News Archive
2024
- Dr. Purdum was interviewed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over the weekend for a segment exploring the role of incarcerated firefighters in responding to California wildfires. The discussion highlighted the implications for their health and safety, as well as broader considerations for criminal justice reform. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4VsCabdNew
- Discover Sociology: Master’s Degree Information Session: Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Learn about our dynamic, two-year sociology M.A. program at this open house. Whether you’re preparing for a career where understanding human interactions is key or are preparing for a top Ph.D. program, this degree helps you succeed. https://uh.edu/class/calendar/?view=e&id=649168#event
- Dr. Purdum has joined her colleagues Benika Dixon and Tara Goddard at Texas A&M University to discuss their research in their article for The Conversation, which focuses on how prisons and jails fail to protect incarcerated people in disasters and the implications for their mental health. https://theconversation.com/jails-and-prisons-often-fail-to-protect-incarcerated-people-during-natural-disasters-241209
- Dr. Quiroz interviewed about Latino cARTographies! https://www.khou.com/video/life/people/our-story-our-history/uh-project-showcases-houston-latino-artists/285-26327ae0-3a3c-42af-96df-2d7184d4200b
- Dr. Nelson interviewed about whether there is a link between violence and video games! https://www.fox26houston.com/video/1522981
- Dr. Karner interviewed about the diversity of Houston https://www.voanews.com/a/from-jobs-to-food-houston-is-most-diverse-large-city-in-the-us/7770268.html
- Congratulations to Victoria Rindlisbacher for receiving the 2024 Graduate Student Paper Award for her work, "Effects of Familial Leave on Maternal Mental Health in the United States." https://uh.edu/class/sociology/graduate/current-students/
- Congratulations to Charis Wu for receiving the 2023-2024 Undergraduate Student Paper Award for the paper “Autism Spectrum Disorder, Transgender Identity, and Multiple Minority Stress in an Era of Restrictions on Gender-Affirming Care” https://uh.edu/class/sociology/paper-awards/
- Congratulations to Yadira Hermosillo for receiving the Undergraduate Scholarship for Sociology Majors for 2024-2025 https://www.uh.edu/class/sociology/undergraduate-program/resources-majors/scholarships/
- Innovative Online International Learning Project with Sociology Students in Armenia
Dr. Stella Grigorian, Assistant Chair of the Department of Sociology in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at UH and Dr. Yuliana Melkumyan, Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies of the Sociology Faculty of YSU with the assistance of Regan Bennet (UH) and Lusine Karamyan (YSU) initiated and coordinated the on-line seminars starting from September 18, 2023 until October 11, 2023. These seminars created the opportunity for the students to meet and discusses various topics relevant to their courses: Sociology of Food at UH and Social Work with Migrants at YSU. The collaboration involved organizing online meetings on Microsoft Teams platform, determination of the topics for discussion and pinpoint of mutually available materials for the students to review before the discussions. https://www.ysu.am/en/faculty/76/articles/52778
- April 22: Harmony Across Borders The University of Houston Department of Sociology, in collaboration with the UH Institute for Global Engagement, invites you to an evening of world music on April 22. The celebration will begin with a reception of bites and beverages at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a free concert at 6:30 p.m. by Cadence Ensemble.
