Sociology Newsletter - December 2025

Spring course registration is in full swing. This Spring, the Sociology Department is excited to offer a pair of new courses for the first time. First up is Applied Community Care (SOCY3113), developed in partnership with the Alliance for Criminal Justice Innovation (ACJI), a nationally recognized leader in criminal justice reform. The 3-credit course is being offered in the second 8-week semester. The course focuses on the application of demonstrable skills sought after in the human and social service sectors. The prerequisite for SOCY3113 is SOCY2113: Principles of Community Care, an 8-week, 1-credit, online course. You can complete SOCY2113 with ACJI over the winter break or during the first 8-week semester. By completing SOCY2113 and SOCY3113 together, you qualify for a Community Care Microcredential and accompanying badge on Credly, which can help you stand out on the job market.

Second up is Sociology 3100: Foundations of Behavioral Health, which provides an introduction to understanding and working with behavioral health disorders in contemporary society. This is an online course running the conventional 15-week Spring semester. It is one of the core requirements for the department’s new Behavioral Health Certificate.

Both courses feature in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program that the Sociology Department is launching in 2027. Contact Keith Guzik, department chair, for more details.

Knowing which courses to take is not easy. If you have advising questions as you're planning your Spring schedule, please contact our Undergraduate Advisor, Dr. Maren Scull. Dr. Scull is available to meet in-person or via Zoom. 

Imagine yourself on a 16-day adventure across four of Spain's most enchanting cities: Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, and Cadiz. Earn six credits and a certificate in GIS and Spatial Analysis with instruction from the Spanish National Research Council while immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of Spanish culture. Under the guidance of Dr. Adam Lippert, Descubre España: GIS, Research Training, and Cultural Immersion across Spain allows you to explore historic sites, savor local delicacies, and put new skills to work while studying social life in Spain. For more details, contact Dr. Lippert. 

Employers are increasingly seeking job candidates trained in research methods. Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative methodological skills improves one's prospects of securing well-paid and rewarding jobs. The Department of Sociology's Graduate Certificate in Social Science Research Methods provides graduate students training in research design, data collection, and data analysis utilizing a variety of statistical and text analysis software. The certificate is available to graduate students in any degree program as well as non-degree-seeking students. Contact Dr. Adam Lippert for more information. 

The law and legal institutions matter now more than ever. This spring, the University of Colorado Law School is presenting a new program, Demystifying (and Preparing for) Law School, for undergraduate students interested in law careers. This free five-week series is designed for prospective law students and those who are interested in learning more about law school, including pre-law advisors and lifelong learners. Attendees will hear from admissions officers on what law schools are looking for in applications, first-year law students about what they wish they had known before entering law school, law professors on what first-year curriculum is like, and staff and administrators on how to succeed in law school and beyond. Flexible options are available to make participation a breeze. You can attend live from 6:00-7:30pm on Wednesdays from January 14-February 11 at the University of Colorado Law School’s Wolfe Law Building in Boulder, join the livestream from anywhere in the country, or access on-demand recordings at your convenience. Registration is free via the following link. Questions about the program can be directed to mini-law@colorado.edu. 

CU Denver Sociology alum Courtney Lange shares the following with us. (And hi Courtney!) The Steadman Group is a woman-owned health and social services consultancy dedicated to improving people's health and wellbeing. Steadman shapes the future of social services by providing meaningful applied experience and professional development opportunities. Its goal is to train and empower the next generation of leaders in behavioral health, public health, and healthcare. 

Steadman Group is currently seeking interns or honors students who want hands-on consulting experience. At Steadman, students will have the opportunity to work directly on projects related to opioid settlement (in Colorado and nationally) and organizational development, such as conducting needs assessments and gap analyses, supporting program and impact evaluations, supporting the National Opioid Settlement Conference, contributing to report writing and presentation development, and assisting with strategic planning and meeting facilitation. Ideal candidates will have strong writing and communication skills, experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research, and general familiarity with public health, social services, or behavioral health (mental health and substance use disorder) topics. Interested applicants should send a cover letter and CV/resume to Burke Fishburn at BurkeFishburn@steadmangroup.com by Friday, December 5, 2025, 5:00 PM. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

American democracy is clearly under stress. But the resiliency of our institutions and communities can help see it through the turbulent times. With that in mind, the Association of American Colleges & Universities' (AAC&U) Institute for Democracy and Higher Education is creating an open-source repository of ready-to-use materials that support pro-democracy learning across all fields, including STEM, the social sciences, the humanities, and professional programs. The AAC&U welcomes contributions—including syllabi, learning activities, worksheets, digital tools, readings, discussion guides, prompts, and multimedia resources—that can be used or adapted for teach-ins, existing courses, or new programs. Materials that help prepare students, staff, and faculty to be knowledgeable and principled stewards of democracy are especially encouraged. To contribute, complete this description form—no materials need to be uploaded yet—by January 18, 2026. 

