Michigan State University Sociology

MSU Sociology is proud to share that Dual Major Doctoral Degree candidate Teresa Rivera (Sociology and Chicano/Latino Studies) has been selected to participate in the 2026 Emerging Engagement Scholars Workshop! The Workshop is offered as part of the annual Engagement Scholarship Consortium conference, which is being held in Knoxville, Tennessee this October. Congratulations Teresa!

MSU Sociology PhD student Autumn Bland brings this report from the IWA LET Conference:
"The International Water Association’s Leading Edge Technologies conference for Water and Wastewater was an incredible event to attend last week in Houston!

I was given the opportunity to present my poster titled “Household Water And Sanitation Security: Digital Tools And Community Engagement” for on both Tuesday and Wednesday evening. This totaled four hours of presentation time to explain our project, and have discussions about how digital tools, such as a dashboard can help (dis)close the water access gap within the US.

The conference was five days long, and included keynote speakers, an orchestra performance, technical sessions, networking opportunities and a gala to close out the event. I also had the opportunity to do a site visit of Grundfos, I always love getting the opportunity to explore the more technical and industry side of my field!

I am so thankful to have attended my first IWA event, and I am looking forward to attending more in the future!"

Great job, Autumn!

Congratulations to our affiliated faculty member Dr. Ken Frank who has been awarded this year's Lazarsfeld Award from the American Sociology Association Section on Methodology. Awarded annually, the Paul F. Lazarsfeld Award recognizes a career of outstanding contributions to sociological methodology. Dr. Frank is MSU Foundation Professor of Sociometrics
Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education.

At the heart of Pride is a celebration of collective resilience. We celebrate this month with all Spartans. 🌈

Our Michigan State University Sociology faculty Steven Gold was recently awarded the College's Lifetime Achievement Award for Teaching, Research and Service.

Congrats to Dr. Gold!

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A degree in sociology opens the door to so many rewarding and meaningful careers. If you’re curious about what a sociology degree could mean for you, check out the ASA’s “Majoring in Sociology: A Pathway to Opportunity” resource. It includes areas of study, some of the essential skills you’ll acquire, career possibilities, informative webinar recordings, and more! https://bit.ly/4wvitYM

Michigan State University student Roberto (Marcos) Garcia has earned the nationally competitive Beinecke Scholarship. The Sociology and English major becomes MSU’s sixth Beinecke Scholar since the program launched in 1975. This year, he is one of 16 awardees out of 93 nominees from institutions across the country. Congratulations, Marcos!
https://sociology.msu.edu/news/beinecke52126.html

MSU Sociology PhD student Autumn Bland will present "Perceptions of the Red Cedar" as part of the 2026 Red Cedar Lunch and Learn on June 23. Register here: https://sustainability.msu.edu/events/2026/06/red_cedar_lunch_and_learn

Congratulations to Sociology Assistant Professor Dr. PJ Pettis who has been selected to participate in the 2026 Writer’s Mafungo summer writing retreat in Crystal Mountain.
https://sociology.msu.edu/news/pettisretreat51826.html