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Dr. Zhenmei Zhang honored for research in aging
November 27, 2023
MSU AgeAlive will present the Research in Aging Award to Dr. Zhenmei Zhang, Professor of Sociology, at their annual meeting Dec. 7.
Four Sociology undergraduates win PURI grants
November 22, 2023 - Karessa Weir
Four Sociology students have been awarded grants from the Provost’s Office to pursue research on climate change and campus sexual culture with faculty mentors.
MSU Sociology mourns the passing of administrative assistant Debbie Jesswein
October 26, 2023 - Karessa Weir
The MSU Sociology Department shared sad news this week with the passing of long-time administrative assistant Debbie Jesswein.
Dr. stef shuster discusses LGBTQ+ health with Dr. Anthony Fauci
October 26, 2023
MSU Sociology Associate Professor stef shuster shared the stage with Dr. Anthony Fauci this week as part of a panel discussion on LGBTQ+ healthcare.
Sociology alum Dr. Cameron Whitley receives prestigious NSF CAREER grant
October 24, 2023
Dr. Whitley, Associate Professor of Sociology at Western Washington University, will use the grant to partner with zoos, aquariums, and renowned wildlife photographer Tim Flach to research how imagery can positively impact the public's views on climate change and biodiversity loss.
MSU Sociology seeks new teaching faculty
October 17, 2023
MSU Sociology is currently accepting applications for a teaching-focused faculty to teach three courses in the Spring 2024 semester.
MSU Sociology alum works to create new sensory space
October 17, 2023 - Scott Pohl
MSU Sociology alumnus Anthony Ianni, a former MSU basketball player, has autism and encouraged the space's creation. During the dedication ceremony, he reflected on the moments in his childhood when he felt overwhelmed attending basketball games.
Sociology grad Larry Dean Thompson named Distinguished Alumni
September 26, 2023
Larry Thompson has an extensive career in government, in private practice and as a public company general counsel, where his actions reflect a commitment to equity and social justice. Thompson graduated cum laude from Culver-Stockton College in 1967, received his master’s in Sociology from MSU College of Social Science in 1969, and received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1974.
MSU Sociology welcomes Dr. Maria Isabel Espinoza as new environmental and health sociologist
August 24, 2023 - Karessa Weir
MSU Sociology is pleased to welcome our newest faculty member: Assistant Professor Maria Isabel Espinoza, an environmental and health sociologist.
SOC Associate Professor Stephanie Nawyn awarded a partnership grant for women in STEM
August 9, 2023
Michigan State University has been awarded a partnership grant from the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE program that will work to build equitable and inclusive work cultures for women in STEM by focusing on both women from racial minority groups and gender expansive/nonbinary faculty who are at higher risk of leaving academic STEM departments.
SOC Associate Professor Soma Chaudhuri named co-director for Center for Gender in Global Context
July 31, 2023
International Studies and Programs (ISP) has appointed Soma Chaudhuri as the new co-director for global research, outreach and engagement for MSU’s Center for Gender in Global Context (GenCen). Chaudhuri will lead the center alongside Aminda Smith, who was recently appointed GenCen’s co-director for academic programs, outreach, and engagement.
MSU Lyman Briggs/Sociology associate professor receives prestigious National Science Foundation award for their work in the social and historical aspects of reproductive health.
July 13, 2023 - Karessa Weir
Associate Professor stef shuster has received a CAREER grant from the US National Science Foundation, the most prestigious award offered for early-career researchers.
MSU Sociology hiring an Assistant Professor of Sociology in Environmental Justice
July 7, 2023
MSU Sociology is pleased to share that we are hiring an Assistant Professor of Sociology in environmental justice. Please share this posting widely!
Three Sociology faculty promoted this spring
June 19, 2023
MSU Sociology is pleased to congratulate Drs. Molly Copeland, stef shuster and Xuefei Ren on their recent promotions approved by the MSU Board of Trustees at its June meeting.
Sociology PhD student awarded CHI Fellowship
June 15, 2023
The 2023-2024 Cultural Heritage Informatics Graduate Fellowship program is open to MSU graduate students interested in the application of digital methods and computational approaches to cultural heritage materials, collections, data, questions and challenges.
MSU’s LGBTQ minor: a decade of preparing leaders and making change
June 14, 2023 - Mark Bullion and Pat Arnold
“Our experiential learning opportunities are probably the most unique part of our minor,” said Stephanie Nawyn, co-director of academic programs for GenCen. Nawyn shared an example of one such opportunity: a research study internship involving the Salus Center, a Lansing-based LGBTQIA+ community and advocacy organization. The internship led to the compilation of critical data regarding health care gaps for transgender people in the Lansing area.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Jodi Yelinek
June 6, 2023
Assistant Professor of Sociology Jodi Yelinek worked closely with the winner of the College of Social Science's Undergraduate Research Award.
Student view: The importance of Pride Month
June 1, 2023
Angela Demas is a student in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities majoring in the arts and humanities with a minor in sociology, graduating this December. Demas is the vice chair and public relations coordinator for The Alliance of Queer and Ally Students – one of the oldest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and two spirit organizations in Michigan that began in the 1970s.
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.
MSU Sociology announces online courses for Summer 2023
December 13, 2022
Enroll today for online summer and earn your degree sooner!