UC San Diego Sociology Department Hosts STARS 2025 Research Mini-Conference Featuring Students from HBCUs, Cal State, and UC System Institutions. 

Sociology welcomed students to this year’s STARS (Summer Training Academy for Research Success) Program. Thanks to the outreach efforts of Professor Danielle Raudenbush and Professor Bennette Jules-Rosette, the department hosted ten outstanding, interdisciplinary students from various HBCUs, Cal State, and UC system institutions this summer. They are Aaliyah Wilson, Damaje Smith, Kaia Laude, Ethan Molina, Harleen Dhanda, Joasia Jacobs, Keith Tillett, Kaitlyn Sung, Olufela Osimokun, and Kenya Greene. Sociology faculty mentors included Professors Kwai Ng, April Sutton, Camila Alvarez, and Mary Blair Loy. Sociology PhD student Jesús Ayala-Candia served as the Graduate Advocate for the ten mentees. On August 5th, the students presented their research at a mini-conference organized by the Department of Sociology. Their work covered a wide range of topics, from cognitive behavioral treatment assessments of youth, devotion to work, educational attainment of formerly incarcerated persons, and borderland politics.