Kristin Kelley

BA in Sociology and Criminal Justice | MA in Sociology | 2013 | Ph.D. Candidate at Indiana University

 

Why did you choose to purse an MA in Sociology at the UofA?

As an undergraduate at the UofA, I majored in Sociology and Criminal Justice. I became increasingly interested in social inequality and enjoyed taking courses from the UofA faculty, who pushed me to earn my MA n in Sociology at UofA.

 

What did you do upon graduating from the MA in Sociology program?

After graduating with my Master’s Degree, I moved to Bloomington, Indiana to pursue my PhD in Sociology at Indiana University.

 

What is your greatest professional accomplishment?

I recently earned the National Science Foundation’s Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement (DDRI) Award to fund my dissertation: “The Role of Economic Resources and Parental Status in Challenging Gender Norms: The Case of Marital Name Choice.”

 

How did your education in the MA Sociology Program prepare you for what you are doing today?

In the MA Sociology Program, I learned the principles of rigorous research and how to use theory to understand the social world. Having the opportunity to conduct my own research for my MA Thesis Project gave me the hands-on experience I needed to prepare me for applying to PhD programs in Sociology.

 

What advice would you give current students or recent graduates interested in pursuing a career in your field?

I advise any student interested in pursuing an MA or PhD in Sociology to talk to graduate students at the universities they are interested in attending. Look at department webpages, identify graduate students who have been in the programs for a few years, send them an email and ask if they are willing to have a phone call. I recommend asking current graduate students if they are happy with their program, what resources are available to them (fellowships, grants, travel stipends), whether they are getting the professional mentoring they need to succeed, what career options are available to them and whether graduates from their program are getting jobs.