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$1.4M Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant expands Enslaved.org research
April 7, 2021
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded $1.4 million to Michigan State University for Enslaved: Peoples of the Historical Slave Trade, or Enslaved.org, a first-of-its-kind database containing millions of records cataloging the lives of enslaved Africans and their descendants.
Michigan State University junior earns nationally competitive graduate school scholarship
April 7, 2021
Wisdom Henry, an Honors College junior majoring in History, and Urban and Regional Planning in the College of Social Science, has been selected as one of 16 students selected from a pool of 95 nominees across the country to receive a Beinecke Scholarship.
College of Social Science Alumna Honored with Bryce Harlow Award
April 6, 2021
MSU College of Social Science alumna Brenda Larsen Becker has some advice for MSU Class of 2021 grads: “First of all, it’s about building relationships and networking. Don’t wait – it’s not all about bookwork. It’s important to study and get good grades but it’s about internships, building your resume and getting involved on campus and in campaigns,” Ms. Becker said. “It’s great that you played lacrosse – that’s leadership and teamwork – but what have you done that shows your interest in this world?”
Five Michigan State University Social Science graduate programs ranked within top 20 of the country
March 31, 2021 - Caroline Brooks, Liz Schondelmayer
In its 2022 America’s Best Graduate Schools ranking, U.S. News and World Report recognized four of the MSU College of Social Science graduate programs as among the top 20 in the nation.
Cutting-edge technology allows MSU psychologists to reveal new ways in which dopamine affects decision-making
March 30, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is known for making us feel good. But besides helping us feel happy, it also plays a big role in our ability to make decisions and put effort into certain tasks, especially when the result is a reward that we want.
Community-based social science research reveals how the women of Flint are still coping with the water crisis
March 25, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
While the Flint water crisis was breaking news almost seven years ago, its impact on the health and trust of Flint residents has outlived the headlines. While ex-Governor Rick Snyder and many of his officials are currently facing criminal charges, many community leaders and academic researchers are teaming up to learn from the past and create a better future.
Hate Has No Place at MSU
March 18, 2021 - Mary Finn
We in the College of Social Science at Michigan State University stand against persistent racism and xenophobia directed toward Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (APIDA) and Asian individuals and communities. We stand in support of our students, faculty, and staff in these marginalized groups.
First Woman to Receive a PhD in Economics from MSU Reflects on Her Legacy
March 18, 2021 - Brandon Drain
In the traditionally male dominated field of economics, one woman would blaze the trail for others at Michigan State University. In 1970, Barbara Lowrey became the first woman to receive her doctorate in economics at MSU, cementing herself and her legacy in the world of academia. The incredible story begins, well, right in East Lansing—long before she earned her PhD.
Dr. Nwando Achebe named among top 100 most inspiring Nigerian women
March 17, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Dr. Nwando Achebe, the Jack and Margaret Sweet Endowed Professor of History and Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Michigan State University College of Social Science, was recently named one of Nigeria’s 100 Most Inspiring Women For 2021.
Diversity Spotlight: Christine Mason Soneral
March 17, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
This Women's History Month, we are celebrating the Spartan women who make diversity, equity, and inclusion a top priority in everything they accomplish. No alum embodies this empowering mission quite like the co-founder and executive board member of the Michigan State University Women's Leadership Institute, Christine Mason Soneral, who is also the Senior Vice President for ITC Holdings Corporation.
Diversity Torch: Danielle McClain
March 17, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Danielle McClain is a junior majoring in Political Science (Pre-law) with a focus on Political Philosophy and a minor in African American studies. A passionate mentor and advocate for social change, Danielle is always looking for opportunities to celebrate and empower the women around her. This Women's History Month, Danielle shares more about her career aspirations, the women who inspire her, and the importance of women uplifting each other.
Diversity Champion: Dr. Amy Bonomi
March 17, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
As a founding member and former director of the Women's Leadership Institute, empowerment and advocacy have always been central to Dr. Amy Bonomi's work as an academic and an activist. This Women's History Month, Dr. Bonomi shares more about her impactful research, as well as the importance of empowerment and intersectionality in women-focused spaces.
Dr. Nwando Achebe wins University Beal Award
March 15, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Dr. Nwando Achebe, the Jack and Margaret Sweet Endowed Professor of History and Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Michigan State University College of Social Science, has recently won the 2020-21 William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award.
