Among other things, the CoVid-19 pandemic cast an unfortunate shadow upon the Class of 2020, leading to the University-wide cancellation of this year's spring commencement celebrations.

In keeping with the spirit of this usually convivial time, the WashU Sociology department held their first (and hopefully only) Virtual Commencement Celebration and Post-Ceremony Toast in early May. The department continues to laud the accomplishments of our Sociology majors and minors, featured below.

Joel Anderson

Joel Anderson majored in Anthropology with a focus in Global Health and Environment and was a Sociology minor. He took his first Sociology class to learn more about racial disparities in healthcare. Though he is no longer considering a career in the medical field, he notes that continued enrolling in Sociology courses because “they encouraged [him] to think more deeply about why systemic inequalities exist, how they’ve been perpetuated over time, and how we can address them moving forward.” Now looking to enter the field of politics or government, he will draw heavily from his sociological training. His reasoning: “I think this level of critical thinking is vital to developing and implementing more progressive policies at local, state, and federal levels.”

Joel was very active in the WashU community, acting as a member of several extracurriculars including City Faces, MedX, and Club Golf, and held several positions such as being a Washington University Student Associate (WUSA), a representative of the Diversity Affairs Council (DAC), an Undergraduate Representative to the Board of Trustees (Student Experience Committee), a TEDxWUSTL speaker, a John B. Ervin Scholar, and a Resident Advisor. Joel was also a member of the inaugural Philanthropy Lab cohort. Commenting on his experience with the collaborative program between the Sociology department and the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, he remarked, “The curriculum allowed me to gain a lot of real-world experience in relation to grantmaking and the culmination of the class—presenting grants to local nonprofits—was incredibly fulfilling for me. I wish every student had the opportunity to take it!” Although Joel was a minor in the program, he still felt very connected to the department and its faculty. Reflecting, he stated, “I always felt like my sociology professors cared about my well-being and wanted me to succeed, too.” His advice to rising Sociology students: “Stick with classes even if they feel different or unfamiliar at first. Sociology is a unique, reflective field that poses and answers uncomfortable questions. However, the results of this work are critical to a number of professional fields and often seek to change lives for the better. Any sociology class that you take will ultimately benefit you in some way!”

Next year Joel will take a position as a Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellow with the Congressional Hunger Center in Washington D.C., working across field sites in other areas in the United States. This position will allow Joel to work on anti-hunger and anti-poverty policy at local and national levels. He plans to continue his education, with sights set upon a graduate degree in public policy or public administration.

Congratulations, Joel!

Brooke Bolnick

Sara Braun

Jonathan Bridges

Luka Cai

Dan Chai

A Sociology and Educational Studies major who has performed independent studies with faculty that have led to research opportunities, Dan Chai encourages rising Sociology students to “try to learn about what research all the professors are doing in the department! [….] they would love to talk about what they’re doing. If you’re interested in their research, you could maybe even work with them.” Doing so has led him to several opportunities within the department, including attending the American Sociology Association’s annual meeting, performing independent research projects mentored by faculty members, and becoming a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society, where he won second place in their national Undergraduate Student Paper competition. Additionally, Dan has received such awards as the Community Opportunity Engagement Grant and the Frieda Schultze Memorial Scholarship, and has participated in such organizations as Legacies for Immigrants and Refugees and City Faces.

Reflecting on his experience within the WashU Sociology program, “I loved the discussions we would have in all my classes. It really gives you a strong understanding of how inequality operates and how it is perpetuated in our society. It was one of the few majors that directly addressed what was going on outside of our classrooms.” He added, “the major also lends itself to some of the most thoughtful people that are at the university—the professors and majors are definitely a highlight of the whole experience.” Graduating with Latin Honors (Cum Laude), Dan was a member of the inaugural cohort of Sociology Honors program. His thesis examined the exclusion faced by Asian-American men in the dating/hookup scene. In this faculty-mentored independent research project, he found that “Asian-American men are generally aware of the structure of exclusion in the romantic market and have varied responses in terms of their own dating preferences to such exclusion. The range of responses included those who internalized and subscribed to dominant dating hierarchies that elevate whiteness while others resisted and rejected racial hierarches by focusing on co-ethnics.” Dan aims to continue his research and academic experience through eventually pursuing a PhD in Sociology.

