Sociology

Eastern advances open pedagogy

Nicolas Simon, professor of sociology at Eastern Connecticut State University, has spent the better part of the last decade championing open educational resources (OERs) on and off campus. These...

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Noel Teter '24

New co-op program prepares students for emergency services careers
'Career Pathways Program' launches with ESPS Co-op

A new employability initiative at Eastern Connecticut State University will offer immersive learning experiences for students interested in a variety of career fields. Starting with a co-op program...

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Noel Teter '24

Sociology professor pays tribute to former student at Hot Chocolate Run
Cara Bergstrom-Lynch raises more than $3,000 in honor of domestic violence victims

Cara Bergstrom-Lynch, professor of sociology at Eastern Connecticut State University, participated in the 21st annual Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage in Northampton, MA, on Dec. 8, her 12th...

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Darlene Orozco B. '28

Walner Homere ’95: From STEP/CAP to the White House
Proud alum honored at Haitian Diaspora Celebration

Walner Homere’s educational beginnings were humble. Originally from Haiti, Homere was left with limited options for higher education after scoring a 670 on his SAT. After applying to Eastern...

Posted on December 03, 2024 by Noel Teter '24

Simon represents at UNESCO World OER Congress
Meeting stresses human oversight of AI-driven education

Sociology Professor Nicolas Simon participated in the third annual United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World OER (Open Educational Resources) Congress in...

Posted on November 25, 2024 by Elisabeth Craig

Eastern hosts 5th annual ‘End Relationship Violence’ event honoring Alyssiah Wiley

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted its 5th annual relationship violence awareness event on Oct. 9, bringing together faculty and students in honor of Alyssiah Wiley, an Eastern student who...

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Darlene Orozco B.

Eastern inducts hundreds into honor societies in spring 2024

More than 20 academic programs and departments at Eastern Connecticut State University recognized student achievements this spring 2024 semester during honor society inductions and award ceremonies.

Posted on May 16, 2024

Bergstrom-Lynch and Todd support victims of domestic violence

Two Eastern Connecticut State University faculty members recently participated in an annual fundraiser for Safe Passage, an organization helping domestic violence victims recover. Cara...

Posted on December 06, 2023 by Noel Teter

Internships lend real-world experience in spring 2023

Nearly 100 Eastern Connecticut State University students completed internships in the spring 2023 semester. Students explored a variety of opportunities on and off campus that related to their...

Posted on May 01, 2023 by Molly Boucher

New course partners with law enforcement to lay out 'Pathways to Policing'

A new course at Eastern Connecticut State University that teaches students about the rigors of becoming a police officer recently concluded its pilot semester, giving students perspective as they...

Posted on April 18, 2023 by Noel Teter

Student volunteerism recognized at annual CCE Expo

Community service was on display at the annual Center for Community Engagement (CCE) Expo at Eastern Connecticut State University on April 10, where students collected awards for their service and...

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Bergstrom-Lynch and Todd participate in Hot Chocolate Run to end domestic violence
Alyssiah Wiley remembered with $4,000 donation

Sociology Professor Cara Bergstrom-Lynch raised more than $4,000 in memory of former student Alyssiah Wiley on Dec. 4 at the annual Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage in Northampton, MA. Wiley was...

Posted on December 07, 2022 by Noel Teter

Eastern accessibility experts win first Betsey Doane Award

Eastern Sociology Professor Nicolas Simon and Sandra Flores-Gonzales, assistant director of the Office of AccessAbility Services (OAS), won the inaugural Betsey Doane Digital Accessibility...

Posted on November 09, 2022 by Noel Teter

Eastern hosts 3rd relationship violence awareness event in memory of Alyssiah Wiley

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted its 3rd annual Alyssiah Wiley End Relationship Violence Awareness Event on Oct. 4. The event was organized by Sociology Professor Brenda Westberry and...

Posted on October 06, 2022 by Noel Teter

Bouley’s book on implicit bias makes best-seller list

Eastern Connecticut State University Professor of Education Theresa Bouley recently hit Library Journal’s best-seller list for academic/education-centric books with her latest release,...

Posted on October 04, 2022 by Molly Boucher

Eastern to host third violence awareness event in memory of Alyssiah Wiley

In light of October being National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Eastern Connecticut State University will host the third annual Alyssiah Wiley End Relationship Violence Awareness Event on...

