Sociology Newsletter - February 2026

The WJS Keep on Truckin’ Sociology Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 2018 to support Sociology majors with financial need to continue their studies. In 2024, our department received a $1.07 million gift to the fund from an anonymous private individual. This generous gift allows our department to award annual scholarships covering tuition and fees for three students majoring in sociology. 

Scholarships for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year will be awarded in Spring 2026. 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 March 1. Please consider applying for this scholarship. And if you would like to discuss the scholarship or application process, you can contact Department Chair, Dr. Keith Guzik.

The Phoenix Center at Auraria is seeking volunteers to help support survivors of gender and sexual violence. If you are looking to grow your crisis intervention skills, build your resume for future employment, or simply support survivors on Auraria Campus, consider applying to join PCA’s VIRTUAL spring helpline training! The training is available to EVERYONE - students, staff, faculty, and community members! You can learn more and complete your application here.  Applications are due by Friday, February 6.

The Phoenix Center has a variety of upcoming programming as well. The Center is offering a Lunch and Learn on Tuesday, February 3, 12:30-1:45PM in Tivoli Multicultural Lounge (261) on reproductive coercion. The lunch will cover what reproductive coercion is, who is most impacted, what barriers survivors face when looking for support, and how to support survivors who disclose surviving this form of abuse. Free food will be provided. 

The Center is also hosting a virtual Lunch and Learn on Thursday, February 5, 12:30-2PM, Zoom, for Staff and Faculty Supporting Survivors. The content is targeted toward staff & faculty members, but everyone is welcome to attend. Learn about your role as a responsible employee, why students on campus may choose not to disclose being a survivor of interpersonal violence, and how to best support students who disclose. You can RSVP for this training here.

On Tuesday, February 10, 3:30-5:30PM, Tivoli 444, the Center will hold its first Survivor Night event of the semester. Attendees can create their own manifestation jars with crystals, herbs, flowers, essential oils, and any small symbolic items to build intentions for the year! Folks will also have the chance to write themselves, or a friend, love letters to remind themselves to engage in self-compassion, grace, and their intentions for the year. You are not required to be a survivor to attend this event. Anyone supporting survivors is welcome. Finger foods will be provided. 

Finally, on Monday, February 16th, from 12:30PM to 1:45PM, in Tivoli Multicultural Lounge (261), the Center will host a Lunch & Learn: Healthy Relationships with Yourself & Others. This interactive workshop will educate folks about communication styles, boundary setting, and developing healthy relationships with ourselves and others. Attendees will also learn how to differentiate between healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationships. Free food will be provided. 

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. The upcoming application deadlines are February 15 and March 15. Learn more through this flier and video. Applications can be found here!

Urban Peak is a Denver-based organization providing a full convergence of services focused on one of the most vulnerable populations in our community: youth ages 12 through 24 who are experiencing homelessness. To move from homelessness to safety and stability, youth require intensive, strengths-based case management; access to physical, mental, and behavioral health care; education and employment opportunities; 24/7 crisis support; and a place to call home. Urban Peak meets youth where they are at and ignites a spark that puts them on a path toward self-determined, fulfilled lives. Urban Peak also has volunteer opportunities available. You can check out the different ways to help here. This includes donating deodorant, sports bras, reusable water bottles, mattresses, bedframes, and laundry baskets through Amazon. 

Knowing which courses to take or career paths to target is not easy. If you have advising questions, please contact our Undergraduate Advisor, Dr. Maren Scull. Dr. Scull is available to meet in person or via Zoom. 

February is Black History Month. During this month, we honor the achievements and contributions of African Americans in our country. At a time when political leaders at the federal and state levels are prohibiting the teaching of diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing and celebrating the work of African Americans is more vital than ever. Denver and Colorado have a number of events throughout the month to observe Black History. These include dedicated art exhibitions at the Black American West Museum and Heritage Center, MCA Denver, the Denver Art Museum, and History Colorado Center. But there’s also the Museum for Black Girls at the 16^th Street Mall Pavilions, and Five Point Jazz Roots performances at Spangalong Brewery, Welton Street Café Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center, and other venues. And a host of other events. Also check out this Black History Month Public Art Tour organized by Denver Arts & Venues.  Get information on these and other events at Visit Denver, UCHealth, and Kids Out and About. 

