Celebrating our Spring 2026 Outstanding Grad Nominees
Join us in celebrating our College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Grads for Spring 2026.
Celebrate CLA! Faculty and staff recognized for outstanding contributions to teaching, research, and service in 2026
The College of Liberal Arts acknowledges the accomplishments and efforts of our outstanding faculty and staff for 2026.
Sociology Professor Tara Opsal named William E. Morgan Endowed Chair in the College of Liberal Arts
Tara Opsal, a professor and current chair of the Department of Sociology in the College of Liberal Arts, has been named the William E. Morgan Endowed Chair in the College. A nationally respected public sociologist, Opsal advances community-engaged reform in the criminal legal system, examining how it produces harm and inequality and developing pathways for change. She is also the director of the Criminal Justice and Victimization Institute at Colorado State University. As Morgan Chair, Opsal will use dedicated time and resources to expand CJVI as a hub for community-engaged, interdisciplinary justice research across Colorado.
Yue Xu wins RSS Dissertation Research Award
Congratulations to Ph.D. student Yue Xu, 2026 recipient of the Rural Sociological Society (RSS) Dissertation Research Award! Yue’s dissertation examines China’s seafood regime across production, processing, and consumption while shedding light on the hidden human, social, cultural, and environmental costs of rural development. This RSS award supports graduate student research that advances the field of […]
Graduate School awards Land Grant Fellowships to three incoming doctoral students
The fellowship supports the Graduate School’s goal of fostering excellence in scholarship, research, creative activity, community service and outreach, while advancing CSU’s land-grant mission of access and excellence across the graduate student population.
Azmal Hossan accepts SoGES and Tyler Prize graduate student appointments
Ph.D. student Azmal Hossan is now a Graduate Research Assistant for the Collaboratory Research Group on Climate Change and Biodiversity at CSU’s School of Global Environmental Sustainability (SoGES). The interdisciplinary research group aims to explore the synergies and trade-offs between climate change action and biodiversity protection, specifically in the agricultural production system. Additionally, Azmal has […]
Verena Knerich successfully defends dissertation
Verena Knerich successfully defended her dissertation, “Mind the Gap! Empowering Large Cross-disciplinary Teams to Bridge Divides.” Verena’s committee: Co-Chairs Drs. Jeni Cross & Ivett Guntersdorfer (LMU & Universität Salzburg) and Members Drs. KuoRay Mao, Stephanie Malin, and Louise Jennings (School of Education) “Congratulations from me, Verena!! As one of your committee members, I can attest […]
SOC students take over Instagram
Three superstar students recently took over our Instagram account to show “a day in the life” in each of our concentrations. Beforehand, Tara Opsal, Elena Windsong, and Emily Martin contacted prospective students to invite them to follow along on social media. Kileigh Devlin, our Sociology Undergraduate Representative, showcased our Criminology & Criminal Justice concentration. Pi […]
Joshua Sbicca serving as expert witness in prison labor class action lawsuit
Dr. Joshua Sbicca has been serving as an expert witness in a federal class action lawsuit that was recently covered by Verite News’“Lawsuit over farm line work assignments at Angola goes to trial” article and The Advocate’s“Advocacy groups press to abolish Angola prison’s Farm Line in Baton Rouge federal court” article. Last spring, Josh was […]
2026 College Awards Announcement
The 2026 College of Liberal Arts awards are announced.