News
High-skilled female migrants forgo professional aspirations and turn to home life after facing multiple barriers to their career advancement, MSU Sociology research finds
May 25, 2023 - Karessa Weir
Turkish women who migrate to the US for their husbands’ careers often find themselves unable to pursue their own professional ambitions and instead take on full-time care of children and homelife, according to new research by MSU Sociology Associate Professor Stephanie Nawyn.
Dr. Tom Dietz discusses sustainability decision making in this latest blogpost
May 24, 2023
In connection with the publication of his latest book "Decisions for Sustainability: Fact and Values," MSU Sociology University Distinguished Professor Tom Dietz has posted a blog, “What Should We Do?” on sustainability decision making at fifteen-eighty-four, the Cambridge University Press blogsite.
Sociology PhD candidate Inna Mirzoyan accepts position at Wayne State University
May 8, 2023
MSU Sociology PhD candidate Inna Mirzoyan has accepted a new position for the fall as an Assistant Professor of Teaching in Sociology at Wayne State University in Detroit.
MSU Sociology presents Stella Weinberg as the Ruth Hamilton Award recipient
April 27, 2023
The Ruth Hamilton Award is one of MSU's “All-University Awards for Excellence,” which has a perpetual endowment, and is named after Dr. Ruth Simms Hamilton, a distinguished sociologist whose work over decades made major contributions to the understanding of the African Diaspora. Dr. Hamilton also made significant contributions to sociological theory and to our understanding of international migration, urbanization, and inequality.
Sociology celebrates Spring 2023 Undergraduate Award Winners
April 25, 2023
MSU Department of Sociology is happy to recognize the achievements of our undergraduate students in the 2022-2023 academic year.
MSU Sociology names Carrie Nielsen as Outstanding Senior for 2023
April 24, 2023
Sociology and Economics senior Carrie Nielsen has been chosen to represent the graduating Sociology class for 2023.
Sociology student receive Board of Trustees' Award for earning a 4.0 GPA
April 21, 2023
This semester, a record-breaking 206 graduating students were recognized by the Michigan State University Board of Trustees for achieving the highest scholastic average — a 4.0 GPA. Each semester, students graduating with a 4.0 GPA are presented with the Board of Trustees’ Award for their academic excellence. Additionally, each awardee will be acknowledged during their individual commencement ceremonies in May and will receive $1,000 from the university in recognition of their accomplishment.
Dr. Sarah Prior awarded Outstanding Research Award
April 14, 2023
The ASMSU Senior Class Council awarded the Outstanding Research Award to Dr. Sarah Prior, Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Program Director.
Soc PhD student awarded P. Lea Martinez Endowed Scholarship
April 13, 2023
Teresa Rivera is a Dual Major Doctoral Degree student in Chicano/Latino Studies and Sociology. She has been awarded the P. Lea Martinez Endowed Scholarship award for 2023-24 school year from the Julian Samora Research Institute (JSRI).
Dr. stef shuster wins outstanding paper award "Reducing the Joy Deficit in Sociology: A Study of Transgender Joy"
April 12, 2023
A recent paper by Sociology Assistant Professor stef shuster has been named "the 2023 Outstanding Article award from the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP), Theory Division.
Teen friendships have lasting consequences on depression, success as an adult
April 11, 2023 - Karessa E. Weir
Dr. Molly Copeland's most recent research, published in Social Science & Medicine, shows that teen friendships can have lasting consequences for mental health, decades later, in individuals' mid 30s and early 40s.
Dr. Jennifer Carrera receives 2023 Impact Award for community engaged research
April 10, 2023
An Assistant Professor of Sociology, Carrera named the 2023 winner of Ernest A. Lynton Award for the Scholarship of Engagement from Brown University's Swearer Center.
SOC PhD student publishes report on immigrant trauma
April 3, 2023
Teresa Rivera, Dual Major Doctoral Degree student in Chicano/Latino Studies and Sociology, has published "A Social Ecological Approach to Latino Immigrant Trauma and Intervention: An Integrative Review" in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.
MSU PhD student wins GenCen Student Leader Award
April 3, 2023
Angelica Ruvalcaba is the 2023 recipient of the Inspiration Award in the MSU Student Leader Award by the Center for Gender in Global Context (GenCen).
