We also thank other faculty who helped the department by serving in administrative positions. Jessica Calarco and Anna Mueller served as the Director of Undergraduate Studies at various times. Pamela Braboy Jackson served as Director of Graduate Studies and Tim Hallett helped out as Director of the Karl Schuessler Institute for Social Research.

The Fall brings much news, such as student and faculty awards, which are described later in this newsletter, and some new faces in the front office. Keera Allendorf has assumed the role of Director of Graduate Studies and Steve Benard is now the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Andy Halpern-Manners is now the Director of the Schuessler Institute. Once Patricia completed her term, I began working as Department Chair. We also said goodbye to our much-admired colleagues, Jessica Calarco and Byungkyu “BK” Lee. Jess has moved to the Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and BK took up a similar position at New York University. We wish them the best of luck.

For athletically minded, Professor Brea Perry continues to captain the sociology department soccer team, “Dumpster Fire,” which won its league’s playoff tournament this past Winter. Subsequently, Brea was appointed Associate Vice President and Vice Provost for Research at Indiana University in September 2023. We won’t be seeing her as much around Ballantine Hall, but I am sure you can find her goaltending on Monday nights.

We have an exciting Fall semester ahead of us. Please reach out and say hello!"

Sincerely,

Fabio Rojas
Department Chair
Virginia L. Roberts Professor of Sociology