The Sociology Department is pleased to announce that Professor Hae Yeon Choo is the recipient of the 2021 Jeanette Wright Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentorship. This award is “offered to a current faculty member in the Department of Sociology who has demonstrated excellence in mentoring sociology graduate students” and who is “active in supervising and/or mentoring graduate students.”
Professor Choo is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on the topics of gender, citizenship, transnational migration, and urban sociology to examine global social inequality.
This year, eight students wrote nomination letters for Professor Choo. In these letters, students expressed their appreciation for her perceptiveness and thoughtful concern for their needs. These valuable character traits made her classes feel welcoming and enjoyable. Students also described Professor Choo as a "gifted connector" as she made consistent efforts to "put them in touch with other students who share their interests and introducing them to faculty within and outside our department". As a mentor, Professor Choo taught important skills to her students such as student professionalization, lecturing, and organizing and promoting events.
Professor Choo's name will be added to the Jeannette Wright plaque next to room 240 once on-campus activity resumes. Congratulations, Professor Choo, and thanks for your dedication and commitment to mentoring graduate students!