Sociology MA student Emily Grant shares this one with us (Hi Emily!). The Body Project is an initiative rooted in the sociological principles of embodiment, identity, and social justice. It recognizes the body not merely as a biological entity, but as a site of social meaning, shaped by systems of power, cultural narratives, and lived experience. The Body Project is a tri-institutional, student-led program providing women and femme students opportunities to confront unrealistic beauty standards, boost self-esteem, have fun, and make new friends. Drawing from feminist theory, medical sociology, and critical studies, the Project challenges dominant norms around appearance and worth. By integrating personal narrative with collective insight, The Body Project disrupts shame-based paradigms and fosters embodied resilience. The Phoenix Center and campus partners would love to have Sociology students participate in The Body Project's workshop series. More information about the Spring 2026 workshops is available here. And feel free to contact Emily with questions.

CU Denver's First Year Experience (FYE) program is excited to announce that its Peer Advocate Leader (PAL) application is live for 2026! PALS typically work about 10-15 hours a week and serve students in FYE courses in the Fall each year through in-class support, out-of-class peer mentorship, event engagement, and much more. Many PALs return for future semesters, and PALs can also move up into leadership roles throughout the program. FYE also provides national and internationally-ranked certifications in their training program that PALs can use to supplement their resumes and cover letters for future employment. Being a PAL has helped many students open professional doors, including getting letters of recommendation for graduate school, finding internships, securing full-time employment, and collaborating with faculty and staff on research projects. 

The application is competitive. To apply, students must meet the following requirements: 1) be enrolled as a CU Denver student currently and in Fall 2026, 2) maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, 3) be available for in-person training July 27th-30th and August 3rd-6th. Applications close on February 18th, 2026. The PAL Application can be found here. Questions can be directed to Senior PAL Coordinator, Liz Berry.

Hands of Hope AmeriCorps provides care for infants and children up to age six who are at risk of abuse and neglect in Houston, TX. The organization is seeking members to work with these vulnerable children over a 12-month commitment, living in a private, gated community (at no cost), and receiving a living allowance. Hands of Hope AmeriCorps Members work collaboratively with other AmeriCorps Members in homes to ensure that children’s physical, emotional, and mental needs are met. While the service commitment is only one year, the impact of AmeriCorps Members on the children in their care is lifelong. Hands of Hope is currently accepting applications for the September 2026-August 2027 service year. For more information, email them here, and find the application here

The Sociology Club continues to rock! The Club’s Jubilee event before Thanksgiving was a hit. The Club will pick up its activities next semester. You can stay updated on Club events by joining their GroupMe or following the Sociology Department on Instagram! Questions can be shared with Club advisor, Dr. Vermilya (jenny.vermilya@ucdenver.edu), or with the Club via GroupMe or DM on Instagram!

We know what time it is. We are finishing classes. Some of us are graduating! And we're about to head off to spend time with family and friends. The holidays are a special time, no matter one's faith. Part of what makes it so special is the variety of events happening in the community that give us a chance to get out of the house and connect with others. That includes the Christkindlmarkt being held on our own campus this year! I know, I know—the parking stinks! But gluhwein can help!  The Denver metro area provides a rich menu of holiday events to choose from. To help plan your holidays, Westword, Denverite, Colorado Public Radio, and VisitDenver have the goods. Check out their list of events and enjoy the winter season in Colorado! 

La Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Carlota Espinoza, 1977), Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (photo downloaded from National Catholic Reporter)

CU Denver MA Alum Javier Alberto Soto published an excellent opinion piece in Westword on philanthropy to coincide with this season of giving. Javier argues that philanthropy isn't an activity reserved for the privileged, whose wealth gets their names on buildings and institutions. Rather, it is enacted by all those in our society who give to local organizations and communities. "When we define philanthropy so narrowly," Mr. Soto argues, "we erase entire communities of givers, especially communities of color, immigrants and working-class families". Excellent work, Javier! And thank you for sharing it with us!   

