Congratulations to everyone who graduated this weekend! And an extra special congratulations to Mack Hall, Alican IBACIK, and Cassie Sistoso, who graduated this weekend with their master's in Sociology! 🥳🎓

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at @mtsuofficial.bsky.social invites applicants for a full-time, temporary (non-tenurable) faculty position at the rank of lecturer in Anthropology (#129150) to start August 1, 2026. careers.mtsu.edu/en-us/job/49...

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at @mtsuofficial.bsky.social invites applicants for a full-time, temporary (non-tenurable) faculty position in Sociology (#129050) to start August 1, 2026. careers.mtsu.edu/en-us/job/49...

🎉 Congratulations to Cassie Sistoso for successfully defending her master’s thesis! She compared understandings of “limerence” in academic research with those on TikTok, finding that the term’s ambiguity is key to its recent popularity on social media. 🎓

🎉 Congratulations to Mack Hall for successfully defending their master’s thesis! They examined how lesbians, queer women, and non-binary individuals experience and navigate LGBTQ+ spaces in the absence of lesbian-centered environments. 🎓

Congratulations to Dr. Angela Mertig on the recent publication of her edited volume The Research Handbook on Animals and Society! Congratulations also to MTSU students/alum and contributing authors Sophia Roberts, Lillian Reid, Briana Grove, Emme Akers, and Meghan Pittenger!

🎊 We're excited to announce that Dr. Erik Porth, an MTSU alum, will be joining our department as an Assistant Professor of Anthropology in Fall 2026! His areas of expertise include monumentality, rural historical landscapes, and cultural heritage studies and management! 🗺️⛰️🪏🗿🏺

🎊 We're excited to announce that Dr. Mallory Bell will be joining our department as an Assistant Professor of Sociology in Fall 2026! Her areas of expertise include neighborhood health disparities, chronic illness, caregiving, aging, and technology! 🦾🩻🩺🧬🩹📊

Please consider attending MTSU's annual family violence panel series! The third and final panel, on elder abuse, will be held on April 16th at 1:15 pm in Academic Classroom Building room 102. Registration is recommended, but not required. These events are free and open to the public!

Last week, students in Dr. Rachel Davis's undergraduate Sociological Theory class enjoyed discussing feminist theories with graduate student Cassie Sistoso, who has a graduate certificate in Women's and Gender Studies and is completing her master's in Sociology!

🎉 Congratulations to Alican Ibacik for successfully defending his master’s thesis last week! He examined the relationship between minor behavioral deviance in one’s teenage years and arrest rates in adulthood across immigrant generations. 🎓

Did you know that MTSU has an active chapter of @alphakappadelta.bsky.social, the international sociology honors society affiliated with @asanews.bsky.social? Email our chapter representative, Dr. Rachel Davis, by April 12th if you're interested in joining! alphakappadelta.org/membership/b...

Please consider attending MTSU's annual family violence panel series! The second panel, on intimate partner violence, will be held on April 9th at 1:15 pm in Academic Classroom Building room 102. Registration is recommended, but not required. These events are free and open to the public!

Join us TODAY for the annual Ben Austin Social Science Symposium (BASSS) in the Tom Jackson Building at MTSU! BASSS provides a forum for students to present their research, share ideas, and engage with faculty and peers. Learn more at liberalarts.mtsu.edu/basss/

📣 The Ben Austin Social Science Symposium (BASSS) will take place on April 6th at MTSU! Students are encouraged to submit social-science-related projects (e.g., research papers, academic posters, class projects, etc.) as soon as possible. Monetary prizes are available! liberalarts.mtsu.edu/basss 📣

Congratulations to Dr. Ugur Orak, who recently received the 2025-2026 Outstanding Experiential Learning (EXL) Faculty Member Award in recognition of his leadership and excellence in experiential learning!

Yesterday, students in Vaun Baltimore's Social Problems class enjoyed learning more about work and the economy from visiting speaker Carrie Green, the Director of Equities for the Tennessee Department of Treasury!

