Fall 2025 Sociology Newsletter

A Letter from the Chair

Dear Students, Colleagues, and Friends of the Sociology Department,

As the leaves begin to turn and the rhythm of the semester settles in, I am reminded of the energy that fills our campus when we come together each fall—hallways buzzing with conversation, classrooms alive with curiosity, and shared moments that spark new ideas and connections. Building on that shared energy, our faculty and students continue to make meaningful contributions to Cornell and the wider field of sociology.

In August, over 30 members of the Cornell sociology community presented their research at the 120th annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Chicago. Faculty and students showcased their work on a diverse range of topics including climate change, artificial intelligence, migration, health disparities, education, reproductive justice, criminal justice, inequality, labor, and the future of work.

We are excited for this term’s slate of events. Elaine Howard Ecklund (Cornell Soc Ph.D. ’04) paid a visit to the department—her old stomping grounds—earlier in the month and met with graduate students to talk about “Public Scholarship in Theses Times.” Kevin Guyan, a Chancellor’s Fellow from the University of Edinburgh, gave a talk on his book titled Rainbow Trap: The Politics of Gender, Sex and Sexuality Categories. 

Looking ahead, Philip Cohen will present on his new book, Citizen Scholar: Public Engagement for Social Scientists, at the end of October, which is co-sponsored by the Center for the Study of Inequality, Cornell Population Center, the Brooks School of Public Policy, and the Department of Government. Cohen will also lead a seminar for our students titled “Sociology as if it Really Matters.” 

Our undergraduate community now has a dedicated gathering space in the newly established undergraduate lounge. In addition, members of the new undergrad Sociology Student Advisory Board are collaborating with department faculty and staff to organize events that bring together alumni, faculty, and fellow students—stay tuned for more details!

I wish you a productive, inspiring, and connected fall semester. 

Warmly,
Dr. Laura Tach
Chair, Department of Sociology

New Faces in the Department - Fall 2025 Grad Cohort

left to right: Raul Armenta, He Xu, Lili Li, Ruiling Li, Nicole Lum, Joyce Wang, Eli Golde, Ari Shanmugaratnam

Rice University Professor Elaine Howard Ecklund (Cornell Soc Ph.D. '04) visits the department!

Grad students join Elaine for a lunchtime seminar: "Public Scholarship in These Times."

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