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Molly Boucher

3 student papers awarded by Latin American and Caribbean Studies program
Papers investigate immigration and sexual diversity

The Latin American and Caribbean Studies program recognized three students in its 2022 annual Student Paper Awards. History major Max Turner ’22 won the top prize, whereas Sociology major...

Posted on July 26, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

Nicholas Simon wins CSCU system teaching excellence award

The Board of Regents (BOR) of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System (CSCU) has named Nicholas Simon, assistant professor of sociology at Eastern Connecticut State University, the...

Posted on May 24, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

Students reflect on spring 2022 internships

Eastern Connecticut State University students participated in both on-campus and off-campus internships during the spring 2022 semester. Internship locations ranged from Eastern’s Office of...

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Jacob Blain and Bobbi Brown

CCE concludes successful reading program with Windham Public Schools

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Community Engagement (CCE) recently completed a year-long reading program with more than 135 children in Windham Public Schools. Based on a...

Posted on April 04, 2022 by Kim Silcox

A New Movement
Students share perspectives on Open Pedagogy

As far back as 2008, Eastern Connecticut State University faculty began helping their students save money on textbooks by adopting Open Education Resources (OER) in their classrooms. One of the...

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

Bergstrom-Lynch raises more than $3,000 for domestic violence awareness
Professor competes in 9th Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage

Cara Bergstrom-Lynch, sociology professor at Eastern Connecticut State University, brought awareness to domestic violence on Dec. 5 by participating in Safe Passage's annual Hot Chocolate Run...

Posted on December 06, 2021 by Bobbi Brown

Campus Briefs

Shackathon exposes students to substandard housing; Class Day celebrates sophomore students; Canterbury book draws international celebration; and Vasillopulos to sit on accreditation panel of Greek...

Posted on October 26, 2021

Art Gallery showcases prison artwork
'The Artist as Witness' runs until February

On Oct. 18, Eastern’s Art Gallery, in collaboration with the Connecticut Prison Arts program, opened the exhibition, “The Artist as Witness.” The exhibition runs through Feb. 1,...

Posted on October 26, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

Canterbury book draws international celebration

On Oct. 7, the world-renowned Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana in Legon, Ghana, West Africa, brought together scholars from Ghana, the United States, Guyana, Antigua and...

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

4 faculty authors publish new books

Four faculty members from Eastern Connecticut State University have recently published academic books spanning philosophy, Caribbean economics, the musicality of film and Latina leadership. The...

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Bobbi Brown, Molly Boucher, Dwight Bachman

Eastern partners in AAC&U-sponsored open educational resources project

Eastern Connecticut State University was recently selected to participate in an Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) project to accelerate the development and adoption of...

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern students teach of The Amistad’s journey to freedom
Partnership with Discovering Amistad serves Hartford-area middle, high schoolers

Eight students from Eastern Connecticut State University are working with Discovering Amistad this September and October, teaching Hartford-area middle and high school students about the famed...

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Michael Rouleau

Canterbury publishes book on development in Caribbean countries

Eastern Connecticut State University sociology professor Dennis Canterbury recently published a book that tackles capitalism, power and the imperial state within Caribbean countries. Tilted...

Posted on September 02, 2021 by Bobbi Brown

University of Florida professor discusses Black American history at Eastern

Eastern Connecticut State University welcomed David Canton, director for the African American Studies program and associate professor of history at the University of Florida, on March 17 to hear...

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Bobbi Brown

Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz, associate professor of English education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Columbia professor encourages 'The Archaeology of Self' to end racism

It is rare to see a college professor begin a lecture with a moment of silence, but that is how Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz, associate professor of English education at Teachers College, Columbia...

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

Campus Briefs

Students produce professional films for local nonprofits; Teresa Balough edits book on Australian folk musician; Cara Bergstrom-Lynch runs in honor of Alyssiah Wiley and domestic violence...

Posted on December 07, 2020

Bergstrom-Lynch runs to support victims of domestic violence

For the past seven years, Cara Bergstrom-Lynch, sociology professor and chair of the Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work Department at Eastern Connecticut State University, has run...

Posted on December 04, 2020 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern faculty participate in nationwide Scholar Strike

Eastern Connecticut State University professors recently participated in the Scholar Strike, a national movement created to educate and encourage conversations about racism in today’s...

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Molly Boucher

Darrel Irwin giving a guest lecture on Haitian Migration.