We're shining the spotlight on Sociology professor Dr. Angela Mertig! 🔦🔍 Fun Fact: Dr. Mertig was an exchange student to Germany in both high school and college! 🗺✈️ Dr. Mertig's favorite course to teach is Animals in Society because it is so eye-opening. 👁🐾

Please consider attending MTSU's annual family violence panel series! The first panel, on child abuse, will be held on March 26th at 1:15 pm in Academic Classroom Building room 102. Registration is recommended, but not required. These events are free and open to the public!

🎊 Congratulations to graduate alumna and current lecturer Dr. Sherri Márquez for successfully earning her PhD in Human Performance with a concentration in Public Health! Her dissertation research compared the long-term impact of the Covid pandemic on college-age adults and adults age 60 and over. 🎓️

The Women's and Gender Studies Spring Research Series continues this week with a panel discussion on "The Praxis of Feminist Pedagogy," moderated by Dr. Jennifer Pettit and Dr. Jessica Roseberry! Join us on Thursday, March 19, from 3 to 4 pm in Peck Hall 207 or via Zoom using the QR code.

Recently, students in Dr. Rachel Davis's Drugs in Society class completed an overdose prevention training from the TN Dept of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services! If you are interested in learning more about overdose prevention services in Tennessee, visit www.tn.gov/behavioral-h...

💰🚨 Free money alert! 💰🚨 Check out the departmental scholarships and awards currently accepting applications! Applications and supporting materials should be submitted to Dr. Paul Eubanks no later than March 18th at 5:00 PM. For additional information, see soc.mtsu.edu/scholarships/

Congratulations to our department's Spring 2026 URECA recipients, Paige Wheeler and Sarah Bramlett! Paige's research project with Sociology professor Dr. Rachel Davis is entitled "Farming for Lolcows: The Effects of Coordinated Harassment Campaigns."

Yesterday, Vaun Baltimore's Social Problems students enjoyed a panel discussion about gender and sexualities featuring Dr. Rachel Davis and graduate student Cassie Sistoso from Sociology and Venice from @mtlambda.bsky.social!

As a bonus, recent graduates Emily Caudill and Rose Raymer did a wonderful job presenting their research posters! Congratulations, Emily and Rose!

Last weekend, @mtsuofficial.bsky.social's Forensic Institute for Research and Education (FIRE) brought students to @theaafs.bsky.social conference in New Orleans, where they enjoyed talking with @billbelcher.bsky.social! #aafs2026 #mtsu #mtsucla

We're shining the spotlight on Sociology Master's student Alican Ibacik! 🔦🔍 Fun Fact: Alican once binged every episode of Breaking Bad in a single weekend! 😵‍💫🧪 Alican studies immigration, crime, and deviance and is planning to pursue a PhD. ⚖️🎓🗺️

The Women's and Gender Studies Spring Research Series kicks off this week with a panel discussion on "Academic Women Engaged in Mentorship During the Pandemic" moderated by Dr. Tricia Farwell! Join us on Thursday, February 19, from 3 to 4 pm in Peck Hall 207 or via Zoom using the QR code.

Thinking about a Master’s in Sociology? Join us Tuesday, February 24 at 11 am central for our upcoming virtual information session to learn more about the MA in Sociology program at MTSU! Register today at the link below or using the QR code to reserve your spot! mtsu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

🎉 True Blue Give Begins Today! 🎉 Join us in this True Blue tradition of gratitude and generosity. With your participation, our program continues to grow and thrive! 💙 To donate to our programs, visit tinyurl.com/soc-anth-tbg and click the "give" button associated with our department. #truebluegive

Sociology Master’s graduate and current adjunct, Vaun Baltimore, is featured in the latest newsletter of the Mid-South Sociological Association! He discusses his development and play-test of a sociologically grounded D&D module intended for undergraduate students. midsouthsoc.org/mssa-forum/

