Student Voices

Hear directly from our students as they write about classes, events, and other areas of interest within the Division of Social Sciences. 

An interview with UCSB student Miguel Ortiz-Garcia, who is involved in marketing a new app made by college students, for college students. 

April 1, 2024

By Eunice Ho

UC Santa Barbara student Hudson Pollack (pictured on the right) has been instrumental in helping fraternities and sororities implement eco-friendly measures 

March 11, 2024

By Kellen Beckett

Dan Lane

 Professor Dan Lane scrutinizes expression in turbulent online spaces.

February 13, 2024

By Nicole Johnson

Eddie Ndopu

In a recent talk, human rights activist Eddie Ndopu’s talk not only uplifted those with disabilities in the audience but urged that audience to rethink their notions of justice and diversity.

December 14, 2023

By Rachel Foley

An interview with Laury Oaks, a professor of feminist studies working on creative resistance after Roe v. Wade

December 13, 2023

By Emily McCready

Victoria Rivera-Cisneros
An interview with Victoria Rivera-Cisneros, a first-generation graduate student at UC Santa Barbara who believes introducing ethnic studies into high schools will provide children with the agency to challenge what they are taught, think critically, and have access to accurate tellings of history, without needing to go to college. 
 
December 12, 2023

By Leslie Arzate 

UCSB undergraduate Aviva Varma describes her work with the American Presidency Project 

December 6, 2023

By Bridget Weingart

A conversation with vintage reseller Joey Alexandria of My Damn Closet

June 15, 2023

By Gabriella Herrera

Tia Trinh

A student explores the myth of the model minority through personal narrative

June 12, 2023

By Tia Trinh

During the “Women on Wall Street” panel discussion hosted by UCSB’s Women in Business club, finance professionals spoke to students and offered advice about how to use their gender as a powerful asset in their professional lives.

June 9, 2023

By Sasha Heineman

UCSB Economics student Maiya Nishime produced a video that explores the captivating Brazilian art of capoeira, taught in the university’s Exercise & Sports Studies department. She profiled capoeira master Mariano Silva, who guides students in the cultural history, personal growth and inclusive community that is the hallmark of this Brazilian martial arts dance form. The video shows a transformative journey, beyond physical fitness, that breaks barriers and fosters unity. 

June 2, 2023

By Maiya Nishime

Undergraduate explores her personal connection to research and higher education

May 25, 2023

By Mariana Benitez Arreola

Nikki Torno

Nikki Torno, a recent graduate of UCSB’s Biological Anthropology program describes her role as a researcher at UC Santa Barbara’s Boddy Lab

March 17, 2023

By Taylor Tait

Chicana/o Studies professor Silvia Rodriguez Vega recently released a new book, Drawing Deportation: Art and Resistance among Immigrant Children, which documents the experiences of immigrant children through drawings, interviews and performances

March 15, 2023

By Lyla Moes

Carolyn Sattin-Bajaj, Blum Center 2022-2023 Central Coast Regional Equity Research Award recipient, answers questions about her research on family involvement in the Lompoc Unified School District

March 8, 2023

By Hannah O’Connell

Lisa Hajjar

Sociologist Lisa Hajjar and lawyer David Nevin spoke on the judicial impact of U.S. torture policy at an event held by UCSB’s Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies

March 6, 2023

By Hannah O’Connell

Professor Jeffrey Hoelle

Anthropology professor Jeffrey Hoelle works to reintroduce students to nature through local foraging

March 3, 2023

By Maya Rink and Grace Liu

(Gerardo Aldana at the film's premiere; photo courtesy of Aldana)

UCSB Chicano Studies professor Gerardo Aldana discusses his goals and experiences consulting with the producers of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

February 13, 2023

By Alexia Duran

snowy plover

(Photo courtesy of UC Santa Barbara Natural Reserve System at Coal Oil Point Reserve)

Students at UC Santa Barbara are helping preserve the natural habitat of the snowy plover 

December 14, 2022

By Molly Murphy

 

Click for video that gives a glimpse of the Sociology of Human Sexuality, one of UC Santa Barbara's most popular classes. 

December 7, 2022

Produced by Shawna Larsen

How first-generation college students find community in a new setting

December 1, 2022

By Jessica Gonzalez

A transformative sociology course ignites one student's passion for environmental activism 

June 14, 2022

By Lily Leventhal

An interview with Sociology student Abigail Mena

June 9, 2022

By Makayla Gomez

UC Santa Barbara's "Women in Business" organization hosted Donnie Small, the Diversity, Equity Inclusion recruiter from Meta (formerly Facebook)

June 7, 2022

By Jessy Chen

An interview with an undergraduate student, Xander Sorenson, who plans to study abroad

June 6, 2022

By Amalie Mygind Andersen and Theis Mitchell

An interview with Keren Zou, president of UCSB Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA), an association that offers support to Chinese international students at UCSB

May 25, 2022

By Dingyan Zhou

Dick Startz portrait

An interview with Professor Dick Startz, who was recently elected a fellow of the International Association for Applied Econometrics (IAAE)

March 15, 2022

By Lena Liu and Haoning Zhu

erin Khue Ninh

An interview with associate professor erin Khuê Ninh about her recent monograph exploring the phenomenon of the "model minority" narrative

March 3, 2022

By Priti Sharma

An inside look at UCSB's first and only student-run marketing consulting firm

February 22, 2022

By Patricia Wang

A Q&A with anthropology professor  and Integrative Subsistence Laboratory director, Amber VanDerwarker

December 7, 2021

By Paola Espinosa 

A Q&A with director of the Isla Vista Community Services District, Catherine Flaherty

November 16, 2021

By Campbell Green

An Interview with Professor Howard Giles about his new book, which investigates the role that communication plays in policing

November 9, 2021

By Romi Benasuly

A Q&A with instructor Nikki Truscelli about UCSB's new class about happiness communication. 

October 28, 2021

By Katie Yang

An inside look at UC Santa Barbara's first-ever fully student-run financial wellness class

October 27, 2021

By Romi Benasuly