Student Spotlight

First SOC & CRM Alumni Homecoming Brunch, October 3, 2024

Preparing the room for the first department alumni brunch...

Current students and

alumni mingle and exchange experiences

Recent graduates enjoy conversations with Soc and

CRM faculty...

Food Justice Senior Seminar Students travel to Italy, Summer 2024

Layover in Paris before departing for Italy

Arrival in Italy and Ferry trip to Ischia

Students investigated the role of food in political and economic debates, highlighting the importance of sustainability and equitable distribution. Students applied and reflected on their classroom learning during activities in Italy. Key objectives were to analyze ongoing hunger and food management challenges in the U.S. and evaluate global solutions.

Cooking Class - preparing Gnocchi

Cooking Class - making Sorrentina Style Gnocchi

Cooking Class - preparing Gorgonzola for Risotto

Morzarella Farm Visit and ...

exploring buffalo milk Mozzarella while also sampling it

Visiting Cantina Raustella and tasting honey...

Visiting one of the oldest Spaghetti Factories Afeltra

to learn how pasta is prepared...

Pizza Making

students prepare a pizza of their choice and

learn about the origin of the ingredients

Dinner with students from CSU San Marcos

spending good times with friends...
In addition to delving into all things food-related, students also toured the Amalfi Coast, visited Pompeii, and explored the Royal Palace of Caserta.

one day layover in London before heading home ...

Department of Sociology Honors Luncheon May 9, 2024

The 2024 Honors Luncheon with special guests: Professor Emeritus Stacy McGoldrick, Professor Wayne Wooden, Ms. Leticia Keenan, and Mr. Lowell Overton

Honors Luncheon Program designed by Dr. Philippe Duhart

"YOU HAVE TO ACT AS IF IT WERE POSSIBLE TO RADICALLY TRANSFORM THE WORLD. AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT ALL THE TIME."

ANGELA Y. DAVIS

Masters of ceremonies: Dr. Bianca Haro and Dr. Sekani Robinson

Student and Faculty at the Honors Luncheon

Dr. Faye Wachs shares remarks about her recent book publication, "Metamorphosis: Who We Become after Facial Paralysis."

Dr. Anthony Ocampo provides remarks on the latest book publication, "Brown and Gay in LA", highlighting key aspects and research involved.

Scholarships

Ernest J. Cioffi Endowed Scholarship

Leandro Perez (Soc)

Lowell Overton Endowed Scholarship

Katelyn Smith (Soc-SW)

Stacy McGoldrick Award

Alissa Veronica (Soc-SW)

2024 Scholarship & Department Awards

Department Awards

Lowell Overton 15th Undergraduate Research Symposium Award
Jackie Moran (Soc)- Best Paper Presentation
Jordan Johnson, Pedro Rosales, Jerran Sumimoto (CRM) - Best Poster Presentation

Outstanding Professional Development Award
Priscilla Mendieta (Soc-SW)
Emily Nunez (Soc)
Jasmine Penate (Soc)
Jayce Wolf (Soc)

Outstanding Service to the Department Award
Layla Graham, SSPA President 2023-2024
Aleksi Galva, AKD President 2023-2024

Highest GPA by Major
Dimitri Nicolas (CRM)
Alyssa Vargas (Soc)
Alissa Veronica (SW)

FACULTY PRESENT SCHOLARSHIP AND DEPARTMENT AWARDS

Leandro Perez is the recipient of the Ernest J. Cioffi Scholarship in Sociology, presented by Dr. Jack Fong.

Katelyn Smith is the recipient of the Lowell R. Overton Endowed Scholarship, presented by Mr. Overton.

Alissa Veronica is the recipient of the Stacy McGoldrick Award, presented by Professor Emeritus Stacy McGoldrick.

Jayce Wolf receives the Department's Professional Development Award for his exceptional accomplishments in the field of Sociology, presented by Dr. Jack Fong.

Layla Graham is the recipient of the Service to the Department Award for her outstanding leadership as president of the Social Service Practitioner Alliance (SSPA). Dr. Amanda Rodriguez-Newhall presented the award.

Aleksi Galva is the recipient of the Service to the Department Award for her outstanding leadership as president of the AKD Honor Society of Sociology. Dr. Kathryn Daniels presented the award.

Jackie Moran received the Lowell Overton Best Oral Presentation Award for her research on "Latino Children in Special Education Programs."

Mr. Lowell Overton, supporter of the Lowell Overton Undergraduate Research Symposium, presented the best oral presentation and best poster award of 2024.

Jordan Johnson, Pedro Rosales, and Jerran Sumimoto received the Lowell Overton Best Poster Presentation Award, presented on "Clickbait or Content? How a Criminology Media Lab Can Combat Disinformation and Create Public-Facing Criminological Scholarship."

Dimitri Nicolas is honored for achieving the Highest GPA in Criminology. Dr. Peter Hanink presented the award.

Alyssa Vargas is honored for achieving the Highest GPA in Sociology. Dr. Melissa Barragan presented the award.

Alissa Veronica is honored for achieving the Highest GPA in Social Work. Dr. Amanda Rodriguez-Newhall presented the award.

15th Lowell Overton Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 19, 2024

Symposium Presentations

Research Topics of Student Presenters from the Department of Sociology

Keynote speaker, alumna Fatima Santoyo Vargas (PSY), begins the symposium with encouraging remarks to all student presenters.

Poster Presentations

Students and faculty mingle in the hallways of Building 5, listening to poster presentations.

Criminology student team: Jordan Johnson, Pedro Rosales, Jerran Sumimoto presented their research entitled "Clickbait or Content? How a Criminology Media Lab Can Combat Disinformation and Create Public-Facing Criminological Scholarship." The team also received the Best Poster Presentation Award.

Araceli Nino, a sociology major and Kellogg Honors College student, presented her research, entitled "Bad Bunny Influence in American Culture."

Oral Presentations

We scheduled a total of six oral presentations with eight papers submitted by Sociology, Criminology, and Sociology-Social Work students. A snapshot of presentations and presenters is posted here.

Jackie Moran, a sociology student and McNair Scholar, presented her research, entitled "Latino Children in Special Education Programs." The research won the Best Oral Presentation Award.

Michael Tanagho, a criminology student, presented research entitled “Examining the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and how it Impacts Adulthood.”

Crystal White, a sociology student, presented research entitled “Sexual Self & Sexual Behaviors.”

Sociology student team: Aguilar, Cabrera Zenith, Lorena Palacios, and Shazia Torres, presented their research, entitled “Transfer Students: Understanding Experiences and Disparities of the Non-Traditional Undergraduate Student."

Oona Iglesias, a sociology student, presented research entitled “Sociolegal Analysis of Juvenile Courts.”

Cesar Ivan Torres, a sociology student, presented research entitled “The State of the City: An Examination of City Planning in Conjunction to Public Health.”

Alexis Rivera, a criminology student and president of the Criminology Club, presented the preliminary findings of her independent study, entitled ”Beat vs. Street: A Spatial Snapshot of Violent Crime Concentration in Pomona.”

Final Remarks

Mr. Lowell Overton, a long-term sponsor of the symposium, provides his final remarks.

Annual Meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association (PSA), March 2024

It has become a tradition for students and faculty to join together for happy hour during the PSA meetings.

The event is organized in collaboration with the AKD leadership and faculty representatives of the honors society.

PSA met in San Diego, CA, in Spring 2024. Approximately twenty students attended the PSA Conference. Many student attendees also presented research in collaboration with faculty or students. The conference is an excellent opportunity for students to network with peers and leading scholars. Students also enjoy learning about cutting-edge research across the Social Sciences.