Congratulations, Dan!

Vienna Cordova

Hannah Dains

Keanu Davis

Ruth Durrell

Ruth Durrell was a very engaged member of the WashU community, acting as a leader among such programs as WU-SLam, Deneb STARS, Redefining Community Experience, Ervin Scholars, and Residence Life. An Educational Studies and Sociology major, Ruth received the Harriet K. Switzer Leadership Award, was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society, and acted as the Class of 2020’s student speaker at their (virtual) Commencement ceremony. Her advice for rising Sociology students? “Come with an open mind; do not take everything you are told as fact - do your own research. Ask questions. Build relationships with your professors and classmates. Use your knowledge as a way to connect with people, not belittle them and cause further division; be patient.”

To fulfill her Capstone requirement, Ruth was a member of the intensive In\Visible St. Louis: People, Place, and Power in the Divided City course. This class partnered WashU students with a St. Louis non- profit to investigate the use of electronic monitoring in the city. Her contribution to this class project was investigating the influence of electronic monitoring companies on local organizations dealing with this issue. When asked about why someone should be interested in Sociology, Ruth noted that it “gave me proof and data of all the systems I'd interacted in and suspected weren't fair. It's powerful to be able to explain my experience through a lens that critically interrogates every part of the systems and world that I am a part of.” She continued, “Sociology asks us to be aware of systems of power and it also forces us to be critical of ourselves, our biases, how we contribute to negative systems of oppression. how we can turn away from our complicity, and how we can be active in disrupting systems.” Ruth will continue to draw from this knowledge set and her experiences as an academic and an advocate for educational access through her upcoming year of service in her hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin with the City Year program.

Congratulations, Ruth!

Sarah Edelman

Gillian Fink

Bouldin Heistand

Bouldin Heistand entered Washington University with plans of playing football for the school and establishing a career in real estate. What he didn’t know was that his majors in Sociology and Economics & Strategy would prove to play into his dreams so fittingly. “Sociology has allowed me to study my exact academic interests in a really unique way. I came into Washu as an Economics major who wanted to transfer into the business school but I ended up taking Poverty and the New American City during my first semester and it really formed a passion for sociology in me. I have always loved development, urban studies, and Real Estate but I learned that I am also really passionate about politics, social systems, and how these systems connect to larger economic frameworks in society.” He continued, “My sociology major has allowed me to take multiple classes that combine theories of economics and sociology together, providing me with what feels like a personalized curriculum that I've really enjoyed.”

Bouldin’s Capstone project research paper was titled “The Significance of Regionalism in Developing Countries’ Quest for Economic Growth” – writing this tome, he said, was one of his favorite memories within the Sociology program. “I am extremely interested in the topic so as crazy as it might sound I really enjoyed sitting in the library for hours reading all kinds of sources and coming up with new ideas that haven't been explored much before.” Bouldin advises rising Sociology students to “really explore the Sociology department and all of the classes they offer because every year they increase their great selection of classes. Don’t be scared to reach and connect with the Sociology professors, they are super easy to approach and a great resource for you!” After WashU, he plans to fulfill his professional ambitions through pursuing an Masters of Business Administration at the University of Miami and build a career in Real Estate across the state of Florida.

Congratulations, Bouldin!

Rachel Hellman

Rachel Hellman was a Sociology major with minors in Writing and Design. Graduating with Latin Honors in Sociology (Magna Cum Laude), she is a member of Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society. Rachel has also been included on the Dean’s List several times, was a member of the Undergraduate Council for a year, was the Editor-in-Chief for Armour magazine and a member of Washington University for Undergraduate Socioeconomic Diversity, was the co-founder of Tech Together as well as the Data Transparency Task Force. Additionally, she was a Member Director for Design for America, a teaching assistant within the Sociology department (for Professors Collins and Cunningham), and received a Small Change Grant from the Gephardt Institute for Community and Civic Engagement.

