Dr. Matthew Oware | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Full Professor at University of Richmond | United States

Dr. Matthew Oware is a distinguished Full Professor of Sociology at the University of Richmond, recognized for his influential contributions to the social sciences, particularly in the areas of race, gender, popular culture, and the sociology of the Black family. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Indiana University, Bloomington, and has since developed a strong academic profile marked by publications, public engagement, and teaching excellence. His professional experience spans years of research and teaching, with a focus on examining how hip hop and rap music function as cultural spaces for exploring racial identity, masculinity, and multiracial experiences. He has authored the widely cited monograph I Got Something to Say: Gender, Race, and Social Consciousness in Rap Music and has published in reputed journals such as the Journal of Black Studies, Journal of African American Studies, Poetics, Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, and Children and Youth Services Review. His research interests include race, popular culture, gender, masculinities, multiracial identity, and the Black family, with particular attention to how these themes manifest in cultural production and social consciousness. He is skilled in qualitative analysis, critical theory, and cultural sociology, applying these approaches to generate impactful insights that bridge academic and public discourse. In addition to scholarly journals, his work has reached broader audiences through contributions to outlets like Newsweek, CNN, and The Conversation. Dr. Matthew Oware’s academic impact is reflected in his research metrics, with 2 citations by 2 documents, 4 documents published, and an h-index of 1, demonstrating an emerging but meaningful presence in sociological research. His professional service includes active membership in the American Sociological Association, and he is widely recognized for mentoring students and contributing to public dialogue on race and culture. Overall, Dr. Matthew Oware’s career reflects deep scholarly commitment, public engagement, and leadership potential, making him a deserving figure whose future research promises to expand the global impact of social sciences.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications:

Oware, M. (2018). I got something to say: Gender, race, and social consciousness in rap music. Palgrave Macmillan.

Oware, M. (n.d.). Race and space in rap: Conceptions of (multi)racial identity and urban life in rap music. Journal of Arts and Urban Development.

Oware, M. (n.d.). Rap music and the construction of Black masculinities. Journal of Black Studies.

Oware, M. (n.d.). Multiracial identity in hip hop culture: Performing difference and belonging. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity.

Oware, M. (n.d.). Youth, race, and resistance in hip hop narratives. Children and Youth Services Review.

Prof. Laurence Kaufmann | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Full Professor at University of Lausanne | Switzerland

Prof. Laurence Kaufmann, a highly accomplished scholar in the field of social sciences, currently serves as a Full Professor of sociology of communication and culture at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and is also an Associate Researcher at the Centre d’études des mouvements sociaux, EHESS, Paris. She earned her Ph.D. in Social Sciences with highest honors from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris, and the University of Lausanne, followed by postdoctoral fellowships at prestigious institutions including the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Michigan, and Harvard University, which enriched her expertise in linguistics, philosophy, cognitive science, and sociology. Her professional career reflects a deep engagement with the study of public opinion, collective emotions, social cognition, and the sociology of communication, as evidenced by her leadership in numerous Swiss National Science Foundation projects on themes such as pandemics, social interaction, and collective identities. Prof. Laurence Kaufmann’s research interests span phenomenology, normativity, political sociology, and the cognitive foundations of social life, combining empirical studies with theoretical innovation. She possesses advanced research skills in interdisciplinary methods, qualitative and discourse analysis, and the integration of social theory with cognitive science. With 392 citations by 285 documents, 32 publications, and an h-index of 10, her academic impact is notable, further strengthened by her extensive contributions to top journals including Sociological Theory, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Cultural Sociology, and Revue française de sociologie, along with edited volumes and monographs that have shaped contemporary debates on society and culture. Recognized for her leadership in international collaborations and for fostering intellectual exchange across disciplines, she continues to advance critical inquiry into how collective experiences and public spheres are constituted. In conclusion, Prof. Laurence Kaufmann’s distinguished career, scholarly excellence, and leadership in advancing innovative and impactful research make her highly deserving of recognition, as her contributions have significantly enriched sociology and continue to influence global discussions on communication, cognition, and the social imagination.

Profile: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications:

Kaufmann, L. (2025). Discovering society, inventing sociology: Sieyès and the revolutionary origins of the sciences of society. Sociological Theory.
Kaufmann, L. (2023). La quadrature du cercle: Commun, communauté et immunité. Revue du Mauss.
Kaufmann, L. (2020). Processus sociaux et types d’interaction, Pierre Livet et Bernard Conein. Paris: Hermann.

RECOMMENDED

Mail us