I've been fortunate recently to cross paths with several Sociology alumni. It's gratifying to realize how lasting Sociology's impact can be for our students. It's also humbling to realize how crucial the faculty-student relationship is to our success.

One of you mentioned a chance meeting in the late 1960s in Greece with Evan Vlachos who in his booming voice greeted you by name. Others spoke of long conversations in Ken Berry's office in the 1970s about Sociology and careers, remembered David Freeman's support in the 1980s as you were getting started as a new Ph.D., remarked on important discussions in the 1990s with a classical social theory professor (OK, it was me) helpful in pursuing a successful law enforcement career, and recalled Mike Lacy's recruiting messages in the 2000s that brought you to our graduate program. The people have mattered. Sociology has mattered.

Today it's still the people who make our Sociology program. Our faculty are recognized nationally for their teaching and research strengths in food, agriculture and development; environment and natural resources; criminology/criminal justice; and social inequality and governance. Our Sociology undergraduate major is one of the most diverse at CSU in terms of gender, race/ethnicity, and first-generation college student status. Our graduate program attracts talented students from around the world.

Below and throughout this new website, read about our terrific faculty, students, and alumni. Please reach out to us with your own updates, stop by to visit, or join us November 7 for Josh Sbicca's author talk and book signing.

Pete Taylor
Professor and Chair