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Sociology News & Events

Transmission of Religiosity Across Generations: Historical, Cohort, and Relational Dynamics

Merril Silverstein, Woosang Hwang, Joonsik Yoon, Wencheng Zhang, Jeung Hyun Kim, Kent Jason Cheng, Maria Teresa Brown

Co-authored by Professor and Chair of Sociology Merril Silverstein, the article was published in the Sociology of Religion.

March 19, 2026

Harrington Meyer Quoted in Business Insider Article on the Roles of Grandparents

University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer says that many grandparents who take on additional caregiving responsibilities struggle with expenses, sometimes sacrificing meals for themselves, delaying medical care or making significant lifestyle changes.

March 17, 2026

US State Policy Contexts and Mental Health Among Working-Age Adults

Iliya Gutin, Jennifer Karas Montez, Emily Wiemers, Shannon M. Monnat, Douglas A. Wolf

The article, co-authored by Maxwell faculty members Iliya Gutin, Jennifer Karas Montez, Emily Wiemers, Shannon Monnat and Douglas Wolf, was published in The Milbank Quarterly.

March 11, 2026

Making US Food Pantries More Old-Age Friendly

Madonna Harrington Meyer, Winston Scott

The article, co-authored by University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer and Ph.D. student Winston Scott, was published in the Journal of Aging and Social Change.

March 4, 2026

How Do State Labor Policies Impact Disability for Latino Adults in the U.S.?

Marc A. Garcia, Blakelee Kemp, and Erin Bisesti
This brief describes how these policies influence disability rates among Latino adults aged 45-85 in the United States. The authors find that, from 2000 to 2016, Latino disability rates were lower in states with more worker-friendly labor protections. The disability rate among Latinos was 21.6% in states with the most conservative labor policies compared to 17.6% in states with the most liberal policies. 
March 3, 2026

See related: United States

Why the US Must Measure Food Insecurity in Old Age

Madonna Harrington Meyer, Colleen M. Heflin

The article, co-authored by Maxwell professors Madonna Harrington Meyer and Colleen Heflin, was published in The Milbank Quarterly.

February 23, 2026

Gretchen Purser Honored With 2026 Public Sociology Award

The award is given by the Eastern Sociological Society to recognize sociologists whose innovative research is paired with meaningful public engagement. 

February 12, 2026

See related: Awards & Honors

Who Should Be on Electronic Monitoring: Conceptualizations of Ideal Supervisees

Gabriela Kirk-Werner

The article, authored by Assistant Professor of Sociology Gabriela Kirk-Werner, was published in Punishment & Society.

February 3, 2026

Pandemic Mask Mandates and Closures Were Linked to Increased Gun Violence

Douglas A. Wolf, Emily W. Wiemers, Iliya Gutin, Jennifer Karas Montez, and Shannon M. Monnat
This brief examines how masking requirements and activity restrictions were associated with gun violence across U.S. counties. The authors find that counties’ indoor masking requirements were linked to a 28% increase in gun violence, while business closures and restrictions were associated with a 4.2% increase. 
January 27, 2026

See related: United States

Bright, Blurred Boundaries in the US Military: Experiences of Immigrants and Children of Immigrants

Amy Lutz, Iwona Franczak

The study, co-authored by Professor of Sociology Amy Lutz and Ph.D. student Iwona Franczak, was publised in the Journal of International Migration and Integration.

January 26, 2026

Yingyi Ma Quoted in NY Times Article on Challenges Faced by International Students Under Trump

“The reality is that China’s best and the brightest are not coming but leaving,” says Yingyi Ma, professor of sociology. 

January 20, 2026

Walking the Land With Property Owners

Tom A Langen, Catherine Benson, Rick Welsh

The article, written by Professor of Sociology Rick Welsh, was published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.

January 20, 2026

Latin American Refugees to the U.S. Experience More Discrimination than Refugees from other Regions

Sobia Mushtaq and Janet M. Wilmoth
Discrimination poses serious challenges for refugees rebuilding their lives in the U.S., but not all refugee groups face the same risks. A new survey reveals stark differences by region of origin, with Latin American refugees experiencing substantially higher rates of discrimination than refugees from other regions.
January 6, 2026

See related: United States

Strengthening Snap’s Ability to Address Old Age Food Insecurity

Colleen Heflin, Madonna Harrington Meyer,

The article, published in Contexts, was co-authored by Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs, and University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer. 

January 5, 2026

Harrington Meyer Discusses What’s Driving the Rise in Grandparent Childcare on WBUR's ‘On Point’

If parents had more guaranteed welfare state program available to them, “it would be easier for them to juggle jobs and children and they might not need to rely on grandparents quite as extensively,” says University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer.

December 19, 2025

Monnat Discusses Six Myths About Rural America in The Conversation Article

Rural communities are far more varied than people understand them to be, says Professor of Sociology Shannon Monnat and her co-author. “Getting these facts right matters because public debates, policies and resource—including money for programs—often rely on these assumptions, and misunderstandings can leave real needs neglected.”

December 12, 2025

See related: Rural Issues, United States

Birthplace, Perinatal Loss, and the Parity—Post-Reproductive Mortality Relationship

Cheryl Elman, Andrew S. London, Angela M. O'Rand

The study, co-authored by Professor of Sociology Andrew London, was published in Social Science & Medicine.

December 10, 2025

Public Health: A Vital Addition to Maxwell

The department’s transition from Falk College fuels collaboration across disciplines, strengthens research centers, and establishes a hub for population and public health sciences.

December 5, 2025

Jennifer Karas Montez Named President of IAPHS

The association works to improve population health by building collaboration among scholars, sharing information and convening events. 

December 3, 2025

Monnat Featured in Newsweek Article on Rural America’s Optimism About the Country’s Future

Rural communities have “leaned increasingly conservative” for several decades, and support for Trump is “especially strong” among these communities, which could mean they feel the country's leadership reflects their priorities, particularly on cultural and social issues, says Shannon Monnat, Lerner Chair in Public Health Promotion and Population Health.

November 26, 2025

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