Sociology Newsletter - December 2024

Spring course registration is in full swing. The Sociology Department will be offering a pair of courses for the first time. Sociology 1212: Career Success in the Social Sciences introduces students to careers in the social sciences and helps them plan for success. It will meet online during the first 8-week block of the semester and be taught by Dr. Jenny Vermilya, who has years of experience advising and mentoring sociology students. Sociology 4770/5770: Advanced Topics: Social Scientific Approaches to Evaluating Program Impact and Change is a stacked course available to graduate and advanced undergraduate students—it offers a critical examination of established instruments for program evaluation with an eye towards fostering social change. It will meet in-person on Tuesday evenings and be taught by Dr. Lonnie Schaible, who has a wealth of experience with the topic.  

Please also note the following in-person offerings for the Spring: Sociology 3750: Animals & Society (Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 9:30-10:45), Sociology 3050: Sociology of Education (Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 11-12:15), and Sociology 3119: Qualitative Methods (Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 12:30-1:45). These face-to-face courses are excellent opportunities to build meaningful relationships with peers and faculty alike.   

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.

The WJS Keep on Truckin’ Sociology Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 2018 to support Sociology majors with financial need to continue their studies. Our department is beyond excited to announce a $1.07 million gift to the fund by an anonymous private individual. This generous gift will allow our department to award annual scholarships covering tuition and fees for three students majoring in sociology. Inspired by a deep love for CU Denver and the discipline of sociology, the donor’s remarkable generosity reflects a commitment to empowering students and advancing our efforts to make sociology a transformative force in the lives of our students and community.

This year’s scholarships will be awarded in Spring 2025. Applicants must be Sociology majors who have completed at least 45 credit hours and have a 3.0 minimum GPA. Applications can be submitted via Scholarships Universe. The deadline for applications is January 15. For more information, contact Department Chair, Dr. Keith Guzik.

Undocumented Student Services is a campus body committed to serving DACA, Undocumented, and Immigrant students in all aspects of documentation and equity needs. USS supports students in achieving their degrees, fosters an equitable educational environment, and advocates alongside students for continuous improvements in their college experience. You can schedule an appointment with USS using this link. For more information, contact Reyna Aguirre Lopez.

Are you an undergraduate student with a passion for research? The McNair Scholars Program may be for you! The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, named in honor of the second African American astronaut to reach space, supports first-generation and underrepresented students in their pursuit of post-graduate doctoral degrees. McNair Scholars are provided with research opportunities, faculty mentoring, and seminars to prepare them for doctoral study.

The deadline for applications is Sunday, December 8. Eligibility requirements include: a desire to pursue an academic doctoral degree (e.g., PhD, EDd, etc.); 3.0 or higher GPA; completion of 60 credit hours by the end of Spring 2025; meeting federal low-income guidelines and being a first-generation college student; and/or, identifying as part of an underrepresented population in graduate education (i.e., African American or Black, Native American, Hispanic or Latinx, Native Alaskan or Pacific Islander). For more information about the program and application requirements, visit the McNair Scholars website, contact Daniel Cicenia, or stop by the TRIO office in Student Commons 2011 (above the Qdoba).

The Midwest Journal of Undergraduate Research (MJUR) is a peer- and faculty-reviewed journal that publishes high-quality research from undergraduate students across disciplines and from a variety of national and international institutions. If you are a current or recent undergraduate student and have done original research, consider submitting your work for publication. Even if your piece is not selected for publication, the journal provides thoughtful, extended feedback to authors. MJUR is published annually in print and online and is indexed in EBSCO Academic Search Ultimate. It recently announced its call for papers for its 16th issue to be published in 2025. The deadline for submission is January 15, 2025. Early submissions are highly encouraged!

These are turbulent times. Now more than ever we need law and our legal institutions! The American Bar Foundation (ABF) supports research that explores the intersection of law and society to expand knowledge and advance justice. For over thirty years, the ABF has sponsored a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, where exceptional undergraduate students learn new research skills, meet with local legal professionals, and explore career paths within the sociolegal field.

Open to current college sophomores and juniors, this program provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for intellectually curious and justice-motivated students to delve into ABF’s world-class research. Fellows will participate in the program 35 hours a week in its Chicago, IL office on a hybrid schedule from June 9 to August 1, 2025, and receive a stipend of $6,000. Applications are due before January 31st, 2025, and can be accessed here. More information is available on the ABF website or by contacting ABF Program Coordinator, Dianna Garzón.

Do you love teaching, working with young people, and promoting change? If so, check out the award-winning Generation Teach AmeriCorps Summer Teaching Fellowship. Fellows earn a living allowance of $3,234.92 and an AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,565.08 while gaining leadership and teaching experience. Fellowships include pre-summer preparation, 7 days of in-person training, and 24 days of teaching Denver middle-school students. Serving as a teaching fellow offers a unique chance to grow as a leader and teacher and develop skills for your future career. And as a fellow, you will join a loving community of 32 undergraduate and high-school students. Upcoming application deadlines are December 15 and January 15. Learn more through this flier and video. Applications can be found here!

