{"id":2901,"date":"2024-06-06T09:42:40","date_gmt":"2024-06-06T13:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/csh\/?p=2901"},"modified":"2024-06-06T13:27:46","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T17:27:46","slug":"sociology-chair-letter-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/csh\/2024\/06\/06\/sociology-chair-letter-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter from the Chair of Sociology"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Greetings from Ball State!<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Do you know how much your engagement matters to the Department of Sociology? Here are just a few activities that our alumni and friends helped to make possible this year:\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Forty-five of our students have been involved in seven different community activities since last summer. The majority of these were part of faculty-directed teams that worked with our community partners to collect and analyze data that provided operational insights, assisted them in serving their populations, and helped them tell their stories to a broader public. We are grateful for our partnerships with the <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Hancock County Drug Court<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Second Harvest<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and the <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Recovery Caf\u00e9<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Several students also completed internships with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.muncienonprofits.org\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Non-Profit Support Network<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bsu.edu\/about\/inclusive-excellence\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">BSU Office of Inclusive Excellence<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bsu.edu\/about\/administrativeoffices\/oirds\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">BSU Office of Institutional Research and Decision Support<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Our faculty also mentored undergraduate and graduate students who presented at the <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">North Central Sociological Association Centennial Conference<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> in Columbus, OH, and coached them through other professionalization experiences, such as the <\/span><a href=\"\/\/Etiquette\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Etiquette Dinner<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. These activities, which benefit from your support, as well as our collaborations with BSU\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bsu.edu\/about\/administrativeoffices\/careercenter\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Career Center<\/span><\/b><\/a> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">and the Office of<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bsu.edu\/about\/administrativeoffices\/immersive-learning\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Immersive Learning<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, are vital parts of our students\u2019 preparation for life after college. Your engagement enables them to hone their skills and helps to ensure that they are career-ready when they launch from our nest in pursuit of their passions.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_875\" style=\"width: 262px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-875\" data-attachment-id=\"875\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/csh\/2020\/09\/25\/csh-investigates-the-department-of-sociology-tackles-covid-impact\/byron-ballard-computer-science-7\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/09\/24135643\/Menning_Chad_2018_February-scaled-e1683137268681.jpg?fit=300%2C357&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,357\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Byron Ballard - Computer Science&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1601034518&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Byron Ballard - Computer Science&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Chadwick Menning\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Dr. Chadwick Menning, Chair of the Sociology Department&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/09\/24135643\/Menning_Chad_2018_February-scaled-e1683137268681.jpg?fit=860%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-875 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/09\/24135643\/Menning_Chad_2018_February-scaled-e1683137268681-252x300.jpg?resize=252%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Dr. Chadwick Menning\" width=\"252\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/09\/24135643\/Menning_Chad_2018_February-scaled-e1683137268681.jpg 252w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/09\/24135643\/Menning_Chad_2018_February-scaled-e1683137268681.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-875\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Chadwick Menning, Chair of the Sociology Department<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Thanks to your engagement, we have also been able to offer other immersive experiences beyond the classroom. For example, Dr. John Anderson\u2019s Race and Ethnic Relations class took a series of day-long, <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">study-away<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d trips<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to Cincinnati, Louisville, and Detroit to visit a swathe of sites that brought the topics of the class to life and prompted deeper insights and learning. We are also excited to re-launch our <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">study abroad trip to Costa Rica this summer<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, under the direction of Drs. Melinda Messineo and Ellen Whitehead.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We deeply value your engagement. If you would like to join us in advancing the work of the department, whether by mentoring students who are preparing for careers and meaningful lives, providing valuable input on our curriculum and other operations as a member of our Alumni Advisory Committee, or by making a donation, we would welcome your help and would be excited to hear from you! You are invited to contact Dr. Melinda Messineo (<\/span><a href=\"mailto:mmessine@bsu.edu\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">mmessine@bsu.edu<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">), who serves as the department\u2019s Alumni Liaison, or me (<\/span><a href=\"mailto:clmenning@bsu.edu\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">clmenning@bsu.edu<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">) at your convenience. Donations may be made by clicking <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bsu.edu\/academics\/collegesanddepartments\/csh\/alumni-friends\/give-csh#accordion_sociologydepartment\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">here<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We hope that you enjoy this annual update on the accomplishments of our students, faculty, and staff!\u202f\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em>With warmest regards<\/em>,\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Chadwick L. Menning, PhD\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Professor and Chair\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Department of Sociology\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Greetings from Ball State! Do you know how much your engagement matters to the Department of Sociology? Here are just a few activities that our alumni and friends helped to make possible this year:\u202f\u00a0 Forty-five of our students have been involved in seven different community activities since last summer. The majority of these were part [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1320,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[36,48,6,35],"tags":[137,78],"class_list":["post-2901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty","category-letter-from-the-chair","category-social-sciences","category-sociology","tag-letter-from-the-chair","tag-sociology"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Letter from the Chair of Sociology<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A letter from Dr. Chadwick L. 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