Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD), the international sociology honor society, began in 1920 to “acknowledge and promote excellence in the scholarship in the study of sociology.” In 1967, AKD became a certified member of the Association of College Honor Societies. Over the past 100 years, universities have established almost 700 AKD chapters. We welcome and honor the newest inductees to Duke’s chapterAlexa CarrEugene ChoMargaret ColeJaqueline GoveaAriel HekierKia MarshallHillary OkpeseyiElle PiperAudrey… read more about Duke Sociology Welcomes the 2025 AKD Inductees »
Viktoria Wulff-Andersen is a graduating senior with a major in Political Science, minor in Sociology and a certificate in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. She has served as a Trinity Ambassador for Political Science. Trinity Ambassadors are student volunteers, nominated by their departments, to serve in this unique and important role.We asked a few of the ambassadors from the Class of 2025 to share their favorite memories from Duke. The below interview has been slightly edited for clarity.What was one of the most… read more about Notes From the Class of 2025: Learning Through "Life Stories" »
As Duke approaches the end of the semester, many seniors are preparing for graduation. For sociology major Julian Seinfeld, these last few weeks have also been about something else: finishing a research project that brings together his academic interests and long-standing passion for basketball.Since January, Julian has been working on an independent study with Dr. Jen’nan Read, Chair of the Sociology Department. His project looks at how agents and administrators evaluate NBA players and whether current… read more about Evaluating the Evaluators: Julian Seinfeld’s Study of NBA Draft Outcomes »
Each year, Duke University awards Benenson Awards in the Arts, which provide funding for arts-centered projects proposed by undergraduates, including graduating seniors. This year, the Student Arts Award Committee awarded prizes to fifteen students for creative projects spanning film, theater, creative writing, music, dance, and visual art. read more about Announcing the 2025 Benenson Award Winners »
In the short term, President Trump’s tariffs could mean more-expensive iPhones. The longer-term goal is to reshore high-tech manufacturing to the U.S., including Apple’s cash cow.“The army of millions and millions of human beings, screwing in little screws to make iPhones—that kind of thing is going to come to America,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CBS’s “Face the Nation” over the weekend. “It’s going to be automated,” he added.Except iPhones contain a patchwork of sophisticated parts, sourced from many countries… read more about An American-Made iPhone: Just Expensive or Completely Impossible? Duke Emeritus Professor Explains. »
In this series of four stories, we are highlighting students whose “Why I Learn Languages” essays have been selected as winners of the Trinity Language Council’s 2024 Best Essay competition. Charlotte Yew Huixin is a sophomore majoring in Sociology and Public Policy, with a minor in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) focused on Korean. Read and let Yew tell you, in her own words, how learning languages helped unveil layers of affection in her… read more about In Their Own Words: Languages Unveil Layers of Affection »
Duke University PhD student Isabella Bouklas is driven by a commitment to uncover the structures shaping inequality in our world. Through her research on structural racism, health disparities, and spatial inequality, she is asking the hard questions that matter.Her dedication to these issues has earned her two prestigious fellowships:The von der Heyden Global Fellowship from the John Hope Franklin CenterThe Summer Research Fellowship for Research on Racism and Inequities… read more about Izzy Bouklas selected for von der Heyden Global Fellowship and Summer Research Fellowship »
Warren Lowell has accepted a tenure-track, Assistant Professor position at Vanderbilt University in the Department of Human and Organizational Development. Warren is currently a PhD candidate in Duke’s joint-degree program in Sociology and Public Policy, and he will graduate in May. He is an urban sociologist and population scientist whose work focuses on housing policy, internal migration, and child wellbeing. His doctoral work has been supported by the Russell Sage Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, and the W.T. Grant… read more about Warren Lowell Accepts Tenure-Track, Assistant Professor Position »
Ahead of the launch of Trinity’s new curriculum, the Department of Sociology is aligning its course offerings with the evolving needs of today’s Duke students. Department faculty have been examining their course offerings with a keen eye toward incorporating innovative teaching practices that blend practical skills with experiential learning and real-world applications. Undergraduate students have been directly involved in many of the implemented improvements, providing faculty with input and ideas.“Duke is… read more about Breathing Fresh Innovation into Sociology Courses »
How do we foster collaboration in a divided world? Duke faculty are exploring innovative ways to bridge gaps — through sociology, international youth camps and cultural partnerships in Durham. (Design by Shaun King/Trinity Communications) In an increasingly divided world, the need for civil discourse and strategies to bridge perspectives has become a central topic of discussion — not only at Duke but worldwide. At Duke, several current initiatives aim at fostering inclusive… read more about Fostering Connections Across Differences: Three Faculty Explore Unlikely Collaborations »
On July 1, Duke will become the new editorial home of Demography, the flagship journal of the Population Association of America, for the next three years. Co-editors leading Demography are Hedy Lee, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Sociology; M. Giovanna Merli, Professor of Public Policy, Sociology and Global Health; and Marcos Rangel, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Economics. A multidisciplinary team of Duke faculty, along with faculty from other top-tier research institutions, will serve as Deputy… read more about Duke Becomes New Home for "Demography" Journal »
