DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER

Summer & Fall 2020

Sociology logo
Pete Taylor

From the Chair

One hundred twenty-five years ago Sociology appeared at CSU as the Department of English and Sociology. In the subsequent 12 decades, Sociology has undergone many changes. But one thing hasn’t changed — our commitment to CSU's land grant mission of bringing sociology to bear on the needs of a rapidly changing society.

This year of 2020 has posed unprecedented challenges to all of us not only from the COVID-19 pandemic, but from a larger societal context wracked by anti-Black racism, killings and violence, a stressful election season and record wildfires across the West. Great challenges are not unprecedented for CSU or Sociology. Earlier this year I was moved to encounter a photo from 1918 showing two CSU students in military uniform and wearing facial masks to protect them from the influenza pandemic.

Since March, I have been deeply inspired by how our Sociology faculty, students, staff and alumni have mobilized to confront a daunting context. Faculty and instructors spent many weeks during late spring and all through the summer learning about online and hybrid (combined in-person/online) teaching and redesigning their courses to provide the best and safest possible learning environments for our students. Our students have shown remarkable commitment to their education and to care for health and safety in following pandemic protocols in our classrooms and across campus. Our staff members have redesigned Department spaces for socially distanced operation and have shown impressive flexibility in managing in-person and remote service to our students and the public. Alumni as described below have dedicated themselves to serving their community and building bridges among its members.

Below you can see in our retooled research and publication activities, reorganized virtual conferences and workshops, sustained community engagement and new awards that Sociology faculty, students, staff and alumni have responded to 2020’s challenge in true CSU tradition by continuing to deliver on our missions of teaching, research and service. They are all truly a special “class” of Sociologists. I thank all those who’ve helped Sociology stay strong this year.

Best wishes to all for 2021.

Pete's signature

Pete Taylor
Professor and Chair

Department Happenings

Welcome

Incoming M.A. Students 

Jianheng Huang

Peter Kitzes

Benja Kromash

Shelby Sims

Elijah Thunell

Binh Tran

Incoming Ph.D Students

Verena Knerich

Chelsey Potter

Emilia Ravetta

Yue Xu

Milestones

This year marks Ken Berry's 50th anniversary at CSU.

Laura Raynolds is in her 26th year of service at CSU.

Pete Taylor is in his 25th year of service at CSU.

CSU's historical records indicate that The Department of English & Sociology was created in 1895–96. CSU had 230 students then! Over the years our disciplines would separate into their own departments, be combined with others, and eventually become what they are today. We're still confirming the year we officially became The Department of Sociology. In the meantime, fingers crossed we can gather with our English colleagues for cake in 2021 to celebrate 125 years on campus!

English@80 commemorative collection

For the Love of Clark virtual exhibition by History grad students

The Great Experiment: CSU at 150 SOURCE article and documentary 

 

Coming Together to Learn & Grow

This summer, CSU Sociology faculty wrote and disseminated a Call for Racial Justice. Jessie Luna proposed this statement as well as the formation of our Social Justice and Equity Working Group. Lynn Hempel and KuoRay Mao joined Jessie in launching this open, participatory group to serve as a platform for promoting reflexivity and dialogue within our department in order to implement change in our community.

The Reinvention Collaborative hosted Raising the Bar: Sociology – Strategies for Succesful Online Teaching with Dr. Melinda Messineo, Ball State University, and our Department of Sociology. The discussion was held virtually on June 8.

Over 25 members of the Department of Sociology attended our Fall Retreat sessions on Teaching Modalities and Election Year Teaching held virtually on August 18.

Tara Opsal and Elena Windsong co-hosted Sociology Teaching Dialogue Weekly Drop-Ins virtually every Friday for faculty, instructors, and GTAs. Elena and Tara are part of the CLA Open Door Pedagogy Network initiated this semester and offered these drop-in times as opportunities to dialogue together around teaching related issues and to share resources and strategies.

