Welcoming new faculty to the department



UBC Sociology welcomed three new faculty members in 2020. While they started in tumultuous times, we are looking forward to seeing more of them in 2021. Learn more about their research and teaching here.

Associate Professor Kimberly Huyser

Kimberly Huyser is a new Associate Professor in the department. She is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and grew up on the Navajo reservation in Arizona, USA. Through her research, she seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the social conditions that undermine health. Her research also works to identify the cultural and social resources leveraged by racial and ethnic groups that further their individual and collective health and well-being. Her current and future research contributes to understanding the social determinants of health problems faced by Indigenous peoples. About her move to Vancouver, Kimberly says, “I am excited to explore Vancouver and learn about what it holds by both mountain and sea. There are many opportunities to explore new hobbies that were not available in other places that I have lived.”

Assistant Professor Tony Silva

Tony Silva is a new Assistant Professor in the department. Tony’s research examines how social contexts affect how individuals understand their sexuality and gender, particularly when there is behaviour-identity discordance. His book, Still Straight: Sexual Flexibility among White Men in Rural America, will be released in March. In another line of research, Tony studies the demographic characteristics of adults in romantic partnerships with large age gaps, as well as the identities associated with these partnerships. Tony also finds time to get outside. As he says, “In my spare time, I enjoy hiking in the beautiful mountains of western Canada.”

Assistant Professor Michela Musto

Michela Musto is a new Assistant Professor. Michela is working on a book manuscript, tentatively titled Boys Will Be Boys, which examines the social construction of exceptionalism in early adolescence. She explains how students gradually learned to perceive affluent, White boys as the most exceptional ones in the school – not only in comparison to girls but also in comparison to Asian American and Latinx boys. Her other research examines girls’ and women’s advancement into the historically male-dominated fields of sport and STEM. It is challenging moving to a new city in the middle of a pandemic, but Michela is still enjoying it: “So far, one of my favourite parts of living in Vancouver is taking long walks along the sea wall with my dog, Pita.”