People
2008-09 Staff
Editor-in-Chief
Mazen is an undergraduate senior majoring in sociology and minoring in economics, government, and history. He has two main research interests: (1) analyzing social and political trends using demographic models; and (2) identifying and understanding the effects of particular institutions - namely the family, religion, and the state -on individual behaviors, and more generally, on culture. He is currently working on five papers within these areas, one of which is close to publication ("explaining the rise of religious nonaffiliation, GSS 1974-2006"). Mazen works closely with Dr. Christopher Ellison on research in religion, health, and family, as well as with Graduate Student Jeremy Uecker on political trends. He has presented work at the ASR and SDA meetings, and has attended the annual ASA and SSSR meetings. He is in the Honors Program, the UT Junior Fellows Program, the Bridging Disciplines Program, and participated in the Population Research Center's Research Experience for Undergraduates program in minority group demography. Mazen hopes to attend graduate school in sociology upon graduating this spring 2009. He enjoys table tennis, most racquet sports, soccer, chess, and writing short essays on subjects that pique his interest.
Managing Editors
Deva is a senior at University of Texas and will be graduating in May with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Spanish and Women Gender Studies. Her research interests are in: the structural and cultural barriers to family planning, and reproductive health care access; and socio-economic and racial inequalities in health outcomes. For the past two years Deva has worked as a research assistant on a Boarder Contraceptive Access Study at the Population Research Center where she has explored issues concerning oral contraception obtainment and use patterns of Mexican-American women. In the Spring of 2008, on a School of International Training and International FEE Scholarships, Deva studied in South Africa and conducted a qualitative audit of a rural hospital's prevention of mother to child transmission [PMTCT] of HIV program. She was deeply influenced by this experience, and wants to continue with international health and healthcare research. Deva was a Research Experience Undergraduate Fellow and Hibbs Scholarship recipient in 2008, and has presented work on infant mortality at a Southern Demographic Association conference. Currently, Deva is developing an honors thesis, co-authoring a paper on contraceptive use and pregnancy intendedness, and continues to work at the PRC. Her personal interests include playing soccer, traveling, and listening to music.
Noble is a third year student at UT studying Sociology and Religious Studies, and a Junior fellow in the program in Western Civilizations and American Institutions. He is affiliated with the Population Research Center and works for the Project on Religion and Economic Change. He has also worked on projects concerning the family, sexual attitudes and behavior, and religious behavior. Noble hopes to attend Graduate school after graduation. Among other things, he is an avid fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, the Houston Rockets, Longhorn football, riding horses, playing poker and Canolis from Mike's Pastry.
Deputy Editors
Laura Hudson
Laura Hudson is a UT Sociology junior interested in urban issues, poverty, wealth inequality, and feminism. Her personal research focuses on gentrification and residential housing issues in East Austin, Texas. Around campus, she participates actively in several organizations supporting both academics and community service. In addition, Laura works on campus as a peer mentor for the UT Learning Center's peer academic coaching program. She is a Dean's Honor Student and received the Kemp-Forman Unrestricted Endowed Presidential Scholarship for 2008-2009. During Spring 2009, Laura is slated to begin an honor's thesis in order to more fully pursue her interest in the East Austin community. After graduating in December 2009, she intends to pursue a graduate degree to further explore her research interests. In her spare time, Laura enjoys belly dancing, watching Battlestar Galactica, and seeing live music.
Micheondra Williams
Micheondra Williams is a Senior at the University of Texas where she is majoring in Sociology and Urban Studies with a minor in Math. She has participated in the Emerging Scholars and Academic Communities Programs, as well as served as a Student Advisor for ESP. Her research interests include Juvenile Delinquency, the Structure and Role of the Family, and the Structure of Educational Systems (especially in Cities and Urban Centers). Micheondra�s Hobbies range from traveling and reading to watching movies and UT Football (really UT sports in general). She is currently reading Gang Leader for a Day, A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets by Sudhir Venkatesh.
Tabitha Spence
Tabitha Spence is a senior in the Department of Geography and the Environment and is focusing primarily on Natural Resource Management and Cultural Geography. She also is interested in human rights and international relations and is supplementing her degree through the Bridging Disciplines Program in International Studies, in addition to minoring in Sociology. She wishes to achieve a Doctoral degree in a track that allows her to focus on socio-economic and environmental issues in developing nations. Currently, Ms. Spence is working on an independent research project under the auspices of Dr. David Eaton (of the LBJ School of Public Affairs) on the needs, management structure, and social and ecological implications of the current management of the Indus River Basin in Pakistan. She is a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and a member of the Intellectual Entrepreneurship Program. Ms. Spence is enjoys research, activism (particularly through the Campus Environmental Center and the Re-Energize Texas Coalition), and traveling.