Dr. Julie Taylor-Massey and Dr. Elinor Light presented Sociology-in-Progress: Strategies for Online Teaching and Learning virtually on October 8 to share advice about the nuts and bolts of teaching online.

Sociology's Budget Town Hall was held virtually on October 29 with over 20 Department members in attendance.

Leaders in Social Norming

CSU's social norming collaboration taps into Jeni Cross's expertise on behavior change

More than two dozen CSU faculty, staff, and students came together this summer to design surveys and marketing materials around public health safety behavior.

Behavior campaign attributed to helping CSU remain open this fall

"CSU is taking a multi-pronged approach to preventing the virus’s spread, says CSU Provost Mary Pedersen." – Celeste Benzschawel, 5280 magazine

Sociology student Naylet Muñoz featured by CSU Social

CSU's social norming campaign included spotlights of students leading by example. 

“I wear a mask to help protect my family so when I go see them I want to make sure that they are safe and healthy.” – Naylet Muñoz, #ColoradoState Sociology student, president of Multicultural Greek Council, VP of Kappa Delta Chi. 

Naylet is a senior double majoring in Sociology and Ethnic Studies.

“Students are continuing to practice health behaviors. To see that holding pattern is really significant.” said Jody Donovan, assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students. 

Sociologist Dr. Zeynep Tufekci publicly challenged the CDC on the need for masks in March

"In 2011, she went against the current to say the case for Twitter as a driver of broad social movements had been oversimplified. In 2012, she warned news media outlets that their coverage of school shootings could inspire more. In 2013, she argued that Facebook could fuel ethnic cleansing. In 2017, she warned that YouTube’s recommendation algorithm could be used as a tool of radicalization." – Ben Smith, The New York Times

"Part of what sociologists do when they’re being effective is to use their understanding of history and social structure to help society 'see around corners'."  – Pete Taylor

Undergraduate Happenings

Sociology's Ram Welcome Department Meeting was held virtually on August 21. Thanks to the many Department members who hosted breakout rooms and to Tara Opsal who hosted drop-In sessions specifically for transfer students.

Criminal Justice Organization (CJO) held an introductory meeting and a trivia night this semester. Thanks to Jeff Nowacki for encouraging CJO students to try virtual gatherings.

Jason Downing's students continue to break records in 15th year of supporting the Food Bank of Larimer County

"Being a part of a team and collectively making efforts when and where you can genuinely has the potential to make differences in people’s lives, which I think is especially important this year. I’m very grateful for the opportunity Professor Downing and the Sociology department have offered us this semester and I know that the donations everyone on our teams made will be able to help our community in combating food insecurity." – Aubry Sapp, CSU SOC 220 student and Ecosystem Science & Sustainability major

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Jessie Luna and SOC 205 featured by CSU Social

Jessie connected with Rams Read earlier this fall as she adopted the initiative’s inaugural book Citizen: An American Lyric for her SOC 205 course. 

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screenshot of Instagram comments

Congratulations & Best Wishes

Brooke's title slide
Lauren title slide

I am pleased to announce that Zoe Mack, one of our hardworking and talented undergraduate honors students, successfully presented her thesis, “The Detection and Identification of Human Trafficking in the United States”.  Zoe’s research examined the organizational and institutional gaps that prevent human trafficking victims from receiving the assistance they need, the sociological underpinnings of those gaps, and potential remedies to those gaps. Her post-graduation plans include graduate school; she was recently accepted to Boston University but is waiting to hear from several other schools before she makes a final decision. Thanks to Prabha Unnithan and Gina Robinson (Legal Studies) for serving as supporting committee members! Congratulations, Zoe!  – Tara Opsal, November 12

I am happy to inform you that Lauren Wilkerson, one of our bright undergraduate majors, successfully defended her Honors thesis entitled, "The Underlying Principles of Rehabilitative and Punitive Justice Systems: A Philosophical Comparison" on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. Her research focuses on comparing and contrasting various sentencing philosophies (deterrence, retribution, incapacitation, rehabilitation, restoration) based on their rationales and reviewing what they mean when applied to offenders. Lauren, who is graduating this semester, will be going on to pursue a Master's in Forensic Psychology at DU. The other member of her Honors thesis committee is Tara Opsal. Thanks for your help and support, Tara! Congratulations, Lauren, and all the best with graduate school! – Prabha Unnithan (Lauren is pictured below in her cap and gown)