Reflecting upon her initial interest in Sociology, Rachel commented, “I chose to major in Sociology because I found the course work offered by the subject to be some of the most fascinating, inclusive, and important work happening on campus. The faculty and staff associated with the Sociology department at WashU are some of the kindest, smartest, and most dedicated people I have ever met. I wanted to change my perspective of the world - because I saw college as the best time to undertake such a self-project - and Sociology offered me a lens towards doing just that.”

Rachel’s Honors thesis (a faculty-mentored independent research project) was an interdisciplinary and qualitatively-based investigation into the “discourses surrounding disaster versus the actual experiences of disaster in Valmeyer, Illinois, a town deemed by experts as a “best case scenario” of relocation after natural disaster.” Describing her project a bit more, she explained, “ After The Great Flood of 1993 destroyed much of the infrastructure of the original village, residents of Valmeyer collectively purchased farmland and rebuilt the entire village a mile uphill. The move was difficult, but most residents self-reported high levels of satisfaction. Engaging ethnographically with modes of associated discourse offered by Valmeyer’s “insiders” and “outsiders.” I interrogate the moral schemas respondents in a community lauded for its resilience invoke post-disaster. I then examine how those schemas map upon or contradict national policy, or what is left behind in those accounts, and how those moral frames of judgment intersect with lived experiences of post-disaster recovery. My data and analysis points to the pervasiveness of hegemonic cultural projects of individualism, meritocracy, and neoliberal ideals in discourse surrounding the idea of resilience in natural disaster.” Her findings concluded “that these moral-schemas mask: underlying structural inequalities, emotional and trauma-based processing, and responsibility on the individual rather than the state for disaster recovery.” She continued, “This data suggests that by uncritically engaging in narrow and assumed conceptions of resilience, we fail to see the underlying contradictions and successes surrounding place and community in the face of disaster.”

Rachel has several favorite memories within the Sociology program; “there are too many to choose one,” she laughed. Some of these include study nights with Candace [Hall, former Administrator for the Sociology Department], her opportunities to chat with and TA [be a teaching assistant] for Professors Collins and Cunningham, presenting at the American Sociological Association’s national meeting with professors and her classmates, “getting tacos after ASA with Ellie Zimmerman and Dan Chai and learning all about their dreams,” Professor Cunningham’s “objectively groovy playlists” that began each of his class meetings. Her list went on: “every single long night spent in law library with Celia working on our thesis, when Celia got into a PhD program at Brown, getting to conduct interviews in Valmeyer, presenting and completing my thesis, and being surprised by Professor Collins and Professor Cunningham in graduation regalia (and my mom crying, naturally).”

Her advice for rising Sociology students? “OFFICE HOURS! GO TO THEM! They may just change your life, seriously. The professors in this department love having conversations about what interests you in their courses, so take them up on it. Take classes on a broad spectrum of topics and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself, often and intentionally. Some of my biggest ‘aha’ moments came from taking a class that just sounded interesting, or on a skill I always secretly wished I was better at. It is never too late to redefine who you are, but only you can decide to do it.” She continued, “Become friends with your fellow SOC majors because spoiler alert: they are definitely some of the coolest kids on campus. Get excited by people who get excited about sociology and doing important work, they’re your community. Be gentle on yourself always, and remember that you need to fail a lot in college to figure out who you are. It’s just baked into the formula, there’s no avoiding it so lean in. You got this! Also, there is often candy and other delicious goods in the SOC Suite, so definitely take advantage of that.” Rachel divulged of her experience with the Sociology program, “I appreciate so deeply the department’s intersectional and action-based approach towards learning and interrogating inequality, and the multitude of ingenious projects faculty are constantly working on. Not only this, but I felt as if the faculty in the Sociology Department really wanted me to grow and succeed as a student and human. I was treated as a scholar (even as a wee freshman) with an imperative to be an active member of the St. Louis community. Being a Sociology major at WashU was truly the highlight of my undergraduate career.” She elaborated, stating that, “I felt as if I had a family on campus (and into the future), and I know not many people can say that about their major. I am overwhelmingly grateful for the ways in which I have been challenged, radicalized, made more inquisitive, more thoughtful, more thorough, and most importantly more compassionate, as a result of my four years as a Sociology major at WashU.”