Iran has experienced a wave of social protests and harsh government repression over the last month (see the news item below). Our colleagues in Political Science are organizing an event to help us understand recent developments in the country. This brownbag lunch discussion will be held on Thursday, February 5, 12:30-1:30PM in Student Commons 3216 and feature Dr. Bassem Hassan (Associate Teaching Professor, Political Science) and Sarah Zeynalilaki (MA Student, Political Science). 

Our communities are experiencing permanent crisis. To help support us in these times, the CU Denver Office for Access and Community Engagement (ACE) is hosting an ACE Community & Connection event at Lawrence Street Center, 2^nd Floor Terrace Room, Wednesday, February 11, 8:30-10:00AM. Professor Michele D. Simpson, JD, from the CU Boulder Renee Crown Wellness Institute, will lead a session about compassion and dignity. The event will feature mindful movement, stillness, compassion, self-compassion, somatic practices, and loving-kindness practices. There will be opportunities for small group discussion, along with time for sharing in an intentional community space. You are invited to attend the session however you like, bringing questions, curiosities, and your whole selves. Piping hot coffee and a hearty breakfast are promised. Register here!

Our friends in Social Work at Metropolitan State University are hosting their 7th Annual Mental & Behavioral Health Conference on Friday, February 6, 2026. The event is being held in a hybrid format (in-person in Denver with virtual participation available) from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. This year’s conference centers on the timely and urgent theme: Supporting LGBTQ+ Mental & Behavioral Health in Times of Uncertainty: Healing Collective Trauma Through Belonging, Joy, and Resistance. 

Designed for educators, practitioners, students, and community partners, the conference offers a space for critical dialogue, shared learning, and practical strategies that respond to the evolving mental and behavioral health landscape. Alok Vaid-Menon will serve as virtual keynote speaker—Vaid-Menon’s work at the intersections of mental health, race, gender expansiveness, creativity, and social justice continues to shape national conversations and practice. The link for registration is here. Students interested in attending can contact Dr. Keith Guzik about student pricing. 

¡Grita Tu Identidad! — Un camino hacia la libertad emocional y la salud mental is a first-of-its-kind statewide Spanish-language behavioral health conference and training series. This event will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the COOL Event Center in Aurora, Colorado. ¡Grita Tu Identidad! is an initiative led by Julissa Soto from Latino Health Equity Consulting and Casa Inmigrante, in collaboration with Jefferson Center, the National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA), and the Colorado Community Health Alliance (CCHA). The conference is designed to strengthen culturally responsive behavioral health care for Latino and immigrant communities across Colorado. Topics to be covered include suicide prevention and mental health promotion, equitable access to behavioral health care for underserved populations, workforce development through culturally responsive, trauma-informed training, rural and agricultural community support, and addressing critical gaps in behavioral health services. You can attend either as a community member or provider.

CLAS MixTape features presentations from CLAS students, staff, and faculty about their research and creative activities. It’s a great opportunity to learn what your peers and professors work on outside the classroom. This Spring’s event will be held on Thursday, February 12th, from 2–4PM, in the Jake Jabs Event Center at the CU Denver Business School. Join us there to celebrate the creativity and accomplishments of our community! 

William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B.) Du Bois (1868-1963) was an American sociologist, historian, political activist, Pan-Africanist, and co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Reflecting on the challenges facing African Americans in the US, Du Bois wrote that “the bright ideals of the past,--physical freedom, political power, the trainings of brains and the training of hands,--all these…have waxed and waned”. Where do we find ourselves today as a society? 

This February, the University of Colorado Denver will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Du Bois through keynote presentations and interactive activities. Details will be circulated soon through university communications. We'll be sure to share out as well. Please join us for this unique opportunity to build connection across the Denver community in celebration of Du Bois’s extraordinary life.

The Sociology Club has begun a new semester! This Spring, the Club meets every other Tuesday from 5:30-7:00 at the Sociology Department (Lawrence Street Center, Fourth Floor Conference Room). The Club is hosting its first meeting on Tuesday, February 3. Watch your emails and social media for information on future meetings. Come join us for a healthy dose of community and camaraderie and the chance to meet other sociologically-interested students. 

