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Fostering critical and analytical thinking.

Yusuf Karipek stands against a neutral background. He wears a collared shirt and vest and is smiling slightly.

Yusuf Karipek recieves 2026 Aristide Zolberg Distinguished Student Scholar Award

Congratulations to Sociology PhD student Yusuf Karipek, whose paper “Ties that Bind, Documents that Trap: Transnational Repression through Abuse of Consular Services,” was selected to receive the 2026 Aristide Zolberg Distinguished...

Soodeh Mansouri wears a colorful knit scarf and smiles at the viewer.

Soodeh Mansouri recieves Illinois Global Institute language fellowship

The Illinois Global Institute has selected Sociology PhD student Soodeh Mansouri to receive a language fellowship to study Arabic during the 2026-2026 academic year. Mansouri is one of seventeen students to receive this language fellowship. Congratulations, Soodeh!

A graphic with photos of Nikel A. Bailey and Dr. Loren Henderson over an orange and blue background.

Announcing the recipients of the 2026 Outstanding Alumni Awards

The Department of Sociology is pleased to present the winners of the 2026 Outstanding Alumni Awards.Each year, the department solicits nominations for graduates of our program who have made a significant impact on their field. Up to three awards (BA, MA, and PhD) are presented each year. This year'...

Dr. Tim Liao publishes new co-authored paper on infrastructure prioritization

Dr. Tim Liao, alongside Drs. Abigail L. Beck and Eun Jeong Cha, has released a new paper in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. The paper, "A metric to support higher-resolution equity-based infrastructure prioritization," establishes parameters and a metric for equitable...

Read Dr. Tim Liao's new article, out now in the Journal of Happiness Studies

Dr. Tim Liao has released a new co-authored article. "Understanding the Effect of Adult Children’s Education on Older Parents’ Subjective Well-being: Evidence from China" is available to read now through the Journal of Happiness Studies. ...

Dr. Asef Bayat offers perspective on Iran in interview in the Boston Review

In an interview with the Boston Review, sociology professor Dr. Asef Bayat offered a nuanced view on the political situation in and around Iran, citing historical context as well as presently unfolding events.Read the interview...

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Socius

The Department of Sociology proudly houses Socius, the American Sociological Association’s only open access online journal that publishes peer-reviewed high-quality research of a wide range of topics as rapidly as possible.

Editorial team:
Editor: Tim F. Liao
Managing Editor: Gretchin Gifford
Editorial Associates: Ting-Syuan Lin, Alex Kaiser, & Quinesha Bentley

Recently published papers can be viewed on the Socius webpage.

Faculty Spotlight

Recognizing Dr. Liao in News Release on "Social comparisons with similar people determine income's effect on happiness"

Dr. Liao was recently featured in a news release from the Illinois News Bureau, titled "Social comparisons with similar people determine income's effect on happiness." Abstract: "Sociology professor and head Tim Liao found that Americans were happier in states with higher wealth inequality when they had people within their gender/ethno-racial group – some more affluent and others poorer than themselves – to use as benchmarks for social comparisons." To read the full article please click...

Publication Spotlight

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Puerto Rico: Exceptionality, Corruption and State-Corporate Crimes

Professor Jose Atiles' article was published in the State Crime Journal. Click here for the full text. Abstract: The COVID-19 global pandemic brings about a new episode in the multi-layered political, economic and humanitarian crisis affecting Puerto Rico since 2006. The 14-years-long crisis has been marked by the U.S. and P.R. governments’ imposition of a permanent state of exception to deal with an economic crisis, bankruptcy, hurricanes...