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Dear Alumni and Friends,
When at the end of our Winter quarter our university migrated to online, our Sociology Department went to work. Since then, our faculty have been busy teaching online, advising and meeting via Zoom to continue servicing our profession and students. Although the transition to virtual business has been time consuming and can hardly be considered business as usual, our department has excelled as this issue of our newsletter documents. Our faculty finished the Winter quarter and is about to conclude Spring classes with grace. The amount of time we have dedicated to minimize the effects of this unprecedented pandemic is exemplar. We also continue to carry on with many department activities, and by necessity had to postpone others. Foremost in our mind is how to celebrate the many accomplishments of our senior class. We also published a revamped edition of our academic journal now under a new name, the Silicon Valley Sociological Review, and under the able editorial management of professors Di and King. Professor Chiaraluce continues to provide leadership with our honor society and internships. Professor Nichols remains committed to our students, teaching our capstone seminar despite our unexpected adaptation to online teaching. She also published the book, The Journey Before Us First-Generation Pathways from Middle School to College in January of this year. And, of course, we are always appreciative to Professor Moles for publishing our newsletter. I will be remiss if I do not mention before concluding a bit of sad news. Susan Babbel, whom we feature in this issue, is moving on. After more than two decades of generous dedication to support our department, Susan is now going to apply the same level of skilled commitment to her family, looking after grandkids, and squeezing time to continue to paint, her true love. We and the university owe Susan a ton of gratitude for her guidance, patience, initiative, and dedication and send her off with our highest regards. Susan will be missed.
I think I speak on behalf of my colleagues when I wish you and your loved one lots of health, resilience, and happiness while we navigate through these troubled times. We hope you know you always have in our department your home.
Enrique Pumar
Chair, Department of Sociology
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