As you may have noted, recent issues of Dialogo each explore a broad theme that spans the social sciences. In Fall 2017, we explored law and social sciences; in Winter 2018, urban social sciences through educational research and practice; in Spring 2018, quantitative social sciences. In this issue, we illuminate qualitative social sciences through the perspective of cultural and political systems, a timely topic both globally and domestically. These articles connect work in the departments of political science, comparative human development, and social thought, as well as projects in anthropology, international social science research, history, and much more. The Common Ground conversation with Sue Stokes, Political Science, and Lis Clemens, Sociology, shows how disciplines and research interests can converge, and the profiles of the Semiotics Workshop and the Chicago Center for Contemporary Theory (3CT) are examples of two places in the division where qualitative research is discussed and debated, in true Chicago style.
Also in this issue we introduce the new faculty members who have joined the division this fall, highlight recent faculty books, talk with recent alum Seamus Power about his research interests and experiences as a Teaching Fellow in the division, and update divisional news and our progress in the university’s campaign, Inquiry and Impact.
As these stories show, faculty, students, and alumni are each essential and valued members of our community. Given our core mission of providing the context and resources for outstanding scholarly work and pedagogy, and now officially several months into my role as dean, I am honored to work with each of you to achieve the goals we have already set for ourselves and to define new ones that will expand and evolve our scholarship for generations to come.
I invite you to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news of research findings, events, and other accomplishments.
With best wishes,
Amanda Woodward
Dean, Division of the Social Sciences
William S. Gray Distinguished Service Professor of Psychology
