University of Wisconsin-Madison
Mario Sims became a member of the Sociology Board of Visitors in 2025. Mario underscores that his training in sociology has been foundational to his research examining the influence of social determinants on cardiovascular disease inequities. You can read more about him in this UW Letters&Sciences feature.
Jessica Calarco is a professor of Sociology, the vice president-elect of the American Sociological Association, a non-resident fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, and an expert on qualitative methods and on the role that privilege and power play in shaping inequalities in education and family life. Calarco has published four books, including “Holding it Together: How Women …
June 1, 2026 Congratulations to CDHA Director Michal Engelman who was chosen to lead the RISE-THRIVE Collaboration Headquarters (HQ), bringing together experts working at the forefront of research on the healthspan and immunology. The initiative supports cutting edge research on how the body defends against disease and how to extend the number of years people live healthy lives.
Jimin Gim was selected as a 2026 Emerging Scholar by Women & Wellbeing in Wisconsin & the World (4W) at UW–Madison. The 4W mission is to leverage the strengths of UW-Madison to be a convener and leading voice in education, applied research, and impactful engagement to promote global wellbeing and full participation of women in society. The Emerging Scholar …
Jessica Calarco’s research focuses on education, families, and health decision-making. Broadly speaking, she is interested in the structures of power and privilege that maintain socioeconomic, racial, and gender inequalities in these settings, as well as the role that qualitative methods can play in uncovering these mechanisms. Fox 5 interviewed her about how today’s parents are building …
Taimur Ahmad received a spot in the inaugural MOTH (more than human life) fellowship at NYU. It’s an interdisciplinary cohort focused on scholarship and advocacy around nature and the more-than-human world. Taimur’s research interests include environmental sociology, culture, qualitative methods, and social movements and collective behavior.
Allison Daminger was named a Frank F. Furstenberg Early Career Scholar by the Council on Contemporary Families. Through participation in the CCF Early Career Scholars Program, early career scholars attend a virtual summer-long program consisting of four professional development seminars and three one-on-one meetings with their mentors, including peer networking activities and training in public scholarship. In …
Yue Qin and Dan Seel have been selected as recipients of the 2026 American Sociological Association Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (ASA DDRIG). This highly competitive national award, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), recognizes doctoral students who demonstrate exceptional promise in advancing sociological knowledge. The grant will provide vital financial support to enhance …
Ellen Zhang, a sophomore studying sociology and economics, won the District 8 Common Council election by over 1,200 votes. Her platform advocates for affordable housing, expanding public transit and pedestrian safety and accessibility across Madison. Read more from The Daily Cardinal.
We’re delighted to share that Cabell Gathman received an Academic Staff Teaching Excellence Award from the College of Letters & Science. This award recognizes excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduates. Cabell Gathman has been a lecturer with our department since 2022; she is also teaches for the Gender & Women’s Studies Department. Students rave about …