Graduate Student Spotlight

Madison Page

Areas of Interest

Bias Crimes, Gender
Masculinites and Extremism

Advice for Potential Graduate Students

Rely on your cohort and the staff, they will always have your back.

Post-Graduation Plan

I plan to pursue a PhD.

Current Research Interest(s)

My current research interests is looking at perpetrators perceived masculinity threat for anti-transgender violent crimes.

Favorite Class(es)

Sociology of Gender and Research Methods

Hobbies and Extracurriculars

In my free time, I like to bake and craft!

Favorite Graduate School Moment

Getting to know my cohort and professors!

Rebecca Simpson

Areas of Interest

Terrorism, Extremism, Mass Violence
General Strain Theories, Idelogical Motivations

Advice for Potential Graduate Students

Exploring the literature is the best way to find and understand what you are actually passionate about researching. There is so much out there, and it can be very overwhelming at first; taking it a little at a time makes getting oriented much easier.

Post-Graduation Plan

Upon graduation I plan to pursue my PhD in criminology or international relations.

Current Research Interest(s)

My current area of research interest is radicalisation pathways and violent extremism. More specifically, pathways and behaviours among domestic jihadi offenders using a general strain theory framework.

Favorite Class(es)

My favourite classes have been sociological theory and the sociology of gender.

Hobbies and Extracurriculars

When I am not studying I love spending time outside and going on hikes!

Favorite Graduate School Moment

So far my favourite graduate school moment was having some of our classes outside to enjoy the great spring weather!

Taylor Tanaka

Areas of Interest

Terrorism
Radicalization
Mass Violence

Advice for Potential Graduate Students

My advice to potential graduate students would be to explore possible research interests as early and thoroughly as possible. Having a good grasp on what you are interested in will give you guidance on the next best steps to take.

Post-Graduation Plan

My plan is to pursue a PhD after graduation.

Current Research Interest(s)

My current research interests are in right-wing extremism and online radicalization. I am particularly interested in understanding online extremist subcultures.

Favorite Class(es)

My favorite graduate class at the University of Arkansas was Sociology of Gender.

Hobbies and Extracurriculars

Whenever I can, I unwind by reading and going on walks.

Favorite Graduate School Moment

So far, my favorite moments in graduate school have been in class, surrounded by people who are passionate about research!

Rachelle Joseph

Areas of Interest

Social Inequality, Poverty, Crime Prevention
Juvenile Deliquency, Community Development, Rehibilitation

Advice for Potential Graduate Students

Graduate school requires discipline, time management, and a willingness to continuously learn and adapt. My advice to potential graduate students is to stay organized, remain open to feedback, and build strong relationships with professors, mentors, and peers. It is also important to balance academics with personal well-being to avoid burnout. Graduate school can be challenging, but it is also a valuable opportunity for personal growth, networking, and developing specialized skills that can create long-term career opportunities. I would also encourage students to gain practical experience alongside their studies through internships, certifications, research, or leadership opportunities

Post-Graduation Plan

After graduation, I plan to continue building my career in operations and project management while pursuing opportunities that allow me to improve organizational systems and processes. I am interested in gaining experience in healthcare operations and construction operations while continuing to develop my project management skills and professional certifications. Long term, I plan to establish my own operations and project management consulting business focused on process improvement, organizational efficiency, and sustainable growth for businesses and communities.

Current Research Interest(s)

My current research interests focus on operations management, process improvement, project management, leadership, and organizational efficiency. I am particularly interested in how businesses and organizations can improve workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and implement systems that support long-term growth and accountability. I am also interested in studying leadership strategies, change management, quality management, and the role of data-driven decision-making in improving organizational performance.

Favorite Class(es)

Some of my favorite graduate classes were Project Management, Leading Change, Quality Management, and Strategic Management. I enjoyed these courses because they combined leadership, problem-solving, and real-world applications. Project Management helped me strengthen my planning and organizational skills, while Leading Change taught me the importance of communication, adaptability, and servant leadership when guiding teams and organizations through change.

Hobbies and Extracurriculars

Some of my hobbies and extracurricular interests include mentorship, community outreach, event planning, and creative projects. I enjoy serving others, organizing community initiatives, and participating in activities that positively impact people around me. I am also into youth development

Favorite Graduate School Moment

My favorite graduate school moment was reaching graduation and reflecting on how much I had grown academically, professionally, and personally throughout the journey. Completing my master’s degree while balancing responsibilities, overcoming challenges, and staying committed to my goals was a very rewarding experience. It reminded me that perseverance, faith, and hard work can lead to meaningful accomplishments.