CU Denver Sociology’s Dr. Jenny Vermilya was interviewed for a story in Atmos, a nonprofit media organization focused on the intersections of climate and culture. The story considers anthropomorphized AI depictions of animals. In the piece, Dr. Vermilya notes that, while AI-generated images and videos can foster compassion for endangered animals, anthropomorphized depictions can also lead people to believe that animals are more humanlike than they are. "I'm near the Rocky Mountains, and there’s a long history of people going off into the mountains and wanting to interact with wild animals and getting mauled," she notes. Thank you, Jenny, for showing readers how sociology can inform different topics and trends! 

Numerous passages in the Bible address the treatment of immigrants, variously referred to as strangers, foreigners, aliens, or sojourners. Leviticus 19:33-34 (ESV) reads, "When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." Apparently, wokeness is not antithetical to Judeo-Christian tradition.  

The Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities (URCA) is your connection to research opportunities at CU Denver. URCA is here to help students jump-start their research careers. Its Education through Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities program, or EUReCA, has research assistantship and grant opportunities that fund undergraduate students for doing research. Explore opportunities on their webpage and schedule an appointment with their office to put your ideas into action. 

The Learning Resources Center (LRC) at CU Denver is committed to student academic success, retention, and graduation by promoting and fostering independent learning and critical thinking skills. The LRC strives to cultivate effective learning strategies, skills, and study habits while empowering students to be lifelong learners in a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive learning environment. The office offers a bevy of services to help students meet their academic and personal goals. These include peer tutoring, a writing center, supplemental learning, individual coaching, study skills workshops, and more. Visit their website for more information and schedule a session! 

Alpha Kappa Delta is continuing its workshop series for sociology graduate students: The Graduate Student Lounge. The AKD Grad Student Lounge is an initiative sponsored by Alpha Kappa Delta to support and foster graduate students’ professionalization, well-being, and peer networking. It meets monthly to discuss various topics of interest to graduate students in sociology and offers a grad-only safe space to share tips, ideas, and recommendations. Graduate students are welcome to sign up to be invited using this link.

Alpha Kappa Delta currently provides funding to AKD student members who present at regional sociology conferences. Awards are up to $500/student, although no more than $1,500 may be awarded per chapter. This is another great reason to join sociology’s honor society. For more information about the chapter, contact Dr. Jenny Vermilya. 

Milo's Market is CU Denver’s grocery spot. It’s a hub for students, staff, and faculty to access free food and hygiene items. Milo’s Market embodies CU Denver’s belief that every person deserves to live free of food insecurity. All students are allocated various goods each week, whether it's a snack for the day or ingredients for a meal. All you need is your LynxCard and a reusable bag! Milo's Market is located on the 3rd floor of the Wellness Center. 

The Office of Equity (OE) is dedicated to advancing an inclusive environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination based on age, color, creed, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, political philosophy, pregnancy or related conditions, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and veteran status. The OE strives to foster a community where all identities are respected, and every individual has equitable access to education and employment opportunities. More information on OE offerings and a link for making an equity report can be found here.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a legal category that the US Congress created in 1990 to allow foreigners without criminal records to work and live in the United States temporarily for humanitarian reasons. TPS holders can earn work authorization, which allows them to work and pay taxes in the US. President Trump attempted to revoke TPS status for 100,000s of Venezuelans earlier this year. Immigrants' rights groups filed lawsuits to challenge the action. The fate of these challenges remains in the courts. Colorado Public Radio has details on how this ongoing story is impacting the thousands of Venezuelans living in Colorado with TPS status.  

The holiday season is a time of revelry and cheer. Everyone has their favorite holiday movie or song. But which holiday movie or song is best? We're sociologists! We can answer that! And people have tried. Many just go with what they feel, especially with music. A few years ago, Alexandra Petri at the Washington Post listed her favorite 100 Christmas songs. Staff writers at Billboard did the same last year. And so did the folks over at The Ringer, cutting it down to 50 songs. With movies, people have gotten a bit more analytical. Take, for example, this breakdown of Hallmark versus Lifetime holiday movies by John Markowski on Medium. Or Creighton University, who took the novel approach of analyzing films according to, well, Creighton-ness. But Ultimate Movie Ratings takes the cake, or stollen, by ranking holiday films statistically according to 6 different measures, ranging from box office receipts to Oscar nominations. How would you measure which cultural piece is best? Happy holidays, and nerd on! 

Cars are in many ways synonymous with American culture. It's hard to imagine getting through a day in the US without one. And US carmakers have for decades been a major presence in foreign car markets, together with German and Japanese producers. But that is changing as China rushes ahead with battery-powered vehicles. Both the New York Times and Politico recently ran stories on how this shifting power balance is playing out in Brazil, one of the world's largest economies.