Message from the Chair

In 2004, I left Duke University as an assistant professor of sociology to embark on a career here at Ohio State. Why leave the comfort of a top-ranked private school? Because of this department’s rich history of academic excellence combined with its very special culture of collegiality, collaboration and passion. I wanted to build my career in a department that was on the move and striving for excellence at the same time it had heart; in short, I wanted it all — to work with a community of top-notch scholars and students who also cared about and supported one another while doing their part to make the world a better place.

How fortunate I was to land at Ohio State. Now, nearly 15 years later, the excellence and “heart” of our department are stronger than ever. As you will see in the stories that follow, our faculty and students, with the help of our excellent staff, are gaining more national and international attention than ever for groundbreaking research that has far-reaching impacts on society.

Our students are being trained to develop evidence-based arguments, rigorously evaluate different research methods, interpret data and work with diverse populations. But we don’t stop there. Through service-learning and internships, sociology-based study abroad opportunities and immersive research experiences, our students have a myriad of ways to find their unique path to contribute to society.

As department chair, one of my priorities has been to find new ways to connect to our large, diverse alumni community and to tap their enormous talents to help advance our department’s mission. In 2015, we established our inaugural Sociology Advisory Board. In a short time, the board has accomplished so much — they are a source of knowledge for our students and a sounding board for the department and they help generate resources for student-based initiatives. As you read more about the board and its activities, I invite you to think of how you might want to connect with the department — please take a moment to visit our website, sociology.osu.edu, and complete our alumni survey.

If you are a department alumnus, I hope you feel the same pride that I do being a part of this amazing, vibrant and caring community that is Ohio State Sociology! GO BUCKS!

Claudia Buchmann Department Chair