The Catholic University of America

Sociology Alumni News

Undergraduate Alumni

Isti Khun (2011) is an intern at the White House Office of Correspondence

Christopher Neighbours (2011) works for the Disability Law Center in Boston

Maria Kaufman (2011) is a graduate student in Sociology at the University of British Columbia

Kayla Firriolo (2011) is a Research Analyst with the Enough Project of The Center for American Progress.
 
Saffie Goushe (2011) is a Litigation Officer at The US State Department.
 
Kari Mitchell (2011) works for The Solar Energy Industries Association.
 
Zachary Malone (2011) is pursuing his MA in Cyber Security Policy at the University of Maryland
 
Eamann Burke (2011) is an Account Manager at Highview a management firms in Boston.
 
Katie Mire (2010) is a Prospect Researcher at The National Trust for Historic Preservation.
 
Anthony Graffeo (2010) is a Business Development Counsultant at Oracle.
 
Christina Sciannameo (2010) is studying Nursing at The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
 
Samantha Sakacs (2010) is Finance and Marketing Assistant for agencyQ in Washington D.C.
 
Jennifer Tyliszezak (2010) worked with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps after graduating from CUA. Currently she works as a personal assistant and Intake Screener for Legal Services Alabama.
 
Adam Sitsis (B.A. 2009) also received his M.A in 2011 and is a Doctoral student in Sociology at George Mason University. 
 
Matt Bottegal (2009) works for Closeline, LLC in Washington D.C.
 
Kyle Brant (2009) is a Business Development Associate at Vorsight. He is also the assistant men’s lacrosse coach here at CUA.
 
Paula Carusella (2009) is the Assistant Director of the Office of Alumni Relations here at CUA.
 
Lee Jones (2009) lives in the greater Atlanta area and works as a Sales Specialist for NYK Line.
 
Steve LeBude (2009) received his M.A from American University in 2011. He currently works for Karl Storz Endoscopy.
 
Elizabeth Palmisano (2009) is a Manager for Online Marketing & Promotion at ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership

  

Student Testimonials

Adam Sitsis - While I have only been a member of the sociology program here at CUA for the past two years, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic career. I found sociology by accident while searching for a major that was more accurately tuned to my interests, and sociology has become a passion of mine since that first exposure. The sociology program has fundamentally enhanced the way that I view the world around me while simultaneously offering me the forum to express my own ideas and theories regarding criminal justice, education, and poverty. Because the sociology program has had such a profound influence on me as a student, I have decided to attend CUA for two more years in pursuit of my masters degree. I hope that future students find the department and the professors themselves to be as valuable as I have.

Victoria Freerks - My experience as a sociology major has taught me many valuable skills that can be easily implementd in today's work world. Sociology has taught me to look at everyday situations from a global viewpoint. I have been able to critically analyze both research as well as day-to-day interactions amongst people and institutions. The sociology department was always warm and welcoming, providing any assistance I may have needed as well as guidance.

Jacob Gallay - The Sociology Department has been crucial in my success at CUA. They have been availabe for all academic needs. The classes are interesting and informative, and each has some application that can be related to real life as well as other classes. Also the department parties are awesome.

Michael Maloney - My experiences with the sociology major were definitely positive. Studying sociology has allowed me to grow intellectually in a way that has opened my eyes to a unique way of thinking that would be unattainable in other majors. The department provided a good support system of professors and teaching assistants that allow students to excel in the major.

 

 Graduate Alumni

   Lauren Crook received her B.A/M.A in 2010 and she works as a Research Associate for JBS International, Inc

Eric Sean Williams received his Ph.D. May 2010.  His dissertation title was "The End of Society? Defining and Tracing the Development of Fragmentation through the Modern and Into the Post-Modern Era."

Tianyue Ma received her MA degree, May 2010.  She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. degree in Sociology at SUNY Albany.

Aniedi Okure received his Ph.D in January 2009. His dissertation title was "The Church as Social and Political Actor: An Analysis of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, 1060-1090".  Dr. Okure is the Executive Director of the African Faith and Justice Network and a Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies.

Florencia Riguera received his Ph.D. in January 2009. His dissertation topic was "Framing Environmental and Other Problems in Asian/Pacific Contexts: A Comparative Study of Campaigns on Social Issues.  Dr. Riguera teaches Sociology at Catholic University of America.

Jacqueline Wenger received her PhD in January 2009. Her dissertation topic was "Middle-Class African American and White Nondenominational Protestant Congregations: Their Characteristics and Significance". Jackie is now working as an independent consultant. 

Ashley Kopack received her M.A. in May 2009. Ashley works for Mathematica, a nonpartisan research firm, that conducts policy research and surveys in health care, education, welfare, family support, and employment.

Fang Fang received her M.A. in May 2008. She is enrolled in the Ph.D. Sociology program at Virginia Tech. While at CUA Fang worked with Dr. Hanson as a Research Assistant on her NSF grant entitled "Gender, Race and Science: Asian American Women as a Model Minority?" Her duties in this capacity included literature review and data analysis involving two large data sets.

Xiaoyan Wang received her Ph.D. in January 2008. The title of Xiaoyan's dissertation is An Empirical Test of American Church and Denominational Growth Models, 1990-2000. Starting in June Xiaoyen works as a consultant for IBM.

Ismail Demirezen received his Ph.D. in October 2007. The title of his disertation is Repertoire Identies in Islamist Movements in Turkey and Egypt. Ismail is currently working at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC.

Fr. Boguslaw Augustyn received his Ph.D. degree in May 2006. The title of his dissertation is The Growth and Decline of the Ordination Rates to the Roman Catholic Diocesan Priesthood Cross-Nationally, 1950-2000. Fr. Augustyn is currently pastor at Sacred Heart Church in New Jersey.