Sociology Class of 2009
LeAnne Jones
LeAnneEJones@yahoo.com
Class of 2002
Majors/Minors: Sociology; minor in Religion
Post Secondary Degrees: Masters in Public Administration, University of Delaware, 2004
I’m a Residence Life/Campus Mediation Program Coordinator at Grinnell College, Iowa. I work with college students to foster community, to provide personal counseling, to direct students to available resources, and to provide educational and social programming. I also coordinate the peer mediation programs on campus
Blaine Robbins
adduct@u.washington.edu
Class of 2000
Majors: BA Sociology; BS Psychology
Post Secondary Degrees: University of Washington sociology Ph.D. track beginning fall quarter 2005.
I’m currently working for a multidisciplinary research group at the University of Washington doing cost and outcomes health care research on issues such as back pain outcomes, carpal tunnel syndrome treatments, efficacy of experimental back surgeries, and causes of sleep apnea. I’m about to start school in the fall, which is very exciting. I’m just relieved to find another reason to stay in Seattle for 5 more years.
Mairead McSweeney - Shutt
maireadshutt@gmail.com
Class of 2001
Majors/Minors: Sociology/Business
Post Secondary Degrees: MBA, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.
The MBA program at the Heller School is specifically designed for individuals seeking professional, management positions in the non-profit sector. I am especially passionate about working for youth that are living in poverty, disconnected from school, involved in the juvenile justice system, victims of abuse and neglect, and/or other economic and social issues. This program has built on the knowledge and skills I gained as a sociology major at Pacific Lutheran University, where I first developed a deeper understanding of the complex reasons why many youth are not fully prepared for adulthood. The Sociology department was filled with interesting and enthusiastic professors who had a wide range of perspectives and specialties. Through courses and interactions with professors I was able to develop my interests and direct my future. I am currently the Program Manager of the Science Clubs for Girls, a non profit organization that provides after school science programs for girls in Cambridge, MA.
Jessie Muhm
jessicamuhm@hotmail.com
Class of 2003
Majors/Minors: Major Sociology, Minor Business
I currently work and live in Washington, DC. I coordinate one-on-one tutorial programs for children in DC who are below grade level in math and reading. All of our students are assigned to one personal tutor, and they meet either once or twice a week. I am very involved in the public school system and am trying to help educate these young children! The non-profit I work for is For Love of Children. I have been here since August 2003, but my first year here was through the Lutheran
Volunteer Corps, so I was technically a full-time volunteer working this same job.
Kari Serkland
keserkland@netzero.com
Class of 1996
B.A. in Sociology: Family and Gender
Post Secondary Degrees: Masters Degree in Elementary Education, Portland State University (in progress)
I am a full time Graduate Student in Portland, OR. I hope to be teaching within the greater Portland area by 2006 (however, jobs/funds are a little slim right now in public education). I’ve been in Portland for over three years and I love it! It is still the beautiful northwest, but it seems to be less urban than the Seattle area. The neighborhoods are great and people appear to have an appreciation for the Arts. I’m training for the Portland Marathon again, hopefully this time no injuries will slow me down, wish me luck!
For a long time, I wasn’t sure about the best way to use my Sociology degree. I did a few years of stipend-paid volunteer work in Volunteer Coordination and a few years as an Assistant to a summer camp director in a non-profit.
I am very excited about my steps toward becoming a Kindergarten, or first grade, teacher and am pleasantly surprised by how much my Sociology degree is continuing to work in my favor. I think Education is a perfect career for Sociology majors. These days there are so many social issues that affect students and families. As a teacher it is important to understand your students’ “baggage” and obstacles in their way. I wish all Education majors were required to take more Sociology courses because sometimes I feel as though I’m at an advantage.
Jill Muhm
Jillmuhm@wildmail.com
Class of 2001
Majors/Minors: Sociology/Spanish, Psychology
I’m currently living and working in Washington,DC. I just finished two years with the LutheranVolunteer Corps – one year in St. Paul, MN working at a Latino community center doing case management, one year in DC as the volunteer coordinator for a homeless shelter. I’planning on moving back to the Seattle area the summer of 2005 and going to grad school for intercultural communications and diversity leadership in the fall of 2006.
Shella Biallas
shellabia@gmail.com
Class of 2004
Majors/Minors: Sociology & Psychology Majors, Norwegian Minor
I will begin a MA in Public Affairs at the University of Washington Fall of 2005. It is a Peace Corps Masters International program, meaning I will receive my degree after serving in the Peace Corps and completing a project related to my experience. Expected completion is Winter 2008. For the past year I have been working as AmeriCorps VISTA in St. Paul, Minnesota. I serve at a non-profit law center that helps immigrants and refugees with immigration related legal matters. I believe that my preparation in sociology has helped me substantially with my experience here. Working with a group of people that are marginalized not only by their economic status, but also by language barriers and prejudice has been eye opening indeed. I support this organization by writing grants, fundraising, supervising volunteers, and researching and tracking current immigration policy issues. I have been active in the political scene through my work on a bill known at the national level as the Dream Act, which would allow undocumented immigrant youth who graduate from high school to qualify for in-state tuition. Washington State currently has this policy in place, but unfortunately Minnesota’s Governor killed the bill. Overall, sociology is great preparation for work in public policy, advocacy, and non-profits.
Emily Zielske
Emily.Zielske@mail.house.govClass of 1996
Majors/Minors: BA in Economics and Sociology (Family and Gender)
Post Secondary Degrees: MA in Government, Johns Hopkins University
I am currently working as a Legislative Assistant in Washington, D.C. for Congressman Brad Sherman. I meet with constituents and interest groups; research and analyze various pieces of legislation. I am specifically working on social policy issues including women and children’s issues, health care, Social Security, Medicare, crime, the environment and appropriations.