One of the most notable aspects of 2021 was the return to in-person events and classes after a year of online learning. We hosted an outdoor museum exhibit pop-up in April, the HCON historical costume contest and spring course preview party in October, and our bi-annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in December. (Check out our 2021 Year in Photos to see more.)

Professor Hanchao Lu took the reigns as Interim Chair for the School of History and Sociology in the summer, and we held a virtual Fall Faculty Speaker Series with presentations from Professor Kristie Macrakis, Assistant Professor Germán Vergara, Professor Douglas Flamming, and Associate Professor Carla Gerona in the fall. Then, our holiday reception brought together faculty, staff, and Ph.D. students to celebrate the end of a hard year's work.

And there was certainly a lot to celebrate this year. Ph.D. student Alejandra Ruiz León, Associate Professor Sherie Randolph, and Associate Professor Jennifer Singh were recognized as Georgia Tech 2021 Faces of Inclusive Excellence. Associate Professor Johnny Smith's book Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X was adapted into a Netflix documentary, and we were proud to cheer on 26 graduating students at the spring and fall Commencement ceremonies. Senior Academic Professional Amy D'Unger also celebrated her father's life and passion for sci-fi by donating his book collection to the Georgia Tech library. 

Finally, our faculty shared their expertise far and wide this year with articles, quotes, and coverage in The New York Times, WABE, The Guardian, the AJC, Savannah Morning News, Easy Reader, CNN, Advanced Science News, CNYCentral, Bloomberg Businessweek, 19News, Smithsonian, and NPR.

On our website, the most read featured person profiles in 2021 were 2017 alum Emily Gibson Blevins and fourth-year student Yihua Xu. The most popular stories from the year were:

1. Interdisciplinary Team Awarded $1 Million NSF Grant for Youth Advocacy and Disaster Resilience
2. In the Conversation About Redlining, Details Matter
3. Interactive Autism Services Map Shows Inequality, Helps Georgians Find the Services They Need
4. Why Covid Conspiracy Theories Spread: Understanding the Human Behaviors Behind the Pandemic
5. Georgia Tech Study Finds More SNAP Retailers in Rural Areas Lowers Rates of Child Maltreatment
6. Summer YPAR Institute Empowers Youth to Create Change
7. HSOC Student Uses Instagram to Combat Covid-19 Misinformation in Peru
8. Smith’s Book ‘Blood Brothers’ Adapted Into New Netflix Documentary
9. Food Goes Where it's Most Profitable — Even When it's Genetically Engineered
10. 5 Questions With Sports Historian Johnny Smith 

Thank you to all of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the School for another fantastic year in the School of History and Sociology! We wish you a happy holiday season and a healthy and joyful New Year.

The School of History and Sociology aims to "Explore the Past, Engage the Present, Define the Future." Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram to keep up with our students, school news, and upcoming events.