Although Rachel is unsure as to what her next steps after graduation will be (“and growing to accept that,” she added), she hopes to further pursue her interest in environmental journalism, anticipating returning to school for a graduate degree in Journalism or Sociology. Her main goal, however, is “to maintain an unrelenting interest and passion in [her] own life and the lives of others, whatever that may mean.”

Congratulations, Rachel!

Kate Holtkamp

Kate Holtkamp majored in Anthropology and Sociology, and was actively involved in City Faces, Partners in East St. Louis, and the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. Why Sociology? Kate responded, “Every college student dreams about taking a class that changes their outlook on life forever. For me, that class was my first introductory-level Sociology course, Social Inequality in America, taught by Professor [Caity] Collins. That class gave me the facts and terminology I needed to understand the racial, socioeconomic, and gender inequality I had noticed around me but struggled to fully understand. After that class, I was hooked and quickly declared my Sociology major. Since then, I have continued to take captivating classes that have inspired me to dedicate my life to creating a more just and equitable society.” She fondly recalls the day she first declared her Sociology major during her sophomore year at Washington University. “I have been an Anthropology major since day one of freshman year, and I never expected to add anything to that. When I declared my second major in Sociology and got all the buttons and stickers that said 'WashU Sociology Major' on them, I was so happy and proud to be part of such an incredible department.”

Rachel’s Capstone paper project was connected to Professor [Jake] Rosenfeld’s course, Getting Paid: A Sociological Investigation of Wages and Salaries. Her paper examines “why professors are paid what they are paid, with a specific focus on how wages in the field vary across academic discipline and country of employment.” Her advice to rising Sociology students: “Don’t be afraid to take sociology classes outside your comfort zone! When I first started taking SOC classes, I avoided any class that seemed even vaguely economics-- related because I was never a strong [economics] student. Now, however, [she took] a class about wage determination and even [wrote] my capstone paper about it! Even though taking this class scared me, I have learned so much from it and am so happy I took it.” After WashU, Kate will work in either Chicago or Milwaukee as a Scholar Coach for the Schuler Scholar program. This mentorship program helps first-generation college student, low-income students, and students of color pursue higher education at top colleges around the United States.

Congratulations, Kate!

Alec Hilton

Grace Jalboot

Coming into Washington University, Grace Jalboot did not know that she would eventually choose a path as a Sociology major. “Initially, I thought I wanted to do International Area Studies. But, all it took was one class (Racial Inequality in the Contemporary U.S.) to totally convert me. I love that Sociology classes change the way I think and move through life,” she disclosed. “I truly believe these classes, discussions, professors, and fellow students have made me a much better person.” Graduating with Latin Honors in Sociology (Cum Laude) and a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Grace served as the Vice President of Communications for Delta Gamma and the Secretary of the Missouri-Beta [WashU] Chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society.

For her Honors Thesis, a faculty-mentored independent research project, she sought to understand “how organizational identity shapes the discourse and imagery of fifty anti-sex trafficking groups’ websites and social media accounts.” Anti-sex trafficking social media activism has not received ample research attention, despite the phenomenon’s rise over the past two decades. Through examining dimensions of religiosity and location (U.S- or internationally-focused), she asked how these factors influence websites and social media pages’ discourses regarding sex work, victimization, and rescue. Her findings concluded that religious anti-sex trafficking groups were more likely to employ anti-sex work discourses than secular groups, and that internationally-focused organizations were more likely to employ discourses relating to rescue of sex-trafficking victims as compared to those more focused on the issue’s presence within the United States. Her favorite Sociology-related memory? “[…] going to the Chase Park Plaza Cinema to watch BlacKKKlansman with a number of Sociology students and professors. Afterwards, we met back at the Sociology Suite to discuss the movie and eat dinner. I remember calling my family afterwards to rave not only about the movie, but also about the entire Sociology department. It meant to so much to me to be a part of a department that was willing to take the time and effort to organize the trip and discussion.” She recommends that rising Sociology students should try to take a class with each professor. “Even if you don’t initially think the course may fit your interests,” she justified, “I promise you’ll learn a ton and realize you have some new passions!”

