Past SSSP Virtual Events

Virtual Town Hall Meeting

The 2026 Program Committee invites you to join us for our inaugural Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, July 28 from 1:00–2:30 pm (Eastern Time).

We are pleased to offer this opportunity for our members who are unable to attend the annual meeting in New York City to participate in a conversation about our Society. A panel representing our diverse membership (academics, practitioners, students, international members, and others) will share their perspectives on the topics below, and we invite you to join the conversation.

Because SSSP-hosted virtual events are offered as a member benefit, all participants – including speakers and attendees – must be 2026 SSSP members and register for the event.

All members are welcome – we hope to see you there!

Topics/Themes

  • Revisit the historical foundations and core values of SSSP with a focus on scholarship, teaching, and service in the pursuit of social justice
  • Identify current challenges facing SSSP, higher education, scholar-activists, teacher-activists, and community organizers
  • Explore ideas for strengthening SSSP – building power and solidarity through our various networks – to better serve our communities (inside and outside of academia and across academic disciplines) and enact our values

Speakers

  • Dr. Sarah Jane Brubaker, Virginia Commonwealth University
    (President)
  • Dr. Clare E. B. Cannon, University of California, Davis
    (Vice-President and Chair, Committee on Social Action)
  • Dr. Elroi J. Windsor, University of West Georgia
    (Executive Officer)
  • Dr. Jean Beaman, CUNY Graduate Center
  • Dr. Mary Romero, Professor Emerita, Arizona State University
  • Dr. Assata Zerai, The University of New Mexico

Pre-Conference Discussion of the Anti-Harassment Policy (registration deadline: July 10)

The SSSP Anti-Harassment Committee invites members to participate in one of two virtual discussion sessions prior to the 2026 Annual Meeting.

Participants will:

  • Learn about the SSSP Anti-Harassment Policy and reporting process
  • Explore bystander/upstander responses and basic principles of advocacy
  • Discuss scenarios involving harassing behaviors
  • Develop strategies to prevent and respond to harassment

All participants – including speakers and attendees – must be 2026 SSSP members and register for the event.

Session Options

Attendees will receive a sticker for their conference badge and be recognized on the SSSP website as members familiar with the policy and available for consultation.

Contact Anti-Harassment Committee Chair Michelle Gotto with any questions at michelle.gotto@case.edu.

Register by July 10

Ongoing Virtual Event – Tuesdays: Working/Writing Groups

SSSP is excited to offer online working/writing groups for members to foster a continuous workspace for those who need it. Each session includes:

  • 15-minute check-in to set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound)
  • 1 hour and 30 minutes of writing
  • 15-minute check-out to share progress

These working groups are open to all post-docs and faculty and will be held on Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. ET, starting Tuesday, February 17.

For questions, please contact Dr. Jalia L. Joseph at Josep2JL@jmu.edu. Hope to see you there.

As a benefit for all 2026 SSSP members, you will be required to log in using your e-mail and password to obtain the Zoom details. Click here if you need to renew.

No RSVP is required – the event is open to all post-docs and faculty SSSP Members. View the flyer.

Sponsored by the SSSP Membership & Outreach Committee

Level Up Your Conference Game: Preparing for the SSSP Annual Meeting

Please join us for an upcoming webinar designed to help sociology students prepare for the SSSP Annual Meeting on April 22, 2026, from 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. ET. This session will provide practical guidance on how to turn your research into a compelling presentation and confidently navigate the conference experience. Please see the flyer for additional details and feel free to contact me at rmallick1@student.gsu.edu with any questions.
 
What We Offer:
  • Strategic guidance on preparing for the Annual Meeting, from submissions to scheduling your time
  • Tips for developing a clear and engaging 12–15 minute conference presentation
  • Support in crafting a strong elevator pitch and introducing your work with confidence
  • Practical networking strategies to help you build connections and collaborations
  • Insight into leveraging SSSP opportunities for your academic and professional development

Because SSSP-hosted virtual events are offered as a member benefit, all participants – including presenters and attendees – must be 2026 SSSP members and register for the event.

Note: This webinar will not be recorded, but presentation materials and resources will be shared with all registered participants. 

Graduate Student Virtual Writing Marathon

Please save the date for our upcoming Virtual Writing Marathon on April 15, 2026, from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. ET! This session will provide a dedicated, distraction-free writing space where you can work alongside fellow students with accountability check-ins every hour. Please see the flyer for additional details and feel free to contact me at rmallick1@student.gsu.edu with any questions.

