More than a dozen undergraduate students in UC Merced’s Sociology Club were immersed in the discipline’s breadth of research and professional possibilities during the California Sociological Association’s annual conference.
The two-day gathering, held in Berkeley in early November, was a meaningful experience for the students, many of whom are first-generation scholars, said club adviser and sociology Professor Amanda Mireles.
“The experience strengthened their sense of belonging in higher education, expanded their academic aspirations, and reinforced the university’s commitment to providing transformative opportunities for undergraduate scholars,” Mireles said.
Several UC Merced attendees returned from the conference motivated to pursue independent research in capstone classes, to join faculty research teams, or to prepare project proposals to present at the conference next year, Mireles said.
The Sociology Club members who attended the conference were Sofia Bernardino, Ashely Calvillo, Alicia Del Rio, Marlay'ja Hackett, Anthony Harris, Daniel Kariuki, Graciela Martinez, Kevin Ramirez Mora, Kuba Luis Salaam, Mariela Tapia, Ezra Echeverria Tate, Monseratt Gracie-Torres, Brigette Trujillo, and Belinda Higareda-Vazquez.
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