Dr. Ning Hsieh awarded National Institutes of Health grant
March 23, 2023
Dr. Ning Hsieh received the two-year RO3 grant worth $100,000 to support their work on primary care disparities among sexual and gender minorities.
MSU Sociology welcomes Maria Espinoza
March 23, 2023
MSU Sociology is pleased to announce Maria Espinoza has accepted our tenure-system faculty offer for environment and health sociology position. She’ll be joining our department in August 2023. Her spouse (Matthew Welsh) will be joining the Department of Mathematics in a 3-year Research Associate position starting in August 2024.
Black, Indigenous, Hispanic communities see less of a return on investment for water infrastructure, MSU Sociology research finds
March 21, 2023 - Karessa Weir
A new wide-ranging research paper “The ethnically and racially uneven role of water infrastructure spending in rural economic development,” by Drs. Stephen Gasteyer (MSU Sociology) and J. Tom Mueller (University of Oklahoma), has been published in the journal Nature Water.
Dr. Jennifer Carrera awarded the Distinguished Partnership Award for Community-Engaged Research
March 13, 2023
Dr. Carrera's "Engaging Community in the Development of Low-Cost Technologies for Environmental Monitoring to Promote Environmental Health Literacy in a Low-Trust Setting: The Community-Driven Flint Project" received the honor from the University Engagement and Outreach.
Dr. Molly Copeland selected for University of Michigan training program
March 3, 2023
Dr. Copeland, Assistant Professor of Sociology, was selected to participate in the Michigan Integrative Well-Being and Inequality Training Program run by the University of Michigan's School of Public Health.
Spring Semester '23 Career Fairs start March 13
February 27, 2023
Students from all majors have a wide variety of opportunities to check out careers in many fields over the next month.
We will endure this together
February 14, 2023
We experienced a collective trauma this evening, as a single shooter killed and injured multiple people in Berkey Hall before moving on to do the same in the MSU Union and ultimately heading north where he apparently took his own life. For approximately four hours tonight when the identity and location of the shooter was unknown, we were gripped with fear, desperation, and hopelessness. Even though the shooter is now deceased and our campus “shelter-in-place” order has been lifted, our fear, desperation, and hopelessness—among other feelings—may endure for a while.
Regulation of e-cigarettes may be pushing teens back to significantly more harmful traditional tobacco cigarettes, MSU Sociology research finds
December 21, 2022 - Karessa Weir
MSU Sociology PhD student Sam Safford has published a research paper this December that shows an unintended consequence of strict regulation of electronic cigarettes is an increase in the use of other nicotine delivery methods, including traditional cigarettes which carry significantly higher health risks.
Sociology Faculty Sarah Prior named director of the Bailey Scholars Program
December 14, 2022 - Karessa Weir
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources announced that Dr. Sarah Prior is the new program director of the Bailey Scholars.
MSU Sociology announces online courses for Summer 2023
December 13, 2022
Enroll today for online summer and earn your degree sooner!
Dr. Jennifer Carrera awarded the Distinguished Partnership Award for Community-Engaged Research at MSU
November 30, 2022
This award is for her project “Engaging Community in the Development of Low-Cost Technologies for Environmental Monitoring to Promote Environmental Health Literacy in a Low-Trust Setting: The Community-Driven Flint Project” that she has been working on with two Flint-based organizations (Community Based Organization Partners and Community Driven Flint Action Council).
Ecocultural Studies Conference celebrates the legacies of Drs. Linda Kalof and Tom Dietz
November 30, 2022
In celebration of the careers and retirement of University Distinguished Professor Tom Dietz and MSU Sociology Professor Linda Kalof, MSU Sociology presented a two day workshop on Ecocultural Studies.
Power to the people must include the people
November 29, 2022 - Sue Nichols
Social scientists and communications experts joined engineers to engage rural communities that are off-grid in the Amazon rainforest to find better ways to deliver electricity.
Sociology Chair Aaron McCright among the '2022 Highly Cited' list
November 21, 2022 - Kaylie Crowe and Kim Ward
Dr. McCright is among 11 MSU researchers recognized n the 2022 Highly Cited Researchers List compiled by Clarivate Analytics.
