Sociology Spring 2026 Newsletter
Greetings from the Department of Sociology,
It’s been a season of both significant milestones and unique challenges here in the Twin Cities. While we are celebrating our new #22 national ranking, we’ve also been hard at work ensuring our students feel supported and safe on campus. We invite you to read our latest update to see how the department is evolving, growing, and staying true to our mission of engaged sociology.
Read more about what’s been happening in Sociology from Department Chair Kathy Hull
Faculty News
In their teaching and research, faculty work spans a wide range of questions, including how legal systems operate and how race and power influence public storytelling.
Elizabeth Wrigley-Field uses demography to help us understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic—even in places we wouldn’t typically look.
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Plus: Dr. Wrigley-Field was recently named the 2026 Dean's Medalist in the College of Liberal Arts for her outstanding contributions to the field.
Assoc. Prof. Michael Esposito uses sociological research to challenge myths about racial health disparities.
Assoc. Prof. Wrigley-Field's research shows death rates for adults aged 25-44 rose sharply during COVID-19 and remain higher than expected post-pandemic.
Assoc. Prof. Michelle Phelps’ recent book, "The Minneapolis Reckoning," explores the duality of policing — both a source of potential state protection and threat — and how that complexity hinders reform.
Assistant Professor Ed Cornelius teaches his students about his passion, the sociology of law and punishment, while researching the current corruption and legal system of his home country, Brazil, for his next book project.
Read "Ed Cornelius: Thinking Sociologically about the Criminal Justice System"
Laura Garbes explores how public radio’s past shaped whose voices are heard today and how journalists of color are working to broaden the stories it tells.
Read "Laura Garbes Examines Race, Power, and Inclusion in Public Radio"
How CLA Experts are Helping to Make Sense of this Moment
Recent ICE- and CBP-involved shootings in Minnesota have prompted public discussion about democratic protest and legal authority. CLA faculty, including faculty in the Department of Sociology, have been featured in national and local coverage examining the implications of these events. Explore the full collection of faculty media appearances and interviews
Michelle Phelps was a panelist at Liberal Arts in Action, speaking on "Lessons from 2020: State Sanctioned Violence and Constitutional Protections for Citizens and Immigrants." Watch the recording of the "Lessons from 2020" panel.
Our Undergraduate Students
From examining the structures behind inequality to gaining new perspectives through study away programs, our students embody the depth and discovery that define our program.
Through his studies in sociology, Abshir Ahmed examines the systems that shape opportunity and inequality, as well as how knowledge can inspire social change.
Olivia Berndt’s semester in Hawai‘i yielded life lessons as well as academic ones.
Our Graduate Students
Our graduate students take sociology in new directions, tracing how work shapes well-being across a lifetime and exploring family dynamics through the lens of Asian American identity.
Graduate student Xiaowen Han studies how job quality and career pathways shape long-term health and deepen inequalities across the lifespan.
Grad student Shania Kuo found sociology helped her understand societal issues. It’s also encouraged her to explore topics close to her own Asian American identity.
Our Alumni
After graduation, our alumni carry sociology into their careers, communities, and leadership roles, using their perspectives to make an impact.
Brittany L. Wright (BA ‘14) is a music lover, a DJ, and a passionate advocate for helping kids and families navigate the government and health care systems.
“Be flexible in your learning journey and trust that it all works together over time,” Priscilla Stallings (BA ‘09, sociology of law, criminology, and deviance) advises.
Alum Chris Pham (BA ‘04) was recognized in the Twin Cities Business 100 List.
Read "Six CLA alumni recognized in the Twin Cities business 100 list"
In case you missed it
Sociology faculty shared their expertise on additional topics as health, the upcoming winter Olympics, and teaching students to identify misinformation.
