This Dean’s Medalist found her place in the bigger picture
T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics Dean’s Medalist Madelyn Forquer found herself drawn to big-picture systems thinking, so she changed her major to sociology. Photo by Meghan Finnerty/ASU
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2026 graduates.
When two people face the same situation but leave with different outcomes, who decides what was fair?
Questions like that pulled Madelyn Forquer toward sociology — a field she hadn’t planned to study when she arrived at Arizona State University.
Originally from Mascoutah, Illinois, Forquer started in international relations, then moved to global health, searching for a path that matched her interest in working with people. The fit came into focus during her first year in a course on the sociology of mental illness.
The class pushed beyond individual diagnosis and into the systems that determine who gets labeled or treated, and how social conditions influence mental health across populations. Forquer found herself drawn to that wider lens.
“I fell in love with this academic sphere that encompasses the totality of human relationships, the creation of communities and how our current world systems contribute to the transformations of these groups,” she says.
Now, Forquer is graduating as the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics Dean’s Medalist with a bachelor of science in sociology, along with minors in justice studies and Chinese language. She earned the Fitch-Craig Scholarship and was selected for the Critical Language Scholarship, which took her to Taiwan to study Mandarin.
Faculty members describe her as a student who stays focused on how ideas connect to real life. They said in advanced research methods courses and as a research assistant, she always brought a sense of personal initiative to her work.
“Madelyn is ambitious, driven and highly engaged,” Assistant Professor Cassandra Cotton says. “As a student researcher, she's willing to engage at all levels and is a go-getter.”
Professor Leslie Paik also noticed her natural curiosity, saying, “She constantly raised questions … about the connection of the class concepts to real-world issues and how to apply this knowledge to improve our communities.”
During her time at ASU, Forquer worked in the Child Development Lab, where she spent time with young children and observed how early environments influence human development. As a teaching fellow for ASU’s Universal Learner Courses, she also taught Sociology 101 to Title I high school students, introducing them to the same big-picture questions that first drew her in.
“Even though this subject area is often understated within the greater world of college academics, it’s one that I appreciate immensely,” she says.
After graduation, Forquer plans to work for the state of Arizona, applying what she has learned about systems to improve the quality of life for residents. She also plans to return to ASU to pursue a master’s degree focused on public policy.
Ahead of graduation, we asked Forquer about her time at ASU.
Question: Why did you choose ASU?
Answer: ASU relays a wonderful message of inclusivity rather than exclusivity when it comes to its student body. It’s also one of the most socially thriving universities, while consistently ranking among the nation’s Ivy League universities by the programs it offers and student performance in scholarships, research and innovation. It’s the perfect blend of high academic pedigree and openness to a greater variety of people; I feel a real sense of belonging here.
Q: Shout out a professor, advisor or someone else who made a big impact on your journey — what did they teach you?
A: I would love to shout out Dr. Cassandra Cotton for being such a wonderful professor and mentor for me during my last year as an undergraduate! She has done so much in both providing professional advice and being someone who listens and understands others in a deeply compassionate way. Without her guidance, I don’t think I would have ever been as inspired and motivated as I am now to fully pursue my interests and make an impact in this world!
Q: What’s one change you’d love to see in the world — and how would you use your degree to help make it happen?
A: I would like to see an overall improvement to the child welfare system. I want to connect all involved parties in a wider discussion about children’s rights and agency. I think a number of our current social issues are caused by individuals who were raised in unstable environments or in conditions where they didn’t have regular access to food, safe shelter, education, etc. I truly believe that ensuring all youth are taken care of and loved is a step toward a more compassionate and open-minded world.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share that we didn’t cover?
A: I would love to shout out my dad as being such a great advocate throughout my time in college. Even when he was going through his own personal struggles, he was always there to listen and support me through times of immense hardship. I attribute much of my success to his presence in my life!
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