I am delighted to report that Brooke Hennessey, one of our best undergraduate students, successfully defended her Honors thesis entitled, "Framing of Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility in Fort Collins Breweries Through A Green Criminology Perspective" on December 10, 2020. Brooke's study employs the Treadmill of Crime theoretical perspective in Green Criminology and examines environmental harm mitigation strategies of industrial breweries in our lovely city. The other member of her honors thesis committee is Dr. Jeffery Nowacki, who made invaluable contributions to the revision of Brooke's honors thesis! Congratulations, Brooke! – KuoRay Mao

SOC graduation ad for Collegian
Lauren Wilkinson in her cap and gown

CSU's Fall Commencement is Friday, December 18. Chair Pete Taylor congratulated Sociology graduates in this message. Pete also represented our department at CSU's Ceremonial Walk Across the Oval held the week before Fall Break in lieu of an in-person ceremony in December.

Many thanks to each of you who have written cards to graduating seniors!
This new tradition began last spring, and faculty members have since received very positive feedback.

"It has now been quite some time since we last spoke, first and foremost, I hope you are doing well and staying healthy in the troubling times our society is facing. This past week I was reading through the cards I brought with me to my new home. The graduation card you wrote to me was one of my favorites from that pile. While many were from family, friends, and my girlfriend, yours was unique as it was the only letter from a professor. As a matter of fact, it is the only letter I have received from an educator at any level in all my years of school. The letter was impactful and showed me my hard work has not gone unnoticed. What truly stood out to me was 'I have no doubt you are going to change the world.' Although a simple sentence, this confidence directly inspired me. It is one thing to have a caring mother speak these words, but it is another thing entirely to have a professor I look up to write them. For the kind words, I thank you." – spring graduate who reached out to Jessie Luna

Graduate Student Happenings

Sociology's Incoming Graduate Student Orientation was held virtually on August 20. Thanks to the many Department members who attended.

2020 – 2021 Graduate Student Representatives

Graduate Student President: India Luxton

Ph.D. Graduate Student Faculty Representative: Bria Willert

M.A. Graduate Student Faculty Representative: Taylor Ellis

Graduate Student Council Representative: Katie Linenberger

Graduate Program Admissions Committee Representative: Parker Arnold

Graduate Social Committee Representative: Severin Mangold

Defenses

I am pleased to announce that E. Keith Smith successfully defended his Sociology doctoral dissertation, “Beliefs, Ideologies, Contexts and Climate Change: The Role of Human Values and Political Orientations in Western Europe and Transition States”.  Keith’s important research engaged theoretically and empirically with the issues of how human values and political factors interrelate to shape climate change attitudes and behaviors in Western Europe and transition state settings. His committee included Mike Lacy, Stephanie Malin, Pat Hastings, and Elissa Braunstein (Economics). Please join me in congratulating Keith on achieving this major milestone! – Lynn Hempel, May 27

I am delighted to let you know that Grace Costello successfully defended her MA thesis entitled, “Procedural Justice and Predatory Policing? Student Opinions of Interactions with Police on the St. Petersburg State University (Russia) Campus” on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. Her research focuses on the applicability of the concept of procedural justice to a Russian campus setting where policing is carried out by a highly centralized government bureaucracy. This was a very challenging empirical study to undertake and the project was completed due to Grace's fluency with Russian and her extraordinary perseverance. Grace currently works as a Professional Research Assistant at the Institute for Behavioral Science (CU-Boulder). The other members of the thesis committee are KuoRay Mao and Shannon Hughes (Social Work). Thanks to both for their valuable contributions and support. Congratulations, Grace, and all the best! – Prabha Unnithan

Presentations

Chelsey Potter presented at the Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs (MCAA) held virtually October 17. Her presentation was titled: “One Country, Two Perspectives: Social Control Through News Media Framing During the 2014 Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong”.

