MA in Sociology

Samuel Showalter, 2026

Degree: MA in Sociology

As an undergraduate, I did a double major in sociology-anthropology and French. I applied to George Mason in early 2024. I was wrapping up a teaching position in France and, knowing that I was moving to the DMV, I was eager to re-engage with sociology.

I really appreciated the scope of opportunities available at George Mason. I had done my bachelor’s degree at a small, private university, where there really weren’t any opportunities to do research or meet practitioners. The Department of Sociology and Anthropology has provided such a supportive and welcoming environment, and I feel like my professors gave me a lot of great opportunities to grow professionally and academically. On top of that, I think the program’s graduate students really look out for and care for one another. It’s a great environment to be in.

I’ve been drawn to sociology for as long as I can remember. It all started back in high school, when I took it as an elective during my senior year. Since then, I’ve been lucky to consistently have amazing teachers who cultivate my curiosity about the world. Sociology is a beautiful thing. It contains so many perspectives, frameworks, and methodological toolkits that can help us understand this wonderful, chaotic world that we share. I speak Spanish and French, and I’ve always been interested about how our language shapes our social experiences. Sociology gave me the tools that I needed to ask and answer these questions.

My capstone looked at how economic, political, and social issues in Mexico are affecting the country’s youth population and how they think about their futures. This is a tough moment to be a young person—to find meaningful, good-paying work, to build a foundation that can support a family, to retain your sense of value in the face of global challenges. I wanted to understand how these dynamics play out in Mexico. I conducted semi-structured interviews with some really wonderful folks who provided fascinating insights into the challenges facing young Mexicans and the country at-large.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, I found that young Mexicans face significant barriers to their personal and professional success. Factors such as political corruption, gender-based violence, worsening economic conditions, and organized crime have constrained young Mexicans’ ability to feel optimistic for their futures.

Most impactful experience: Without a doubt, it was getting to attend and present at the Eastern Sociological Society’s (ESS) annual meeting in downtown Washington, D.C., with my cohort. This was an opportunity I probably wouldn’t have pursued if Professor Amy Best hadn’t been the ESS President. I presented a term paper that I had written about American and Canadian migration into Mexico’s urban areas. Not only did I get to attend my colleagues’ excellent presentations, but I got some valuable and insightful feedback into my own work that has definitely refined my research interests and goals. I also met some great folks—students and faculty alike—from across the country who have helped give me a greater sense of community and connection.

Advice for future George Mason graduate students: This is a tough moment to live in, let alone to graduate in. There are a million factors working against us, from unfavorable job market conditions to endless threats to our mental health. Despite it all, you persist—and I am proud of you for it. Let yourself celebrate the little victories and mourn the big disappointments. Give yourself the grace you need to persist.

Plans after graduation: My most immediate plan is to take a hard-earned break and spend some time with my family in Kentucky. In the long run, I want to work in policy and research spaces, where I can leverage my research training and academic background to shape conversations around topics like immigration, labor, and economic well-being. I am also considering pursuing a PhD in the future.