Dr. Jennifer Pearson Ph.D.

Overview

Dr. Jenny Pearson teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in the sociology of gender, sexualities, education, and research methods. Her research explores the importance of social contexts such as schools and families for adolescent development and well-being, and her work is driven by an interest in how inequalities are reproduced within these institutions. She has published her research in top journals in her discipline and areas of specialization, including Gender & Society, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, Sociological Perspectives, Social Science Research, and Journal of LGBT Youth, among others.

In the classroom, Dr. Pearson emphasizes how students can apply the tools of sociology to their own lives, drawing attention to how social structures and structural inequalities impact their relationships, experiences, and behaviors. Outside of the classroom, she supports students as faculty advisor for student organizations Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies and Shocker Sociology Club, and she collaborates with organizations on and off campus to make spaces and policies more inclusive and equitable for all students. As Research Coordinator for GLSEN Kansas, Dr. Pearson facilitates research collaboration and translates research findings to the local community to support the organization and inform local policy. 

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