Stephanie Katz, who graduated with a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Feminist Studies, is one of three recipients of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research for 2020.  

“Graduating from UCSB with a major in Sociology (with distinction) and a minor in Feminist Studies has been a great accomplishment filled with many wonderful opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. There are so many aspects of UCSB that I will miss; listening to eye-opening lectures, grabbing coffee from the Arbor in between classes, and studying at my favorite spot in the library which overlooks the ocean. While I enjoyed almost all of my studies these past four years, I was most interested in my Sociology classes focused on law, particularly juvenile justice. Through my academics and extracurriculars, I found my passion for youth policy and pursued a research project focused on juvenile justice law. I am honored to receive the the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research for my Sociology honors thesis. Using discourse analysis, a form of qualitative research, I focused on the trajectory of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) from 1974 to 2018 and its implications for juvenile girls. Using the data, I proposed key policy amendments for the JJDPA that would better serve incarcerated young women. Upon graduation, I will be working as a discovery paralegal for a law firm in Los Angeles. After this, I plan to attend law school in order to become a juvenile justice attorney, and hopefully, a youth policymaker. I am grateful for the support and encouragement I have received these past four years from faculty, peers, and family. Earning my degree from UCSB has been an important milestone and has fostered the passion inspiring my career path.”