- Sociology in Action Lecture | Wednesday, February 7, 2024 | 4:00 p.m. CST | Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion https://uh.edu/class/sociology/sia/
- New Class Alert! "Comparative Health: USA and Africa" (AAS 3394 / SOC 3397) https://uh.edu/class/sociology/_docs/comparative-health-flyer_final.pdf
2023
- Congratulations Dr. Langa for her National Science Foundation grant https://www.wellandgood.com/financial-effects-overturning-roe-v-wade/
- Professor Samantha Kwan interviewed by USA Today on body image standards https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2023/05/04/kylie-jenner-kardashians-beauty-body-standards/70178411007/
- Congratulations to Carli Copell for receiving the 2023 Graduate Student Paper Award for her work, “Mothering with Grace: Millennial Women’s Intensive Mothering Deep in the Heart of Texas"
- Diminishing Inequalities in Maternal Health in Africa & the USA
Join us for a thought-provoking symposium on “Diminishing Inequalities in Maternal Health in Africa and the USA,” where we will explore ways to tackle the persistent disparities that exist in maternal healthcare between different groups in these two regions. Maternal health is a pressing global issue that affects women and their families worldwide. In particular, African and African-American women face significant challenges in accessing quality maternal healthcare, resulting in higher rates of maternal mortality and morbidity among marginalized communities. Dr. Louise Marie Roth (Professor of Sociology; University of Arizona), Dr. Adrienne Strong (Assistant Professor of Anthropology; University of Florida, and our very own, Dr. Neema Langa (Assistant Professor of African American Studies and Sociology) will serve as panelists for the symposium. For more information, contact African American Studies at aas@central.uh.edu
- Sociology in Action Lecture Save the Date: Celebrating 10 years of the Sociology in Action lecture series with special guest Dr. Greg Scott
- Congratulations to Dr. Neema Langa for her National Science Foundation grant on " Identifying and Understanding the Social and Policy Determinants of Obstetric Care, Maternal Mortality, and Morbidity". The grant amount awarded is $340,109. Dr. Langa is Principle Investigator with the help from Co-Investigators and Senior Personnel: Kate Anderson, PhD, Zelma Oyarvide Tuthill, PhD, Annamaria Millazo, PhD, Mclain Sampson, PhD, Elizabeth Gregory, PhD, Felicia York, PhD, Kimberly Pilkinton, MD, Quinnete Walton, PhD
- How the Overturning of Roe v. Wade Stands To Financially Harm Women
2022
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Congratulations to Rebecca Shields for being selected to take part in the Student Roundtable with President Khator Her contributions have led to a new campus accessibility initiative in conjunction with the Justin Dart, Jr. Student Accessibility Center.
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Dr. Neema Langa will teach a special topics course: Africana's Aging and Health (SOC 3377/ AAS3394) in Spring 2023 on Mondays and Wednesdays 1-2:30 pm. This class covers scholarship on the structural forces that lead to stratified later-life health and well-being outcomes among Africana. It will explore the unique challenges of older citizens (mainly women) of the African continent and people of African descent in the United States of America, "blacks," and how they make sense of their lives.
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Africana's Aging and Health (SOC 3377/ AAS3394) Dr. Neema Langa will teach a special topics course: Africana's Aging and Health (SOC 3377/ AAS3394) in Spring 2021 on Mondays and Wednesdays 1-2:30 pm. This class covers scholarship on the structural forces that lead to stratified later-life health and well-being outcomes among Africana. It will explore the unique challenges of older citizens (mainly women) of the African continent and people of African descent in the United States of America, "blacks," and how they make sense of their lives.
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SSA November 2022 Events /class/sociology/undergraduate-program/sociology-students-association/
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Congratulations to Dr. HS Hwang for winning the Best Paper Award at the annual conference of 2022 Midwest Academy of Management in Detroit, MI. His coauthored paper, "Antecedents of Institutional Conformity: the Case of the Local United Way Affiliates and their Response to Field Change Efforts", examines how local United Way affiliates respond to external pressures and expectation in the nonprofit sector. The paper provides implications for nonprofit organizations to adapt to social change, which help nonprofit organizations be more resilient to external threats and overcome internal challenges.
