2026 SSS Strategy Sessions: Navigating Higher Ed!
As a result of the rapidly changing U.S. socio-political and higher education landscape in the past two years, many sociologists have been challenged to find their footing as teachers, researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders. For the 2026 SSS annual conference, themed, “Empowered Sociologists: Agency and Action Towards Social Change”, President Kendra Jason has curated a series of Strategy Sessions titled, “Navigating Higher Ed” with social scientists who will provide strategies, solutions, and thought partnership to address these challenges as they pertain to leadership, curriculum & the classroom, non-academic jobs, research & funding, and lessons learned.
Navigating Higher Ed: Lessons Learned
This exciting panel includes ASA, SSS, and SWS Past President Adia Harvey Wingfield, SSS Past President Donald Tomaskovic-Devey, and Anthony Peguero. University of Michigan-Flint’s Assistant Vice Chancellor for Access and Opportunity, David Luke, is presiding over this panel, which inspires big picture thinking to frame our steps forward as empowered sociologists and as a discipline.
Navigating Higher Ed: Strategies from Leadership
This panel of Departmental Chairs and Directors features SSS President-Elect Marni Brown, along with Sarah Nell Epplen, Scott Fitzgerald, and Anthony Greene. SSS Past President, Earl Wright II, is presiding over this panel which focuses on how to navigate and meet challenges from various positions as leaders on college campuses and professional organizations.
Navigating Higher Ed: Strategies in the Classroom
Pedagogical strategy, classroom management, and student-related issues will be the focus of this critical panel featuring Megan Smith, Teresa Roach, Scott Grether, and Danny Malone. Catina Galloway, chair of the Committee on Sociology in Community and Small Colleges, is presiding over this panel, which focuses on how to navigate and meet the challenges related to student and classroom support, curriculum changes, pedagogy, and more.
Navigating Higher Ed (and beyond): Strategies in Non-academic Jobs
Thinking of working outside the academy or with a community partner? This panel is for you. This panel features working sociologists Brandy Farrar (AIR), Gretchen Thompson, Gaby Martinez-Stevenson (HACR – Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility), and Jasmine Davis-Randolph (Lumina Foundation). SSS Vice President and economist, James Maples, is presiding over this panel, which will discuss how they use their sociological perspective, methodology, and insights to navigate the various challenges presented with the changing landscape.
Navigating Higher Ed: Strategies in Research and Funding
This timely panel features sociologists who have lost funding or are navigating shrinking resources as funded researchers and institutional directors. Panelists include Taurean “Taure” Brown (Director of the James Lawson Institute for the Research and Study of Nonviolent Movements), Harry Barbee, Will Tyson (Interim Director of the USF Institute on Black Life), and Stephanie Teixeira-Poit. David Embrick, UCONN Director of Research and Community Engagement, is presiding over this panel, which strategizes faculty and student research support, funding changes, administrative directives, and more.