartphone app available on Android and iOS devices.
Recent Publications
Jones, Ellis. 2017. "Bridging the Gap between Ethical Consumers and Corporate Social Responsibility". An International Comparison of Consumer-oriented CSR Rating Systems. The Journal of Corporate Citizenship Issue 65. DOI: [10.9774/GLEAF.4700.2017.ma.00005]
Jones, Ellis. 2015. “Don’t Just Read Books, Write Them! Four Lessons Learned from a Multiyear Student-authored Book Project in Social Theory” in Humanity and Society. February 2015.
Jones, Ellis. 2015. “Socially Responsible Marketing and Greenwashing” in The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Consumption and Consumer Studies. March 2015.
Ross Haenfler, Brett Johnson and Ellis Jones. 2012. “Lifestyle Movements: The Intersection of Lifestyles and Social Movements” in Social Movements Studies. January 2012.
Jones, Ellis. 2012. The Better World Shopping Guide: Every Dollar Makes A Difference. Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers. 5th edition forthcoming June 2015.
Johnson, Brett, Ross Haenfler and Ellis Jones. 2009. "Creating a More Just and Sustainable World" in Patricia A. Adler and Peter Adler. 2012. Sociological Odyssey: Contemporary Readings in Introductory Sociology. Wadsworth, pp. 430-446.