Eric Castro

Areas of Interest

The Study of Arson

Advice for Potential Graduate Students

For students who are thinking about graduate school, I would recommend and encourage the development and maintenance, however it may be, of the ability to cope. Graduate school is not easy and requires a great deal of effort and discipline to function. There are times when you will struggle, and the ability to cope is detrimental over the course of schooling. Forgiveness of yourself when you struggle, and the perseverance to push forward as a result are qualities that I believe students will find most useful in their time in graduate school.

Post-Graduation Plan

After graduating with my MA, I have two options that I aim to pursue. I either aim to earn a second Master's, entering the workforce, or doing both concurrently. I relish the idea of continuing to develop, and I yearn for this constant growth where I find that I am at a time in my life where I have the most opportunity to continue to pursue multiple goals. While I do not wish to earn a doctorate at this time, I would like to continue developing with my education.

Current Research Interest(s)

The topic I find most interesting as it pertains to criminology is the study of arson. I love the discussion and implications that regard arson, as it may be committed without the intentionality of causing harm, but still retain malicious intent towards someone or something. There is something fascinating about the conscientious decision in target selection in this manner that I find exciting to dive into and explore.

Favorite Class(es)

My favorite class that I have taken throughout the graduate program I would say is Human Trafficking, taught by Dr. Christopher Shields. Despite the intense nature of the course material, I felt I was able to develop writing skills and context specific understandings towards how Human Trafficking, and the situations in which crime may be committed. Through this class, I learned a great wealth on how different locations throughout the world respond to Human Trafficking and am now better informed on the systematic weaknesses and functions that occur because of Human Trafficking.

Hobbies and Extracurriculars

When I have time outside of Graduate School, I primarily train and practice in Ballroom Dancing. I have been a competitive ballroom dancer for slightly over 5 years and push myself to improve technique whenever I can. I assist a dance studio in Rogers, Arkansas with performances occasionally in the community, via teaching, entertainment at private events, and demonstrations. I am fortunate to have a wonderful and consistent dance partner with whom I train with and continue to grow and develop with. This growth coming both as a dancer and as a person. Aside from dancing, I enjoy typical video games, anime, and finding great food spots around town.

Favorite Graduate School Moment

My favorite moment of being in graduate school I would have to say passing a statistics course, where I severely struggled and worked continuously with for an entire semester. The relief, joy, and elation I felt in passing after such a great deal of effort was pure euphoria that I believe I will never forget.

Alina Rudakova

Areas of Interest

Informational Propoganda
Radicalization
Terrorism

Advice for Potential Graduate Students

Have an idea about how graduate school will be beneficial to your future and do research on your program and possible career plans. Recognize that intense research and writing is a part of the graduate program; if that is something you do not enjoy - it could be very challenging. Additionally, the workload in the graduate program is more time-consuming and requires more commitment, so procrastination in could be very costly. However, if you commit to the graduate program, it will reward you with irreplaceable skills and bonds with exceptional mentors and researchers of the field.

Current Research Interest(s)

Currently, I am interested in researching the misrepresentation of information, propaganda, and radicalization via social media. It is truly fascinating to see how social media and the utilization of mass media are constantly evolving and changing, although not always in a positive way. To me, this is still a gray area that needs much research.

Favorite Class(es)

I have two favorite graduate classes so far: terrorism and criminological theory. The class on terrorism helped me realize how limited my knowledge is of global and domestic forms of terrorism and how complex the phenomenon is. In criminological theory, in every class, I was challenged to think critically about various theoretical perspectives. This class helped me to dissect theoretical approaches, link them to one another, and see how even early theoretical perspectives can still be vastly relevant to present social issues.

Hobbies and Extracurriculars

Most of my free time I spend at home playing PC games like RPGs and MOBAS; in cases when I have vitamin D deficiency, I go outside for walks (doesn’t happen often).

Favorite Graduate School Moment

My favorite moment while being in grad school was when we would have super awkward moments in criminological theory or research methods classes that made us all laugh and have fun together. Frequently we remind each other of those moments, and it still makes us smile; it shows how much our cohort bonded over these semesters. It is something I will cherish forever.

Obed Asare

Areas of Interest

Critical Criminology
Concepts of Capitalism, Inequality, & the Power Structure

Advice for Potential Graduate Students

If you’re considering a career path toward the field of finding solutions to social problems like crime, poverty, terrorism, and analyzing social data, then I highly recommend the Graduate school of Sociology and Criminology at U of A! Professors are filled with in-depth knowledge and always keep students on their toes to be able to apply concepts and theories to solve real world problems.

