Congratulations to our Sociology inductees for the
Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society!
Alpha Kappa Delta
Founded in 1920, Alpha Kappa Delta seeks to acknowledge and promote excellence in scholarship in the study of sociology, the research of social problems, and such other social and intellectual activities as will lead to improvement in the human condition. Membership is open to students who have met minimum standards in scholarship and who are sociology majors or minors. Currently there are more than 115,000 AKD members in 650 chapters around the world.
The 2021 inductees are Sophie Arnold, Amber Escobar, Rebecca Neumann, and Janis Whalen. Congratulations to these outstanding students!
Sophie Arnold
Sophie Arnold is a second semester junior majoring in sociology and minoring in music. Her interests within the field of sociology include health disparities, health and aging, and medical sociology. This semester she is working with Dr. Laura Hart on a research project to present information to the board of directors at the local Isabel’s House Crisis Nursery, so they can best meet the needs of our community members. In addition, she is working with Dr. Kyler-Sherman Wilkins researching the trends in social disparities in hospitalizations to present at the upcoming Missouri State Student Anthropology Conference in April. Outside of class, she enjoys playing violin, listening to music, reading, and traveling. After graduating, she hopes to continue her research in graduate school.
Amber Escobar
Amber Escobar is a junior majoring in sociology with minors in history and psychology. She currently serves as the Social Media/Marketing director for Missouri’s branch of the nonprofit organization Destination ImagiNation, as well as the Affiliate Chair for the International Alumni Ambassador Council for Destination ImagiNation. She has interests in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in nonprofit organizations. Amber has plans to pursue a master’s degree, with eventual goals to work for a nonprofit involved with serving children and families.
Rebecca Neumann
Rebecca Neumann is a junior majoring in sociology and psychology. She has been involved in several areas at Missouri State through different organizations and opportunities within her majors. This past year she has served as a volunteer at the Greene County Family Justice Center focusing on helping individuals who have experienced interpersonal violence. Rebecca is also participating in research within the sociology department looking at different public health models and the prevention of child sexual abuse. Rebecca is interested in different prevention plans of violence and abuse. After graduation Rebecca hopes to attend graduate school and work in a field where she can focus in this area.
Janis Whalen
Janis Whalen will be graduating in the Fall 2021 semester with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Spanish. She has spent many years working with young children, working at a daycare and volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club. She enjoys being active and spending time outdoors. Other interests include art, music, sustainability, global and community studies. After graduation, Janis hopes to find a job where she can be an advocate for equal opportunity education for children and use what she has learned in sociology to promote equality and social justice.