Sociology Prof. Mignon Duffy thinks sociology is the perfect major for students who want to combine an interest in social justice with a curious, scientific approach.
鈥淲e attract passionate, engaged students who want to make a difference in the world,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n sociology, they learn the tools to do that.鈥� Duffy says that all the faculty in her department are motivated by a strong commitment to social justice and are also rigorous in scientific methods. 鈥淲e want to see the evidence,鈥� she says.
Get her talking, and Duffy can鈥檛 say enough good things about her students and the department鈥檚 alumni.
A current undergraduate, for example, has completed a directed study about the barriers faced by teen girls in accessing contraception. Duffy has arranged an internship with the Lowell Community Health Center for this student to work directly with local teens, as well as with community leaders on this issue.
鈥淭he fact that I can make that happen for a student is really cool,鈥� she says.
鈥淪ociology sets you up for a range of advanced degrees and provides a good perspective for various career choices,鈥� says Duffy. 鈥淲hen advising students, I say, 鈥楾hink of your vocation, to do what you love. We鈥檒l find a job that fits.鈥� The demand for research is increasing, especially program evaluation for government agencies and nonprofits. Graduates have gone on to earn advanced degrees in business, law, policy or social work.
鈥淥ne of our graduates is running an anti-drug coalition, another has interests in corporate sales,鈥� says Duffy. 鈥淭he connection is an understanding of social groups and their interactions.鈥�
Duffy chose UMass Lowell for her academic home because, she says, 鈥淭his campus really engages with the world around us 鈥� there is no ivory tower here.鈥� She thinks the campus is the right size, big enough for access to opportunities and small enough that everyone knows who you are.
鈥淭he student body is diverse and I appreciate that students here take their education seriously,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about teaching and inspiring others. I love the moment when students realize that they don鈥檛 just have to slog through the material, that the learning itself is exciting. Their eyes light up.鈥�
Duffy鈥檚 own research is about paid care work, broadly defined 鈥� the health care, child care, teaching and elder care jobs that meet the fundamental needs of society. In 2009-2010, collaborative research with colleagues from UMass Boston and UMass Amherst resulted in a policy report. The following year Duffy published her book, Making Care Count: A Century of Gender, Race and Paid Care.聽
Duffy directs the Emerging Scholars Program聽to provide students with year-long fellowship opportunities, working with professors on ongoing research. She is also a Senior Associate at the Center for Women and Work.