Dynamic Duos: Humanities Professor of sociology Jon Eastwood and Lydia Yang '25 pair up for an interdisciplinary research project.

By Jessica Luck
June 16, 2025

After having Lydia Yang ’25 as a student in several of his classes, professor of sociology Jon Eastwood recognized her aptitude for the field of computational sociology and saw that she brought a creative lens through her art history minor to her science-based majors.

Yang sees similarities in painting and computer coding, saying they both require small tweaks to assess how all parts work together on a larger scale. Building on Eastwood’s research and recent book publication, the pair collaborated on a research project focused on writing a computer program that allowed them to study complex social structures on a new level.

Interdisciplinary work like this, between students and faculty across different departments that allows for innovative thinking and leads to lasting relationships, is the norm at Washington and Lee.