Thanks for your interest in working with me!

A few words for potential graduate students:

1. There is a hidden curriculum in -- and as part of the pipeline to -- graduate school. This includes picking your graduate school based on potential advisors and the "success rate" (employment at R1 universities as professors) of the dept. (I strongly suggest reading Jess Calarco's Field Guide to Graduate School.) I didn't know any of this before I started grad school and I recognize that privileging people who do know the hidden curriculum can lead to disadvantaging others. Some people are told to make connections before applying. Others never receive this information or are anxious about cold-emailing faculty. And I can't be a scholar of inequality and not recognize that this warps the playing field.

2. I am happy to meet with you after you are accepted to the dept. If you are unable to attend the Accepted Student days, I'm happy to schedule a call or Zoom.  Unfortunately, I receive too many inquiries to meet with potential graduate students before they have been accepted. From an equity viewpoint, I'm also unable to provide feedback on application materials. 

3. I am happy to mentor and work with any graduate student accepted to the UNC Sociology dept. In the US, at least in Sociology, admission is to the university. Faculty do not make these decisions individually. Please do not email asking me if I have supervision opportunities available. My availability will not affect your admission to the dept.

4. Students accepted to the UNC sociology dept are offered funding packages that include TA or RA opportunities. If I have grant funding available and we have worked together previously (in a class or as a TA/RA), I often offer students additional RA opportunities where they are paid and have the chance to co-author an article with me. As of the last update of this page, four grad students and one undergrad have co-authored their first academic articles with me. You are welcome to take my classes or request me as a first year advisor, or to ask to TA for my classes.

5. You are welcome to list me in your application as a potential mentor or faculty member to work with, but I am not on the admissions committee. You do not need to reach out to me in advance of your application.

6. I didn't get into a doctoral program on my first try. Or second. It took me three tries. And then on my third try, I ended up with a full-funding package. If you don't get in one the first try and you *really, really, really* want to get a PhD, keep trying. But there are also many careers you can pursue in education or research without a doctorate and those can be good jobs that lead to happiness too.

Thanks and good luck!