Although Grace’s plans after WashU are still being decided, she will continue drawing from her background in Sociology through both her personal and professional life. “I feel much more prepared moving through day to day life to notice and act on discriminatory or prejudiced actions or words.” She continued, “I know we have all made jokes about how hard it is, for instance, to correct our uncles or grandparents at Thanksgiving dinner when they inevitably say something offensive, but the Sociology department has given me the words and the confidence to lead a productive conversation when this happens.

Congratulations, Grace!

Anaya Johnson

Chloe Marshall

Chloe Marshall double-majored in Educational Studies and Sociology, minoring in Psychological & Brain Sciences. Active on campus, she was an Annika Rodriguez Scholar, volunteered with City Faces, and was a member of Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honors Society, Kappa Delta Pi (an honorary society in Education), and Lambda Sigma, the sophomore service honorary society.

For her Capstone project, Chloe participated in the In\Visible St. Louis: People, Power and Place in the Divided City course. Through this class and drawing inspiration from Campaign Zero’s work in California and the Department of Justice’s Investigation of the Ferguson Police Department Report, she worked with a team of other Sociology students to develop a Policing Scorecard for the city of St. Louis. This project entailed data collection on municipal and cooperative police departments in St. Louis county and, based upon these departments’ performance across a variety of measures, constructing a scoring system that ranked each examined department to be used by the course’s collaborating community partner, Arch City Defenders, as well as the broader St. Louis community. Regarding her decision to major in Sociology, Chloe remarked, “The classes that I’ve taken through the sociology department have helped me better understand the world around me, my place in it, and the change that I hope to be part of. It has made me a more conscious and inquisitive student and citizen, and I’m really grateful to have had professors who pushed me to think bigger and more critically. Her favorite memory with the Sociology department was presenting Unleashing Potential, a community organization, with a “big check” for $10,000 as a part of the first Philanthropy Lab Awards Ceremony in December 2019.

For rising Sociology students, Chloe suggested that “What you learn in your SOC classes can (and should!!) be readily applied to your own life and the real world more broadly. One of the biggest lessons I learned through sociology is that you can make real change now, you shouldn’t wait until you graduate or “feel qualified” because you probably never will. You have everything you need to make a difference – big and small – so go for it!” After graduation, Chloe will move to Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas to teach elementary school as a member of the Teach for America corps.

Congratulations, Chloe!

Olivia Murray

Olivia Murray majored in Biology with a focus on Neuroscience, with minors in Sociology and Medical Humanities. A member of the Dean’s List, the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and a Biology Honors student (Research Emphasis), Olivia was also involved with auditory neuroscience research in the Peelle Laboratory, was a Chemistry Residential Peer Mentor, a Resident Advisor, and a member of Women in Science, Heart for the Homeless, and Phi Lambda Psi.

Of her journey within Sociology, she remarked, “ As I am extremely interested in health disparities within science and medicine, Sociology has allowed me to learn about these areas in ways I would have never been exposed to without the minor! It all started with Dr. Hedwig Lee’s “Sick Society: Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities in the US” where my eyes were opened up to the awful disparities in medicine today. Further, “Social Inequality in America” with Dr. Caitlyn Collins opened to the nuanced inequalities pervasive in our society today.”

Congratulations, Olivia!

She continued, “Therefore, one of the largest impacts I see from my studies in Sociology is how I foresee deploying these lessons in my future education and career. This summer, I will begin an MD-PhD program. I hope to complete a PhD in neuroscience and eventually become a psychiatrist. Neuropsychiatry research and the field of psychiatry have stark histories of disparities, racism, and sexism. I think it would be detrimental for me to pursue work that directly affects other humans without recognizing sociohistorical issues and their implications in my future studies and career. I think my studies in Sociology will give me the awareness and ability to not just see an illness or disease but really the whole person. What Sociology has done for me is instilled a drive to be part of the solutions to health disparities in my training as a physician-scientist.” Her advice to rising Sociology students: “Always, always take the course that sounds interesting - you may discover a new passion or a new minor!”

Congratulations, Olivia!

