Sociology and Anthropology Department
The faculty in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology has a combined interest in culture and society. Because the world in which we live is so diverse and interconnected, our mission is to empower students to examine their own lives and values in the context of many different societies, including our own, to develop understandings of cultural variation.
In teaching about what it means to be human, we offer a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies through which students learn about social interaction and cultural practices. Our students acquire advanced skills of critical thinking, precise writing, and well-informed interaction with diverse communities. These abilities are extraordinarily helpful in a variety of career choices, including business, law, the health professions, and graduate school.
Student Outcomes
Danika Brockman '21
"My SOAN classes taught me about the process of statistical research, the theory surrounding it and the practice of such research."
Kara Lough '20
"I am able to excel with client relations and marketing because I can understand relationships and societal influences."
Julia Hernandez '20
"I truly believe that the SOAN major provides students with such a unique interdisciplinary education that can be translated across many different professions and jobs. Not to mention, the SOAN Department and professors are incredibly supportive and helpful!"
Bo Garfinkel '21
"I am a better law student because of the unique perspective that I have in being able to analyze the intersection of law, society and culture.
Sociology and Anthropology Department
Candice Robinson Co-Authors Book About the Sociology of Cardi-B
The assistant professor of sociology explores Black femininity through a contemporary perspective.
Lawyer and Historian Paul Lombardo to Deliver Lecture on Buck v. Priddy Court Case
The Nov. 18 lecture is open to the public and marks the centenary of the case argued in Amherst County, Virginia.
Campus Kitchen Announces 2024-25 Just Food Series
The annual event series examines the ways in which food systems interact with issues of social justice.
Masako Konishi to Deliver Lecture as Part of the Class of 1963 Scholars in Residence Program
Konishi, Chief Merchandising Officer at Forever 21, will deliver her talk on Sept. 25.
Cultivating a Community of Care
Through the Davis Projects for Peace Grant and a Fulbright ETA, Allie Stankewich ’23 is building relationships with the communities she serves in East Africa.
Kim is pursuing her Master of Public Policy at Duke University.
Five W&L Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships to Study Abroad
The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards of up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduate students who are Pell Grant recipients.
Washington and Lee Students Selected for Congressional Hunger Center Internships
Sai Chebrolu ’26 and Valentina Giraldo Lozano ’25 are among 13 students chosen for the Zero Hunger Internship program.
W&L students in the Spring Term course Global Urban Sociology are examining the social consequences of an increasingly urbanized world.
W&L’s Tanajia Moye-Green Among 2024 Class of Knight-Hennessy Scholars
Moye-Green ’23 is the university’s first Knight-Hennessy Scholar.
W&L Alumnus Benji Hess ’23 Earns U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
Hess will teach English in Austria and prepare for a career as an educator.
W&L’s Michelle Morgan ’24 Earns Fulbright to North Macedonia
Morgan was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach English in North Macedonia.