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:

  • El.

    March 2025: El Mirabella

    Please congratulate El Mirabella, our newest Sociology & Criminology Rising Star! El was nominated for bringing critical perspectives to the classroom and to their own learning, and also because they are eager to apply what they learn in sociology courses into the community advocacy and organizing work that they do.

    When asked about their Sociology and Criminology classes, El stated: “I have enjoyed engaging in discussions and building relationships with my professors. This has made it possible to explore opportunities such as enthusiastic encouragement to pursue a PhD. Connecting with my peers as part of community building within the department has also been an important part of my experience"

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

Previous Rising Stars

  • April 2017: Adia Wilson
    7/3/24
    Adia says that she became a sociology major because sociological thinking comes naturally to her. She explains: “Sociology is a an area of study that will never lose its value and that is why I became a sociology major.”
  • March 2017: Taylor Brown
    7/3/24
    After initially intending to study Occupational Therapy, Taylor switched to major in Sociology and Health and Human Services because she is “passionate about helping people in the way a Social Worker helps change people’s realities, by providing resources to help change or cope with a difficult situation.” Taylor says she has enjoyed all of her sociology courses at UB. She explains, “Each of my classes taught me something unique and exposed me to a new facet of sociology.”
  • February 2017: Richard Patti
    7/3/24
    Richard is majoring in Sociology, Political Science and Anthropology. He says he chose sociology because “I felt that being a sociology major would put me in a position where I would be able to spend the rest of my life helping people by solving the problems of inequality that plague our society.” Richard’s main research interests are in poverty and income inequality.
  • December 2016: Julia Schoonover
    7/3/24
    When asked why she decided to become a sociology major, Julia said, “Through sociology we begin to ask ourselves more questions. While searching for those answers we obtain powerful insights into the social processes that shape our everyday lives.” Between serving as president of the undergraduate sociology club and writing an honor’s thesis in sociology, Julia is one of our most engaged undergraduate students.
  • November 2016: Abigail Squicciarini
    7/3/24
    Abigail says that she enjoys studying sociology because “Sociology provides insight and provokes questions about societies and environments that aid in shaping us as individuals. I chose this major because it is one of the only areas I have studied that makes me excited to learn and discover more.” Abigail has enjoyed all of the classes she has taken in the sociology department. She says, “It is an awesome experience learning from individuals who are so passionate about their area of study. This makes being a sociology major that much more inspiring and interesting at UB.”
  • October 2016: Natasha Clark
    7/3/24
    Natasha says that her favorite part of being a sociology major is the class discussions. In describing her classes, she said: “learning in and out of the classroom everyday has made me love sociology even more.” Natasha said she knew sociology was the right major for her because it “took me outside of my normal thinking in everyday life and placed me into a world that was bigger than myself."
  • May 2016: Madison Trammell
    7/3/24
    Madison became a sociology major after taking some sociology classes in his first two years at UB. He said: “I found it extremely interesting to study things that affect my everyday life but typically never think about.” He says he enjoys his sociology coursework because: “I feel that it is very important to study communities and cultures different from your own because you will not always be having interactions with people exactly the same as you.”