Dear Friends of Sociology,
As the 2023-24 academic year comes to a close, it's a good time to shine a spotlight on our faculty and students who are constantly researching and working on important topics--from immigration to institutions to homelessness and climate change issues. Savery Hall has been bustling with events and people who continuously collaborate with colleagues, departments, and organizations across campus and beyond to find ways to make our world a better place despite the challenges we face.
Next fall, we will welcome three new faculty members to our community, Audrey Dorélien, Patrick Greiner, and Drew Messamore. We also say goodbye to a few faculty who are retiring and have made huge contributions to our department, including Professors Katherine Stovel and Adrian Raferty. I will write more about their plans in our Fall letter.
There are far too many publications to list here, but I encourage you to take a look at the in-depth work and writings of graduate students and faculty who have been working together here at UW, and with others around the globe to make significant contributions in the field of sociology.
We continue to help train a huge number of undergraduate students and provide them with research opportunities, including through our Honors program led by Sara Curran and Steve Karceski.
We are thrilled that one of our undergraduate honors students Ruby Whelan was recently chosen as one of the Husky 100. Ruby is a superb representative of UW and our sociology program. You can read more about Ruby HERE.
Congratulations to PhD alumni Julie Morris ‘17, who recently published a sociology undergraduate textbook through Routledge titled Introduction to Sociology Through Comedy. UW Sociology Alumni, Ernest Palola (1962) wrote in to let us know he recently turned 90. He says “Anyone remember me?”
A big thank you to Ruth Peterson who made a $10,000 donation to the August Wilson Fellowship from the estate of her late partner, Bill Bailey. And thank you to all those who donated on Husky Giving Day. When alumni, families and friends invest in our department, they are empowering students to think critically and find solutions to tough problems. Your ongoing support helps enhance the important work and research students and faculty do everyday and we are incredibly grateful.
Sincerely,
Kyle Crowder, Department Chair
Blumstein-Jordan Professor of Sociology