Often it’s difficult to know whether we tell our stories or they tell us. Today’s sociologists are not only interpreting the complex social issues affecting our communities, they’re enabling us to better understand ourselves. In an increasingly diverse and ever-evolving society, sociology encourages us to see the world through a broad lens and helps us address the critical questions that shape our everyday lives.

With its first cohort celebrating its graduation this spring, the University of Minnesota Advanced Careers (UMAC) Initiative joins an elite group of leading-edge higher education institutions to transition experienced professionals from career jobs into opportunities for meaningful engagement.

How can a country’s culture and migration regulations affect an immigrant’s ability to adjust? Professor Cawo Abdi studies the diaspora of Somali people and how they’ve adjusted to their new homelands. She finds that while Somali refugees remain hopeful that they will find a sense of belonging, they face unexpected challenges when adjusting to life in a new country.

“There are 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day and we need them; we can’t let them just be on the sidelines,” says Professor Phyllis Moen.