|
|
Spring 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Happy Graduation, Class of 2025!
- Remembering Joe Elder
- Toni Schulze's Retirement
- Devah Pager Distinguished Alumni Award Winner
|
- Vilas Awards for Elwert, Massoglia, and Jensen
- Mike Light presents 2025 Sewell Lecture
- Four Honored Instructors
|
|
|
|
Decency. Excellence. Diversity.
|
|
Happy Graduation, Class of 2025!
Commencement was extra special this year for Ahmia Williams-Walsh. She was the student speaker at the commencement reception for UW-Madison's College of Letters & Science. Ahmia triple majored in sociology, chemistry, and biocehmistry, and Bucky is just as proud of her as we are. Congratulations to Ahima and all of the new graduates!
|
|
|
|
Also among the Class of 2025 is Olivia White, pictured here with alum and teaching faculty member Frankie Frank. Olivia was a longtime student worker in the department and a triple major in Legal Studies, Sociology, & Communications. Anyone who has dropped by Sociology's main office over the past four years will be familiar with Olivia's dedication, drive, and excellent sense of humor. Her sunny, can-do attitude brightened many a day, and her willingness to complete any task and problem-solve on the fly kept the department running. Happy trails, Olivia!
|
|
|
|
We also celebrated over a dozen graduates who earned their Doctorates in Sociology this year. Faculty mentors donned their regalia to participate in the hooding ceremony, a tradition which signifies a special recognition of graduates who are officially moving on in their careers as experts in their fields. For more on the history of the hooding ceremony, see this piece from the Law School. Our Ph.D. graduates are moving on to become postdoctoral fellows, senior researchers, and assistant professors at various universities, centers, and institutes, but as alumni, they will always remain Badgers.
|
|
Remembering Joe Elder
We are deeply saddened to share that Joe Elder passed away in Madison. Those who have known Joe know what a deep loss this is for our community. As Eric Grodsky stated, “You’d be hard pressed to find a truer moral compass than Joe and his late wife Joann, nor a pair of humans who lived their values more fully.” Joe’s full obituary is here.
Joe Elder was a Professor of Sociology, Asian Languages and Cultures, and Integrated Liberal Studies during his 53-year career at UW-Madison. He helped create UW-Madison’s study abroad programs to India and Nepal and a certificate program for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies. Joe was beloved by the students he taught, and he received numerous teaching awards. In addition, he established a global reputation in the field of international studies.
|
|
|
|
He traveled twice to Hanoi in the most difficult years of the Vietnam War to examine the needs of North Vietnamese civilians for medical supplies. Those journeys, on behalf of the American Friends Service Committee, made him a respected source of honest information and a conduit for exchange of messages between citizens and officials on both sides of the conflict.
|
|
|
|
A seven hour interview with Joe is preserved as a part of the UW-Madison Oral History Project, in which he discusses his childhood, education at Oberlin College, teaching in India, work in many departments at UW-Madison, advocacy for LGBTQ+ issues, and more.
|
|
|
|
concerns for peace and social justice can be fully integrated into academic life,” Wright once said.
Elder's memorial will be on Saturday, June 21 at 11 AM, at the First Unitarian Meeting House, 900 University Bay Drive. This will be livestreamed and recorded to watch at a later date as well.
|
|
Toni Schulze's Retirement
If you set foot in the Sociology department at any time over the past few decades, you've probably met Toni Schulze. She started to work in the department while she was still a student at Madison East High School, and she spent 44 1/2 years serving the department in various roles. Toni has now retired from the only job she ever held.
Through changing technology and changing trends, Toni's presence in and dedication to the department remained constant. Her institutional knowledge, attention to detail, and guidance were appreciated by so very many people.
Toni was clearly a fixture in the department; many colleagues have said that they simply can't imagine the UW Sociology department without her.
|
|
|
|
Among a myriad of accolades and reflections, these insights upon Toni's retirement capture the essence of Toni:
"It was a constant joy working with you--your presence, professionalism, and unfailing judgement were exemplary."
