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

  • March 2020: Kiana Ramirez
    7/3/24
    Kiana says she chose to major in criminology and sociology because she is interested in understanding “how institutions and other sorts of systems of inequality affect the people in my Latinx community, and how that plays a role in shaping their life chances.” Kiana is currently applying her criminology course work as an intern with Peaceprints of Western NY, a reentry program for those involved with the criminal justice system.
  • February 2020: Uma Khan
    7/3/24
    Uma’s passion for fighting social injustice led her to major in sociology. She explains: “The sociology department has given me the platform to speak about the issues that our society and country don't talk about. I'm able to speak with confidence and passion about the issues of White Supremacy terrorism, the issues of Criminal Justice reform, the issues of Public policy and common-sense reform.” Uma says she chose sociology at UB because “One leaves with not just academic knowledge but current knowledge and experiences encountered by students, and students of color, immigrants in America.”
  • December 2019: Katherine Worden
    7/3/24
    Katy chose to become a criminology major because she enjoys “learning about how crime is perceived and facilitated by society.” One of Katy’s favorite experiences at UB was studying abroad in London through the Sociology Department where she “grew as a person” and also had the chance to get to know other Sociology majors.
  • November 2019: Avery Sirwatka
    7/3/24
    Avery chose to become a sociology major because “the discipline is a way to directly interrogate disparities (social, economic, and health, etc.) within society.” In addition to majoring in Sociology, Avery is also majoring in Urban & Public Policy and minoring in Public Health and Environmental Design. Avery is also conducting research on food access and equity in the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab at UB. 
  • October 2019: Allen Tabor
    7/3/24
    Allen chose to become a criminology major in the Sociology Department’s new Criminology BA program because he has “always been interested in the effects of crime in society and how it shapes law, especially focusing on substance use and the drug trade.”  He also picked criminology because of his professors. He explained that his professors “are all very passionate about what they teach and because of this, it makes learning the material much more interesting and rewarding."
  • May 2019: Joe Buttino
    7/3/24
    Joe admits he didn’t know much about Sociology before starting at UB and taking Sociology courses.  He says “I find the content incredibly relevant to understanding life more fully and how to address the most complicated problems faced by people of all ages.” Joe has been a particularly active member of the department community, serving as a research assistant, a CAS ambassador, and an officer in the Sociology Club.  This summer, Joe will attend the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association to present his research.
  • April 2019: Leah Barney
    7/3/24
    Leah says she chose to become a sociology major because, as a sociology major, “I have the ability to see beyond the surface of society and really begin to be critical of social life. Inequality has always been a concept of interest and sociology has really helped me expand that understanding.” Leah has particularly enjoyed her criminology coursework at UB because “We viewed content and subjects at hand in the sociological lens which was powerful in my opinion.”