the Carl A. and Carol A. Bersani Endowed Scholarship

The Dr. Carl A. and Carol A. Bersani Endowed Scholarship was established in 2016, and revised in 2022, by the family and friends of Carl A. Bersani, professor emeritus of sociology at The University of Akron. The scholarship was created as a lasting tribute to recognize Dr. Bersani’s contributions to the Department of Sociology, The University of Akron, and UA students, and to honor his belief in the value of higher education. Dr. Bersani was a full-time professor and colleague at the University for 28 years (1965-1993) and worked part-time from 1993 until 2000.

Dr. Bersani joined The University of Akron in 1965, after teaching at Winona State University (Winona, Minn.) and Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa). He held the following degrees: a Ph.D. in sociology from Iowa State University, an M.A. from the University of Michigan, and a B.A. from Eastern Michigan University.

Dr. Bersani’s numerous accomplishments included serving as a key committee member of the group that established the Akron- Kent Joint Ph.D. program in Sociology, the M.A. program, and the undergraduate degree programs in law enforcement and corrections. He also served four years as head of the Department of Sociology (1976-1980); was the author of many research articles and scholarly presentations on various aspects of crime and deviance; and worked closely with law enforcement agencies, correctional agencies, courts, and intervention centers.

Dr. Bersani and his wife, Carol, have two grown daughters – Lisa Bersani and Michele Bersani Stasitis, and were married for 50 years prior to his passing on September 24, 2015.

In 2022, the scholarship was revised to include the legacy of Carol Ann (Ufkes) Bersani, who passed away on February 10, 2022. Carol was also a devoted educator, who served nearly 50 years as a professor in Early Childhood Education at Kent State University. There, she created and served as the director of the KSU Child Development Center.

The Dr. Carl A. and Carol A. Bersani Endowed Scholarship is available to full- or part-time undergraduate students, with first preference for those majoring or minoring in Sociology at The University of Akron. Second preference is for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education. Candidates must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher. Consideration will be given to candidates with a demonstrated need for financial assistance. Scholarships will be awarded, as funds are available, by the University Scholarship Committee in the amount up to $1,000 per recipient per academic year.