Washburn Sociology and Anthropology Department

Home
United States
Topeka, KS
Washburn Sociology and Anthropology Department

Call Directions Website Contact the university

to foster understanding of social cultural & biological diversity in the world-past present & future

10/29/2026

🥟🥟Dumpling Alert!!

Students in SO316 East Asia class made gyoza/mandu (dumpling) with pork, beef, and cabbage filling. They were then steamed on the spot.

The students also made inarizushi/yubuchobap which is a vinegared sushi rice stuffed inside marinated fried bean curd (yubu) pockets!

One of the many advantages of learning about food & culture with Dr. Park is that you are always well-fed (the SOAN department colleagues enjoy this perk as well).

10/28/2026

Check out the November Bookworm Bods book club book -perfect for Native American Heritage Month; stop by the library to pick up your copy and join the discussion on Nov 22 at 5pm.

About the book:
A young Native girl’s hunt for answers about the women mysteriously disappearing from her tribe’s reservation leads her to delve into the myths and stories of her people, all while being haunted herself, in this atmospheric and stunningly poignant debut.

About the author:
Born in Chicago, Illinois, and a member of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, Nick Medina writes horror, crime, and mystery fiction that pairs social issues with local and Native American folklore.

November's Bookworm Bods selection is "Sisters of the Lost Nation" by Nick Medina. Join the discussion on Sunday, November 22 at 5PM in the library. There will be snacks!

10/28/2026

Sociology graduate Alison Adams is working as a Crime Scene Investigator for the Kansas City Police Department. She is currently completing her yearlong training period.

She says she loves her job - "Every day is different, whether it's due to the variable crime scenes we respond to or even just when we're at the lab on a slow day. We are all passionate about what we do and take it seriously while still having fun and enjoying our job."

She says her sociology degree helps her connect abstract ideas to real-world settings: "My sociology classes assisted me in understanding the people, communities, and crimes that I have encountered. My sociology professors taught me about social divides and theories, which I can draw on when thinking about what I encounter on a crime scene. Those concepts may help me consider the broader context of a crime and better understand the circumstances surrounding it."

We're proud of you, Alison!

Washburn University College of Arts and Sciences
Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation

10/24/2026

Happy Friday! We ended Week 10 with a little friendly atlatl competition; Braxton (Orange shirt) launched spears farther than all of his Introduction to Archaeology classmates, despite their valiant efforts. Until, a passerby, named Kyle, showed up and asked to give it a try…. His slow-mo form tells me he’s done this before! Way to go Kyle, you’ll have to sign for up for AN114 next semester!

10/20/2026

Dr. Jason Miller’s AN300 Nutritional Anthropology class welcomed anthropologist Maria Hicks to class yesterday. Hicks is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in Portland, Oregon who also has a graduate degree in Anthropology. Hicks gave students an overview of Classical Chinese Medicine and its use of food and herbs as medicine.

Accompanying the talk were samples of various foods. Goji berries seemed to be the most popular!

10/16/2026

Check out what Dr. Ibañez’s SO100 students are up to! Do you have a favorite recipe or cookbook that was passed down to you?

10/09/2026

Dr. Ibañez's SO308 Sociology of Mental Health class visited the Mulvane Art Museum, where Director Dr. Sara Stepp led the students through an activity that explored the emotional aspects of artworks on exhibit.

Object-based learning allows students to apply course concepts outside the classroom while stimulating thinking across disciplines.

Washburn University College of Arts and Sciences

10/09/2026

Last Sunday, Dr. Park along with students from Sociology 100 and SO316 East Asia attended a Japan Festival held at Johnson County Community College, which showcased Japanese culture in KC. They got to try traditional games (catching fish) and food (takoyaki) and see a calligraphy performance.

09/30/2026

The Majors & Minors Fair is still going on!! Stop by the Sociology & Anthropology department table until 2pm.

Thank you to our student volunteers: Griffin, Bri, and Ruth (L-R).

And meet one of our new Sociology majors, Eli (on the right)… someone get Eli a department t-shirt, stat! 🧐

PS 🍫🍬How much candy can you causally snag from each department?? Asking for a friend.

09/30/2026

Major or Minor in Anthropology or Sociology! Stop by and see our table at today’s fair in the Memorial Union between 10am and 2pm.

Address

1700 SW College Avenue
Topeka, KS
66621

Telephone

+17856701608

Website

http://www.washburn.edu/anso

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Washburn Sociology and Anthropology Department posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.