Professor of Sociology Virginia Teas Gill celebrated her August 15 retirement with SOA colleagues and family at a reception at her home on August 19. Dr. Gill joined Illinois State as an Assistant Professor in 1996, earned tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2002, and promotion to Professor in 2011. She served as the Sociology Undergraduate Program Coordinator from 2014-17.

She earned a Ph.D., M.S., and BA with Honors from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Dr. Gill is a conversation analyst whose research focuses on doctor-patient interaction. She has published numerous journal articles and chapters on medical encounters in primary care and surgical contexts and is co-editor of the book, Communication in Healthcare Settings: Policy, Participation, and New Technologies (2010). She has served the discipline as an officer for the EMCA Section of the American Sociological Association, the International Society for Conversation Analysis, and the International Institute for Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis. While at Illinois State, Gill received the Outstanding University Teacher Award (2013), Outstanding College Teacher Award (2007), and University Teaching Initiative Award (2001).