Alia Nahra

Alia Nahra majored in Sociology and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Graduating with Latin Honors in Sociology (Magna Cum Laude), Alia’s Honors Thesis studied disparities in St. Louis’ municipal court fines and fees. In describing the project, she noted, “St. Louis City’s criminal legal system has a documented history of discriminatorily targeting people of color; however, there is little research documenting these patterns within the city’s municipal court fines and fees system. This thesis utilizes St. Louis court records from 2005-2016 to establish patterns of fines and fees reliance within the municipal court framework. While previous research has documented national trends in fines and fees practices as well as localized policing patterns, the St. Louis city municipal court system has never before been analyzed in this context.” She continued, “To answer the question of whether folks of different identities experience disparate treatment within the fines and fees system, this project investigates trends in charging and fine/fee collection over time within the categories of race, age, and gender. By comparing across demographic groups, this project is able to provide evidence for the expectation that marginalized identities are those most affected by the fines and fees system, in particular young Black men. These findings are contextualized within a police contact theoretical approach that frames persistent, unavoidable contact with the criminal legal system as a form of police violence against communities of color.” Her findings: “[show] that the surveillance of people of color in St. Louis, which was thrust into public consciousness after the murder of Michael Brown in 2014, is facilitated by police discretionary power in charging patterns—particularly in the form of status and property crimes that are disproportionately wielded against Black defendants.”

A very active member both on campus and in the community, she acted as a Sociology course assistant (“TA”) and an intern with the legal group ArchCity Defenders, was the co-founder and Vice President of Communications for Interrogating Incarceration, was the Editorial Director for Spoon University, and was the Vice President of the Missouri-Beta [Washington University] chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society. Additionally, Alia was a member of Delta Gamma, a Student Advisor to the Washington University Women’s Society, a Student Representative to the Undergraduate Experience Committee of the Washington University Board of Trustees, a student member of both the University Sexual Assault Investigation Board and the Student Conduct Board, a founding member of the University Student Affairs Advisory Board, the Speaker of the Treasury for WashU’s Student Union, a Washington University Student Associate, and a writer for the campus’ Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies online blog. Alia received several awards for her contributions to WashU’s student and scholarly life, including the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Social Justice Award, being named as a Skandalaris Center Creator’s Gallery Artist, as well as a member of the Dean’s List. Her favorite Sociology-related memory was receiving Candace [Hall, former department administrator]’s graduation tribute video, sent to the senior class after their commencement ceremony was cancelled. Alia remarked, “I picked Sociology because I wanted to learn how to influence change in the structural issues around me. And then during Bear Beginnings my freshman year, I walked into the Sociology department’s (first-ever, we’ve learned since then) “open house,” which consisted of all six department members, two full tables of food, and myself.” She laughed, “One other student showed up, and it ended up being just the two of us chatting with the entire department for two hours. The group of professors had me hooked, and I never really left.”

Her advice for rising Sociology students? “Get to know your professors! The professors are what makes [WashU] Sociology so special, and our relationships with them are unique from other departments (both within the university and sociology departments at other universities).” Alia received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Latvia; however, due to the CoVid-19 pandemic, this program was indefinitely postponed. In its place, she accepted a job as the Special Assistant to the Justice Project with the Brennan Center for Justice.

Congratulations, Alia!

Abby Rubin

Abby Rubin majored in Sociology, with minors in Psychology and American Culture Studies. Graduating with Latin Honors in Sociology (Cum Laude), her Honors Thesis studied patterns of policing on the St. Louis MetroLink transit system. “Given the legacy of police ticketing of private cars in St. Louis as a launch point into the cycle of poverty, my research analyzed the ticketing practices of policing bodies on the city's public transportation system,” Abby noted. “Specifically, I looked at the increase in fare violation tickets and the criminalization of poverty on the MetroLink. I found that dangerous crime is proportionately low on the MetroLink, police officers target the city more than the county, and that ‘poverty violations’ (including fare violations) account for the largest proportion of police interactions with riders.”

Active on campus, Abby was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority, the Kids on Campus sketch comedy group, and acted as the President of the Missouri-Beta [WashU] chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society. Entering Washington University with her major yet undecided, she remarked that, “stumbling into Sociology my second semester was the best decision I could've made. I initially chose a Sociology course to learn about the racial dynamics of St. Louis - my new home that confused me with its multi-layered political and social conflict. I'm so grateful for the SOC department because I have learned how to see the world through a critical lens (with permanent "SOC glasses" for better or for worse) and studying society has made me a better student and person.” She fondly recalls her induction into the Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honor Society her Junior year, as well as the speakers that the department brought, naming Matthew Desmond as her favorite.