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Undergraduate Student Spotlight /class/sociology/news/alumni-spotlight-undergrad/
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Congratulations to CMALS for receiving a $500,000 gift from the Houston Endowment Foundation
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Congratulations to Rebecca Shields for receiving the WGSS Elizabeth Smith Chenoweth Fellowship for their work on "Intersecting Stripes: A QueerCrip Approach to Understanding Gender Disparities in hEDS Diagnoses" /class/ws/students/scholarships/
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Dr. Neema Langa joins UH to teach Gender and Health Care in Africa /class/sociology/news/langa-joins-sociology/
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Dr. Sheila Katz is featured in a Houston Chronicle article "Texas' safe haven law allows parents to give up newborns, but it's rarely used. Here's what to know." https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-safe-haven-law-allows-parents-to-give-up-newborns-but-it-s-rarely-used-here-s-what-to-know/ar-AA10OvXv
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Dr. Sheila Katz was featured in a FOX 26 article "Women of color most affected by abortion reversal" https://www.fox26houston.com/news/women-of-color-most-affected-abortion-reversal
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Congratulations to Sloan Rucker for receiving the Graduate Student Paper Award for their work on “An Intersectional Look at Black Women’s Experiences in Texas Prisons”
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Sociology in Action Lecture - March 28th - Skills of the "Unskilled": Work, Gender, and Mobility Among Mexican Migrants - Recording Available /class/sociology/sia/
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Congratulations to Carlos Campos, Jr. on receiving the Undergraduate Student Paper Award for “A Contemporary Analysis of the U.S. Indigenous Peoples Movement.” /class/sociology/undergraduate-program/resources-majors/paper-awards/
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Congratulations to former Sociology M.A. student Chelsea Cooper for being awarded the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award from the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools http://www.csgs.org/awards/student-award-winners/
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The sociology department welcomes our new assistant professor, Hyunseok Hwang /class/sociology/faculty/hyunseok-hwang/
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Undergraduate Student Spotlight Jennifer Soto, Senior and President of the Sociology Student Association /class/sociology/news/
- Professor Neema Langa joins us as a joint faculty member in sociology and African American studies to teach AAS 3394/SOC 3397: Gender and Health Care in Africa. This course aims to explore gender as the structural influence of an individual's likelihood of accessing and utilizing health care, as well as their health outcomes.
2021
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Congratulations to Professor Anderson for her National Science Foundation grant https://www.egr.uh.edu/news/202109/sociologys-anderson-cees-rifai-pairing-research-houston-flood-response
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Congratulations to Sociology MA Student Sloan Rucker for receiving the 2021 Barbara Espy Chenworth Scholarship from WGSS. /class/ws/students/scholarships/
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Prof. Kwan comments on "skinny shaming" in USA Today https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/weightloss/skinny-shaming-is-real-but-experts-warn-against-comparing-it-to-fat-shaming/ar-AAKMJFQ?ocid=uxbndlbing
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Congratulations to Andreina Ruiz for being a 2021 AY Mellon Scholar! https://www.uh.edu/honors/undergraduate-research/our-programs/mellon-scholars/2021_2022_scholar_profiles.php
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Small Grant to Support Learning for Undergraduate Sociology Majors
The Department of Sociology is pleased to announce its new Small Grant to Support Learning for Undergraduate Sociology Majors. Supported by a generous gift from Ms. Joella Werlin, the grant is designed to defray some of the costs associated with undergraduate education. The Department invites Sociology majors to submit applications to reimburse up to $100 in learning-related materials. https://www.uh.edu/class/sociology/undergraduate-program/undergraduate-student-grants/ -
Dr. Steven Nelson comments on Houston Public Media about Houston's rise in violent crime. https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/criminal-justice/2021/03/16/393606/houston-leaders-grapple-with-continued-rise-in-violent-crime/
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As we approach a year into the pandemic, our own Dr. Zelma Oyarvide Tuthill discusses the social impact it has had in our Houston community. https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/houston-matters/2021/03/11/393236/one-year-later-how-the-pandemic-has-reshaped-society-march-11-2021/
- Sociology in Action Series: Bad Apples Come from Rotten Trees in Policing: Pursuing Racial Equity - Dr. Rashawn Ray, David M. Rubenstein Fellow, The Brookings Institution & Professor of Sociology, University of Maryland (March 9, 2021, 3-4 pm CST) (Online Live-Stream)
2020
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Majoring or Minoring in Sociology? Consider a Concentration in Health and Medicine or Workplace Diversity /class/sociology/undergraduate-program/
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Zelma Oyarvide Tuthill, Ph.D. receives Werlin Sociology Faculty Award for her collaborative project with Black. Migration. Houston. https://blackmigrationhouston.squarespace.com/team
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UH Sociology identified by Washington Monthly as a springboard for success https://universitybusiness.com/report-these-colleges-do-best-in-popular-black-majors/
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Congratulations to Pamela Quiroz, Ph.D. on receiving a SSRC grant to study COVID-19 effects on Latinos https://covid19research.ssrc.org/grantee/resilient-latinos-educational-pathways-and-careers-in-the-age-of-covid-19/
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Professors Kwan and Graves publish their latest book, "Under the Knife: Cosmetic Surgery, Boundary Work, and the Pursuit of the Natural Fake" (Temple University Press), and blog about cosmetic surgery in the age of COVID.
