Student Organizations

Each year, the department selects engaged students to serve as Student Ambassadors for our academic programs, representing the department at events and helping to plan career and social events. These student leaders are also instrumental in helping incoming students make a successful transition, by serving as Peer Mentors for departmental Living Learning Programs and our First Time First Year Criminology, Sociology, and Anthropology majors. 

In 1920, University of Southern California sociologist Dr. Emory S. Bogardus founded Alpha Kappa Delta for the purposes of stimulating scholarship and promoting the scientific study of society. Bogardus’ impetus in establishing this organization was to provide a forum for student and faculty interchange. His endeavor paved the way for what has become an international organization dedicated to promoting, facilitating, and recognizing academic scholarship. As we enter the 21st century, Alpha Kappa Delta is an integral part of many Sociology programs and is proud to acknowledge that in the past eight decades, over 80,000 scholars have been initiated into the Society. More than 490 chapters have been chartered in the United States, Canada, China, Finland, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Singapore. 

Recruitment for new initiates occurs early in the spring term, and those students are initiated at an event in early April. For more information, contact our Operations Specialist Ryan Roark at ryan.roark@wku.edu.

An organization for students majoring, minoring, or interested in the field of anthropology. Active membership in the organization is established through regular attendance at biweekly meetings and participation in club activities. The Anthropology Club is run by four officers, whose positions are filled annually, and the faculty advisor is Dr. Darlene Applegate. The goals of the Anthropology Club are to promote the discipline of anthropology, increase understanding of the field, provide opportunities for members to learn about anthropology outside the classroom, and develop contacts with the professional community. These goals are accomplished through activities including guest speakers, movie nights, volunteer and community service projects, field trips, and attendance at professional anthropological meetings.

The local chapter of the national anthropology honorary. Membership is open to students who meet certain credit hour and grade point average requirements. The faculty advisor is Dr. Kate Hudepohl. One of the many benefits of joining Lambda Alpha is scholarship opportunities. The national organization acknowledges the academic achievements of its members by sponsoring annual scholarships, which several WKU students have won.