What We Offer:

· A distraction-free space and focused writing time

· Peer support and community building

· Check-ins and accountability

SSSP Virtual Poster Mini-Conference

The Program Committee is pleased to announce our first Virtual Poster Mini-Conference, to be held March 27, 2026 from 2:00-4:00 (Eastern Time).

We have heard from so many of our members who would like more virtual events to increase professional development, networking, and collaboration opportunities among our members who are not able to attend the in-person meeting, so we hope that this is a positive step in that direction.

Because SSSP-hosted virtual events are offered as a member benefit, all participants – including presenters and attendees – must be 2026 SSSP members and register for the event. View the flyer.

For questions, please contact Dr. Atticus M. Wolfe, Program Committee at awolfe@agnesscott.edu.

View the Conference Program (Last Updated: 3/17/26). Read more about the critical scholarship presented and view the posters. 

Student Virtual Holiday Social

Join us for a special holiday social presented by the ASA Student Forum Advisory Board (SFAB) and the SSSP Student Board of Directors. Meet new people, play games, and share your New Year's gratitude. Join us January 7, 2026, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). Register now. View the flyer.

Stage-Ready: A Graduate Student’s Guide to Job Talks & Teaching Demos

Wednesday, November 19 | 3:30–5:00 p.m. (ET)
 
Are you preparing for the academic job market? Don’t miss this interactive session designed to help graduate students navigate the crucial components of the hiring process — job talks and teaching demonstrations!

Our distinguished panelists will share practical insights, strategies, and personal experiences to help you shine during interviews:
  • Dr. Janelle M. Pham, Oglethorpe University
  • Dr. Brittney Miles, University of Illinois–Urbana Champaign
  • Dr. Luke Russell, Illinois State University
This event is part of SSSP’s ongoing professional development series supporting members year-round. Register here. View the flyer.

Virtual Webinar for SSSP Members: Panel on Publishing

We are excited to invite you to a Virtual Webinar: Panel on Publishing on Tuesday, November 11, from 12:00pm–1:30pm (Eastern Time). This event will be moderated by Program Chair Hadi Khoshneviss and is sponsored by the Program Committee.

This event will engage with the process of publishing from finding a topic and the writing process to the selection of the outlet, submission, and editorial decisions. The panelists have a strong record in publishing academic papers, book chapters, and books. This panel is a part of SSSP’s initiative to engage with the members at different levels throughout their membership year and prior to our annual conference in New York City.

Panelists:

  • Dr. Dr. Sameera V. Akella, Assistant Professor Sociology, Stonehill College
  • Dr. Michel Estefan, Associate Professor of Teaching, University of California San Diego
  • Dr. Fae Chubin, Assistant Teaching Professor of Sociology, University of Tampa
  • Dr. hephzibah v. strmic-pawl, Doctoral Lecturer of Social Science, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY

We hope you will join us for this valuable conversation. Click here to register.

You can also view the flyer here.

We look forward to connecting with you at this exciting event and continuing to support our members in their professional journeys.

Write On! Virtual Writing Marathon

Please save the date for our upcoming Virtual Writing Marathon on November 10, 2025, from 10AM-1PM ET! This session will provide a dedicated, distraction-free writing space where you can work alongside fellow students with accountability check-ins every hour. Please see the attached flyer for additional details, and feel free to contact me at rmallick1@student.gsu.edu with any questions.

What We Offer:

  • A 30-minute Academic Writing Insights session with Dr. Sarah Jane Brubaker, President of SSSP
  • A distraction-free space and focused writing time
  • Peer support and community building
  • Check-ins and accountability

When: Monday, November 10, 2025; 10AM-1PM ET

Where: Webex

Sponsored by the SSSP Student Representatives, Board of Directors

RSVP is not required; the event is open to all current SSSP Student Members.

Virtual Webinar for SSSP Members: Navigating the Job Market

We are excited to invite you to a Virtual Webinar: Navigating the Job Market on Monday, September 15, from 12:00pm–2:00pm (Eastern Time), moderated by Executive Officer Elroi J. Windsor. This event kicks off a series of virtual events sponsored by the Membership & Outreach Committee.

