North Carolina Supreme Court Judge Mike Morgan — the first African American elected to the State Supreme Court without first being appointed by the governor — discussed in a Duke Chronicle article how Duke University impacted his career. Morgan is a 1976 Duke history and sociology major. You can read the full story here. read more about Sociology Major, Judge Mike Morgan, Featured in The Chronicle »
On April 3, 2017, Austin W. Ashe successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation titled: “Criminal Injustice: Race, Representative Bureaucracy and New York City's Criminal Justice System”.
His committee consisted of Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (Chair), Linda Burton, Mark Anthony Neal, and Kenneth Spenner. read more about Ashe Successfully Defends Ph.D. »
On April 3, 2017, Raphaël Charron-Chénier successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation titled: “Race and Consumption: Consumer Markets and the Production of Racial Inequality”.
His committee consisted of Kieran Healy (Chair), Stephen Vaisey, Eduard Bonilla-Silva, and Lisa Keister. read more about Charron-Chénier Successfully Defends Ph.D. »
On March 29, 2017, Joshua J. Fink successfully defended his Ph.D dissertation entitled: "Crime, Policing, and Social Status: Identifying Elusive Mechanisms Using New Statistical Approaches". His committee consisted of: Kieran Healy (Chair), Patty McCall, David Brady, Kenneth C. Land, and Eduardo Bonilla-Silva. read more about Fink Successfully Defends Ph.D. »
On Wednesday, March 22, 2017, Trenita B. Childers successfully defended her Ph.D dissertation; "Trapped Like Monkeys in a Cage: Structural Racism and Mental Health in the Dominican Republic" Her committe consisted of: Eduardo Bonilla-Silva(Co-Chair), Linda K. George(Co-Chair), Mary Hovsepian, and Linda Burton. read more about Childers Successfully Defends Ph.D »
Zimife Umeh was selected to receive a 2017 Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship for her research titled: “Examining the Consequences of Maternal Incarceration”. The Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship is sponsored by the Ford Foundation and administered by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Fellowships are awarded in a national competition to doctoral-level students who have demonstrated scholarly competence as well as the promise for future achievement as a scholar,… read more about Zimife Umeh selected to receive a 2017 Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship »
Trenita Childers has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at the Sheps Center for Health Services Research at UNC-Chapel Hill. The program is intended to expand the pool of investigators capable of undertaking policy-relevant mental health services and systems research. Through this fellowship, Trenita will gain experience applying research methods to the systematic analysis of criminal justice and mental health service use. read more about Childers Accepts UNC Post-Doc Fellowship »
Sociology Professor James Moody was cited in Duke Today regarding the Scholars@Duke competition highlighting different approaches to visualizing the collaboration across the University. Moody and the team at the at the Duke Network Analysis Center decided to look at where scholars fit into Duke’s “intellectual space” rather than its physical space.
You can read Kara Manke's full article on Duke Today. read more about Webs of Minds and Ideas Bind Duke’s Campus »
On Tuesday, March 7, 2017, Mary Beth Hunzaker successfully defended her Ph.D dissertation "Cultural Cognition and Bias in Information Transmission".
Her committee consisted of: Stephen Vaisey(Chair), Lynn Smith-Lovin, Kieran Healy, James Moody, and Linda Burton. read more about Hunzaker Defends Ph.D. »
On Thursday, March 2, 2017, Robert L. Reece successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation "Legacies of Slavery: An Analysis of the Dimensions of Slavery’s Post-Emancipation Effects"
His Committee consisted of: Eduardo Bonilla-Silva(Chair), James Moody, Martin Ruef, and Zandria Robinson. read more about Reece Successfully Defends Ph.D. »
Three Duke Sociology doctoral candidates — Patricia Homan, Lauren Valentino and Emi Weed — had their study “Being and Becoming Poor: How Cultural Schemas Shape Beliefs about Poverty” published in the March issue of Social Forces. This study, part of Mark Chaves' Logic of Inquiry course, provides a new look into how Americans think about poverty. read more about Ph.D. Students' Study Published in Social Forces »
Robert Reece has accepted a Tenure Track position in the Department of Sociology at the University of Texas Austin. Starting in the fall of 2017 he will be an assistant professor of Sociology. read more about Reece Accepts Position at UT-Austin »
Duke Professors Matthew Dupre (Community and Family Health, and Sociology) and Renato Lopes (Medicine) published the first prospective investigation of how martial history is related to survival after stroke in the United States. The paper, which appeared in the Journal of the American Heart Association, has received international media attention, including NBC News, Reuters, US News & World Report, and the Daily Mail (UK). read more about Dupre's Study Appears in Journal of the American Heart Association »
Collin Mueller was featured in the November issue of Footnotes as a recipient of a research grant awarded by the ASA.
