Above and Beyond Awards 2024

Out-going Departmental Chair - Bruce Ravelli

We thank those Chairs and Director who are completing their terms this year for going above and beyond in their leadership service for their academic units and the wider Social Sciences community.

Aileen Chong

As the Graduate Secretary in Sociology, Aileen has gone above and beyond in supporting graduate students, helping to foster a welcoming departmental culture, and assisting at a time of great difficulty with the loss of a colleague in the department. An academic leader and faculty member both noted, "Aileen’s calm and welcoming demeanor has made a positive impact on the department culture and her support for our graduate students is second to none. For example, her support for our international students starts well before they arrive by helping them with the application process, finding accommodations once they arrive, organizing social events while they are here, and staying in touch after they graduate. These actions speak volumes about her commitment to our students, our department, and our university."

Midori Ogasawara

As an Assistant Professor in Sociology, Midori has gone above and beyond in supporting student success in her courses and inspiring students to learn beyond the classroom. Several students noted that Midori's mentorship has contributed to their academic growth, and, as one student nominator explained, "she has inspired me to be bold and brave, challenging the discourses of society that I have become numb to, and she through her teaching has opened questions about the world that I didn’t know I had."

Anelyse Weiler

As an Assistant Professor in Sociology, Anelyse has gone above and beyond in advancing experiential and community-engaged learning in her courses, mentoring and co-authoring publications with undergraduate students, and encouraging volunteerism among students. One faculty colleague noted, Anelyse has "given hundreds of students firsthand experience with conducting original interview-based research on a topic of their choice" and has "helped students develop a sense of hope and self-efficacy in the face of climate change."