Jaclyn Wong, sociology undergraduate, is the 2010-11 recipient of the Carole Creek Bailey Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Sociology. Established in 2008 with a generous donation from the late Carole Creek Bailey, a former Capistrano Unified School District employee, the $1,000 prize recognizes Wong for her academic excellence and promise as a community leader.  Below, find out more about Wong's path to UCI, campus activities and future plans.

Name: Jaclyn Wong
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Major: sociology
Awards: Carole Creek Bailey Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Sociology; Robin Williams, Jr. Award for Best Undergraduate Sociology Paper; Phi Beta Kappa
Most likely place to find Jaclyn on campus (when she’s not studying abroad in Hong Kong): Working at Tech Services at the UCI Bookstore
Best UCI memory: Studying abroad in Hong Kong

Why did you choose UCI?
My family makes annual road trips to Southern California, and I have always enjoyed the weather and the relaxed atmosphere.  When it came time to choose a college, I wanted to make sure I chose a location where I felt I would be able to live happily for next few years.  I visited San Diego, Santa Barbara, and several other places, but none of the locations really stood out to me.  When I came to UC Irvine, I just felt at home.  Once here, I fell in love with the campus, especially Aldrich Park.

What interests you most about your major in sociology?
Growing up as a Chinese-American in a diverse city inspired me to try understanding multiple worldviews in order to understand social inequality.  After taking Sociology of Gender with Marnie Dobson, sociology seemed a good fit for my interests.  I have pursued research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program and the Sociology Honors Program on gender and social inequality.  My first paper was about the returns to physical attractiveness, and my current project is about inequality in interracial marriages.

What do you plan to do after finishing your degree?
I’d like to go to graduate school, earn a Ph.D., move back to the Bay Area, and continue researching gender and inequality.