Social Science Supporter Spotlight: Meet Yale Historian Dr. David Blight
March 11, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Dr. David Blight is a world-renowned historian, a critically-acclaimed author and a beloved professor at Yale University. He is also a proud Social Science Spartan, graduating with his bachelor’s degree in History in 1971 and then a Master's degree in 1976.
Faculty voice: Lessons from Fukushima
March 11, 2021 - Ethan Segal
Ten years ago tomorrow, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off Japan’s northeastern coast created a massive tsunami that devastated coastal communities. The tsunami also flooded the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, triggering meltdowns and the release of radioactive materials. Close to 20,000 people lost their lives that day, with many more left homeless. More than 400,000 had to evacuate and many lost their businesses or places of employment. A World Bank estimate of $235 billion in damage make it the costliest disaster in world history. How are affected communities faring ten years later? What might we learn from such tragedies?
CSS Young Alumni Spotlight: Dulce Cardenas
March 11, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer, Dulce Cardenas
Dulce Cardenas graduated from the College of Social Science with a degree in Psychology in 2012. She is now the Executive Assistant for the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, Jason Wentworth. A community-focused Spartan with a dedication to helping others, Dulce is hoping to pursue law school soon to advance her career.
MSU, College of Social Science remembers former trustee Barbara Sawyer-Koch
March 8, 2021 - Karessa Weir
The College of Social Science joins the entire Michigan State University community in remembering alumna, trustee emerita and philanthropist Barbara Sawyer-Koch, 72, who died March 6, 2021.
Online dating: Super effective, or just… superficial?
March 4, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
According to the Pew Research Center, 1 in 10 American adults have landed a long-term relationship from an online dating app, such as Tinder, OKCupid and Match.com. But what compels people to "swipe right" on certain profiles and reject others?
College students and online sexual abuse: what you need to know
March 3, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Nonconsensual pornography, or the sharing of sexual images or videos without participants' consent, has become a major topic of discussion regarding online safety. Trigger warning: Sexual abuse, online abuse, pornography
Survey reveals racial, political differences in COVID-19 responses
February 26, 2021 - Caroline Brooks
America's stark racial disparities in health care have been exposed by COVID-19, but a new study from Michigan State University suggests that Black individuals are more likely than conservative White people to adhere to public health standards due to disparities.
Watch Webinar about Globally-Recognized Enslaved.org Database
February 25, 2021 - Becky Jensen
On Thursday February 25th the College of Social Science hosted a webinar for members of the Michigan State University community and beyond to learn more about the globally-recognized Enslaved.org: Peoples of the Historic Slave Trade project.
CSS Young Alumni Spotlight: Bezil Taylor, MSW
February 19, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer, Bezil Taylor
Bezil Taylor graduated from the Michigan State University College of Social Science with a Master's degree in Social Work in 2020. A student activist committed to making change on campus, Bezil spent his career as a student fighting for social justice and working to end student homelessness.
Diversity Spotlight: Dr. Philip Hart
February 15, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Dr. Hart epitomizes what it means to be a social scientist: through his work as a city planner, filmmaker, lecturer, and activist, Dr. Hart has had a successful career of transforming the human experience and inspiring leaders.
Diversity Torch: Wisdom Henry
February 15, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Wisdom Henry is a junior in the Michigan State University College of Social Science, majoring in both Urban and Regional Planning and History. A member of the Social Science Scholars Program as well as the Honors College, Wisdom is a dedicated student in the classroom and a committed activist outside of it.
Diversity Champion: Dr. Joe Darden
February 15, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Dr. Joe Darden has been a beloved and integral member of MSU's faculty for over 40 years. A professor in the Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, Dr. Darden has authored 8 books, won countless awards and earned international recognition for his work as a geographer.
New Study Finds University Researchers from Minority Groups More Likely to Feel Undervalued and Disadvantaged in Their Careers
February 8, 2021 - Becky Jensen, Caroline Kraft
A multi-institutional team of researchers, including Michigan State University social scientists, has been granted over $800,000 from the National Science Foundation to study "epistemic exclusion." This type of exclusion results from policies and practices within American institutions of higher education that make minority faculty members in STEM fields feel they are unsupported and their research is undervalued.
