SMU School of Social Sciences (SOSS)

𝗦𝗢𝗦𝗦 𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗶, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂!
𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗠𝗨 𝗔𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗶 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲! 🎉

Come back to campus, reconnect with old friends and, of course, show some SOSS spirit at the GameUP Homecoming Challenge. We’d love to see more of our SOSS alumni there, so gather your friends, sign up and come represent SOSS!

Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time to join us this Saturday, 22 August.
Register here: https://lnkd.in/gR55at3N

See you at Homecoming! 💚

Developmenting Asia’s sustainable infrastructure is not just a question of what needs to be built, but also how we finance it.

Last Thursday, 13 August, SMU Master of Sustainability (MST) programme brought together industry and academic experts for a panel discussion on “Development and Finance of Sustainable Infrastructure in Asia”.

Moderated by Allard Nooy, Managing Director, Markland Infrastructure Asia and Adjunct Lecturer at SMU, the panel explored the scale of Asia’s infrastructure needs, the transition towards low-emission and climate-resilient systems, and the evolving financing mechanisms needed to bridge the region’s investment gap.

The discussion brought together perspectives across urban studies, energy, professional services and banking:

• Kelvin Wong, Chief Sustainability Officer, DBS
• Bing Yi Lee, Partner, Sustainability & Climate Change, PwC
• Christina Lee, MSc, SCR Head of Sustainability, YTL Power Seraya
• Sayd Randle, Assistant Professor of Urban Studies, College of Integrative Studies, SMU

From clean energy and low-emission transport to climate adaptation and innovative financing, the panel highlighted the importance of bringing together public and private capital, policy, technology and expertise to build infrastructure that is both sustainable and resilient.

A timely conversation on the opportunities and challenges shaping Asia’s sustainable future.

🎉 Congratulations to Lecturer Jeffrey Grove on receiving an Honourable Mention for the David Brian Robertson Conference Paper Award from the American Political Science Association (APSA)!

Jeffrey was recognised for his paper, “Groundless—Captious—or Premature’: Settler Organization in Mississippi Territory and the Development of the American Administrative State,” which examines settler organisation and its role in the development of the American administrative state.

The award recognises outstanding papers in Politics and History presented at the previous APSA Annual Meeting. Jeffrey is among the 2026 recipients recognised by APSA.

Congratulations, Jeffrey, on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

As our 𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘞𝘦 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘭 series comes to a close, we leave you with one final reflection from our 2026 Valedictorian, Arianna Rodrigues.

From unforgettable late-night project sessions to meaningful community service experiences, Arianna's time at SOSS has been shaped by the people she met, the lessons she learned and the compassion she hopes to carry forward.

Next, she'll be pursuing an MSc in Public Policy & Administration at the London School of Economics and Political Science before returning to Singapore to serve with the SAF Digital & Intelligence Service.

As she begins this next chapter, we celebrate not only her achievements, but also the values she embodies. Her decision to dedicate her $10,000 Valedictorian Award towards supporting underprivileged students reflects her belief that education is a powerful equaliser and that meaningful change begins with understanding people's stories.

Congratulations once again, Arianna. Thank you for being such an inspiring member of the SOSS community. We wish you every success in the journey ahead. 💚

Happy 61st National Day, Singapore! 🇸🇬

A proud moment for SMU School of Social Sciences!

Congratulations to Professor David Chan on being appointed to the Global Advisory Panel on Skills (GAPS), a new international expert panel jointly established by the World Bank Group and the Center for Global Development.

As one of just 22 global experts, Professor Chan will help shape evidence-based recommendations on workforce skills and lifelong learning to support countries preparing for the future of work.

Read more about this distinguished appointment: https://smu.sg/ju77

📢 𝗦𝗢𝗦𝗦 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 | 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝟭𝟮

The latest issue of SOSS Insights is now available! Explore key research highlights and achievements from the School of Social Sciences. Read all about it below!

https://socsc.smu.edu.sg/sites/socsc.smu.edu.sg/files/socsc/pdf/Insights/SOSS%20Insights_Aug%202026.pdf

𝗦𝗠𝗨 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. 🎓

To our graduates, congratulations on attaining this milestone. Your journey has been filled with challenges, growth, unforgettable friendships, and countless moments that have shaped who you are today. As you step into your next chapter, know that you carry with you more than just a degree. You leave with the curiosity to ask better questions, the empathy to understand others, and the courage to make a meaningful difference wherever life takes you.

As SOSS Dean Prof Kenneth Benoit shared in his commencement address:

"Wherever your next path leads you, remember that meaningful change begins with understanding people."

A reminder that in a rapidly changing world, it is our humanity that will continue to matter most.

Thank you to our faculty, staff, families and friends for celebrating this special occasion with us, and to our graduates for making the SOSS community what it is.

Congratulations, Class of 2026. 💚

𝘗.𝘚. 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘯... 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘭. 😎

🎓 Before We Turn The Tassel | Stories from the Class of 2026

For Kenneth, SOSS was a place to ask questions, embrace new perspectives, and discover that learning extends far beyond the classroom.

From his time in DAWNLab to learning opportunities across Asia, each experience deepened his curiosity about people and reinforced his passion for psychology.

As he turns the tassel, Kenneth leaves with one lesson he'll carry forward:

"Approach people, and yourself, with more nuance and curiosity."

Next up, he'll be continuing his academic journey in the SMU SOSS Fast Track Master of Philosophy in Psychology (FTMP).

Congratulations, Kenneth! We can't wait to see the impact you'll make.

🎓 Before We Turn The Tassel | Stories from the Class of 2026

Sometimes, the biggest moments aren't found in the classroom, but in the moments that challenge us to step outside our comfort zones.

For Aashmika, an exchange semester in Australia became a journey of independence, self-discovery, and growth. From navigating life in a new country to cycling through Narooma and embracing the unfamiliar, every experience became a reminder that taking a leap of faith can lead to the most rewarding opportunities.

As she turns the tassel, she leaves with one lesson she'll carry wherever life takes her:

"Don't reject yourself before the world has the chance to."

Congratulations on your graduation! Here's to continuing to embrace new experiences, trust yourself, and keep taking those leaps of faith.