Career Journeys featuring Dr. Alexandra (Alex) Hrycak, Associate Professor of Sociology &
Dr. Bruce Smith, Associate Dean of Students for Student and Campus Life
12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, September 28
Gray Lounge, Kaul Auditorium
RSVP REQUIRED by Tuesday, September 27, 2 p.m. FIRM

Some people plan their lives; others find their way as they go...

Welcome to Career Journeys, a periodic program cosponsored by career services and the multicultural resource center (MRC). Faculty members speak about the paths they take, sharing their aspirations, discoveries, and inspirations along the way. Hearing from others about how their lives and work unfolded can motivate, inform, and encourage you. Please join us for lunch!

For this session, we are proud to present....the lives and work of Dr. Alexandra (Alex) Hrycak, Associate Professor of Sociology and Dr. Bruce Smith, Associate Dean of Students for Student and Campus Life.

Alexandra Hrycak (Ph.D., University of Chicago) joined the Department of Sociology at Reed College in 1998. She teaches courses on social movements, political sociology, feminist activism, the sociology of culture, and the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. Her research investigates the role women have played as activists in the democratization of post-communist countries, Ukraine in particular.  Her work has appeared in a range of journals including the American Journal of Sociology, East European Politics and Societies, Women's Studies Quarterly, Problems of Post-Communism. She also has contributed to a number of edited collections on activism and democratization.

Bruce Smith currently is Associate Dean of Students for Student and Campus Life at Reed College and works with students, staff, and faculty to develop co-curicular engagement opportunities to Reed's students and other community members. Prior to this position Bruce was Assistant Dean of Student Services for Inclusion, Engagement, and Success at Reed, where he worked with Reed students, staff, and faculty to encourage the development of inclusive learning communities, as well as programming that challenges community members to reflect on their identities and cultural practices.

Prior to coming to Reed, Bruce was the the Director of the Black/African American Cultural Center at Colorado State University. As Director, Bruce and the staff at B/AACC work to represent the needs of Black students, developing programming that encourages student empowerment, agency, and engagement with the University and the community.

Formerly, Bruce was Director of African American Student Affairs, in the office of Multicultural Affairs and Student Success at the University of Arizona. Dr. Smith served in this position beginning in the summer of 2007 and built programming that moves forward the diversity agenda of the University. Prior to being named Director of AASA, Bruce worked in University College as Coordinator of Academic Support for the UA Football team, from 2004-2007. Bruce came to Arizona from the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a PhD in Language, Literacy, Culture, and Society. While at Berkeley, Bruce taught several courses in the School of Education and worked with collegiate athletes as a Student Affairs Officer III. After completing a BA in American Civilization from Brown University in 1993, Bruce’s career in education began as a high school English teacher in Providence, RI. Bruce went on to work in high schools in both Providence and Los Angeles. Bruce’s family includes his wife Melinda (Arizona ’93) and their 2 sons, Max and Taj.