Sociology Department’s Mara Tzizik and History Major Fabiane Kelley works along side History Professor Bob Forrant, to conduct research on the International Institute of Lowell.

Sociology sophomore Mara Tzizik and History senior Fabiane Kelley spent this past fall semester of 2014 sifting through thousands of documents within the International Institute of Lowell.  Both students received an Honors Fellowship funded by the Honors College and the Deans office to conduct research with history professor Bob Forrant. Forrant has immersed himself in Lowell’s immigration history with his former research projects with students, and continues to do so with this project with Mara and Fabiane. Along side Forrant, the students conducted primary source research and interviews to better understand the history of the Institute, which has helped immigrants assimilate into American Society in Lowell since 1914. They collected data from the Institute’s archives and collected data from interviews of people who have used their services or have worked for the institute in the past. The Institute has helped transform immigrant lives in Lowell. Mara believes this research is deeply rooted in Sociological themes. “The founding women of the Institute dating back to 1914 were the forefront of social work in their time” said Mara. These women identified one of the major social problems in Lowell, which was the growing immigrant population and their lack of support from the community, and tackled it head on. The organization has proven success over the past 100 years and continues to grow and adhere to the ever-changing immigrant populations of Lowell. 

On December 11, 2014 all of their hard work came to fruition. The research they conducted was used to create an interactive timeline for the Institute’s award dinner. The timeline was viewed by over 300 people that evening. Both students were present to answer any questions about their research and process by the viewers. Futuristically, they hope to publish a paper detailing their research and research process and potentially presenting the paper at a conference in April 2015. 

Forrant notes the advantages or working with research students on campus:  “One of the very best parts of teaching is working with great students on exciting research projects. Plowing in to the International Institute's records, discovering so much about Lowell's immigration history, and being able to work with Mara and Fabiane creating an exhibit viewed by hundreds of people made this a terrific experience for me and hopefully for them. It also represents the very essence of how a public university should function.”

The Honors Fellowship has given Mara a wealth of research experience only halfway through her academic career. Mara has earned immense credibility through her research efforts within the University, as well as within the Lowell Community. The project not only called for self growth and academic development, but it also provided the opportunity for students to give back to their local community. 

“If you have the opportunity to work on research of any kind, seize it. Your critical thinking skills, deductive reasoning, and time management skills will develop and grow.” - Mara

Sociology Students Michael Wilkinson and Emily Dasey take on the opportunity to intern in Washington D.C. through The Washington Center Program

Two students from the Sociology Department took on one of the greatest learning experiences of their lives: an internship through The Washington Center in Washington, D. C. Both students learned about the program with the help of Dr. Talty, the Assistant Dean. Talty has acted as the liaison for UMASS Lowell to the Washington Center for many students from all academic backgrounds. He aids students in the preliminary process of understanding the program and the application process. The Washington Center offers internships in various fields with numerous organizations such as, nonprofit organizations, U.S. Attorney’s Office, local doctors, D.C. public school system, and Arts programs. A student can find the perfect program that will help develop their specific career goals that could lead to a potential job in the future. “The professional and social atmosphere of D.C. drew me to the program, I knew the work experience offered would be unmatched compared to other internships, and it seemed like a more career oriented option than just study abroad” said Emily.

Emily Dasey worked for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy based in Alexandria, VA. After several phone interviews with different organizations, Emily chose this particular organization because it helps fulfill the track to her dream job as a Family Law attorney. She was able to see first hand how social beliefs impact laws and the political structure of the U.S. The work done in D.C. really connected with some of the sociological concepts she learned here at UMass Lowell, like community organizing and social policies. Overall, for Emily, the semester experience in D.C. has prepared her for a professional life. The networks built, the job connections created, and the personal growth achieved are unmatched in comparison to other programs. “It truly is an experience on your resume that puts you ahead of other graduates” said Emily.

Michael Wilkinson’s internship took place at Department of the Interior at the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. He primarily supported the OSMRE VISTA volunteer program under Dr. T. Allan Comp. Some of the projects he worked on included survey design, distribution, and analysis, poverty data research, marketing analysis, and database management. In addition to working 35-40 hours a week, Michael developed his community development skills through a civic engagement course. The course: Government and Business in the New Economic Reality; How Washington Really Works examined the question of “How can America remain competitive in this new, globalized economy?”. Throughout the internship and the course, he was able to apply sociological skills developed back at UMASS Lowell, such as survey design and data analysis. Michael took part in meaningful work that impacts real lives. His duties and research efforts assisted Americorp VISTA programs, which help towns effected by surface mining. The internship even brought him to a small town in Virginia, where he was able to see first hand the devastating effects of surface coal mining on the community. The experience helped him realize that the work he was doing in Washington actually positively effected a community and helped people. Similar to Emily’s experiences, Michael felt that “The work I have done has prepared me for working in a professional office environment in my future. Everything from the way I was expected to dress, to my relationships with my superiors, to sitting in once place for hours at one time was good experience. In addition to adjusting to these basic realities, I formed a solid network of contacts that will be valuable going forward. The work I did here will also be a major talking point for any resume I build or interview I have in the future. Most importantly, this job has provided me with an understanding of how things work in the real world.”

If you are interested in taking part in an internship at The Washington Center contact Dr. Francis Talty at Fracis_Talty@uml.edu

Sociology Alumnus Jordan Ellis teaching at Sociology Department Spring 2015!

         The Sociology Department welcomes Alumnus, Jordan Ellis, as the newest member of their Adjunct Faculty this winter. Ellis graduated from the UML Sociology Department in 2011 and continued on to complete a Masters in Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2014. The passion and the support of the faculty of the Sociology department inspired Ellis to pursue graduate education to become a teacher. "The faculty at the department was very supportive. They always made themselves available for their students. I loved the passion the faculty had for the field. They were especially helpful in the graduate school application process” said Ellis. Graduate education was always something he wanted to pursue, but he chose the University of Wisconsin because the school would match and develop his main research interests. His main research interests include social education, ethnic relations, and social inequality. The department and Ellis are excited about the new perspective he will bring to the department. Ellis is teaching three courses this winter: Introduction to Sociology, Race and Ethnicity, and Sociology of American Education.