Chair's Welcome Letter
Dear Alumni and Friends,
Greetings from the Department of Sociology and Criminology!
It has been another eventful year for our department that has included continued growth in our undergraduate major (now the 6th biggest in CLAS!), the addition of two new faculty members, and national recognition of our graduate students and faculty. Below, we share a few updates and stories to provide a window into who we are and the work we are currently doing.
We hope that you enjoy this newsletter and that you will keep us apprised of your news and accomplishments (you can reach us at 319-335-2502 or sociology@uiowa.edu). We would love to hear from you!
Warmly,
Michael Sauder
Department Chair
Sociology and Criminology
University of Iowa
Articles
Outstanding Senior Spotlight: Alexa Frankel
It began with a question that often lingers beneath the surface of criminology: how do individual choices intersect with systems to shape who is labeled a criminal, and why? For Alexa Frankel, a senior majoring in Criminology, that question became a guiding thread throughout her time at the University of Iowa.
A Grad Student’s Guide to Attending Conferences
Graduate students Amy Heath, Kimberly Ingold, and Hillary Douglas help demystify the conference experience by sharing insights and reflections from their own professional journeys.
Q and A with New Faculty Member: Jason Robey
Dr. Jason Robey is the newest faculty member to join Sociology and Criminology and sat down to answer questions about his life, career, and interests.
Incorporating Sociological Research on Climate Change into Teaching
Sociologists have called for more research and teaching in climate change but there is a persistent lack of attention to climate change in the discipline. Dr. Vasi illustrates how sociological research on climate change can be incorporated into the courses faculty teach.
Graduate Student Spotlight: Colin Tuttle
Colin Tuttle’s path to sociology didn’t begin in a classroom—it unfolded across multiple states, careers, and lived experiences -- long before arriving at the University of Iowa to pursue a PhD.
Department Spotlight: Ida Beam Visiting Professor Jessica Calarco
This spring, the Department was honored to host Professor Jessica Calarco of the University of Wisconsin–Madison as an Ida Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor. Her residency offered a compelling look at the intersection of gender, labor, and social policy in the United States.