News

 On July 16, 2012, Lane Destro successfully defended her dissertation: “Up the Down Escalator? How Nonmetropolitan Low-Income Families Experience Work, Poverty and Immobility” Her Committee consisted of: David Brady (Co-Chair), Linda Burton(Co-Chair), Angela O'Rand, and Christina Gibson-Davis read more about Destro Awarded Ph.D. »

Rebecca Bach received a site exploration grant from Duke Engage to travel to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.  Bach will visit the Oglala Lakota reservation in July to explore the potential for a Duke Engage program to begin summer 2013.  Duke Engage programs typically operate for 8 weeks and include cultural immersion and community service.  To learn more about Duke Engage and its programs select this link: http://dukeengage.duke.edu/about-dukeengage Pine Ridge reservation faces a number of serious social problems… read more about Bach visits Badlands for DukeEngage »

The 2012 winners of the Vorsanger-Smith Scholar Award are Victor Ray and Megan Reynolds. “The Vorsanger-Smith Scholar Award is presented annually to recognize overall excellence in the graduate program. Excellence is assessed for all areas of performance in the programs, including coursework, examinations, professional presentations, publications and awards, evaluated contributions as teaching and/or research assistants and departmental citizenship. Graduate students in the third, fourth and fifth years who have passed… read more about Ray, Reynolds win Vorsanger-Smith Award »

Victor Ray has been selected as a 2012-2013 ASA Minority Fellow. This prestigious fellowship is aimed at increasing the diversity of the discipline. In addition to a year of funding, the fellowship provides training and networking opportunities at the Association’s annual meeting.  read more about Ray Wins ASA Fellowship »

Rebecca Bach has won the Southern Sociological Society's Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award. This award, not only recognizes outstanding classroom teaching, but is intended to honor individuals whose contributions go beyond their institutions to benefit the discipline as a whole. This award includes the opportunity for the recipient to arrange a session at the next annual meeting.  read more about Bach wins Southern Sociological Society's Teaching Award »

Note from the Chair The past year was one of stability, continued accomplishment, and prospective growth for the Department.  The University’s financial situation continued to stabilize and even improve, and there were no further major cuts in the Arts & Sciences.  Our faculty, staff and graduate students have all adjusted well---heroically in the case of our staff---to the cuts and reorganization of two years age. read more about Sociology Spring Newsletter 2011 »