Emilia Ravetta was accepted into CSU's annual Graduate Student Showcase held virtually mid-November. She presented "An Inductive Analysis of Mixed-status Families and Legal Clinic Participation”.

Thai Binh Tran was accepted into CSU's annual Graduate Student Showcase held virtually mid-November. He presented “Effects of Religion on Empowerment Rights: A Cross National Study".

Emilia Ravetta's poster

Congratulations

Please join me, and her minor Sociology committee members Pete Taylor and Jessie Luna, in congratulating Sneha Kadyan who has passed her Social Change exam. In her exam Sneha demonstrated her expertise in the areas of Development Sociology, Environmental Sociology and Gender Studies. Congratulations Sneha! – Laura Raynolds, December 4

Please join me as Director of Graduate Studies and our Comprehensive Exam Committees in congratulating Adrienne Miller who passed the Theory Comprehensive Exam and Parker Arnold who passed the Methods Comprehensive Exam this Fall. Outstanding job! – Laura Raynolds, December 9

Collaborations

This summer Azmal Hossan began working with the COVID-19 and Food Insecurity interdisciplinary research group, one of the CONVERGE COVID-19 Working Groups for Public Health and Social Sciences Research. His group recently published a Research Agenda Setting Paper that critically evaluates the existing knowledge on disaster and food security, focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic, and identifies some priority research areas to address existing gaps in this field.

Azmal Hossan was accepted to the Agents of Change in Environmental Health Fellowship, a joint initiative of George Washington University Milken Institute of Public Health and Environmental Health News.

Featured

Kellie Alexander and Dr. Tara Opsal were featured in the National Hazing Prevention Week's research section of their annual guide for universities. Read (see page 19)

Verena Knerich was featured in CSU Source as a graduate assistant Zooming in from overseas and overcoming time zone differences. Read

Thai Binh Tran's poster

Updates from Research Teams & Centers

Food Systems

Michael Carolan and team are studying Denver supply chain impacts from COVID-19 with recent funding from the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research.

EMergent Ecosystem Response to ChanGE (EMERGE)

Jeni Cross is Co-PI for a new ecosystem and climate change global project funded by the National Science Foundation.

Soil Carbon Solutions: Mitigating climate change through cutting-edge research and implementation

Michael Carolan is on the leadership team of this winning Catalyst for Innovative Partnership (CiP) team.

Congratulations

President Joyce McConnell informed Jason Downing that she accepted the Provost’s recommendation that he be promoted to Senior Instructor, effective July 1, 2020.

President Joyce McConnell informed Mark Shuey that she accepted the Provost’s recommendation that he be promoted to Senior Instructor, effective July 1, 2020.

Awards & Honors

Annabel Ipsen was awarded a Professional Development Program grant and a College of Liberal Arts Ann Gill Faculty Development Award to support research for a new project in the spring/summer of 2021.

Book Chapters

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Book Launches

Joshua Sbicca and co-editors Alison Hope Alkon (University of the Pacific) and Yuki Kato (Georgetown University) released A Recipe for Gentrification: Food, Power, and Resistance in the City through NYU Press in July. CSU Source featured Josh this fall.

In July, The Conversation published “In changing urban neighborhoods, new food offerings can set the table for gentrification” by Josh and his co-editors.

Josh was interviewed at length by Eater for their September article “How to Track a Neighborhood’s Gentrification Through Restaurant Openings.”

Josh did a half-hour radio interview “Restaurants Setting the Table for Gentrification” for Top of Mind with Julie Rose that aired on BYU Radio in November.

Also in November, The Social Breakdown interviewed Josh and Alison to record “SOC408 – Gentrification Through Food (Guest Edition)” as a podcast that will be used as a teaching resource/introductory resource to complex sociological topics.

