Alexis Dennis

Alexis Dennis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at McGill University, specializing in population health science with cross-training in public health. She holds a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2022) and an MPH (2014) from the same institution. Her research focuses on structural and social stratification processes that generate health inequalities across racial/ethnic groups, particularly examining how material resources and racism differentially impact health outcomes. She is also committed to refining theoretical frameworks and measurement tools to better capture racial/ethnic disparities in quantitative health research.

Her current research explores mechanisms behind non-white populations' inconsistent health benefits from socioeconomic resources compared to whites, including a project analyzing early-life socioeconomic access and midlife depression disparities. She also examines the role of racism in restricting health opportunities. Dr. Dennis has secured grants such as the 2024-2027 FRQSC grant on structural racial inequality in Canadian well-being ($44,948 CAD) and contributed as a co-investigator to the Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives initiative ($100,000 CAD).

• Education:
  • PhD in Sociology, UNC Chapel Hill (2022)
  • MPH, UNC Chapel Hill (2014)

Her teaching includes undergraduate courses on the Sociology of Mental Disorder (SOCI 310) and Medicine and Health in Modern Society (SOCI 225). Dr. Dennis’ work bridges sociology, epidemiology, and public health, with over 30 peer-reviewed publications addressing topics like racial disparities in biological aging, HIV care engagement, and structural racism frameworks.