The Roots of Haitian Migration

Darrell Irwin, visiting assistant professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut, gave a lecture on “The Roots of Haitian Migration” in Eastern Connecticut State...

Posted on February 12, 2020 by Dwight Bachman

Picture of sociology students at Railroad Museum

Sociology Students Open Semester with Excursion into ‘The Community’

A group of sociology students kicked off the spring 2020 semester with an excursion into the Willimantic community on Jan. 21. Students enrolled in Professor Nicolas Simon’s course “The...

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Bobbi Brown

Bergstrom-Lynch Runs in Support of Domestic Violence Victims

Cara Bergstrom-Lynch, sociology professor at Eastern Connecticut State University ran in the Hot Chocolate 5k run on Dec. 8 in Northampton, MA, in support of individuals who have experienced...

Posted on December 12, 2019 by Bobbi Brown

Eastern Students Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking for Social Action Day

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Social Work Club held its annual Social Action Day on Nov. 5 to focus on the issue of human trafficking.

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Vania Galicia

Alyssiah Wiley 'get to know Alyssiah' table

Alyssiah Wiley Basketball Tournament Aims to End Relationship Violence

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on Oct. 9 to honor former student Alyssiah Wiley. The event featured an array of activities aimed at raising awareness of...

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Michael Rouleau

Eunice Matthews, professor of social work and coordinator of the Social Work Program at Eastern Connecticut State University

Stamford NAACP Honors Eastern Social Work Professor Eunice Matthews

On Sept. 27, at the NAACP’s Annual Freedom Fund Dinner, the Stamford NAACP presented Eunice Matthews, professor of social work and coordinator of the Social Work Program at Eastern...

Posted on October 01, 2019

Author with Dyslexia Jonathan Mooney to Speak at Eastern

Jonathan Mooney, a dyslexic writer and speaker who did not learn to read until he was 12 years old, will speak at Eastern Connecticut State University on Sept. 11 at 3 p.m. in the Student Center at...

Posted on September 04, 2019 by Dwight Bachman

Sociology Professor Nicolas Simon and student Tara Nguyen presented at the annual Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction Conference this past August.

Student-Professor Duo Presents at Symbolic Interaction Conference

Eastern Connecticut State University Sociology Professor Nicolas Simon and student Tara Nguyen ’21 presented and organized a session at the 2019 annual Society for the Study of Symbolic...

Posted on August 27, 2019 by Vania Galicia

Faculty Cut Textbook Expenses with ‘Open Education Resources’

Three Eastern Connecticut State University professors will help their students save a significant amount of money on textbooks this fall due to CSCU-funded grant project. Nicolas Simon, assistant...

Posted on August 01, 2019 by Dwight Bachman

Cesar Chavez award recipients pose for the camera.

Eastern Honors Three Leaders in Memory of Cesar Chavez

Sociology major Italo Bucca ’19 of Hartford, Indira Petoskey, assistant dean in the Office of Continuing Studies and Enhanced Learning; and Yanil Terón, executive director of the Center...

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Dwight Bachman

Connecticut Supreme Court Justices discuss Implicit Biases

Keynote speakers Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Robinson and Justice Maria Araujo Kahn were on hand April 2 as Eastern’s Social Work Program celebrated its 20th anniversary,...

Posted on April 09, 2019 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern’s Bergstrom-Lynch Runs in Honor of Domestic Violence Survivors

Cara Bergstrom-Lynch, sociology professor at Eastern Connecticut State University, participated in a road race on Dec. 2 to honor the late Alyssiah Wiley, an Eastern sophomore who was murdered by...

Posted on December 05, 2018 by Raven Dillon

Demonstrations of Native dancing by members of the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes rounded out the Native American Heritage Day of Events on Nov. 13.

Eastern Celebrates Native American Heritage Month

Eastern Connecticut State University held several events in commemoration of Native American Heritage Month in November. Events featured prominent figures and speakers from the local Native...

Posted on November 28, 2018 by Jolene Potter

Social Action Day Focuses on Ex-Offender Reentry

The issues surrounding housing reentry for ex-offenders were center stage on Nov. 13 for Social Action Day. Organized by the Social Work Program, the event included student presentations, a panel...

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Jordan Corey

Eastern Supports Greater Hartford Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Day

Eastern was on hand on Nov. 2 when the Urban League of Greater Hartford (ULGH) celebrated its 54th Equal Opportunity Day with a gala at the Marriott Downtown Hartford. The ULGH’s mission is...