Stephanie Malin and co-authors wrote "Rocky Flats and Environmental Health: Contested Illnesses & Contended Spaces," a chapter in Kristen Iversen's book Doom with a View. Stephanie helped launch the book this fall with virtual appearances at BookBar Denver and Boulder Bookstore and a webinar with Fulcrum Press.

Sociologists on Campus

Jeff Nowacki and Prabha Unnithan have accepted President Joyce McConnell's requests that they join CSU’s Presidential Task Force on Campus, Community and Personal Safety. Read her announcement here.

Tara Opsal and Elena Windsong are Sociology's representatives for the College of Liberal Arts Open Door Pedagogy Network. Part of CLA's 2020 initiative, the Network launched this fall to foster community, mentorship, and mutual support by providing infrastructure for teachers connecting with teachers.

Pete Taylor has accepted College of Liberal Arts Dean Ben Withers’ invitation to join a new CLA Task Force on Learning From COVID. The group will be charged with thinking closely about the kinds of practices, programs and presence CLA needs to project on campus for the academic success and well-being of our students, faculty and staff.

Publications

Laura Raynolds and Claudia Rosty ('19 Ph.D.) published “Fair Trade USA Coffee Plantation Certification: Ramifications for Workers in Nicaragua" in Development Policy Review. Read

Lindsey Schneider (CSU Native American Studies), Josh Sbicca, and Stephanie Malin published “Native American tribes’ pandemic response is hamstrung by many inequities” on The Conversation June 2. Read The article was picked up by Government Executive, The Meteor News, and Newsbreak.

KuoRay Mao, Ph.D. student Nefratiri Weeks, and co-authors published "Environmental Conservation or the Treadmill of Law: A Case Study of the Post-2014 Husbandry Waste Regulations in China" in the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology June 15. Read

KuoRay Mao, Ph.D. student Nefratiri Weeks, and co-authors published "Rural Reform in Contemporary China: Development, Efficiency, and Fairness" in the Journal of Contemporary China July 6. Read

Jessie Luna published “Peasant essentialism in GMO debates: Bt cotton in Burkina Faso” in the Journal of Agrarian Change August 7. Read

Jessie Luna published "How power shaped the ‘success story’ of genetically modified cotton in Burkina Faso" on The Conversation August 30. Read

Jeni Cross published “Can a college course teach students to ‘unlearn’ racism?” on The Conversation September 1. Read

Stephanie Malin published “Fracking takes a toll on mental health as drilling and truck traffic rattle neighborhoods” on The Conversation October 22. Read The article was picked up by  The Houston Chronicle, Environmental Health News, Tulsa World, and Futurism. 

Steve Dandaneau published "What the Election Should Have Been About" on CounterPunch on October 27. Read

Stephanie Malin published "Depressed democracy, environmental injustice: Exploring the negative mental health implications of unconventional oil and gas production in the United States" in Energy Research and Social Sciences in December. Read

Pat Hastings and Kassandra Roeser published “Happiness in Hard Times: Does Religion Buffer the Negative Effect of Unemployment on Happiness?” in Social Forces in December. Read They wrote this paper while Kassie was an undergrad in our Environmental Sociology concentration. She is now pursuing her master’s degree in Sociology at Stanford.

In the Media

Stephanie Malin was interviewed for “Let’s Go There with Shira and Ryan” on Channel Q Radio October 23.

Lindsey Schneider (CSU Native American Studies) and Stephanie Malin were interviewed for “GovExec Daily: The Pandemic and Native American Communities" podcast on July 8. Listen

Tara Opsal was featured in the High Country News article "Divided prospects: The fight over an immigration detention center" on December 1. Read

Contributing Near & Far

Annabel Ipsen presented “Redefining environmental and labor governance through preemptive and authoritarian legality” at the Law & Society Association meeting held virtually in late May.

Laura Raynolds presented her poster “Advancing Social and Environmental Sustainability through Fairtrade" for CSU's School of Global Environmental Sustainability (SoGES) Virtual Showcase in May.

