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Sociology News & Events

Policy Recommendations to Reduce Old Age Food Insecurity in the United States

Colleen M. Heflin and Madonna Harrington Meyer

The current policy responses to old age food insecurity are complex, costly, and not nearly effective enough. Based on the book, Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adults Food Insecurity, this brief summarizes five policy recommendations to improve food insecurity among U.S. older adults. 

September 10, 2025

See related: United States

Jennifer Karas Montez Honored With University Professor Reappointment

The honor recognizes exceptional scholarship and innovative academic and professional activity and is the University's most senior and selective academic status.

September 5, 2025

Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adult Food Insecurity

Colleen Heflin, Madonna Harrington Meyer

Written by Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs, and University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer, the book examines the issue of food insecurity among older adults in the United States. 

September 4, 2025

Differences in Religious Attendance Among Disabled and Nondisabled Early and Early Midlife Adults

Scott D. Landes, Katie Mueller

The article, co-authored by Professor of Sociology Scott Landes, was published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion.

September 2, 2025

Self-Reported ADHD Diagnosis and Illicit Drug Use and Prescription Medication Misuse Among US Adults

Andrew S. London, Kevin M. Antshel, Joshua Grove, Iliya Gutin, Shannon M. Monnat

The study, co-authored by Maxwell sociologists Andrew London and Shannon Monnat along with Ph.D. student Joshua Grove and Research Assistant Professor Iliya Gutin, was published in the Journal of Attention Disorders.

September 2, 2025

Maxwell School Announces Faculty Promotions for 2025-26

Eight faculty members have received tenure in their promotion to associate professor.
August 22, 2025

Why Are Food System Workers Excluded from Local Food Policy Councils?

Frank Sarfo, Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern and Jonnell A Robinson
This brief summarizes findings from a study that examined the challenges and barriers that have limited FPCs’ engagement with labor issues. The authors find that internal tensions, limited capacity, and weak ties to labor groups hinder FPC engagement in food labor advocacy.
August 20, 2025

See related: United States

Is Health Insurance Related to Breastfeeding Duration?

Anna De La Paz
This data slice describes differences in breastfeeding duration by insurance type among females ages 15-49 in the U.S. from 2022-2023. Findings show that mothers with private insurance breastfeed longer than mothers with public insurance, such as Medicaid. 
August 19, 2025

See related: United States

Harrington Meyer Talks to The Wall Street Journal About Today's Working Grandmothers

University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer interviewed 48 working grandmothers; all but four “said they were doing much more care for the grandchildren than they expected—and much more than their own parents did for them,” she says.

August 4, 2025

Shannon Monnat Selected to Lead Rural Sociological Society

The Maxwell sociologist was also awarded the organization’s Frederick H. Buttel Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Award for her recent co-authored book.

July 31, 2025

Sociologist’s Article Recognized by the Association for the Sociology of Religion

Merril Silverstein, professor and chair of sociology, has been awarded the Sociology of Religion Distinguished Article Award for 2024 for his co-authored article, "Did Gender Egalitarianism Weaken Religiosity in Baby Boom Women? A Developmental-Historical Approach" (Sociology of Religion, 2023). 

July 30, 2025

The Disability Mismatch: The Case for a Comprehensive Disability Status Measure

Scott D Landes, Bonnielin K Swenor, Jean P Hall, Anjali J Forber-Pratt, Nastassia Vaitsiakhovich, Kate Caldwell, Mihir Kakara, Deborah Lefkowitz, Andrew Myers, Susan J Popkin, Nicholas S Reed, Emily F Rothman, Maggie Salinger
Co-authored by Professor of Sociology Scott Landes, the article “The Disability Mismatch: The Case for a Comprehensive Disability Status Measure” was published in Health Affairs Scholar.
July 28, 2025

See related: Disability, United States

Social Exchange in Intergenerational Relationships over the Family Life Course: Reciprocity Dynamics

Merril Silverstein, Martin Lakomý, Seonhwa Lee, Bo Jian, Wencheng Zhang, Daphna Gans

Co-authored by Professor of Sociology Merril Silverstein, the article “Social Exchange in Intergenerational Relationships over the Family Life Course: Reciprocity Dynamics in Support to Older Mothers” was published in The Journals of Gerontology.

July 28, 2025

Monnat Cited in Forbes Article on Rural Health

According to Professor of Sociology Shannon Monnat, “The rural U.S. is sick, poor, and losing population. And the health and longevity gap between rural and urban America is growing wider every year.”

July 24, 2025

Silverstein Quoted in The Atlantic Article on Great Grandparents

Merril Silverstein, professor and chair of sociology, says that because today’s grandparents are so involved with family life on the whole, both logistically and emotionally, we might expect that great-grandparents will keep becoming more tied in as well.

July 10, 2025

Haowei Wang Named Maxwell School Scholar in US-China/Asia Relations

The position was created with a gift by Syracuse University alumni Yang Ni and Xiaoqing Li to strengthen connections between Maxwell faculty and scholars in China and Asia.

July 10, 2025

Yingyi Ma Talks to South China Morning Post About Trump’s Crackdown on International Students

“Chinese students, for many, many years have been full-pay students, if not more,” says Yingyi Ma, professor of sociology. “Some places charge additional fees for international students…and so the tuition is provide a very important buffer for American universities. Many of them are really cash-strapped, especially the state universities.”

June 18, 2025

Yingyi Ma Weighs In on Trump Admin’s Move to Revoke Chinese Students’ Visas in NPR, WSJ Articles

“The economic costs are apparent,” says Yingyi Ma, professor of sociology. “The talent cost has even graver consequences.”

June 2, 2025

Janet Wilmoth Named Distinguished Professor

The designation is granted by the Board of Trustees to faculty who have achieved exceptionally distinguished stature in their academic specialties.

May 8, 2025

See related: Awards & Honors

Scott Landes Recognized for Excellence in Teaching, Support of Students

The Maxwell sociologist received an Excellence in Graduate Education Award and an honor from the Center for Disability Resources.

May 7, 2025

See related: Awards & Honors

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