Social Scientists Looking for Participants in DEI and Community Change Program
November 17, 2022 - Emily Jodway
Drs. Sarah Prior and Jennifer Carrera have been awarded funding through Michigan State University’s Institutional Diversity and Inclusion’s Creating Inclusive Grants program toward the development of a new project centered around the improvement of diversity, equity and inclusion in the campus community.
MSU Sociology's Dr. Jodi Yelinek elected to Michigan Sociological Association board
November 16, 2022
Sociology Assistant Professor Yelinek was appointed at the recent MSA convention that took place on the MSU campus.
MSU Sociology minor shares her experiences and passions
November 14, 2022
Kovach earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with concentrations in sociology and human behavior, and social services in May.
Sociology students awarded Provost's Undergraduate Research Initiative grants
October 31, 2022
The College of Social Science announced the winners of the SSC-Provost’s Undergraduate Research Initiative Program (SSC-PURI), which supports undergraduate research through awards of up to $2,000 for Fall-Spring semesters for students majoring in our College.
A strong network helped older people receive help and support during the pandemic, new MSU Sociology research has found
October 26, 2022 - Karessa Weir
MSU Sociology researchers have found that the more friends and family people had before the pandemic, the more likely they were to receive help and support during the worldwide shutdown. For older, non-white people, this is especially true if their network included relatives. Drs. Molly Copeland and Hui Liu analyzed data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project both pre and post pandemic. They found that how adults age 50 and older had structured their “confidant network” before the pandemic in part determined how and if they were able to receive the help and support they needed during COVID-19.
MSU Sociology faculty receive Creating Inclusive Excellence Grants
October 20, 2022
Three MSU Sociology faculty members have received internal funds through MSU's Creating Inclusive Excellence Grants competition.
MSU Sociology professors Tom Dietz and Linda Kalof celebrated with a two-day workshop on Ecocultural Studies
October 14, 2022
In celebration of the careers and retirement of University Distinguished Professor Tom Dietz and MSU Sociology Professor Linda Kalof, MSU Sociology is presenting a two day workshop on Ecocultural Studies.
MSU Sociology mourns the passing of Professor Emertius Dr. Harry Schwarzweller
October 10, 2022
Dr. Harry Schwarzweller was Professor of Sociology at Michigan State University from 1972 until his retirement.
Undergraduate Spotlight: Carrie Nielsen
September 27, 2022 - Katie Nicpon
Carrie Nielsen is entering her fourth year pursuing a BA in economics and a BS in sociology. She came to MSU with a declared major in sociology, but after taking a course in social inequality as part of the Social Science Scholars Program, she realized that understanding economics was a prerequisite for addressing and dismantling many of the injustices in our society.
MSU Sociology professor tackles campus sexual violence in new book
September 21, 2022 - Karessa Weir
Dr. Sarah Prior, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Undergraduate Program Coordinator, has published "Campus Sexual Violence: A State of Institutionalized Sexual Terrorism" with Dr. Brooke De Heer (Northern Arizona University).
Two Sociology PhD students receive Dissertation Completion Fellowships
September 14, 2022
Sociology PhD students Zoey Lai and Angelica Ruvalcaba have been awarded Dissertation Completion Fellowships for Spring 2023 by the College of Social Science.
Dr. Isabel Ayala named Academic Leadership Fellow
September 9, 2022
Dr. Ayala is Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Chicano/Latino Studies Program.
Welcome to our 2022 PhD student cohort
August 19, 2022
Please welcome our 2022 graduate cohort - Jess Burnham, Teresa Rivera and Juwen Wang.
SOC Undergrad shines at Mid-SURE Research presentations
August 8, 2022 - Emily Jodway
Katie Burkhardt, a sociology student, was examining a timeline of the Larry Nassar case, attempting to analyze the changes that have been implemented at Michigan State in its wake and the perception that those involved with the University hold towards those changes. Her hope is that through better discussion from a stakeholder point of view on improvements the University has been making, individuals can feel safer and more supported on campus.