🥳 Congratulations to graduate student Alican Ibacik for successfully defending his thesis proposal last week! His thesis will examine the relationship between immigrants' generational status and deviant behavior. 🎓

🥳 Congratulations to graduate student Cassie Sistoso for successfully defending her thesis proposal this week! Her thesis will examine academic and social media discourses related to limerence. 🎓

My article on the need for intersectionality in research on transactional sex is in the current issue of Criminology & Criminal Justice! Read it here or DM me for a free copy: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... #sociology #criminology #socsky #crimsky #academicsky

Our students and faculty collaborated on a newly published article in the Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology entitled "Early Perceptions, Enduring Consequences: How School Safety Concerns Shape Criminal Trajectories Through Developmental Pathways." link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007...

Congratulations to everyone who graduated this weekend! And an extra special congratulations to Vaun Baltimore and Yuri Lim, who graduated this weekend with their master's in Sociology! 🥳🎓

The Jennings and Rebecca Jones Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning recently announced the COE Scholars Program Faculty Advisory Committee, welcoming its inaugural group of faculty members, including our very own Dr. Ugur Orak! mtsunews.com/chair-of-exc...

Anthropology senior Rose Raymer completed an internship this summer with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, where she helped analyze remains from a WWII disinterment alongside leading forensic experts who work to bring missing service members home. mtsunews.com/forensic-ant...

🌻There will be a memorial service for Dr. Ashleigh McKinzie on Wednesday, December 10 at 4 pm in the KUC Theater. This gathering is intended for those who knew her or were impacted by her work. The ceremony will be quiet and personal, focused on remembrance and support.🌻

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology is saddened to confirm the passing of our colleague, Dr. Ashleigh McKinzie. We offer heartfelt sympathy to Dr. McKinzie's loved ones and those among us dealing with this news.

The Spring 2026 MT Student Sociologists officer applications are open! Applications are open to all, regardless of major or experience, and the deadline for application submissions is Monday, December 15th at 11:59 pm. Here is the link for applications: forms.gle/jQ3Ro1EdAkDS...

🏅🎊 Congratulations to the winners of our inaugural Great Sugar Showdown! We hope this becomes an annual tradition. Thank you to everyone who participated and made the event such a success! 🥧🧁🍰🍮🍪

Yesterday, four of our Sociology MA program alumni, Presley Powers, Hannah Newcomb, Kasey Bowe, and Jennifer Arzate, joined us for a panel moderated by current student Vaun Baltimore to discuss employment options outside academia!

We invite Sociology and Anthropology students, alumni, faculty, and staff to join us for our Holiday Homecoming potluck celebration on Wednesday, December 3, from 5:00 - 7:30 pm at the MTSU Foundation House! 🍗🍰🍊🥖🧈🥧🍽️🎊

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate in The Great Sugar Showdown baking contest on Wednesday, November 20th, in the glass room next to Todd 342! Whether you're entering a dessert or just coming to enjoy the sugar-fueled fun, we hope to see you there!

🎉 Congratulations to graduate student Vaun Baltimore for passing his thesis defense! His thesis is entitled "Algorithmic Curation and Adolescents' Media Consumption." 🎉

You are invited to join the MT Student Sociologists for a Holiday Craft Party on November 14th at 1 pm in Peck Hall 300! Take a break and learn about winter holidays around the world! We will have food, games, bracelet making, and coloring. All students are welcome!

Check out Sociology professor Dr. Rachel Davis in this month's newsletter from the Undergraduate Research Center at MTSU! You can read the rest of the newsletter here: www.canva.com/design/DAG1Z...

Did you know MTSU has an active chapter of @alphakappadelta.bsky.social, the international sociology honors society affiliated with @asanews.bsky.social? If you wish to become a member this semester, please email our chapter representative, Dr. Rachel Davis, at [email protected] by November 19!