After graduation, Abby will work as a paralegal in Washington, D.C. Her advice to rising Sociology student is to “Take the time to get to know your classmates and professors. Go to office hours, raise your hand, speak your mind - even if you feel like you'll be judged, your opinions are valid. It's better to vocalize a thought and learn from it.”

Congratulations, Abby!

Rebecca Shaevitz

Rebecca Shaevitz double majored in Sociology and American Culture Studies. An AMCS Harvey Undergraduate Scholar, Rebecca was also named as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and was active in the Uncle Joe’s student group and the Pi Beta Phi Missouri-Beta Chapter. For her Sociology Capstone project, Rebecca enrolled in the intensive In\Visible St. Louis, “which brought together sociology and design thinking to conceptualize issues of monitoring within the St. Louis area. Specifically,” Rebecca remarked, “we considered the court system and its use of electronic monitoring, such as ankle monitors, as a condition of bail-bond-release, and how these mechanisms are used to discriminate and confine low income and marginalized racial groups in St. Louis.” In this course, she worked with her classmates to “create a scorecard for all the municipal police departments in St. Louis, considering a variety of metrics and parameters to determine their score/grade. We focused on police brutality, discrepancies in race and socioeconomic status of those most heavily policed or targeted, and how fines/fees are used to support the police departments.”

When asked about her choice to join the major, she reflected, “I began in the Sam Fox school studying Fine Arts but, after taking an [introductory] Sociology course my first semester, quickly decided that I was more passionate about Sociology and the Liberal Arts.” She continued, “Sociology has allowed me to combine my passion for understanding inequality and disparity with my desire to connect with different groups of people to problem solve and create change. Combined with my major in AMCS, I’ve been able to use my understanding of social structures and systems to understand the cultural landscape of the world around me, and to approach my studies and my passions with interdisciplinary thinking and ideas. My Sociology professors have each been so driven and passionate about what they do, and it has made me a better student, thinker, and person.” Next year, Rebecca will work as a paralegal at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in the Appeals Division.

Congratulations, Rebecca!

Ella Shlonsky

Ella Shlonsky majored in Sociology with minors in both Political Science and History. Graduating with Latin Honors in Sociology (Cum Laude), Ella was a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honors Society Executive Board, as well as Sigma Iota Rho (International and Area Studies Honor Society). Additionally, she acted as a Program Coordinator for the Gateway to Global Citizenship Orientation Program, an after-school tutor at the International Institute, a Research Assistant at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and a Course Assistant (“TA”) within the Sociology department.

Ella’s Honors Thesis investigated how local newspapers portrayed responses to immigration. Accounting for factors such as locale (urban versus rural) and immigrant populations across four newspapers in two states, California and Pennsylvania, Ella qualitatively analyzed “how both coverage and tone differ across the papers and suggest how that may help influence or impact public opinion,” finding that “there does not appear to be many differences between local news coverage in urban areas based on how immigration population. There is, however, differences between both rural and urban local news coverage and between rural coverage based on immigration population size.”

Ella took her first Sociology class in the spring semester of her first year at Washington University with Professor [Jake] Rosenfeld; “I knew almost right away that this was what I wanted to study in college. Since then, I have loved every single class and professor I have had,” she remarked. “Most of my friends in other departments are shocked that there is not a single professor I don’t like in the department and I think that really speaks to the community Sociology has cultivated here at WashU. I have always felt so supported by the faculty and other students who have made SOC such a home for me. Sociology feels like so much more than just a major at this school.” Ella fondly recalls Sociology’s Late Night Study Sessions, “when Candace [Hall, former department administrator] left the suite open till 2 a.m. during finals and brought pizza, wings, soda and snacks.” “It really showed me how much of a community the department was and those study nights were definitely a highlight for me,” she reflected.

Ella’s advice for rising Sociology students: “Get to know your professors! The SOC department has some of the kindest and most welcoming professors I have interacted with on campus. They are all doing incredibly interesting things research wise and are always willing to tell you about their work or help you out.”

Congratulations, Ella!

