Faculty Spotlights feature presentations by faculty members, given on disciplinary and departmental areas of interest and expertise. During this event, we will provide a sneak peek of the classroom atmosphere, introduce key ideas central to the study of Sociology, and feature faculty work currently being done in our department.

As a part of the broader Bear Beginnings programming, the WashU Department of Sociology invites first-year and transfer student to attend our Faculty Spotlight session, featuring Prof. Jake Rosenfeld. His presentation, "Talking About Pay: Who Does It, Why So Many Are Embarrassed By It, and Why Your Boss Hates It" will provide a foundational overview of what pay inequality is, how it manifests, why it is a problem, and how the field of sociology seeks to measure, explain, and ameliorate it. We strongly encourage students who are interested in economics, political science, social work, business and finance, community organization and advocacy, law, public health, social justice and activism, critical thinking and social theory, and civic engagement to attend this presentation. If you don't know what sociology is and what it is all about, this is a fantastic, low-stakes opportunity to learn - even before the semester starts. So many of our students wish that they had discovered sociology earlier in their college careers... Get a head start through this Faculty Spotlight presentation! Prof. Jake Rosenfeld's research and teaching focus on the political and economic determinants of inequality in the United States and other advanced democracies. He is primarily interested in the determinants of wages and salaries, and how these vary across time and place. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University.

We invite all students to participate in our Departmental Open House earlier in the day (10:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. in Seigle Hall, Suite 213) to preview what's to come in this sure-to-be-engaging presentation!

Students must attend one session from each of the three core disciplines within the College of Arts & Sciences: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. This presentation will fulfill the Social Sciences component of the Bear Beginnings Faculty Spotlight requirements.

Questions prior to the event? Or, just want to get a head start in exploring the possibilities that WashU Sociology can present? Check out our website or contact our Academic Coordinator!