Posted on November 13, 2018

A&E Executives Visit Eastern, Speak on Crime TV

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted several Arts and Entertainment Network (A&E) executives on Nov. 7 who discussed the representation of crime on television.

Posted on November 07, 2018 by Raven Dillon

Charlotte Braziel, Shawn Meaike and Raymond Hill sit on a panel moderated by Interim Provost for Academic Affairs William Salka.

FBI, Military, Social Work: 3 New Eastern Fellows Inducted

Three distinguished alumni from Eastern Connecticut State University were inducted into the Eastern Fellows Program on Oct. 19. In addition to joining the ranks of the University’s most...

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Jolene Potter

A&E Network Executives to Discuss Crime TV at Eastern

Three executives from the Arts and Entertainment Network (A&E) will visit Eastern Connecticut State University on Nov. 7 to discuss the criminal world as portrayed on television.

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Michael Rouleau

New Program Forges Pathway from Police Academy to Eastern

New this fall semester, graduates of the Connecticut Police Academy may now enroll at Eastern Connecticut State University with 12 credits applied toward a criminology degree or other major....

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Jordan Corey

Eastern Professor Featured in PBS Series ‘Native America’

An advance screening of the new PBS series “Native America” was shown at Eastern Connecticut State University on Sept. 26. While the four-part series will premiere on Oct. 23 on CPTV,...

Posted on October 03, 2018 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern Professor Featured in PBS Series ‘Native America’

An advance screening of the new PBS series “Native America” was shown at Eastern Connecticut State University on Sept. 26. While the four-part series will premiere on Oct. 23 on CPTV,...

Posted on October 03, 2018 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern’s Canterbury and Frye Author New Books

Sociology Professor Dennis Canterbury and History Professor David Frye recently authored “Neoextractivism and Capitalist Development” and “Walls: A History of Civilization in...

Posted on September 15, 2018 by Dwight Bachman

CPTV and Eastern to Host Advance Screening of ‘Native America’ Episode

Eastern Connecticut State University and Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) will host a free advance screening of an episode from the new PBS series “Native America” on Sept. 26 at 7...

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Michael Rouleau

Constance Motley Expert at Eastern

Gary Ford Jr., assistant professor of Africana Studies at Lehman College and author of the book, “Constance Baker Motley, One Woman’s Fight for Civil Rights and Equal Justice under...

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern Professor in Safe Passage Run

Cara Bergstrom-Lynch, a professor at Eastern Connecticut State University who lives in Manchester, participated in a road race on Dec. 3 to honor the late Alyssiah Wiley, an Eastern student who was...

Posted on December 05, 2017 by Jordan Corey

The Truth behind True Crime

Three Arts and Entertainment Network (A&E) executives – Laura Fleury, Peter Tarshis and Sean Gottlieb – shared their expertise of “true crime” programs with Eastern...

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Jordan Corey

Eastern Shack-a-thon for Homelessness

A group of Eastern Connecticut State University students emerged from frost-covered cardboard boxes on Thursday morning, Nov. 9, after spending a freezing night sleeping outside. The temperatures...

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Michael Rouleau

Professor Asks, “Who is Puerto Rican?” at Eastern

Charles Venator-Santiago, a political science professor at the University of Connecticut, appeared at Eastern Connecticut State University on Sept. 20 to discuss the extension of U.S. citizenship...

Posted on September 26, 2017 by Jordan Corey

The Le Le Project, represented by FEMALES club members

Committed to Community: Eastern’s 2017 Service Expo

More than 20 projects were on display for Eastern Connecticut State University’s annual Service Expo and Awards on April 12. Held at St. Joseph Church in Willimantic, the annual ceremony was...

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Michael Rouleau

MLK award winners Kemesha Wilmot, Elijah Oliver and Taylor Hemphill ’17

Eastern Presents Martin Luther King Distinguished Service Awards

Taylor Hemphill '17, a social work major and student ambassador in the Women's Center at Eastern Connecticut State University; Kemesha Wilmot, associate director of the University's...

Posted on February 26, 2017 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern Faculty Create ‘Democracy at Work’

With the 2016 presidential election drawing near, politics have taken center stage at Eastern Connecticut State University. In order to generate student discussion around the election, Eastern...

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Jolene Potter