Stephanie Malin was invited to introduce Keynote Speaker Chris Johnstone at the Natural Hazards Center’s Annual Research and Applications Workshop held virtually July 13.

Stephanie Malin presented “Environmental Justice 101” at Community Q&A with Cultivando and Be the Change for Suncor held virtually July 14.

Stephanie Malin was an invited speaker for “Depressed Democracy and Environmental Injustice” at the Social Science and Environmental Health Research Institute at Northeastern University, Boston, MA. Her talk was held virtually October 6.

KuoRay Mao, Lou Swanson, and Pete Taylor presented virtually at the 2020 International Forum on the Theory & Practices of Poverty Alleviation and Ecological Revitalization in the Yellow River Basin. The forum was held November, 7 in Shandong, China, and organized by Beijing Forestry University, Institute of Ecological Civilization, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and Shandong Academy of Social Sciences and co-organized by the Institute for Eco-civilization of Beijing Forestry University (BJFU) and the Institute for Ecological Protection and High Quality Development of Yellow River Basin Research, BJFU.

Lou welcomed attendees and applauded them for gathering near one of the world’s greatest rivers – Yellow River. As Emeritus Vice President of Engagement at CSU, he spoke briefly on the importance of research projects being transdisciplinary and ensuring direct positive impacts on the lives of rural people and sustainable ecosystems.

KuoRay presented “Toward a socio-political approach to water management: successes and limitations of IWRM programs in northern China.”

Pete presented “Water Conservation Challenges and Opportunities on the U.S. Colorado River” during the Seminar on Poverty Alleviation and Ecological Revitalization in the Yellow River Basin.

Participation in this forum is part of a continuing effort established within the last several years by the CSU Vice President for Engagement Office to build institutional ties between CSU and Chinese universities and government agencies around sharing of the U.S. experience of outreach and engagement in extension.

Michael Carolan was an invited speaker for "Everything you always wanted to know about critical agri-food studies (but were afraid to ask)," a webinar sponsored by the Canadian Association for Food Studies (CFAS) held virtually November 19.

Stephanie Malin was an invited speaker for “Oil, Gas, & Environmental Justice in Colorado: Evidence of Diminished Quality of Life” during Medical Symposium: Health Effects of Oil and Gas Development hosted by Physicians of Social Responsibility (PSR), Colorado, held virtually December 5.

The 115th American Sociological Association (ASA) Annual Meeting was held virtually August 8–11. 2020’s theme was “Power, Inequality and Resistance at Work.”

Pat Hastings co-presented “Seasonality in Parental Investments in Children: Understanding the ‘Other Faucet’ and the Summer Learning Gap.”

Jessie Luna gave a talk for a paper co-authored with Ph.D. student Becca Clark-Hargreaves: “Clean white cotton: race and the paradoxes of purity in organic agriculture in Burkina Faso.” This paper was part of sessions on “Racialized Meaning.”

KuoRay Mao and Ph.D. student Nefratiri Weeks co-presented “Authoritarian Environmentalism or the Treadmill of Law: the Post-2014 Husbandry Waste Regulations in China” during the session “A Comparative Approach: Environmental Politics in a Time of Populism, Nationalism and De-Globalization”

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Lou presenting on screen
KuoRay Mao presenting virtually
Pete Taylor's presentation on screen
Michael Carolan webinar flyer

Alumni Updates

Ajhanai Newton ('15) returns to CSU as an instructor for CLA’s new Master of Sport Management program

Ajhanai majored in Sociology and played on the CSU women’s basketball team. She earned her M.Ed. from The University of Texas at Austin and is completing her Ph.D. at the University of Connecticut.

Marc Parker (’05) stepped up to be sure CSU's "A" was painted after students were not allowed to continue the tradition this year

Marc majored in Sociology and now owns Maximum Painting, LLC with his spouse Bevin ('02). Friends, including several alumni, joined the Parkers to safely give the "A" its annual refresh. Photo (and painting assistance!) courtesy @jenZwestphotography

Michelle Eccellente Stevenson ('92) selected as one of ten speakers for TEDxColePark

Michelle double majored in Sociology and Political Science and was the student speaker for the College of Liberal Arts 1992 Fall Commencement.  