Put your education to work in Public Sociology
August 5, 2022
Dr. Stacy Smith's course SOC 490: Public Sociology explores issues from pandemics to reproductive health care. Enroll today!
New Course! SOC 460: Human Migration
August 4, 2022
Dr. Monique Kelly is teaching SOC 460: Human Migration this fall.
Diversity Spotlight: Yvonne Fleener
July 26, 2022 - Karessa Weir
MSU Sociology alum Yvonne Fleener, Disability Network Southwest Michigan President and CEO, has been at the forefront of disability awareness, advocacy and acceptance her entire life.
Dr. Stephen Gasteyer presents his research in a podcast
July 26, 2022
In this podcast, REI Senior Research Assistant, Matthew Emery, talks with 2022 Student-Led, Faculty-Guided Author, Dr. Stephen Gasteyer, Associate Professor of Sociology at MSU. Gasteyer's 2022 project is entitled "Creating Circular Economic Opportunities through Localizing the Food Cooperative." A summary of the project is seen below. Watch Gasteyer's full presentation at the 2022 Innovate Michigan! Summit on August 18th, 2022.
How COVID-19 lockdown measures - and their outcomes - varied in cities around the world
July 26, 2022 - Dr. Xuefei Ren
Dr. Xuefei Ren, Sociology and Global Urban Studies professor, together with Dr. Roger Keil (York University) and Dr. Philip Harrison (university of the Witwatersrand) published this article in The Conversation.
SOC Graduate students awarded dissertation fellowship grants from the Center for Gender in Global Context
July 21, 2022
Three Sociology PhD students have been awarded fellowship grants from MSU’s Center for Gender in Global Context.
MSU Sociology seeking Assistant Professor in Environment & Health
July 19, 2022
The Department of Sociology at Michigan State University (MSU) seeks candidates for a tenure-system Assistant Professor position in environmental sociology. The 9-month academic year position begins on August 16, 2023. We seek candidates with emerging or established expertise in investigating how regional and/or global ecological changes impact human health outcomes or disparities.
PhD candidate Mark Suchyta earns Honorable Mention for Best Student Paper
July 11, 2022
Suchyta received the award from the Natural Resources Research Interest Group of the Rural Sociological Society.
Dr. Jihan Mohammed accepts position at Vanderbilt University
July 1, 2022
Recent MSU Sociology PhD graduate Dr. Jihan Mohammed has accepted a faculty lecturer position at the Sociology Department of Vanderbilt University. She will start in August.
Dr. Sarah Prior selected as an MSU Lilly Teaching Fellow
June 30, 2022
Dr. Prior, a teaching-focused faculty member in Sociology as well as the Undergraduate Program Director, will be one of the 2022-2023 fellows.
MSU Sociology Favorably Ranked among Sociology PhD Programs in USA and Globally
June 27, 2022
MSU’s Sociology Doctoral Program ranks quite favorably relative to its peers in the USA and around the world, according to an array of reports. Department of Sociology Chairperson Aaron M. McCright remarks, “these favorable rankings are the result of much hard work by our dedicated faculty and students, and they reflect the successes we have achieved across many years.”
John and Ruth Useem Award given to Ezgi Karaoglu
June 16, 2022
MSU Sociology PhD student Ezgi Karaoglu has won the John & Ruth Useem Endowment Award for her research that combines international work and cross-culture approaches to issues, and to support her career in global transformation.
Diversity Spotlight: Larry Thompson
June 15, 2022 - Jalen Smith
Larry Thompson, an MSU Sociology alumnus, was the former U.S. Deputy Attorney General during part of the George W. Bush administration (2001-2003), the second highest ranking position in the U.S. Department of Justice. An experienced leader in the private and public sectors, Mr. Thompson continues to thrive in his law career.
Dr. stef shuster elected to ASA Medical Sociology leadership
June 13, 2022
Dr. shuster is the incoming chair of the membership committee of the professional organization.
Dr. Tom Dietz ranked among the top global and national social scientists
June 10, 2022
Dr. Dietz, University Distinguished Professor of Sociology, has been ranked as #70 top Social Science and Humanities researcher in the U.S. and #138 in the world by Research.com.
