Undergraduate Alumni

BA Sociology of Law, Criminology & Deviance, 2015
Current Position: Criminal Investigator for the Minnesota Attorney General's Office

The first thing I realized post-grad is how thankful I was to have such an encompassing major. Sociology of law, criminology, and deviance provided me with a great opportunity to learn more about my passions in criminology and criminal behaviors while tying in the Sociology aspect studying the development, structure, and functions of human society in general.

With a major and classes tailored to study criminology, I was able to get an internship with the Minneapolis Police Department my senior year in the financial fraud/narcotics unit. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had personally and academically. As an extra perk, being a sociology major provided me with many scholarship opportunities to finance my internship. The combination of studying criminology and experiencing criminal behaviors first hand solidified that I had chosen the right major and future career path. Before graduation, I was offered my dream job of being an Investigator for the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. I investigate allegations of Medicaid fraud as well as allegations of vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. I love what I do; I am constantly learning and I get to study criminology in the real world every day.

BA Sociology, 2012
Current Position: PhD student in sociology at UMN

I am one of the few people I know who actually gets to do what he loves. My undergraduate sociology degree at UMN was instrumental for getting into and succeeding in graduate school. I am currently a second-year PhD student in sociology at the U of M. Ultimately, I plan to become a professor at a college that emphasizes teaching. Some of the things that really helped along the way… My theory class with Professor Teresa Gowan and my honors proseminar course with Professor Joachim Savelsberg gave me the writing skills and foundational knowledge to be an effective sociologist. Research methods was not my favorite class, but it paved the way for me to get an undergraduate research assistantship—in retrospect, I appreciate its value. I was also an undergraduate teaching assistant, which has made a positive difference in my ability to teach writing skills to current undergraduates. I gained a lot at UMN through my time in various classes, student organizations, and campus life, but there is no place that has better prepared me for where I am today than the sociology department.

BS Sociology; Minors in Social Justice and Public Health, 2018
Current Position: JD/MPH student at Georgetown Law and John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Through my educational and advocacy experiences, I have learned that many health issues are legal issues and that providing this bridge of legal support can help in reducing health disparities. For my honors thesis, I examined how healthcare-legal partnerships (HLPs) are challenging the biomedical paradigm in medicine through interviews with HLP advocates and focus groups with patients, who are the most important stakeholders in this process and yet, their voices are missing completely from health care research and policies. I wish to expand on my current work and navigate creative and effective ways to advance health equity as I pursue my JD/MPH from Georgetown Law and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 

The Department of Sociology has supported me immensely in my educational pursuits and journey through several scholarships and countless hours of guidance. The unwavering support of my professors, peers, and colleagues has helped me in developing a strong sense of self and in reflecting on my lived experiences. It is with this support that I feel determined to foster global and brave conversations, build equitable systems and communities, and make healthcare an affordable and accessible human right for all.

View Prashasti's inspiring story "Brown, Female, & Proud" on YouTube.