Let's get to know Katlin...
Hometown: Oxford, Michigan
Major/Minor: B.A. Sociology and B.A. Political Science
Campus Organizations: Vice Chair of College Democrats, Sociology Opportunities for Undergraduate Leadership (SOUL) Member, Barger Leadership Institute Fellow
What inspired you to major in Sociology?
As a freshman, I took Sociology 100 with Professor Jansen and it just felt like a natural fit for me. It felt like everything I wanted to study was incorporated into one class, so I kept taking more! I declared during my sophomore year and have found a wonderful community in this department.
What classes have you most enjoyed? Why?
I absolutely loved SOC270: Gender and the Law! Learning about the institutional dynamics of gender, especially the policing of marginalized bodies, was so powerful for me. SOC379: Sports, Politics, and Society was a unique challenge for me since I’m actually not very interested in sports! However, since it was an upper-level writing course, I got to write papers that critiqued the sociological effects of sports, namely, structural racism and ongoing gender discrimination. SOC310: Sociological Theory was also a great course! I think that learning the theoretical foundation of this discipline is so important and personally, I have relied on that knowledge in other courses since.
What do you hope to do after graduating from Michigan?
After graduation I plan to go to grad school to pursue a Master of Social Work. I hope to be a licensed social worker while also remaining engaged in political spaces! Later down the line I’m interested in attending law school.
Have you participated in an internship or research experience?
I am an undergraduate research assistant for Poverty Solutions here on campus! The project I work on looks specifically at rural poverty and I really enjoy being a part of it.
What advice would you give to students considering a major in Sociology at U-M?
I would say to go for it! The students and faculty in this department are so kind and welcoming. Sociology can provide a pathway to so many rewarding careers, so it’s definitely a major that everyone should consider.
Where is the best place in Ann Arbor to get late-night study food?
Pizza Bob’s is the best for sure! Their cheese pizza and milkshakes never get old.