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:

  • kay.

    November 2024: Kay Wu

    Please congratulate Kay Wu, our newest Sociology & Criminology Rising Star! Kay was nominated for making a huge difference in the quality of a Soc/Crim course this semester while serving as a Teaching Assistant.

    When asked what they enjoy most about their Sociology and Criminology classes, Kay stated: I first took SOC 101 with Professor Sarah Ford during my freshman year and enjoyed it so much that I added sociology as a minor. My interest continued to grow, and eventually, I changed it to a major, making me a double major in psychology and sociology. Sociology has given me a well-rounded understanding of social structures and interactions, which complements my psychology studies by enhancing my perspective on individual behavior and mental processes. 

    In addition, Kay also stated: I appreciate the approachable and supportive faculty members. Their commitment to fostering a collaborative and open learning environment has made my experience in the department very positive. I also value sociology's flexibility, allowing students like me with varied interests to bring together insights from multiple disciplines.

    Congratulations Kay, and thanks for all your great work!

Previous Rising Stars

  • 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.”
  • November 2021: Ku K'Baw
    7/3/24
    Ku chose sociology as a major because it is “the best way to give back to different communities and help the people in them.” Ku is a refugee from Thailand and says she wants “to be able to help people of different ethnic backgrounds and give them the same opportunities of education and a better life."