CSUPD corporal Alisha Zellner ('09) launches Bike Ride for Black Lives to show how to be Black, white and blue all at once

Alisha has impacted people near and far after being featured by People, Prevention, Women's Health, Black Enterprise, Denver 7, Fort Collins' Coloradoan, CSU Alumni Association's Around the Oval (hot off the press, link coming soon), and more.

"I'm a Sociologist"

Tara Opsal secured CLA funding last spring for Sociology's First Generation Initiative that includes mentoring modules showcasing alumni and faculty. Tara and Carmen Ruyle Hardy have been working with CSU Student Media this fall to film some nearby Sociology alumni in their career settings as they talk about how they’re putting their Sociology skills & knowledge to work. Out-of-town alumni are being interviewed via email.

If you know any alumni who might like to participate, please let us know. Thanks to many of you who’ve already helped make connections and to these four alumni who agreed to be filmed! Videos and photos will be shared soon as course modules, website spotlights, and more. In the meantime, a few names came up during filming...

Danté Bills

Danté holding "I'm a Sociologist" sign

Danté is the Lead College Advisor for the Denver Scholarship Foundation at South High School in Denver. He is especially grateful to Jeni Cross and Lynn Hempel for being so accessible and impactful during his time at CSU. 

Teagan Kavanagh

Teagan holding "I'm a Sociologist" sign

Teagan is a Police Detective with the Parker Police Department. He felt law enforcement would be a good fit after taking FCPS Lieutenant Kevin Cronin’s CSU SOC course.

Immanuel Mitchell

Student Media filming Immanuel

Immanuel is a Sales Representative for MSHQ, the company that handles Lowe’s outside sales throughout Colorado. He credits CSU Sociology for helping him gain self-confidence and learn how to work with people from different backgrounds.

Monica Paez

Monica holding "I'm a Sociologist" sign

Monica is the Title V Project Director at Community College of Aurora. Jason Downing is the reason Monica became a SOC major. She knew it was the path for her during his SOC 100 course. She found Tara Opsal’s Gender & Society course very impactful as well.

On A Lighter Note

Sbicca family

Josh Sbicca's new arrival

It is with great excitement that I announce our new son, Aiden River, was born July 29. Jen and Aiden are both healthy and we are spending lots of time together as a family. We are reveling in the joy of a new life, finding space to appreciate the simple things, and reflecting on the opportunity to see the world with fresh eyes. Everyone is currently healthy and now in Florida on a family sabbatical. Aiden is enjoying the warmth, but will miss having a real Colorado winter.

Warmly, 
Josh, Jen, Enzo, and Aiden!

Jeopardy screen

What is CSU of course

September 28 on Jeopardy!

Jeff and Lincoln in Ram shirts

Ram Welcome Tradition

Lincoln and Jeff donned their green and gold again this year even though this fall's event was virtual.

Lincoln with vote sign

Get out and vote!

Lincoln and Elena kindly reminded everyone to vote in this fall's election.

Logan

Stephanie Malin's new addition

We’re so excited to welcome little Logan Myles Kazy to the world! He was born August 7 at 3:36 AM and was 8 pounds and 20.87 inches. After an eventful start, we are home and developing a routine complete with lots of cuddles, snuggles, and sleep deprivation. Logan’s hobbies include eating, sleeping, pooping, and being adorable. He loves to make eye contact with his parents and take in the new world around him. We’re in love. Logan, his parents, and Jasper have been enjoying hikes and time outside as they train their new human to be a good little camper and Colorado kid.
– Stephanie

SOC sticker

Sociology: Because Life Is A Team Sport

Thank you for reading this newsletter.

Please continue to send news, ideas, and comments to Carmen Ruyle Hardy, Sociology Communications Coordinator.

Thank You For All You Do!