John Levi Martin once remarked that “if one were to take a picture of some well-populated area from a low-orbiting satellite, and marked a spot wherever there was a car, one would be able to figure out rather well where the roads were, and where cars were allowed to go.”A new study by Nicolas Restrepo Ochoa (UC Davis) and Turgut Keskintürk (Duke University) takes this idea a step further, arguing that just as traffic patterns reveal roads, the movement of people’s beliefs over time can reveal the structure of culture itself… read more about New Study from Ochoa and Keskintürk: Measuring Movement in Cultural Landscapes »
Sociology and biology double major Eugene Cho is a semi-finalist for the prestigious 2025/26 Fulbright Scholarship. If selected as a finalist, Cho will live and work in Uganda, collaborating with healthcare professionals and community members to identify and remove structural barriers to high quality healthcare. Host country committees are reviewing semi-finalists’ applications and will notify selected candidates this spring.As a sociology major, Cho studies healthcare systems and communal disparities in accessibility… read more about Eugene Cho Fulbright Semi-Finalist »
Three Duke alumni and a senior have been named Schwarzman Scholars, a program that funds one year of graduate study in Beijing.From an initial pool of nearly 5,000 applicants, they are among approximately 150 Scholars chosen from around the world.Anya Button, Yutao Gong, Hope Jackson, and Jie (Vincent) Liu will develop international leadership skills through the fully funded one-year master’s degree program in global affairs, designed to enable future leaders of the 21st century to engage with China.Scholars are selected… read more about Three Duke Alumni and One Senior Named Schwarzman Scholars for Graduate Study in China »
In a world where conversations about race and gender are more urgent and polarized than ever, Dr. Jessi Streib’s new book, Is it Racist? Is it Sexist? promises to be a beacon of clarity and introspection. Co-authored with sociologist Betsy Leondar-Wright, the book delves into the complexities of how Americans—particularly white Americans—interpret and navigate issues of racism and sexism. The book was born out of a turbulent political moment: the 2016 election of Donald Trump. Dr. Streib recalls, “At that… read more about Is it Racist? Is it Sexist? Unpacking Bias and Bridging America's Deep Divides »
SOCIOL 290: Human-AI Co-EvolutionProfessor Chris BailWF 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.Through readings in sociology, computer science, psychology, and related fields, this class explores how AI and society change in response to and relationship with each other. We will explore how future AI agents in health systems, media networks, international corporations, and global financial markets can evolve productively with appropriate security guardrails. Rooted in a deep understanding of human culture and social psychology, we will evaluate… read more about New Course for Spring 2025: Human-AI Co-Evolution »
Duke University sociology major Umang Dhingra earned third place in the prestigious Undergraduate Paper Competition at the 2024 Mid-South Sociological Association (MSSA) Conference. Umang’s paper, “Protecting the American Family: Preserving Familial Intimacy and Cohesiveness during Parental Incarceration,” sheds light on the disruptive impact of parental incarceration on family structures, especially its long-term effects on children’s academic, social, and emotional development… read more about Umang Dhingra’s Paper on Parental Incarceration Wins Award »
On October 22, hundreds of sophomores perused the tables in Penn Pavilion, learning about academic opportunities from faculty, students, and department staff. Students who stopped by the sociology table picked up swag and tips on how to reach their educational and professional goals through sociology course work. Thank you to sociology student ambassadors (Bella Birch, Juan Gomez, Eugene Cho, and Zack Finacchio), professors (Chris Wildeman, Mark Chaves, Jenifer Hamil, Tony Cheng, and Martin Ruef), and staff (… read more about Sociology Faculty and Student Ambassadors Shine at 2024 Majors Fair »
During the summer of 2024, Duke sociology junior and Air Force ROTC cadet Margaret Cole served as an intern with the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Her experience working closely with lawmakers, veterans, and legislative staff deepened her understanding of policy-making and showcased her dedication to bridging the gap between military and civilian communities.With a scholarship from the DeJoy-Woś Family Foundation and Fund for American Studies, Cole conducted policy research, analyzed voter… read more about Sociology in Service: Margaret Cole's Journey from Classroom to Capitol Hill »
In honor of Duke’s Centennial anniversary, the Department of Sociology recently hosted a panel discussion bringing together a powerhouse lineup of experts from various industries, each offering their unique perspectives on career growth and networking. The panelists were all alumni of the department: Randy Garcia, Senior Leadership Giving Officer at Duke; Keith Gill, Commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference; Kristi Jacobson, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker; and Aminah Thompson, Clerk of Superior Court for Durham County.The… read more about Real Talk, Real Connections, Real Success: Sociology Hosts Alumni Panel on Networking and Authenticity »
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences has launched an initiative to spur innovative research on the co-evolution of artificial intelligence and human behavior: the Society-Centered AI Initiative at Duke.Directed by Chris Bail, professor of Sociology, Political Science and Public Policy, the Society-Centered AI Initiative at Duke is a collaborative effort aimed at fostering interdisciplinary research exploring the myriad ways in which AI will influence human behavior — and how social factors will… read more about Trinity College of Arts & Sciences Launches Society-Centered AI Initiative »
Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Sociology, has been awarded a Pitt Professorship of American History and Institutions at Cambridge University, England, for the 2024-2025 academic year. The Pitt Professorship was established in 1944 with the goal of bringing US-based historians and sociologists to teach at Cambridge’s American History program. Each academic year, a new Pitt Professor is selected from the most distinguished scholars of American history and sociology in the country.… read more about Bonilla-Silva Awarded Pitts Professorship of American History and Institutions at Cambridge University »