Sociology Collective

Kelly Russell, Faculty Director: I’m Dr. Kelly Russell, the faculty director of the Sociology Collective. I joined the Sociology faculty in 2021 and launched the Sociology Collective in fall 2024. My primary areas of expertise are economic and political sociology, specifically the politics of social policy in the U.S. and the state-market relationship in social service provision. I teach several courses in the Sociology department, including Theory and Research Methods, two of the capstone requirements for the Sociology major – which means I see each and every Sociology major at some point in their undergraduate journey! In the classroom, I aim to draw students’ attention to the politics of complex social issues past and present and provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out their own research projects. Outside the classroom, I spend my spare time reading murder mysteries and tackling woodworking projects large and small. Come say hi! You can find me in BEL 425 or contact me via email at klrussell@fsu.edu. 

Sophie Hyde, President:

• Hometown: Tampa, FL
• Year/Rank: Sophomore
• Majors/Minors: Sociology (major), Psychology (minor)
• WHY FSU SOCIOLOGY?: Sociology answers the challenging questions that our society avoids or deems unimportant, when really, they are the foundation of the world we live in. 

Matthew Friedman, Vice President: 

• Hometown: Boca Raton, FL 
• Year/Rank: Junior 
• Majors/Minors: Political Science (major), International Affairs (minor) 
• WHY FSU SOCIOLOGY?: As a pre-law student with a keen interest in public policy and government, sociology enables me to understand the realities of social structures and its application to our society as a whole. I see sociology as essential to understanding how laws and policies impact different communities. With that said, a sociological perspective is crucial to interpreting how policies and actions affect diverse groups and provides a major aid to my future legal career and understanding of social change. 

Amanda Weisberg, Treasurer: 

• Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, FL 
• Year/Rank: Junior 
• Majors/Minors: Sociology (major), Psychology (minor)  
• WHY FSU SOCIOLOGY?: Sociology is just very interesting to me, and I love learning about people and society and all the patterns imbedded within interactions. I also have loved every single sociology course I have taken here and all the helpful faculty.  

Austin Mirabella, Secretary:  

• Hometown: Menifee, CA 
• Year/Rank: Junior 
• Majors/Minors: Sociology (major), Psychology (minor)  
• WHY FSU SOCIOLOGY? As a transfer student, I wanted to attend a university where my intended major offered a curriculum that supported my goals. The Department of Sociology at FSU focuses on personality and society, among other areas, which is something I am particularly interested in. 

Loren Whitaker, Officer:  

• Hometown: Gainesville, FL 
• Year: 3rd year 
• Majors/Minors: Sociology (major), psychology (minor), child development (minor) 
• WHY FSU SOCIOLOGY?: I’ve always been fascinated by social relationships and human behavior. Studying sociology at FSU deepened my understanding of how these relationships shape institutions, broadening my perspective in ways I didn’t know possible.