Sociology and Anthropology Department

Liberty Hall Ruins

The faculty in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology has a combined interest in culture and society. Because the world in which we live is so diverse and interconnected, our mission is to empower students to examine their own lives and values in the context of many different societies, including our own, to develop understandings of cultural variation.

In teaching about what it means to be human, we offer a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies through which students learn about social interaction and cultural practices. Our students acquire advanced skills of critical thinking, precise writing, and well-informed interaction with diverse communities. These abilities are extraordinarily helpful in a variety of career choices, including business, law, the health professions, and graduate school.

Student Outcomes

Danika Brockman '21

Danika Brockman '21

Danika Brockman '21

"My SOAN classes taught me about the process of statistical research, the theory surrounding it and the practice of such research."

Read Danika's Story

Department Info

  • Newcomb Hall
    Washington and Lee University
    Lexington, Virginia 24450

Jon Eastwood

Department Head

Melissa Gualtieri

Administrative Assistant

Feature Stories


Twelve W&L Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships to Study Abroad

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Candice Robinson Co-Authors Book About the Sociology of Cardi-B

The assistant professor of sociology explores Black femininity through a contemporary perspective.

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Lawyer and Historian Paul Lombardo to Deliver Lecture on Buck v. Priddy Court Case

The Nov. 18 lecture is open to the public and marks the centenary of the case argued in Amherst County, Virginia.

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