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2204 Reasons Why Social Science Matters

The Social Sciences Division handed out 2204 diplomas to undergraduate students representing 10 different degree programs in a pair of commencement ceremonies on June 14. Following introductory remarks by Dean Charlie Hale and Chancellor Henry Yang, a crowd of roughly 6000 guests per ceremony heard from keynote speakers Tracey Newell, a proud Gaucho and bestselling author of Hers For the Taking: Your Path to the C-Suite and Beyond; and Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, a civil rights leader.

UCSB Celebrates Inaugural Graduation of PROPEL Scholars in Historic Ceremony

The ceremony at Mosher Alumni House brought together students, families, faculty, and community supporters to celebrate the achievements of twenty remarkable scholars who have demonstrated resilience, dedication, and a commitment to social justice.

Charmaine Chua Receives Harold J. Plous Memorial Award

Charmaine Chua, Assistant Professor of Global Studies, has received the 2023-2024 Harold J. Plous Memorial Award. Established in 1957 to honor Harold J. Plous, Assistant Professor of Economics, this award is given annually to an assistant professor or instructor in humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences who has demonstrated outstanding performance by creative action or contribution to the intellectual life of the university's community. On April 11, 2024, Charmaine Chua gave the Harold J.

Political Scientist Christopher Parker Named a 2025 Carnegie Fellow

The Carnegie Corporation of New York has awarded Christopher Sebastian Parker a 2025 Carnegie Fellowship to fund his timely and incisive research on political polarization and communities of color. Parker, a UC Santa Barbara professor of political science, is among 26 distinguished recipients chosen from over 300 nominees for this honor, which includes a stipend of up to $200,000 to support his research.

A Message From Our New Propel Program Director

Leah Stokes receives the prestigious Schneider Award for Outstanding Science Communication

Leah Stokes, Associate Professor of Political Science at UCSB, received the prestigious Schneider Award for Outstanding Science Communication. Named for outspoken climate scientist Stephen H. Schneider, one of the founding fathers of climatology, the award “recognizes a natural or social scientist who has made extraordinary scientific contributions and communicated that knowledge to a broad public in a clear, compelling fashion.” Stokes researches public policy, public opinion and political behavior, with a focus on energy, environment and climate change.

Amit Ahuja Named as One of India's Leading Intellectuals by ThePrint

Amit Ahuja, Associate Professor of Political Science at UCSB, was named by ThePrint as one of India's political thought leaders to watch out for in the next decade. Ahuja is the author of Mobilizing the Marginalized: Ethnic Parties without Ethnic Movements, which won the 2020 New India Foundation Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay Book Prize.

UCSB Students Start Free Tutoring Program for Local Children

In 2023, Jessica Lickstein, a third-year sociology major at UCSB, started Education+, an organization composed of fellow UCSB students that offers free virtual tutoring for students in grades K-8. Education+ was born out of Lickstein's experience volunteering in a kindergarten classroom and witnessing first-hand the education disparities between children from low-income families and children from moderate- or high-income families.

All News

2204 Reasons Why Social Science Matters

UCSB Celebrates Inaugural Graduation of PROPEL Scholars in Historic Ceremony

Charmaine Chua Receives Harold J. Plous Memorial Award

Political Scientist Christopher Parker Named a 2025 Carnegie Fellow

A Message From Our New Propel Program Director

Leah Stokes receives the prestigious Schneider Award for Outstanding Science Communication

Amit Ahuja Named as One of India's Leading Intellectuals by ThePrint

UCSB Students Start Free Tutoring Program for Local Children