Faculty Voice: Finding joy in providing care to trans and nonbinary people
June 9, 2022 - stef m. shuster
stef m. shuster is an assistant professor in Lyman Briggs College and the Department of Sociology.
The Effect of Public Opinion on Environmental Policy in the Face of the Environmental Countermovement
June 6, 2022 - Tiffany Williams
MSU Sociology PhD student Tiffany Williams has published an article that has been incorporated into a chapter in a brand new edited volume on anti-environmentalism.
Dr. Xuefei Ren wins Robert Park Award for Best Book in Urban Sociology
June 2, 2022
Dr. Ren's book Governing the Urban in China and India won the 2022 Robert E. Park Award for Best Book from the Urban Sociology Section of American Sociological Association
On the Intertwining of Cellular Agriculture and Animal Agriculture: History Materiality, Ideology, and Collaboration
June 2, 2022 - Nathan Poirier
MSU Sociology PhD candidate Nathan Poirier has published this article in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.
The Armenian Ethnic Enclave of L.A.
June 2, 2022 - Inna Mirzoyan
MSU Sociology PhD student Inna Mirzoyan published this essay in Community & Urban Sociology
Dr. Xuefei Ren elected to the board of RC21 on Sociology of Urban and Regional Development
May 23, 2022
Research Committee 21 is the most active and visible association for global urban studies. Dr. Ren will serve for the next three years.
MSU SOC senior wins the Ruth Hamilton All-University Award
May 19, 2022
Alyssa Bowen chose Sociology because she loves learning about human interaction and plans to have a career in human relations.
MSU Sociology Dr. Hui Liu to serve on National Institutes of Health Study Section
May 4, 2022 - Karessa Weir
Dr. Liu has accepted an invitation to serve as a standing member of the National Institutes of Health's Social Sciences and Population Studies B Study Section at the Center for Scientific Review.
Congratulations to Emily Fitzgerald, Outstanding Senior for MSU Sociology
May 3, 2022 - Karessa Weir
Fitzgerald, from Kalkaska, Mich., plans to open her own business in the future.
MSU Sociology student wins UURAF award
April 28, 2022 - Katherine Denzin
On April 13, 2022 in the Union Ballroom, undergraduate researchers, faculty and supporters - including Sociology major Brandon Roberts - gathered to celebrate the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) first place winners.
Diversity Champion: Dr. Rebecca Karam
April 27, 2022 - Liz Schondelmayer
Dr. Rebecca Karam is a sociologist at Michigan State University and a member of the College of Social Science's Dean's Research Associates Program. A fourth-generation Lebanese American, Dr. Karam's work centers around shining a light on the traditions, challenges and successes that Arab and Muslim Americans experience as they navigate life in the United States.
Time for an energy independence moonshot
April 14, 2022 - Dr. Tom Dietz
University Distinguished Professor of Sociology Tom Dietz writes that it is "time for an energy independence moonshot" in this op-ed article in The Hill, emphasizing that the best way to halt Russian energy dominance and their overall power is to make major near-term reductions in demand for Russian energy and create a foundation for larger long-term reductions.
Dr. Cathy Liu wins IPUMS Research Award
April 4, 2022
Dr. Liu's research article "Birth Cohort Trends in Health Disparities by Sexual Orientation" has been selected as a winner of the 2021IPUMS Research Awards, presented by the Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation at the University of Minnesota.
MSU Sociology student helps Ukrainian refugees over spring break
March 29, 2022 - Ben Cook
For many Michigan State University students, spring break offers a week away from class and often the dreary March weather. However, for MSU Sociology junior Tamara Hyman, traveling to Poland as part of an alternative spring break to learn more about her culture and history, became part of history as she unexpectedly lent a hand to refugees in need.
Diversity Spotlight: Dr. Theda Skocpol
March 23, 2022 - Becky Jensen
Dr. Theda Skocpol, an MSU Sociology alumna. is the Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University, and is a world-renowned author. She has dedicated her life to equity, social justice education and activism.
MSU Sociology PhD student Lalaki Awudu awarded the Ruth Simms Hamilton Graduate Merit Fellowship
March 22, 2022
The selection committee was impressed with Awudu's overall research trajectory, the originality of her project, and her genuine and explicit engagement with Hamilton’s notion of the African Diaspora.
