News
Department of Sociology and Anthropology

The earliest written record of hearing loss is believed to date from 1550 BC in ancient Egypt, and written evidence for early sign language and changing attitudes toward deaf individuals comes from Plato in 350 BC—but, according to Sophia Williams ’23, there isn’t much that reflects the significance of these findings in archaeological scholarship. Williams received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award to fund her graduate education at University of York so she can help fill this gap of knowledge.

RIT’s College of Liberal Arts partners with Syracuse University’s College of Law to offer an accelerated 3+3 law program. Students complete both a bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor degree in six years as opposed to the traditional seven-year timeline.

The Conversation highlights an essay by Robert Ulin, professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, about exploitative labor practices in the chocolate industry.

WHEC-TV talks to Anthony Jimenez, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, about his research on the effect of COVID on healthcare workers.

WROC-TV features a research project by Anthony Jimenez, assistant professor in RIT’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology, on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic faced by regional healthcare practitioners. 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has extended through nearly all facets of society and everyday life since March 2020. In the summer of 2022, Anthony Jimenez, assistant professor in RIT’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology and trained medical sociologist, began to explore the specific impacts faced by regional healthcare practitioners. 

Fourth-year student Anna Pasquantonio has always loved National Geographic and has fond memories of collecting animal trading cards from the National Geographic Kids magazine. Pasquantonio’s summer 2022 internship experience at the organization’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., helped turn a life-long interest into a possible career.

For years, Joseph Hill, assistant dean of NTID Faculty Recruitment and Retention and an associate professor in the Department of ASL and Interpreting Education, has studied how the segregation of southern Black Deaf Americans, along with their history and culture, has impacted the linguistics of today’s Black Deaf youth. Hill hopes his research will continue to uncover and preserve Black American Sign Language.

Students shared artwork that communicated social issues that are important to them during the Sociological Imagination Art Fair, part of Assistant Professor Wenjie Liao’s Foundations of Sociology courses.

The Liberal Arts Multidisciplinary Scholars program, which is being introduced this fall, gives financial support to students in STEM majors who are interested in adding a second major from RIT's College of Liberal Arts.

While many colleges and universities require general education courses, RIT’s immersion requirement takes it a step further. Beyond the typical writing, math, science, social science, global studies, art, and ethics requirements, students are asked to fulfill an additional nine credits in a topic of interest. The intended result is to produce well-rounded students who have gained broader, more diverse perspectives.

From pandemic response to rebuilding after natural disasters, RIT students will draw upon their foundation of community service in their careers after graduation.