Employers are increasingly seeking job candidates trained in research methods. Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative methodological skills improve one's prospects of securing well-paid and rewarding careers. The Department of Sociology’s new 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.

Imagine yourself on a 16-day adventure across four of Spain's most enchanting cities: Madrid, Seville, Córdoba, and Cádiz. 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.

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.

The CU Denver Lynx Food Pantry responds to the need of CU Denver students for resources to fight food insecurity. CU Denver students have access to free food and hygiene products. All students are allocated 10 points each week to use on items from the pantry, whether it's just to grab a snack for the day or to help out with a meal. Bring your student ID when you visit. The Lynx Food Pantry is located on the 3rd floor of the Wellness Center. 

The Sociology Club keeps on clubbing! Movie Night before Thanksgiving was a hit, featuring thoughtful discussion on the excellent film, Minari. It was wonderful seeing so many of you there. The Club’s fourth and final event of the semester will be a Burger Bar (vegetarian options provided!) to power us up before finals. The Burger Bar is happening on Thursday, December 5 at 6PM in LSC450. Come join us for food, drinks, swag, and positive vibes!

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, whatever one’s faith. Part of what makes it so special are the different events happening in the community that give us a chance to get out of the house and connect with others. The Denver metro area provides an especially rich menu of 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!

Getting together with family and friends during the holidays can be rejuvenating. But let’s face it, it can also be trying, especially with that one uncle (or aunt! or cousin!...) around. Luckily, the Phoenix Center at Auraria has put together this “Setting Boundaries With Family” guide to help out. Check out their website for additional signs and resources to practice self-care during the holiday season and beyond. Thank you PCA for these materials!

Children of the World Dream of Peace (Leo Tanguma, 1994), Denver International Airport (photo downloaded from ya3hs3 on flicker)

We are thrilled to shout out Valentina Serrano-Salomón and Jay Pecenka, both graduates of our MA program, on their recent journal article publication on air quality and knowledge justice in North Denver. Their piece, “Supporting knowledge justice through community science air quality monitoring and a reciprocal reporting process,” appears in the Journal of Environmental Management (JEM), a premier, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing the understanding and application of environmental management practices. Valentina and Jay both worked with Dr. Esther Sullivan, who is co-author on the article, during their time at CU Denver. Great work Valentina, Jay, and Esther!

CU Denver Sociology is psyched to give a loud shout out to Michele Schilling, who is putting her sociology degrees to work for her as a Research Associate at the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University. Michele is doing qualitative research about the civil rights of persons with mental health challenges, including those who experience homelessness and addiction. In her position, she is conducting and thematically coding semi-structured interviews with peer specialists, county officials, and police. Michele writes, “I cannot stress enough how much CU Denver’s sociology program has prepared me for this job! I went from doing interviews and coding for my master’s thesis to doing the same in the professional world. Every day I am thankful for what I learned in my classes as they truly trained me to do well in my job.” Way to go Michele!

We want to give a shout out to Mirakle Wright, a sociology major and data science minor who is graduating this semester. Mirakle is currently putting her sociological skills to work for her as a Digital Navigator with The Learning Source, a local nonprofit offering classes to help adults learn English and advance their careers. Mirakle teaches digital literacy free of cost to low-income individuals, the elderly, English language learners, and new immigrants. She works with them to identify learning goals and helps teach them how to send emails, operate computers, and use software. She also works with PCs for People to get community members low cost internet and laptops. Mirakle writes, “It feels great to give back to my community. Seeing the sense of empowerment community members feel from learning digital skills is what motivates me to do this work.” Awesome job Mirakle!

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of a fully democratic South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for opposing South Africa's racist apartheid system. Living in a society riven with conflict and having suffered at the hands of the country’s racist authorities, Mandela remarked in his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”

At a rally held in Aurora in October, President-elect Donald Trump announced a plan named “Operation Aurora” to remove immigrants who entered the country illegally and may be involved in gangs. The Aurora Sentinel and kvdr have coverage on how the incoming administration’s expected immigration crackdown is impacting the community, especially migrants in the city, where 1 in 5 residents is foreign-born.

Gender-affirming care encompasses a range of social, psychological, behavioral, and medical interventions designed to support and affirm an individual’s gender identity when it conflicts with the gender they were assigned at birth. In the last three years, more than two dozen states have enacted laws that ban puberty blockers, hormones and other treatments for minors seeking gender-affirming care. Those laws are currently being challenged at the US Supreme Court, which is hearing arguments about a Tennessee state law that blocks minors from accessing gender-affirming care in the state. National Public Radio has excellent coverage of the case here.

Santa doesn’t exist. So far as we know. That of course doesn’t stop many of us from imagining he does, whether to brighten the spirits of children or the bottom line of retail companies. But what is Santa’s Village without snow? Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, which markets itself as the “real” home of Santa Claus, is finding out. Read the Voice of the America’s story about how the reality of climate change is making Santa’s winter wonderland less wintry and less wonderful.