Current Research Interest(s)

My obsessed topic in studying Criminology in grad school is Critical Criminology. Critical Criminology challenges the traditional theories that explain crime in the US and explicates the concepts of capitalism, inequality, and the power structure – typical of the US society – that are integral to understanding crime and its control. I am fascinated and thrilled by how it downplays other theories even though the traditional approaches – especially –explain crime in a multi-dimensional and profound way.

Favorite Class(es)

I couldn’t afford to miss Terrorism and Criminology class in grad school; because while I was being equipped with knowledge of how people commit crimes and find solutions to them, I consequently understood how and why individuals radicalize to commit terrorist attacks and violent extremism on similar theoretical frameworks. I found it very interesting when theories and mechanisms learned in one class usually revealed themselves in another class to easily give a diverse explanation of how problems can be solved.

Favorite Graduate School Moment

I am inspired by one of my favorite professor’s profound knowledge areas in various areas and how he easily applies concepts to get social problems solved in class. Additionally, being in grad school made me realize that I need to learn a great deal if I want to contribute my quota to change the world!

Anna Wahls

Areas of Interest

Social Determinants of Health
Markers of Individuals' Emotional & Physical Wellness

Advice for Potential Graduate Students

For prospective students, I would suggest exploring any topics you might find remotely interesting even if you have a passion for a specific topic. While it is important to narrow your research interests, graduate school allows you to work with professors who can help you refine or combine multiple focuses.

Current Research Interest(s)

Broadly speaking, my interests revolve around the social determinants of health. Understanding what impacts an individual’s physical and emotional wellness is important to me. I would like to ultimately help improve health policies and interventions.

Favorite Class(es)

The Race and Racism seminar taught by Dr. Nino was excellent. It challenged me to reconceptualize both terms with contemporary consequences.

Hobbies and Extracurriculars

Aside from academics I prefer to spend my time outdoors, find the best food trucks, and wishfully look at adoptable pets online.

Favorite Graduate School Moment

One of the best moments was when a few of us decided to de-stress by going to a kickboxing class together.

Gift Onwuadiamu

Areas of Interest

Informational Propoganda
Radicalization
Terrorism

Advice for Potential Graduate Students

If you believe and work towards your goals, you will achieve it.

Current Research Interest(s)

My research interest is social inequality. This topic has better enlightened my understanding of individuals and society. It has also helped to be objective with issues in the social system.

Favorite Class(es)

All classes have been exciting for me. I believe all classes taken so far have amazingly impacted me. Kudos to all professors.

Hobbies and Extracurriculars

I love going to different international grocery stores, implementing humanitarian services, and cooking sometimes.

Favorite Graduate School Moment

My favorite moments in grad school, are when I finish my project and assignments. There is this unexplained relieve and joy, I get from completing a project.

Kimmie Hawkins

Areas of Interest

Criminal Courts
Sentencing
Wrongful Conviction

Advice for Potential Graduate Students

If academia is your passion — pursue it, but be ready to be committed, dedicate much of your time to it, and work hard.

Current Research Interest(s)

The topic that interests me is inequality in the criminal justice system, specifically in the courts. I am interested in how the culture of the courts and community could lead to sentencing disparities.

Favorite Class(es)

My favorite graduate classes so far have been criminology theory and data analysis because the knowledge from those classes is applicable to research.

Hobbies and Extracurriculars

In my free time I like to relax by reading or watching shows.

Favorite Graduate School Moment

My favorite moments in grad school so far have been bonding with other members of my cohort.

Collin Huntzinger

Areas of Interest

Social Institutions Impact on Crime Rate

Advice for Potential Graduate Students

It took me quite a bit of thinking and communication with friends and family to decide if I would attend graduate school. Ultimately, I realized I have a passion for this area of study, and pursuing a further education was what would benefit me the most. It was definitely the right decision.

Current Research Interest(s)

Sociology and criminology are closely related, so it becomes difficult to nail down a specific passion. Generally speaking, I enjoy trying to answer the "Why" questions the public often asks, which require both a criminologist and sociologist perspective.

Favorite Class(es)

My favorite graduate class thus far would have to be the introduction pro-seminar. Some wouldn't consider this a technical class in the sense of assignments and lectures, but the lessons taught are valuable in and out of the academic sphere. Initially, taking the class, I assumed most of what was discussed would not apply to me, but quickly after, I realized I kept referring back to the topics discussed in order to aid me in finishing my first year.

Hobbies and Extracurriculars

Outside of the academic program, I enjoy being outside as much as possible. Even when there is little free time, taking the dog for a walk is a good study break.

Favorite Graduate School Moment

So far, my favorite moment in graduate school was building connections with my peers, the faculty and staff. Also, the abundance of coffee is a plus.