Department of Sociology

Community and mentorship made all the difference to Sherri Berdine (2008) as an Alaska Native (Aleut & CIRI Descendent) UW student. Now she's the University's Director of Tribal Relations.

LaShawnDa Pittman, American ethnic studies and sociology professor, is excited to think together as the newest Hanauer appointee. Pittman's research centers socially marginalized women and those living with poor health resources/outcomes. Interrogate notions of “Western Civilization" in class and/or discuss what matters to you at an upcoming salon talk.

For the first time, the UW Board of Regents has a voting faculty member in its ranks. In October, Gov. Jay Inslee selected Professor Alexes Harris, ’97, to serve a three-year term on the University’s highest governing body.

Half the world could soon face dangerous heat. We measured the daily toll it is already taking. While the future is uncertain, climate scientists widely agree that even in the best-case scenarios — in which humans take dramatic action to lower carbon emissions — days with dangerous levels of heat and humidity are very likely to become more common in much of the world. The forecasts of heat stress shown in this article include Adrian E. Raftery and David S. Battisti at the University of Washington. 

In honor of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, deepen your learning in American Indian studies, make connections on campus, and celebrate the work of the University of Washington Seattle's College of Arts & Sciences faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Through public events and exhibitions, connect with the UW community every week! Highlights of current and upcoming exhibitions:  October 27 – November 23 | Miha Sarani: Amends, Art Building The Jacob Lawrence Gallery is pleased to host Seattle artist Miha Sarani. This exhibition is a broad survey of Sarani’s work, focusing on portraiture while also...

The formation of the Pacific Alliance for Low Income Inclusion in Statistics and Data Science (PALiISaDS) is a new partnership supported by a $5,000,000 investment from the National Science Foundation’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics  (SSTEM) Program.  The partnership is led by the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of Washington, and also includes the University of California, Irvine, California State University Monterey Bay, California State University East Bay, California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo, and San Diego State University. 

A new book co-edited by Scott Radnitz, associate professor in the University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies, features original papers on the roots and implications of the politics surrounding real and imagined fifth columns.

A new study by the University of Washington and Indiana University finds that the growing use of anti-racist terms shows how Black Lives Matter has shifted the conversation around racism, raising awareness of issues and laying the foundation for social change.

Alexes Harris, professor of sociology; and Ian Kennedy, a doctoral student in sociology, discuss how legal fines and fees are badly in need of reform.

Pepper Schwartz, professor of sociology, explains the opportunities available to seniors looking to date.

Mark Igra, a graduate student in sociology, co-authored a new study on GoFundMe requests for help with medical bills.

"When Jeanne Calment of France died in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days, she set a record for oldest human. That record still stands. As statisticians who study demography, we expect that record will be broken by 2100," write the UW's Michael Pearce, a doctoral student in statistics, and Adrian Raftery, professor of statistics and of sociology.

Experts say so-called breakthrough cases remain rare, and deaths among vaccinated people are "effectively zero." Adrian Raftery, professor of statistics and of sociology at the UW, is quoted.

As many as 60% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have gone unreported, and the coronavirus has infected nearly 1 in 5 Americans, according to a new model out of the University of Washington. The UW's Nicholas Irons, a doctoral student in statistics, and Adrian Raftery, professor of statistics and of sociology, are quoted.