Creative Director
Nancy Edith Guevara is a junior Design student at the College of Fine Arts. She is also a Longhorn Scholars mentor and in the PALS program. She is the recipient of the Presidential Achievement scholarship, Amado Pena Art Has Heart Scholarship, and the Laredo National Bank DD Hachar Scholarship. She traveled to Milano, Italy during the summer of 2008 under the Co-op Goes scholarship and hopes to study abroad again this summer. Design and Culture are her passions and hopes she can incorporate them both into her line of work. She is interested in cultural sociology, and aspires to integrate graphic design as a voice to advocate cultural issues and inequalities. She also wants to explore sustainable design specifically for designing products that are more affordable to working class families while being environmentally friendly.
IT Manager
Sam Taylor is a senior studying Sociology at UT. His research is focused on the intersection of emerging technologies and social life, with related interests in the network society, cyberethics, social movements, and theory. He wonders how sociological inquiry will inform action in an era of exponentially accelerating technological change. Sam is an entrepreneur and enjoys cooking, travel, the outdoors, and Battlestar Galactica.
Editorial Board
Abraham Pena
Abraham Pena is a senior working towards a BS in Applied Learning and Development with majors in Youth and Community Studies and Sociology and a minor in Spanish. Mr. Pena's interests include identity negotiation, underrepresented and marginalized groups in higher education (specifically Mexican Americans), gender and sexuality, and racial and ethnic relations. He has a strong determination for working towards educational equity and has served as a teaching assistant for two upper-division undergraduate sections of EDC 371: Applied Linguistics and ESL Methods. In November 2007, Mr. Pena was named a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and has since designed and conducted a qualitative study that explored how self-identified Latina/o gay, lesbian, and bisexual undergraduate students negotiate their sexual and ethnic identities. His study has been presented at various conferences and the research manuscript is currently undergoing editing for publication. Mr. Pena plans to obtain a doctorate following his graduation in May 2009 and wishes to found a non-profit organization for underrepresented queer youth, continue to conduct research in the area of Latina/o sexualities, and teach courses at a progressive institution of higher education. He loves children, laughing, and writing.
Margaret Mordova-aulds
Margaret Cordova-Aulds is a senior majoring in Sociology and minoring in Portuguese. She is completing the Sociology Honors program and her thesis is on educational attainment amongst Latino adolescents across generations. She is also enrolled in Bridging Disciplines Program, a program dedicated to giving students a more hands-on experience in academia. Her particular interests lie in Health Inequality, Education and Public Policy. At one point, Ms. Cordova-Aulds was in nursing school but realized that nursing was not what she wanted to do. "I realized that I did not want to just treat people's symptoms. I had a larger view of the health care system and my true calling was having a larger impact on people's lives." As a child she lived in Nicaragua and recently, while studying abroad in Brazil, conducted an independent research project interviewing nursing students on their opinions of sex education and illegal abortion in Brazil. After she graduates she hopes to work and travel abroad.
May Moayad
May Moayad is a junior majoring in Biology and Sociology. She is in the Bridging Disciplines Program, an interdisciplinary certification program, and her concentration is Social Inequality, Health and Policy with a focus on public health. She decided upon these two majors in an effort to have a broader view and understanding of health and society in preparation for medical school, which she hopes to attend after graduation. She is a member of the UT Baha'i Club, PALS, and is an English Corner facilitator. With the UT Baha'i club, May helps teach a weekly virtues class for children ranging from ages 5-12 years old. In her first two years she served as a chemistry peer mentor and a genetics preceptor. She studied abroad in Barcelona in the summer of 2008, and now serves as a UT study abroad ambassador for the program she attended (IES).
Melissa Rodriguez
Melissa is a third year student who is majoring in Sociology and minoring in Business. She is a National Hispanic Scholar and is a member of the Mcnair Scholars Program in which she is currently doing research. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, she hopes to pursue a PhD in Sociology focusing on issues that relate to women in her community. She is also passionate about other subjects such as race and ethnic relations. She has a desire to start a non-profit organization that would deal with helping minority women. Every summer as part of the Rapoport Service Program, she does community service with various non-profit organizations and gives back to society. Melissa is also interested in assisting disadvantaged children and those who come from low-income families. She hopes to one day make a difference to help those children achieve higher education. Some of her hobbies include traveling and learning about different cultures around the world.
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Undergraduate Advisor
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