It's fair to say that the CAPE Academy has made an official and lifelong fan out of me, a diehard sociologist. The work of so many APE scholars has consistently interested me because the framework naturally engages with questions of inequality and institutions, my bread-and-butter big issues. The CAPE Academy presented as the perfect opportunity to not simply "learn more" about what political scientists were up to regarding topics of shared interest, but to dive deeply into how APE arguments are crafted.
For someone outside of the field, it was like going to the sausage factory and still very much wanting a hot dog to eat after. Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the academy was its design. Expert scholars with deep roots in APE selected various readings and presented on relevant streams of research in their areas. The curated readings accompanied by thoughtful, engaging, and well-framed presentations offered me the ability to (1) track how APE scholars were framing issues and setting up their analysis and (2) identify the appropriate arguments and literature for making valuable connections in my own field.
Facilitators and fellow participants read from my submitted writing sample and offered up absolute gems of comments and questions that have already made my book manuscript stronger and more appealing to broader audiences. I look forward to using some of the readings in my Social Problems class syllabus as well.
The people who come to this academy—participants, facilitators, the administrative staff—all want to be there. That simple fact alone makes for great vibes and a safe space in which to ask questions and swing big. Having once attended Space Camp, I can comfortably conclude that this is the adult equivalent, nerd camp-adjacent experience for APE-curious academics.
Leah E. Gose, PhD
Provost Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Sociology, University of Southern California (2024-2026)
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Southern California (2026-)
