Before returning to school full-time, Jessica worked for fourteen years in public health in state, federal, and nonprofit roles. Jessica holds a Master of Public Administration from Western Michigan University and a Master of Science in Anthrozoology from Canisius College. She has published in the areas of disaster preparedness for companion animals and the grieving processes of animal shelter employees. Her main sociological interest is animals and society, and she is also interested in natural disasters, women in gaming, and qualitative methods.

Jake studies urban and medical sociology; and he is particularly interested in neighborhood health disparities and social change. As an instructor and teaching assistant, Jake seeks to challenge students to analyze society using new perspectives and develop a passion for just learning and testing new ideas. Jake has taught a wide variety of Sociology courses for undergrads at two different institutions. 

Jax J. Gonzalez received their Masters in Sociology and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality studies at Brandeis University in 2016. As a first-generation college student and queer activist interested in personal identity at the intersection of education, embodiment, and health; their research project came about as a concern with examining how adolescents are socialized in the classroom to understand their bodies. Their current projects surround queering menstruation, transgender teens and their families, the impact of educator subjectivities in elementary school health curricula and how educators manage “teaching the taboo.”

Aubrey graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology from Portland State University in 2014. Her research interests include medical sociology, health disparities, aging, and end-of-life care. Her current research in Colorado focuses on the newly legalized Colorado End of Life Options Act. She has taught classes on both gender and statistics and hopes to develop her own Sociology of Death and Dying course in the future. 

Tara is passionate about working with undergraduate students, and helping to make the university a better place. Academically she loves pursuing both sociological research and teaching. Tara has TA-ed for courses ranging from Statistics to Race and Ethnicity, and also has taught dating violence prevention curriculum at Juvenile Detention Centers and high schools. She has published some of her research related to Campus Sexual Assault, and relevant universities policies. When she is not on campus, you can likely find Tara in the mountains: climbing, skiing, or camping.