Summer 2023 Inaugural Newsletter 

"Never fear going in circles.  The next time around you will see something you missed before.  And you will be different and it will be better." ~unknown

As another academic year comes to a close, the time is ripe for reflection.  What have you noticed, learned, or committed yourself to this time around? What difficulties have you encountered and conquered? What accomplishments are you most proud of and what gets you excited as you look towards the future?

Welcome to the inaugural issue of what will be a biannual (summer and winter) department newsletter.  So much has happened over the past several years, but we will give it our best college try to give you a present picture of where we are at as a department and hope you stay tuned and keep in touch, as Cornell Sociology begins yet another exciting phase of research and growth. 

(News stories and information relevant to the Department/ our future newsletters, should be sent to Carrie D'Aprix, the Communications and Programming Assistant, at cmd294@cornell.edu)

Thank you!

A Message from the Chair

It has been my pleasure to see this inaugural issue of the Sociology Newsletter come together. This Newsletter is our first attempt to put in one place an accessible record of what has been going on in the Department recently.  Our aim is to keep you apprised of some exciting new developments in the Department, the many accomplishments of our faculty and students, and also the current state of the Department in general. 

We have just said goodbye to the amazing graduating class of 2023.  It was a joy to see their growth throughout their time at Cornell, and we wish them all the best as they enter a world in which the versatility of their Sociology degree prepares them to do the greatest good for society. 

There are a few points of accomplishment that I want to highlight.  In January 2023, we celebrated Susan Meyer's 35 years of dedication and unparalleled service to the Sociology Department as an essential front office staff member. And in July, we will wish our Front Office Manager, Sam Loew, all the best as she transitions to her new position in the Math department. Thank you for all you have done for Sociology, Sam! 

Congratulations to Kendra Bischoff for being one of only two recipients of the College's Robert A. & Donna B. Paul Award for exceptional effectiveness as an adviser and mentor of undergraduates. As for promotions, congratulations to Laura Tach for being promoted to Full Professor in the Brooks School of Public Policy and Sociology and to Dan Hirschman on being awarded tenure; a once-in-a-lifetime achievement.

Noteworthy Numbers

The Department has added ten outstanding Sociologists to our faculty body in just a couple of years; three external hires and seven as part of the cross-college merger with sociologists from the former department of Policy Analysis and Management. PAM was absorbed by the new Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. 

The formation of the Brooks School and subsequent cross-college integration has added a group of distinguished faculty to the Department. With the 2021 merger, the Sociology department welcomed Matt Hall, Sadé Lindsay, Kelly Musick, Adriana Reyes, Peter Rich, Sharon Sassler, Laura Tach, and Maureen Waller.

New faculty faces of 2022 are Jamie Budnick and Dan Hirschman, and beginning this July first, Brian Sykes (previously Associate Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at UC Irvine) will join the Department of Sociology and the Brooks School of Public Policy.

In addition to growing faculty numbers, Sociology has expanded its front-office staff to include two new full time positions (previously part-time positions).  Marcus May began as the new Accounts Coordinator in March of 2022 and Carrie D'Aprix as the Communications and Programming Assistant in October. 

The department boasts impressive external award and research grant numbers, we continue to remain competitive in recruitment of bright Ph.D. students, and the major is going strong!

Faculty Factoids 

Professor Landon Schnabel makes Indiana University's "20 under 40" list

Professor Cristobal Young's Research centerpiece of Comedic Video: watch video 

Sociologist Maureen Waller selected as 23-24 Access to Justice Scholar 

Dr. Laura Tach named Featured QuIRI Researcher 

2022 Ceremony honors Professor Victor Nee's Induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 

1) Ben Rosche | Causal Network Analysis 

2) Reid Ralston | Separating the art from its artist: Film reviews in the era of #MeToo

3) Alexandra Cooperstock | The Demographics of School District Secession 

4) Loredana Loy | Experts and climate change politicisation. A case study of the Environmental Protection Agency (1983–2015)

5) Loredana Loy | Climate delay discourses present in global mainstream television coverage of the IPCC’s 2021 report

6) Álvaro Padilla Pozo | Unique times, unequal mobilities: Daily mobility during the de-escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic 

7) Nan Feng | Social disadvantage, context and network dynamics in later life

8) Camille Porter | Heterogeneity in the mental health cost of caring for others 

9) Jaeun Lim | Social network-structural position and obesity: Evidence from a national study 

10) Tianyao Qu | Chronic illness and social network bridging in later life  

Undergraduate Undertakings

Students create interactive gallery walk for final class

First-years share their transformational journeys...so far

New College Scholars research climate, health care, legal interpretation 

Danika Cho presents abortion research at Harvard 

Social Spaces |Uris, 3rd Floor

The Zoom Room: a computer lab exclusively for our undergraduate majors....

The Grad Lounge...

...a great study spot for graduate students and an unmatched view of the clocktower...

The Display Case, painted just in time and decorated for Commencement weekend.

Stay tuned for the next design in line...a sociology-themed Jeopardy exhibit: What is Sociology?!

Help continue the tradition of distinguished teaching, research, and service in Cornell's Department of Sociology and make a gift to support faculty and students.  We are deeply grateful to all of our alumni, parents, and friends for their generosity.  Philanthropy provides a critical margin of excellence for our students and faculty.