Dr. Carla Pfeffer takes the helm at MSU Sociology

January 3, 2024

College of Social Science Dean Brent Donnellan has announced that Dr. Carla Pfeffer is the new Chair of the MSU Department of Sociology.

Dr. Pfeffer is Professor of Sociology and previously served as inaugural Director for the MSU Consortium for Sexual and Gender Minority Health thematic research area. She came to MSU College of Social Science in 2021 from the University of South Carolina where she was Associate Professor in Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies and Director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. She received her PhD in Sociology from the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on the intersection of contemporary families, genders, health, sexualities and bodies considered marginal, with a focus on areas of stigma and discrimination.

She succeeds Professor Aaron McCright who will be on research leave for six months. Dr. McCright served as chair since Aug. 1, 2018.

"I am strongly confident that we are all in good hands and that Carla will lead us well going forward," Dr. McCright said.

Dr. Pfeffer's selection was due to the hard work of the search committee including M. Isabel Ayala (Chair), Cliff Broman, Molly Copeland, Steve Gold, Ning Hsieh, Brendan Mullan, and Associate Dean Anna Maria Santiago (Dean’s Representative and Affirmative Action Advocate).