2019
2018
- Professor Kwan discusses body-shaming in Shape Magazine.
- Graduate Student Hannah Richard, co-authored an article on gender, disability, & sport
- Sociology in Action Series: Harnessing the Altruistic Community in Disaster
2017
- Professor Kwan discusses body size norms in Shape Magazine
- CLASS researcher receives grant from U.S. Department of Labor to examine LGBT workplace discrimination
- The Department of Sociology congratulates Professor Sheila Katz on receiving an AAUW American Fellowship Publication Grant for the 2016-2107 year!
2016
- So... What now? - A Q&A and Panel Discussion
- Dr. Brown and Dr. Grigorian offer new course that allows students to study abroad at home![BROKEN LINK]
- Professor Kwan participates in WGSS event
Dr. Samantha Kwan participates on the panel, "Why WGSS Matters: A Conversation with Community and Academic Leaders," moderated by Dr. Elizabeth Gregory, with Anne Taylor (Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Deloitte), Annise Parker (former mayor of Houston), and Deborah Duncan (TV Host, Great Day Houston, KHOU).
- Professor Salinas Appears on Houston newsmakers
- Sociology congratulates Suezen Salinas for receiving a Summer Undergraduate Research
Fellowship!
- Marissa Villareal: Giving back allows CLASS undergrad to pay it forward[BROKEN LINK]
- Dr. Tatcho Mindiola speaks on Public and Private Sociology: Making a Difference
- Sociology congratulates Prof. Dworkin for having his book nominated for the 2016 Sociology of Education Pierre Bourdieu Award!
- Sociology congratulates Dr. Baumle on her new book, Legalizing LGBT Families!
2015
- Sociology Student Alexandria Mackzum presents at the 11th Annual Undergraduate Research
Day.
Representing more than 11 academic colleges and mentored by faculty from a wide range of disciplines, more than 175 undergraduate students will present posters and oral projects at the 11th annual Undergraduate Research Day at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Rockwell Pavilion and Honors College Commons on the second floor of the MD Anderson Library. Read more
- Professor Luis salinas comments on foreign-born forecast
- Sociology congratulates Prof. Lee on his new book, "Tyler Perry’s America: Inside
His Films"!
- Professor Kwan comments on new year's weight loss resolutions in the Huffington Post
- Professor Luis Salinas discusses surveillance and privacy issues on NPR's Houston Matters
2014
- Viva, Segment 1, June 29, 2014 - Professor Jessica Brown discusses the border crisis on ABC13 Viva
- Houston schools prep for Ebola possibility - Dr. Luis Salinas comments on Ebola, news report of ABC13
- New UH Sociology Course Focused on Works of Best-Selling Author Malcolm Gladwell - Dr. Shayne Lee will focus on the writings of journalist and best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell.
- Viva, Segment 1, June 29, 2014 - Professor Jessica Brown, Interim Director of the Center for Immigration Research and Assistant professor of Sociology, discusses the boreder crisis in ABC's Viva
2013
A Broken Public? Americans’ Responses to the Great Recession
Jeff Manza (Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, New York University) gives his talk "A Broken Public? Americans’ Responses to the Great Recession" to faculty and grad students on March 25, 2013 in the Werlin Room.
"Legal recognition of gay families could improve outcome for children"
Read the article written by Amanda K. Baumle and D'Lane R. Compton (University of New Orleans) published
in the Houston Chronicle.
Professor Patricia Dorsey receives 2013 Teaching Excellence Award from President Khator
2012
“Why do fans boo?” - The Houston Chronicle turns to Dr. Russell Curtis for expert commentary on sports fan behavior.
Stress doubles for Houston-area Teachers - News report report on KRIV-FOX 26 based on the research of Dr. Gary Dworkin
Lecture & Book Signing with Kathy Ryan

She is Director of Photography at the New York Times Magazine
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Beck Building, Second Floor
5601 Main Street
Monday January 23, 2012
6:30-8:30 p.m.
