Ronald Akers

Ronald Louis Akers (January 7, 1939 – October 19, 2024) was an American criminologist and professor emeritus of criminology and law at the University of Florida's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Ronald Akers
Born	Ronald Louis Akers (1939-01-07)January 7, 1939 New Albany, Indiana, U.S.
Died	October 19, 2024 (aged 85) Gainesville, Florida, U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	Indiana State University (B.S., 1960), Kent State University (M.A., 1961), University of Kentucky (Ph.D., 1966)
Known for	Work on social learning theory and crime
Awards	1988 Edwin H. Sutherland Award from the American Society of Criminology
Scientific career
Fields	Criminology
Institutions	University of Washington (1965–1972), Florida State University (1972–4), University of Iowa (1974–80), University of Florida
Thesis	Professional organization, political power, and occupational laws  (1966)

Career

Akers taught sociology at the University of Washington from 1965 to 1972, criminology at Florida State University from 1972 to 1974, and sociology at the University of Iowa from 1974 to 1980. He chaired the department of sociology at the University of Iowa from 1978 to 1980, when he became a professor at the University of Florida. From 1980 to 1985, he chaired the department of sociology at the University of Florida, and in 1994, he became the director of the Center for Studies in Criminology and Law there.^[1]

Awards and positions

In 1979, Akers served as president of the American Society of Criminology, and he received its Edwin H. Sutherland Award in 1988.^[2][3]

Besides his academic career, Akers was a Deacon in the Baptist Church and a bluegrass musician. He died on October 19, 2024, at the age of 85 in his home in Florida.^[4][5]