In the November issue of Footnotes, Collin Mueller was featured as a recipient of a Community Action Research Initiative grant award to support a collaborative, multi-method research project identifying the conditions under which everyday social and economic hardships translate into access barriers to preventive healthcare among uninsured community members. read more about Mueller Awarded ASA Grant »
On Nov. 2, 2016, Jessica Dawson successfully defends her dissertation
“Errors in Judgment: How Status, Values, and Moral Foundations Influence Moral Judgments of Guilt and Punishment”Her Committee consisted of: Lynn Smith-Lovin (Chair), Steve Vaisey, Kenneth Spenner, and Edward Tiryakian read more about Dawson Successfully Defends Ph.D »
Trenita Childers' co-authored chapter with San Juanita Garcia (UNC-Chapel Hill), "The Racial Implications of Immigration Policy" was published in the The Agenda for Social Justice: Solutions 2016. Written by a highly respected team of contributors brought together by the Society for the Study of Social Problems at the University of Tennessee, the collection offers recommendations for key actions to be taken by elected officials, policy makers, and the public in advancing social justice. The electronic version of… read more about Childers Published in "The Agenda for Social Justice: Solutions 2016" »
Linda George, Arts and Sciences Professor of Sociology at Duke, who earned her Ph.D. in Sociology at Duke in 1975, was recognized an inductee into the Duke Graduate School Few-Glasson Alumni Society. The society recognized graduates of the school who have distinguished themselves through their career accomplishments, the potential of their current endeavors, or their support for graduate students and graduate education at Duke.
To learn more about the society and George, read the story in the Duke Graduate School News. read more about George Among 3 Alumni Named to Inaugural Class of Few-Glasson Society »
Robert Reece's peer-reviewed study finds that the simple perception of exoticism sways people to see multiracial blacks as better-looking. Reese also notes "Being exotic is a compelling idea, so people are attracted to a certain type of difference. It’s also partially just racism – the notion that black people are less attractive, so being partially not-black makes you more attractive. read more about Reese Study Featured in "Duke Research" »
Collin Mueller's research on the experiences of uninsured patients with faith-based organizations in the healthcare safety net has been selected to receive a Scientific Study of Religion Student Research Award. This grant is in the amount of $3,000." read more about Mueller Wins Research Award »
Nick Bloom is the recipient of the Graduate School's 2016-2017 Phillip Jackson Baugh Fellowship for his research entitled: "Social and Organizational Influence on Patient Decision-Making." This one-year fellowship is for the promotion of careers and interest in the areas of aging and human development. The Baugh Fellowship provides an annual stipend, as well as tuition and fees. read more about Bloom Wins Baugh Fellowship »
Mary Beth Hunzaker is the 2015-2016 recipient of the department's Vorsanger-Smith award. 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. read more about Hunzaker Wins Vorsanger-Smith Award »
Collin Mueller's research on “Understanding and Addressing Barriers to Accessing the Faith-Based Safety Net and Unmet Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Health” has been selected for a 2016 Constant H. Jacquet Research Award from the Religious Research Association in the amount of $3000. The selection of the project for funding acknowledges the merit of Collin's research and its potential to enrich the understanding of religious life. read more about Mueller Wins Jacquet Research Award »
Steven Jefferson was selected to receive a 2016 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Fellowship for his research titled: “Mobility Beliefs and College-Seeking Behavior: The Role of Perceived Barriers in Processes of Educational Attainment”. The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships are awarded in a national competition to doctoral-level students who have demonstrated potential to contribute to strengthening the vitality and diversity of the U.S. science and… read more about Jefferson Selected for NSF Fellowship »
On June 6th, 2016, Louise Seamster successfully successfully defended her dissertation:
"Race, Power and Economic Extraction in Benton Harbor, Michigan"
Her committee was: Linda Burton, Co-Chair, Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Co-Chair, Lee Baker, Matthew Hughey, and Carol Stack read more about Seamster Awarded Ph.D. »
On June 3rd, Amie Bostic successfully defended her dissertation:
"Inequality, the Welfare State, and Demographic Change"
Her committee was: Kieran Healy, Co-Chair, Martin Ruef, Co-Chair, Steve Vaisey, and David Brady read more about Bostic Awarded Ph.D. »
Department of Sociology