For more than 25 years, Kathy Ryan, distinguished photography director at the New York Times Magazine, has commissioned and published the images that have marked history and shaped the public’s understanding of the world’s events.
2011
Sociology in Action Lecture Series
Deconstructing Official Rationales for the Texas State Raid on the Fundamentalist
Latter Day Saints
Dr. Stuart A. Wright
Professor of Sociology and Director of Research in the Office of Research, Lamar University
This event successfully took place October 26, 2011 - Watch a video of the lecture
Mexico's former president Vicente Fox

Professor Ebaugh with Mexico's former president, Vincente Fox, and the Gulen Institute's Board, at a private reception at the Hilton of the Americas in Houston
Peace Ambassadors

Professor Helen Rose Ebaugh organized and lead a tour of religious sites in Houston for the Peace Ambassadors from San Angelo, Texas. The above photo was taken at the Vietnamese Buddhist Center
Book signing
Sociology Professor Helen Rose Ebaugh at a book signing for her book, The Gulen Movement, in Istanbul, Turkey.
The event drew thousands to a local mall and was covered by CNN Turkey.
2010
Mr. Kofi Annan Visits Houston
Mr. Kofi Annan, the former secretary general of the UN was a luncheon speaker at an event sponsored by the Gulen Institute, a UH center. He spoke about inter-cultural dialog in the 21st. century as critical in international relationships. President Renu Khator introduced him and Sociology Professor Helen Rose Ebaugh was a guest at a reception in his honor.
Sociologist Dr. Alice Cepeda nets national honors for research on drug use
From the Daily Cougar
Assistant sociology professor Alice Cepeda will be recognized by a national network for her research on drug use on the Latino community. Cepeda will receive the National Award of Excellence in Research by a New Investigator at the National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse’s annual conference Sept. 30 in New Orleans.
Cepeda is currently studying the influence of social networks among aging Mexican-American heroin users. “Some of the work that I’m currently doing is looking at such things as the social environment and social structural factors that puts a lot of these individuals at risk for engaging in illegal activities,” Cepeda said. She mentioned factors such as poverty, violence and crime in the neighborhoods and the lack of employment opportunities in the community.
Sociology professor elected to lead global research committee
UH Professor of Sociology Gary Dworkin was elected president of the Sociology of Education Research Committee of the International Sociological Association on July 17 at the 17th World Congress of Sociology held in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Dworkin's term as the committee's ninth president will run from 2010 to 2014. The International Sociological Association is chartered by the United Nations and has members from 167 nations around the world.
For the past 37 years, Dworkin has taught sociology at the University of Houston and his research has focused on education and how its reform affects the global community
The Gülen Movement
From the Graffit-e
Professor Helen Rose Ebaugh has written a book that examines an Islamic movement of education, interfaith exchange and peace.
"The Gülen Movement: A Sociological Analysis of a Civic Movement Rooted in Moderate Islam" follows Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish scholar and preacher whose works helped start a civic movement in the 1960s to educate young people.
Based on interview data and visits to Gülen-inspired institutions, the book describes the movement from a sociological perspective, especially through the lens of social movement theory.
2009
- December 21: The new edition of the E-Soc newsletter is now available.
- The Center for Immigration Research Speaker Series: “Enemy Women (and Men)”
- Jessica Brown, College of Saint Rose Residential Fellow, Center for Citizenship, Race and Ethnic Studies
- Friday, November 6, at 2-3:30 p.m.
- Honors College Commons, MD Anderson Library
- See the flyer about the speech
- Learn more
- The Center for Immigration Research Speaker Series: “The Undocumented Immigrant Experience”
- Hilario Molina, University of Houston Visiting Lecturer, Department of Sociology
- Thursday, October 8, at 2:00-3:30pm
- Honors College Commons, MD Anderson Library
- See the flyer about the speech
- Learn more
- Prof. Kotarba, Sociology department chairman, is the recipient of the George Herbert Mead Award, the lifetime achievement award presented annually by the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction. For the complete story visit UH Today.
2008
- November 10: Inaugural edition of the E-Soc newsletter