Four Sociology graduates converge upon D.C. with their friendship and A&M roots

Clockwise from Left: Rachel Cortes, Christine Guarneri, Lindsay Howden and Bethany DeSalvo

This fall, four graduate students from the Department of Sociology find themselves in our nation’s capital with a daunting mission: help count every human being in America. However, the four women – Christine Guarneri, Bethany DeSalvo, Rachel Cortes, and Lindsay Howden – embark upon this journey working for the U.S. Census Bureau with confidence because of the academic and life tools they have acquired at Texas A&M.

The journey begins in Aggieland

These scholars come from different undergraduate programs throughout the country, but were all attracted to A&M’s sociology graduate program for its friendly environment and academic reputation.

“I had applied to a few schools, but had not yet found a graduate program that was a good fit for me until one of my undergraduate professors mentioned the Pathways Fellowship program at Texas A&M,” said Lindsay Howden. “At my professor’s urging, I applied for the program and was awarded a fellowship to work with Mark Fossett.”

By anyone’s standards, graduate school is not made for the faint of heart. The demanding course load is enough to make even the most erudite student quiver. Still, a program with a supportive group of faculty and students can make the academic trek to a PhD relatively pain free.

“The past four years have been wonderful – difficult, but wonderful,” said Christine Guarneri. “But what makes them wonderful is that I can look back and actually see how much I learned.”

Mentorship is at the heart of it all

(L) Rachel and (R) Bethany

Demography is the focus of all four women’s research. Their dissertations range from examining infant mortality in the United States to how likely a woman with significant risk factors is to seek testing for HIV. What unites these Aggies, though, is their admiration for mentor Dudley Poston, professor of sociology and Abell Professor of Liberal Arts. All four count him as one of the guiding forces behind their current jobs at the census bureau and, more affectionately, as a friend.

“As a mentor he is caring and understanding. He doesn’t impose impossible deadlines or tasks. He is always available when you need him. He returns my work with helpful and insightful feedback,” said Rachel Cortes. “I hope that in my career I can inspire people as Dr. Poston has inspired me.”

Preparation and hard work meet at the U.S. Census Bureau

Lindsay, Bethany, Rachel, and Christine at the U.S. Census Bureau

To say that the U.S. Census will be of much importance this time next year is an understatement. Historically, the results of this massive undertaking have had a major effect in redistricting and funding distribution amongst states, motivating members from both of our nation’s political parties to manipulate the data in their favor. These issues are compounded by changes in technology, the political climate, and pubic opinions.

Still, these problems aren’t new to the bureau, and the federal department is tackling these challenges by implementing several new strategies that included recruiting a group of bright Aggies for the job.

Howden, who is working for the Age and Special Population Branch, says she feels that her coursework at A&M has prepared her for collecting data related to the age and sex distribution of the United States.

“The department has a strong program in statistics and research methods, providing the key skills necessary that can be applied in a number of ways,” she said.

Guarneri works in the Population Projections Branch, where she will take data from each decennial census and use it to predict how the population may look in the future. She believes that the classes in demography, in addition to the opportunity to teach both introduction to sociology and advanced methods of social research at A&M, have made the transition from academia to a job in applied demography rather smooth.

“I knew I wanted a job that felt as if it mattered, where the work I did helped people in some way,” she said. “The Census Bureau seemed the perfect fit.”

Rachel Cortes works as a statistician in the Population Division of the Immigration Statistics Staff (ISS), a large branch of the bureau that reports, through estimation and description, on the foreign-born population of the U.S.

Bethany DeSalvo finds herself working two jobs while in Washington D.C. In addition to her focus on methodology research and development at the bureau, she is also teaching an introduction to sociology course at Towson University.

Friendships are what matters in the end

(L) Christine and (R) Lindsay

Washington D.C. may seem further away from home when wandering the city alone for the first time, but the connection Christine, Bethany, Lindsay, and Rachel made back in College Station has eased the homesickness a bit.

“I’m very thankful that I came to the census bureau with Christine, Bethany and Lindsay,” said Rachel Cortes.“I appreciate having friends here to spend time with at and outside of work.”

Indeed, the collegial atmosphere in the sociology department at Texas A&M laid the foundation for the personal bonds between these four women.

“Our advisors created an environment where people are able to be supportive, rather than competitive, with one another,” said DeSalvo. “This allowed the four of us to create a respect and friendship revolving around our mutual interest in demography.”

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Contact: Tiffany Neal, varsitycolt@libarts.tamu.edu, 979.862.4879