Social science senior Jasmine Jordan wins prestigious Gates-Cambridge graduate school scholarship
February 8, 2021 - Karessa Weir
Michigan State University senior Jasmine Jordan, an Honors College Political Science senior who grew up in Detroit, has been named as a Gates-Cambridge Scholar.
Social Science Alumnus Selected to be MSU’s Chief of Police
February 5, 2021
Michigan State University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., has selected Marlon Lynch to serve as the sixth chief of the MSU Police Department. Based on his vast experience and expertise, Lynch will also hold the title of vice president for public safety.
Social Science Faculty, Students Honored with the Center for Gender in Global Context Awards
February 3, 2021 - Karessa Weir
MSU Sociology Professor Hui (Cathy) Liu, Anthropology PhD student Anna Christina Martínez-Hume, and Psychology undergraduate Jacqui Adams were all among the 2021 Awardees announced this week by the Center for Gender in Global Context Director Dr. Stephanie Nawyn.
General Education with a Twist: Material Culture Research to Festival of Student-Created Films
February 1, 2021 - Erica Venton
Hundreds of general education students embarked on integrative undergraduate research that resulted in student-produced short documentary films that were highlighted in an innovative student film festival during December 2020. Talking with Dr. Eddie Boucher, educator and Assistant Professor in the Center for Integrative Studies and Social Science (ISS), and Faculty Fellow in the Hub for Innovation and Learning Technology (Hub), it is clear that the excitement and ingenuity in the course was both educator and student driven. The course took a quick turn to a remote learning environment due to the pandemic, which led to a dynamic student film festival.
Online Masters in Criminal Justice Program Among Best in the Nation
January 27, 2021 - JJ Thomas
The Online Masters Program in Criminal Justice has been ranked #5 in the Nation by U.S. News and World Report. Thank you to all of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have built and represented the School of Criminal Justice and its programs in such a phenomenal light.
College of Social Science Hosting Webinar about Globally-Recognized Enslaved.org Database
January 26, 2021 - Rebecca Jensen, Caroline Brooks, Liz Schondelmayer
On February 25th at 12:00 pm, the College of Social Science is hosting a Zoom webinar for members of the Michigan State University community to learn more about the globally-recognized Enslaved.org: Peoples of the Historic Slave Trade project.
Diversity Spotlight: Dr. Geoffrey Levin
January 26, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Dr. Levin is an assistant professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Emory University and is a graduate of MSU’s Asian Studies and Peace and Justice Studies Programs. Dr. Levin conducts research on the relationship between American Jews and Israel following the 1948 war.
Diversity Torch: Reid Ellefson-Frank
January 26, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Reid Ellefson-Frank is an MSU College of Social Science student majoring in Anthropology, whose recent work on tourism at Auschwitz, and Auschwitz’s archaeological environment earned the regard of his professors.
Diversity Champion: Dr. Kirsten Fermaglich
January 26, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
As a scholar of Holocaust memory in the United States, Dr. Fermaglich, a MSU History Professor, exemplifies efforts to remember the impact of the Holocaust on today’s world.
Dr. LaShawn Harris: Why Kamala Harris won, and what it means moving forward
January 19, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer, LaShawn Harris
On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris will be sworn into office as Vice President of the United States of America, alongside President Joe Biden. As both the first woman and the first person of color to assume the office, Harris's win is being celebrated as a major victory for underrepresented minority groups across the country. But why is this win so significant, and how will future historians recount the legacy of the 2020 election?
Dr. David Carter on the Recent Riots at the Capitol
January 18, 2021 - JJ Thomas
On January 6th, 2021, a riot erupted at the United States Capitol which resulted in Pro-Trump and Anti-Government activists storming the Capitol during a joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote count. We spoke with Dr. David Carter (Professor in the School of Criminal Justice and an expert in Law Enforcement Intelligence and Violent Crime Control) to try to understand what happened, what went wrong, and what can be learned from a Law Enforcement perspective.
Ask the expert: Recognizing and respecting trans identities
January 4, 2021 - Beth Brauer, Liz Schondelmayer
In the following interview, Michigan State's Jae Puckett, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology's clinical science program, discusses how best to recognize and respect transgender identities. Puckett's research interests include working with the LGBTQ community and the experiences of transgender individuals. They are also the director of Trans-ilience, the transgender stress and resilience research team at MSU.