Celia Stern

Celia Stern majored in Sociology, with minors in Religion and Politics, and Spanish. A Latin Honors graduate of the Sociology program (Cum Laude), Celia was inducted into both Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society and Theta Alpha Kappa, the Religious Studies Honor Society. She was active in club gymnastics and also served as a student worker for the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics. For her Honors Thesis, Celia investigated how “mourning rituals function as a form of protest to political violence,” specifically focusing on a case study of the memorial to Michael Brown. In this, she sought to “understand how the memorial illuminates the relationship between mourning and protest, and how the site produces meaning.”

Celia didn’t know what she wanted to study when she initially entered WashU; however, this changed when she enrolled in the Order and Change in Society course, “and absolutely fell in love with the discipline, the department, and the ways that Sociology encourages me to understand the world. I have learned to consider history, context, social position and perspective, and most importantly, how I fit into it all.” She noted, “I firmly believe that every WashU student should take at least one Sociology class throughout their years of college, no matter what their programs of study may be. Everyone can benefit from a more critical understanding of how people interact with and relate to each other. “ “When you're in a Sociology class,” Celia advised to rising students, “search for ways to bring what you are learning in the classroom into all areas of your life. Every sociological topic is applicable to and practical in the ‘real world.’ Maintain an open mind and embrace your curiosity. I also think it's important to take a variety of Sociology classes. Some of my favorite courses have focused on subject material that I wasn't necessarily interested in beforehand. Get to know your classmates, professors, and all the folks involved with the department. They are invaluable resources. Sociology friendships are some of the most wonderful friendships! I've formed some of my closest, most meaningful relationships as a result of my involvement with the department. Lean into these relationships, and don't take them for granted.” Celia fondly remembers several Sociology-related memories: “class projects like the research methods data visualization project and the Monument Lab mapping exhibit, departmental events like [Alpha Kappa Delta] movie screenings and discussions and late night study sessions, and opportunities to take what I have learned beyond the classroom. Studying Sociology was one of the best decisions I made in college. I am so grateful for all of my Sociology-related experiences; these are memories I will hold onto for the rest of my life.”

Next fall, Celia will begin her study as a doctoral student (PhD) at Brown University, in its Religion and Critical Thought program. “I sincerely believe that studying Sociology has made me a better, more compassionate person. Even though I have decided to pursue academic study within another discipline, I will always care with me a sociological perspective and imagination. So, thank you, WUSTL-SOC for being the best sociologists, teachers, classmates, mentors, advisors, and supporters that I never expected to have and appreciate beyond my expressive capabilities.”

Congratulations, Celia!

Rachel Steiner

Steph Strek

Steph Strek majored in Sociology, with a minor in Psychology. Inducted into Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society, Steph was also very involved on campus, as a member of the Emergency Support Team, a Washington University Student Associate, a Cornerstone Proctor, and a Teaching Assistant for the Sociology Department. For Steph, “Sociology is one of the only spaces I have found which cultivates a capacity to both criticize and love others. Unlike other disciplines, love/empathy and criticism are not mutually exclusive within SOC! Plus, it draws the best, most caring and thoughtful people […] Embrace this amazing department! Get to know other SOC students. The people here, and their passions, are so wonderful!”

She fondly remembers her first introductory Sociology course with Professor [David] Cunningham, Order and Change, and the critical thinking embedded into the course. She also mentioned her experience working on and co-creating the Monument Lab in the Social Conflict course with her classmates and the residents of St. Louis, also taught by Professor [David] Cunningham. For her Capstone project, Steph participated in the In\Visible St. Louis course, constructing a police scorecard that ranks Missouri police departments by factors such as racial disparity in vehicle stopes, number of vehicle stops, revenue collected by fines, etc. Along with her classmates, Steph investigated what these assessments suggested about the nature of the relationship between the departments they compared and the communities they police.

Although Steph isn’t wholly decided about the path that she will take after leaving WashU, she definitely wants to work with people and incorporate the critical thinking and analytical skills that she learned during her time with the Sociology department. More importantly, she added, “I want to carry the love and empathy fostered by this department into the world, somehow!”

Congratulations, Steph!

Victoria Taylor

Brian Tung

Mark Wang

Jeremy Yu