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

  • 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.
  • May 2015: Zoe Bandes
    7/3/24
    Originally an occupational therapy major, Zoe decided to switch to Sociology because she enjoyed the challenge of learning to think critically about structural forces and the world around us. She says, “When I switched to sociology, I felt a world of difference in my level of interest and engagement for all of my classes.”
  • April 2015: Emily Schmid
    7/3/24
    Emily is a pre-med student whose experience in Medical Sociology led her to declare sociology as a major. She says, “I fell in love with the class realizing how useful the information I gained could be in my practice.” She says she switched her major from biology to sociology the day after she learned about the Department’s specialization in Health & Society.