About
Chair of the Department of Sociology
Welcome to Sociology
The sociology department at McMaster University is a community that values an understanding of the social world and all its structures, institutions, and social processes. We care deeply about the social inequalities that we see in the world around us, and we want to better understand how these inequalities are maintained and reproduced. We use a range of theoretical perspectives and empirical research methods in order to deepen our knowledge about the social world.
Our faculty have a range of expertise that span numerous subfields of sociology. Please visit our research page to see some examples of the work that we do. Our graduate students are doing excellent work as well, making unique contributions to the discipline. And our undergraduate students are passionate about their learning. I am often moved by their hard work, energy, and the caring they bring into the classroom.
Tina Fetner, Chair of the Department of Sociology
Karen Robson, Acting Chair, 2024-2025
Our Location
Department of Sociology
Kenneth Taylor Hall, 627
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
L8S 4M4
Contact Information
General Inquiries:
Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 23613
Email: sociology@mcmaster.ca
Office Hours
Monday – Friday:
9:00AM – 12:00PM & 1:00PM – 4:00PM
Administrative Contacts
Karen Robson Learn More
Acting Chair, Professor
Kenneth Taylor Hall, 633
Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 23613
Email: klrobson@mcmaster.ca
Marisa Young Learn More
Graduate Chair, Associate Professor, Canada Research Chair in Mental Health and Work-Life Transitions
Kenneth Taylor Hall, 640
Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 23621
Email: myoung@mcmaster.ca
Lina Samuel Learn More
Undergraduate Chair, Associate Professor
Kenneth Taylor Hall, 632
Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 23617
Email: lsamuel@mcmaster.ca
Christine Marits
Academic Department Manager
Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 24484
Email: deptsoc@mcmaster.ca
Corinne Jehle
Administrative Assistant: MA and PhD Program
Kenneth Taylor Hall, 627
Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 23613
Email: socgrad@mcmaster.ca
Colleen Colwell
Undergraduate Administrative Assistant
Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 23613
Email: sociology@mcmaster.ca
Gerald Bierling
Instructional Assistant
Kenneth Taylor Hall, 642 or L.R. Wilson Hall, 1806
Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 26513
Email: bierling@mcmaster.ca
Associated Groups
McMaster Sociology Student Society (Mac Soc) Visit the Mac Sociology Society on Instagram
The Sociology Society is a social group within the Faculty of Social Science. If you’re interested in learning more about Sociology or just want to make friends with people in the program, check us out on social media!
All are welcome on this team, from those interested in executive positions to those keen on being general members! Feel free to email us at sociology@themsss.com.
Lexi Halsey – President
Abigaile Niro – President
Cassandra Soares – Vice President
Molly Bautista – VP of Finance
Gioia Verna – VP of Volunteer Coordinator
Bella Brock – VP of Events
Mandana Jamshidian – VP of Admin
Aesha Patel – VP of Social Media
Chezney Martin – VP of Intersectionality Coordination
Colin Creighton – VP of Student Representatives
Dian (So-Won) Choi – VP of Marketing
McMaster Sociology Grad Caucus
Camden Church – Grad Caucus Chair
Sana Al-Achkar – Grad Committee (MA Rep)
Sarah Masri – Grad Committee (PhD Rep)
Suman Mondal – FSS General Faculty Committee
Camden Church – CUPE 3906 union steward
Archana Raguparan – CUPE 3906 union steward
Pratham Satoskar – CUPE 3906 union steward
Mehran Shamit – Selection Committee
Daniah Kolur – Tenure & Promotion
Samuel Hartling – Research Ethics Committee (MA Rep)
Sophia Pacini – Research Ethics Committee (PhD Rep)
Suman Mondal – Student Workshop Committee
Nicole McNair – Student Workshop Committee
Krystene Green – Social Committee
Samuel Hartling – Social Committee
Camden Church – Brown Bag Lunch Series Committee
Suman Mondal – Brown Bag Lunch Series Committee
Shaunette George – UG Relations Committee
Nicole McNair – UG Relations Committee
Pratham Satoskar – UG Relations Committee
Roniksha Kumar – Sociology Equity Committee
Akke Englund – Sociology Equity Committee
Nicole McNair – Sociology Equity Committee