"My job was sooo much better because you were so good at your job!"
"I feel like I owe you so much -- and I am not the only one. Did you know that people who attended this department fifteen years ago and went on to the fanciest places are still talking about you?"
"Thank you for all of your assistance and your patience with all of my questions."
"You were always so kind, generous with your time, and seemed to know everything!"
"You have always been such a warm and kind presence in the front office, and I am grateful for all that you have done."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Devah Pager Distinguished Alumni Award Winner
|
Congratulations to Chris Uggen, this year's winner of the Department of Sociology Board of Visitors Devah Pager Distinguished Alumni Award! Chris traveled to UW-Madison this spring to present a talk on his research and receive the award in person at the spring Board of Visitors meeting.
Chris is an alumnus of The University of Wisconsin--Madison where he received his Ph.D. in Sociology in 1995. He is now a Regents Professor and Distinguished McKnight Professor in Sociology, Law, and Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a fellow of the American Society of Criminology. He studies crime, law, and inequality, firm in the belief that sound research can help build a more just and peaceful world.
The list of Chris's publications, grants, and other academic achievements is extensive. His impact on the world beyond academia is impressive, too. His nomination letter credits his work as helping to achieve legislative changes in Minnesota to prohibit pre-interview job discrimination against people with criminal records ("Ban the Box”) and the re-enfranchisement of those on probation and parole (“Restore the Vote”).
|
|
|
Vilas Awards for Elwert, Massoglia, and Jensen
|
Several Sociology faculty have recently received Vilas awards. Felix Elwert received a Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship; he studies social inequality, social demography, and applied statistics. Michael Massoglia received a Vilas Mid-Career Award; his work focuses on the social consequences of the expansion of the penal system, the relationship between the use of legal controls and demographic change in the United States, and patterns and consequences of criminal behavior over the life course. Katherine Jensen received a Vilas Associate's Award; her research interests include race/racism, refugees and immigration, political sociology, and forced migration in the Americas, with a focus on Brazil and the Southern Cone.
Vilas awards recognize research and teaching excellence in faculty members at various stages of their careers. The awards are funded by the estate of William Freeman Vilas (1840 - 1908), a lawyer, soldier, statesman, and businessman. Vilas was a regent of the University of Wisconsin from 1881 to 1885, and again from 1898 to 1905. The Vilas awards help to celebrate and advance outstanding research and teaching at UW-Madison even 100 years after his passing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Light presents 2025 Sewell Lecture
|
When William H. Sewell became department chair in 1960, he established a guiding principle of "decency, excellence, and diversity" that the department still aims toward today. After Sewell passed away in June 2001, we established an annual lecture to honor his memory.
This year's Sewell Memorial Lecture by Mike Light drew an attentive crowd for his talk, "Noncitizen Justice: Immigration Enforcement and the Re-Making of Criminal Justice." Mike Light joined our department in 2017 and was promoted to associate professor in 2018 and full professor in 2022. His work focuses on the legal and criminological consequences of international migration, the relationship between racial/ethnic stratification and crime, and the health consequences of major social and demographic shifts. Current projects include colorism and punishment and the collateral consequences of deportation.
|
|
|
Four Honored Instructors
|
Four Sociology instructors were nominated to be Honored Instructors as recognized by University Housing for Fall 2024. Jason Nolen, Tamkinat Rauf, Fabien Accominotti, and Jessica Calarco each received this distinction. Excellent classroom instruction is a critically important part of our department, and we're grateful for all of our instructors who help our students learn and shine!
Jason Nolen is a Lecturer who teaches Criminology and Sociology of Race & Ethnicity in the United States.
Tamkinat Rauf is an Assistant Professor who teaches an undergraduate course called Wellbeing & Society.
Jessica Calarco is a Professor of Sociology who teaches a grad student course in qualitative research methods.
|
|
|
|
This newsletter was created by Erin Skarivoda and Tina Hunter.
|
|
|
|
|
