Connor Strobel

Connor Strobel is a Harper-Schmidt Fellow in the Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts and a Collegiate Assistant Professor in the Social Science Core: Self, Culture, and Society at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on contested identities, exploring how identities drive personal/group conflict, amplify health/social inequalities, and shape resolutions. He is an international expert on social media's role in eating disorders and has advised policymakers. His book The Politics of 'Perverts' examines non-traditional sexual minorities' political engagement, proposing novel methods to assess marginalized groups' policy preferences.

Strobel’s work spans sociological studies of identity in movements across South Asia and Latin America, as well as current projects on neurodivergent students' institutional navigation. His research appears in Gender Issues, Sociology Compass, and major university presses. Media outlets like the New York Times and PBS Newshour have highlighted his contributions to understanding marginalized communities. He actively mentors students through programs like Quad Scholars, integrating education and research.

His articles critically analyze subcultures (furries, nudists), LGBTQ+ dynamics, and the intersection of gender with eating disorder recovery. He advocates for free speech policies' health impacts and explores evolving legal/cultural contexts for neurodivergent families. This interdisciplinary work bridges sociology, health studies, and policy analysis.