Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society was proud to once again celebrate excellence in the discipline at this year’s American Sociological Association Annual Meeting. Our annual Awards Ceremony and Distinguished Lecture brought together students, faculty, and professionals to honor outstanding achievements in sociology and highlight the impact of our discipline in addressing pressing social issues.
Honoring Our Award Recipients
AKD’s awards recognize both scholarly contributions and the dedication of our members to advancing sociology through teaching, research, and service. This year, we were proud to present the following awards:
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Graduate Student Paper Awards: Chi Pan Wong (1st Place), Jonathan Ellis (2nd Place), Zhongze Wei (3rd Place)
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Undergraduate Student Paper Awards: Emma Farrow (1st Place), Erin Farrell (2nd Place), Kendall Coney (3rd Place)
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AKD Distinguished Lecturer Award: Dr. Mary Romero
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Emory Bogardus Chapter of the Year Award: Zeta of Oregon at Portland State University
Each recipient exemplifies AKD’s mission to promote excellence in scholarship, to foster the study of society for the benefit of humanity, and to encourage the pursuit of knowledge that contributes to positive social change.
Distinguished Lecture: Dr. Mary Romero, PhD
The highlight of our ceremony was the Distinguished Lecture delivered by Dr. Mary Romero, Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University. Dr. Romero’s lecture, “Reimagining Domestic Work Through an Intersectional Lens,” challenged attendees to think critically about the impact of policies related to domestic work, including immigration policies.
The lecture drew connections between sociological research and the urgent issues shaping our world today, reminding us of the importance of the sociological imagination in both scholarship and public life. Attendees left with new insights, inspiration, and a renewed sense of commitment to advancing sociology in their own work.
Building Community Across Generations
One of the most meaningful aspects of AKD’s presence at ASA is the chance to bring together members from across generations—undergraduate students presenting their first research projects, graduate students preparing for careers in sociology, and seasoned faculty members contributing decades of knowledge and mentorship.
Our award ceremony and lecture serve not only to honor individual achievements, but also to strengthen the AKD community and reaffirm our shared values as sociologists.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on another successful gathering, we extend our deepest gratitude to all who attended, to our award recipients, and to our 2025 Distinguished Lecturer Dr. Romero for their contributions. AKD looks forward to continuing our work of promoting excellence in sociology and creating opportunities for connection, recognition, and growth.
We are already looking ahead to next year’s ASA Annual Meeting and can’t wait to celebrate with everyone again! Until then, we encourage all members to stay engaged with AKD programs, share your accomplishments, and continue putting sociology into action in your communities.