The first event will feature panelists from diverse institutions who have experience working (and hiring) in both academic and applied positions. They will share strategies, insights, and advice on navigating today’s job market. Bring you questions and take advantage of this opportunity to learn from their experiences.

Panelists:

  • Dr. Kristen M. Budd, Senior Research Analyst, The Sentencing Project
  • Dr. Hadi Khoshnevis, Associate Professor of Sociology, Rhodes College
  • Dr. Kayla M. Martensen, Assistant Professor of Criminology, University of New Mexico
  • Dr. Myron T. Strong, Associate Professor of Sociology, Community College of Baltimore County

We hope you will join us for this valuable conversation. Click here to register.

You can also view the flyer here.

We look forward to connecting with you at this exciting event and continuing to support our members in their professional journeys.

Travel Support - Know Your Rights When Dealing with ICE

If you are a registered annual meeting attendee and were unable to attend the SSSP Travel Support Session on July 29th, reach out to the Administrative Office at sssp@utk.edu to request pertinent travel information.

Co-Sponsored Virtual Events: SSSP and ABS - March 25, 2025

The Executive Officers of the Association of Black Sociologists and the Society for the Study of Social Problems invite our members to attend a discussion on “The State of the State.” 

This is an open and informal event for our members to gather to discuss what’s happening to sociologists and critical scholars on national, state, and local levels. We hope this event provides an opportunity to strategize and identify priorities in organizing future events that resource us as we proactively navigate this rapidly changing climate. We are organizing this virtual event to hold space to discuss ongoing challenges we are facing in our communities, including:

  • Attacks on DEI initiatives, sociology and social justice curricula, and higher education as a whole
  • Policing of undocumented students and workers, and surveillance of all immigrants
  • Racist hostilities toward BIPOC students, workers, and scholars
  • Legislation erasing trans people’s existence
  • Disappearing federal grants and databases

Learn more about the event and register.

SSSP Pre-Conference Discussion of the Anti-Harassment Policy

The anti-harassment committee is hosting two virtual discussion sessions this summer in preparation for our annual meeting. Members will discuss the SSSP anti-harassment policy and reporting process and participants will learn about bystander/upstander responses and basic principles of advocacy. Participants will consider various scenarios of harassing behaviors and will work together to develop strategies to both prevent and respond to forms of harassment.

Attendees will receive a sticker to wear on their conference badge and be listed on the website as members who are familiar with the policy and available for consultation.

Please contact the Anti-Harassment Committee Chair, Sarah Jane Brubaker, with any questions at sbrubaker@vcu.edu.

Session Options:

  • Tuesday, July 9, 2024 12:00-2:00 PM EDT
  • Wednesday, July 24, 2024 3:00-5:00 PM EDT

Tri-Sponsored Virtual Social Hour

On July 12, 2023 ABS, SSSP, and SWS hosted a tri-sponsored virtual social hour. The goal for the conversation was to highlight the synergy/collaborative spirit across the three organizations to set the path for future collaborations. This event served as a space for members from all three organizations to get to know each other, learn more about the organizations, and make some connections before getting together in Philadelphia for the August meetings. 

Please find the flyer here.

Lessons Learned in Navigating the Applied Workplace! 

On December 6, 2022 SWS organized a panel and discussion, Lessons Learned in Navigating the Applied Workplace, in collaboration with SSSP, ASA, SPPS, and AACS.  

The webinar was part of a three part series to collectively promote and support the work of applied sociologists!

Reimagining Our Worlds from Below: Transnational Conversations on Resistance, Movements and Transformation

The Covid-19 pandemic has made more evident persistent, systemic inequalities that are rooted in and shaped by ideological, economic, political, social, and cultural structures. However, there are other transnational concerns that exacerbate these inequalities, including dwindling natural resources, expanding conflicts, increasing authoritarianism, and widening wealth gaps. Amid all these, a deeper awareness of the damage of colonial and imperialistic histories are emerging, making obvious that Western/Euro/American-centric solutions are no longer viable, and are, in fact, sources of social problems.

In response to the challenges these inequalities pose, the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) hosted a free virtual international conference in May 2022.  The virtual conference included ten panels with over 40 presenters from across the globe. The keynote roundtable, entitled Constructing Common Ground and Transformative Pathways Through Decolonial Methodologies and Pedagogies featured scholars discussing decolonizing academia through research and classroom practices. Access full recordings of all conference panels and sessions here.