This fall, our department welcomed four graduate students to the 2025-26 cohort. Below, we learn a little bit about each of them. WSU Sociology wouldn’t be what it is without our interesting, inquisitive, and talented new graduate students!
Renate Fort
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Texas A&M University- San Antonio
Research Interests: Environmental Sociology, Women and Gender Studies
Safiya: How did you develop your research interests?
Renate: I took a class on environmental sociology that one of my mentors taught. The book that we read for it wasn’t very “textbook-y”, it was for a wider audience and covered thinking about the environment and how we treat it. Our assignments looked introspectively at our own usage and that class opened up my brain about sustainability and reducing waste from a sociological perspective.
Safiya: That sounds cool! What is something surprising about you that most people don’t know?
Renate: I’m classically trained in ballet. I did ballet for 13 years and thought I was going to be a ballerina when I grew up. I never even thought about college until it was time, and now I am pursuing my PhD!
Michaela Mcparland
Hometown: Hyannis, Massachusetts
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from American University
Research Interests: Social Stratification, Poverty, Drug Stigmatization
Safiya: Do you have any hidden talents or interests?
Michaela: I was a figure skater for 13 years. I started when I was 3 years old.
Safiya: Oh wow! You must have enjoyed it then!
Michaela: Actually, I’m not a huge fan of figure skating to be honest. I like ice skating, but I wish I had done hockey. But I did enjoy it, it was fun to go ice skating and hang out with friends.
Safiya: Nice! What’s something you love to cook or eat?
Michaela: I love cooking tofu, I love eating tofu, I love the versatility of tofu, I love everything about it! It’s so great.
Joao Augusto Rodrigues
Hometown: Iacri, Brazil
Education: Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Sao Paulo State University
Research Interests: Food Systems, Public Policy, Environmental Impacts
Safiya: Describe your perfect day.
Joao: My ideal day is that I wake up in the morning, have a nice breakfast, take time to relax, watch a movie, a series, read books, talk with my family in Brazil, and spend time with nature, or walking around the city.
Safiya: Sounds nice! What is something you are looking forward to this semester?
Joao: I’m excited to see snow for the first time!
Paisley Smith
Hometown: Forth Worth, Texas
Education: M.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of North Texas
Research Interests: Crime and Deviance, Social Stratification, Political Sociology
Safiya: Tell me about your master’s degree thesis.
Paisley: I looked at how mental health diagnoses impacted female participants in a prostitution court in Texas. I specifically looked at substance use, access to stable housing, and overall completion of that court program.
Safiya: Sounds interesting and important to sociology! What is something that you have strong opinions about?
Paisley: Music! I think my music taste is the best.