MSU Sociology Assistant Professor stef shuster wins GenCen Professional Achievement Award
March 17, 2022
The MSU Center for Gender in Global Context announced the university-wide awards for work in gender equity and social justice.
Summer 2022 Online Course Spotlight: Youth & Society
March 16, 2022
This week in our Summer 2022 Online Course highlights, we are pleased to share SOC 316: Youth & Society with Kitty Groeller.
Dr. Stephanie Nawyn works with Michigan Women's Commission to encourage women to run for office
March 16, 2022
MSU Sociology Associate Professor Stephanie Nawyn, director of the MSU Center for Gender in Global Context (GenCen) worked with the Michigan Women's Commission on research showing women are underrepresented in the state legislature and government.
MSU Sociology PhD student Zoey Lai wins research award
March 15, 2022
Wenhua (Zoey) Lai is the 2022 recipient of the Kenneth E. Corey Research Enrichment Fund, awarded by the College of Social Science.
MSU Sociology's Dr. Ning Hsieh and stef shuster awarded 2022 Teacher-Scholar Awards
March 4, 2022
MSU Sociology Assistant Professors Dr. stef shuster and Dr. Ning Hsieh have received a 2022 Teacher-Scholar Award. This All-University Award is a high honor for junior faculty at MSU. The nomination and selection process is highly competitive within colleges and across the university. Successful awardees indeed must demonstrate excellence in both teaching and research.
Dr. Xuefei Ren awarded Urban Studies Grant to research pandemic impacts
March 4, 2022
Collaborating with faculty from York University (Canada) and University of Witwatersrand (South Africa), MSU Sociology Associate Professor Dr. Xuefei Ren is awarded a grant to study COVID-19's impact in vulnerable urban neighborhoods in Toronto, Johannesburg, and Chicago.
MSU Sociology PhD student Nathan Poirier co-edits book on animal studies
March 1, 2022
"Emerging New Voices in Critical Animal Studies: Vegan Studies for Total Liberation" shares critical animal studies voices throughout the world.
Racial inequality in the Anglophone Caribbean: comparing the cases of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago
February 28, 2022 - Dr. Monique Kelly
MSU Sociology Assistant Professor Monique Kelly has published research which compares affluence and status in Jamaica with Trinidad and Tobago, both Black majority countries.
Summer '22 Course Spotlight: Society and Mental Health
February 28, 2022
MSU Sociology is highlighting its Summer 2022 Courses that are open for all undergraduates. This week, we focus on SOC 350: Society and Mental Health with Dr. Jodi Yelinek.
MSU Sociology welcomes PJ Pettis as new Assistant Professor this fall
February 25, 2022
Philip J. "PJ" Pettis, a PhD candidate at Vanderbilt University, will join the thematic area of Sexual and Gender Minority Health research at MSU.
Diversity Champion: Dr. Jualynne E. Dodson
February 24, 2022 - Liz Schondelmayer and Jualynne Dodson
MSU Sociology Professor Emeritus Dr. Jualynne Dodson is an award-winning scholar who has dedicated her career to studying the religion and culture of African descendant peoples in the Americas.
Summer Course Spotlight: SOC 214 Social Inequality with Vanessa Rickenbrode
February 21, 2022
This week's Summer 22 Course Spotlight is SOC 214 Social Inequality with Vanessa Rickenbrode. Enroll today!
Summer '22 Course Spotlight: People & the Environment
February 14, 2022
MSU Sociology is highlighting its Summer 2022 Courses that are open for all undergraduates. This week, we focus on ISS 310: People and Environment with Dr. Ben Marley.
MSU Sociology announces Summer '22 Courses
February 11, 2022
MSU Sociology is excited to announce a full slate of Summer Courses for 2022.
Carbon labels can influence businesses and people to reduce carbon emissions, MSU Sociologists find
January 27, 2022
Newly published research in Nature Climate Change is by Dr. Thomas Dietz, MSU University Distinguished Professor and MSU Sociology alumna Dr. Rachael Shwom.