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 2016: Tom Siskar
    7/3/24
    Tom chose to become a sociology major because of his interests in urban studies and public policy. In addition to sociology, he is also majoring in Economics and Urban and Public Policy Studies. This semester, Tom is studying sociology in London through the UB Semester in London Program.
  • March 2016: Laurice Wilbert
    7/3/24
    Laurice says she loves being a sociology major because “sociology makes you question everything you take for granted.” She is particularly interested in studying diversity, wealth and poverty. She says she enjoys her sociology classes because “my professors are passionate for what they are teaching. Their enthusiasm is infectious and I am always looking forward to lectures.”
  • February 2016: Charles Decarlo
    7/3/24
    After initially studying nutrition and economics early in his college career, Charles discovered sociology. He says of his decision to become a sociology major, “entering into sociology was by far the best decision I’ve made in college. .. I feel as though I have developed a unique way of thinking and an overall sense of maturity and open mindedness from studying sociology." He enjoys being a sociology major because, “the people within the major genuinely enjoy what they're studying and are sincerely passionate about making a difference."
  • January 2016: Alejandro Corona Espinosa
    7/3/24
    Alejandro is a double major in Sociology and Psychology. He says he chose both majors because he thinks “these two different perspectives complement each other really well, and being able to see different issues through both of these lenses allows you to get a broader, and many times more accurate, picture.”
  • December 2015: Katie Flynn
    7/3/24
    Katie changed her major to sociology after taking the Sociology of Food in London. She said: “I truly fell in love with the idea of studying our world and the complex social processes within it.” Katie says she enjoys her sociology classes because “learning from professors who absolutely love what they are teaching allows them to bring forth interesting classroom experiences that I have rarely found elsewhere.”
  • November 2015: Kristin Waldby
    7/3/24
    Kristin came to sociology after taking 101 as a prerequisite for her other major. Her sociology classes have not only given her “an entirely new perspective on the world,” but have also inspired her to seek a career in health education, health communication, or clinical mental health counseling . Kristin’s career path was motivated by the social and economic health inequalities that she learned about in her courses. She says that she wants to do what she can to “help educate individuals on their health and harm reduction strategies to try to reduce some health disparities.”
  • October 2015: Bridget Scott
    7/3/24
    Bridget’s fascination with “how the unique lives of individuals come together to form a society and, in return, how the society affects those individuals” led her to select sociology as her major. She feels that studying sociology at UB has led her to look at “everyday situations in a sociological way” and has helped her better “understand the world and people” around her.