Meet Our Students

Based on faculty and instructor nominations to the Undergraduate Studies Committee, the department chooses one undergraduate major  to feature in our monthly Sociology & Criminology Rising Star. This program recognizes the extraordinary achievements, accomplishments, and activities of our undergraduate students.

Current Rising Star:

  • Sarah.

    January 2025: Sarah Lee Jasmi

    Please congratulate Sarah Lee Jasmi, our newest Sociology & Criminology Rising Star! Sarah was nominated (from our Singapore campus) for their top performance in their upper-level courses, high levels of engagement as a student, passion for sociology and communication, as well as their impressive leadership qualities.

    When asked about their Sociology and Criminology classes, Sarah stated: What I appreciate most about my sociology and criminology courses is how they challenge me to think critically about social structures, policies, and systemic inequalities. The interdisciplinary nature of these classes, especially when intersecting with communication studies, has deepened my understanding of societal issues and their real-world implications. I also value the engaging discussions and diverse perspectives that my professors and peers bring to the classroom.

    Congratulations Sarah, and thanks for all of your great work!

Previous Rising Stars

  • December 2022: Janayia Capers
    7/3/24
    Growing up, Janayia Capers saw the effect that crime has on communities, and was very aware of racial inequalities, especially in the criminal justice system.  She chose to major in Sociology to learn more about how to address such issues. 
  • November 2022: Luke Simonton
    7/3/24
    A high school forensic science class first piqued Luke Simonton’s interest in Criminology.  Now a UB Crim major, Luke plans to pursue a career in the criminal justice system, to improve the system itself and help as many people as possible. 
  • October 2022: KJ Johnson
    7/3/24
    Most UB students are pretty busy, but Criminology major KJ (Kiara) Johnson just might be busier than most.  Not only is she a member of the UB Bulls basketball team, but she is a mother to an infant son.
  • May 2022: Abu Abraha
    7/3/24
    Abu started his college career as a Political Science major, but found SOC 101 so fascinating that he added a major in Sociology.  He appreciates how sociology helps him understand how and why society functions the way it does.  He is currently sharing his enthusiasm for the subject by serving as an undergraduate TA for SOC 211, Sociology of Diversity.
  • April 2022: Maria Blujus
    7/3/24
    Maria is a Criminology and Psychology major who first became interested in Criminology from watching crime shows.  As she notes, however, “one of the first things you learn in Criminology classes is that crime shows are very unrealistic!”  Maria is grateful that her coursework opened her eyes to disparities in the criminal justice system and mitigating factors to consider in understanding the experiences of the incarcerated.  
  • March 2022: Nicole Guzman
    7/3/24
    Nicole is a Criminology and Psychology major who has always had an interest in why people commit crimes.  A criminal justice elective in high school cemented her interest in Criminology.  Nicole is very aware of racial injustice in the criminal justice system, and hopes to contribute to eradicating this injustice. 
  • December 2021: O. Fiona Pratt-MacDonald
    7/3/24
    Fiona chose Sociology as a major after taking SOC 101 in her first year. She explains, “Sociology just clicked with me.” Fiona describes how her personal background influences her engagement with the discipline: “As a person who has moved around a lot, I personally feel that Sociology has allowed me to understand my past experiences better, as I have lived among various cultures and communities. Because of that, I developed a better sense of who I am now, who I want to be, and what I want to do.”