“Untitled (Marsha P. Johnson, an African-American transgender woman and revolutionary LGBTQ rights activist)” (2018), Gina Franco, The Center on Colfax, Denver, CO

The Sociology Department wants to give a loud shout out to our graduate and undergraduate students who completed their degrees and programs last December. Congratulations to Garima Choubey, Sarah Mitchem, and Rebecca Turner for successfully defending your master’s projects! Congratulations to Bianca Campos, Ryan Fulda, Nitara Lewis, Elizabeth Phinnella, Erin Ruiz, Zada Soqui, Ryleigh Stephen, and Miriam Zapata for your hard work in earning your Sociology baccalaureate degrees. And excellent work Angelina Diaz, Jessica Drake, Isabella Nelson, David Petersen, Nyah Rendell, Kendall Spence, Kezhe Zhao, Maria Gutierrez, Michelle Quintana-Torres, Gia Marie Martell Mendez, Lizzeth Hernandez, and Maria Madden in earning minors with us. Good luck to all of you on the next steps of your intellectual and professional journeys!

Dr. Vincent Harding (1931–2014) served for 23 years as Professor of Religion and Social Transformation at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver. He was loved by his students, his colleagues, and the community. His daughter, Rachel Harding, is emeritus Associate Professor in Ethnic Studies at CU Denver. In the 1960s, Harding was a central figure in the Civil Rights Movement and directly assisted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., most notably writing Dr. King’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech. Speaking to the Ikeda Center in Cambridge, MA, in 2008, Dr. Harding reflected on his and his nation’s life journey: “And I heard Langston Hughes again: America never was America to me, And yet I swear this oath —America will be!” …Langston’s America, trying to be born; the America that has not yet been, trying to be born. “O, let America be America again —The land that never has been yet —And yet must be.” That idea began to overwhelm my consciousness. And in my own strange kind of thinking, I began asking: Is it possible that what we need now are midwives? That what we need to be now are midwives? And I asked one of the most gifted midwives that I know to tell me what is at the heart of her work, and what she told me had almost nothing to do with what you might think. At the heart of the work, she said, is to be kind of a life coach, saying through words, and through actions, and through attitudes to the mother – “You can do this. You are able to do this. Don’t be afraid. You can do this!”

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 EURēCA, 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. 

As the nation’s attention remains focused on the ongoing conflict between federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and local community members in Minneapolis following agents’ killing of two anti-ICE protesters, ICE continues its activities in Colorado. Local officials and advocacy groups are seeking to hold the agency accountable. Recently, Denver7 reports, health officials in Adams County investigated the Aurora ICE detention facility following complaints of untreated illness outbreaks and inadequate medical care. Also, the Colorado ACLU recently obtained and released heavily redacted documents about ICE plans to expand immigrant detention capacity in Colorado at the Hudson Correctional Facility, in Hudson, CO.

The AI boom continues across the US. Big Tech companies continue to attract and invest billions of dollars into the technology, while the rest of the US economy performs unevenly. To support the growth of AI, tech firms are establishing data centers in rural communities often not zoned for heavy industrial use. The supersize data centers can use more energy than entire cities and drain local water supplies. Local pushback against data centers has entered the national political conversation and could impact this year’s midterm elections in unpredictable ways. The Washington Post and The Guardian both recently featured articles on the political stakes surrounding this infrastructural trend.

Over the past 15 years, scores of Iranians have taken to the streets to demand their rights, only to be met with brutal repression. The most recent protests in December 2025 started when merchants in Tehran took to the streets in anger over soaring inflation, and they later expanded to include a range of grievances, including stolen elections, religious intolerance, and systemic discrimination against women. Iran’s theocratic regime responded to the protests with disproportionate violence and a communications blackout. Estimates on the number of protesters killed by the government range from 4,902 to over 26,000. The Stimson Center provides an insightful explanation of the origins of the protests, while Freedom House writes on how to support Iranians’ struggle against authoritarian rule.