From left to right:

Back row: Robert Hoekstra, Dr. Tony Love, Dr. Carrie Oser, Marisa Booty, Margaux Crider Robinson, Dr. Claire Renzetti, Dr. Tony Bardo, Dallis Wallace, Lisa Kistler, Dr. Janet Stamatel, Dr. Ed Morris

Middle row: Rachel Barczak, Ena Prskalo, Desiree LaPeer, Maria Rockett, Jimmy Robinson, Prabhakar Bagchand, Rachel Davis, Mohammad Khalilian

Front row: Kevin Alejandrez, Dr. Keiko Tanaka, Dr. Martha Tillson, Alessandra Del Brocco, Julya McCoy

The mission of the Department of Sociology is to be a nationally recognized academic leader in the discipline of sociology, commensurate with being part of a leading Research I University.

The research program of the department seeks to acquire and maintain a highly visible presence in top ranked refereed journals and academic publishers as well as consistently obtaining extra-mural support from prestigious granting organizations.  The graduate program is focused on training students for professional careers as skilled researchers, teachers, and practitioners in a variety of academic and applied settings.

The undergraduate program is centered on providing outstanding sociological training that is professionally-and career-oriented. The service program of the department seeks to apply sociological knowledge to the solution of problems at the local, state, national, and international levels.