Deborah Merrill

Deborah Merrill is a Professor of Sociology at Clark University, affiliated with the Women’s and Gender Studies Program and the Health, Science, and Society concentration. She has been at Clark since 1992, following a postdoctoral fellowship at Brown University’s Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research. Her research focuses on intergenerational relationships, marriage dynamics, in-law interactions, and mental health, with broader interests in family structures, aging processes, medical sociology, and demographic trends.

Merrill holds a B.A. in Sociology from Bowdoin College (1984), an M.A. (1988), and a Ph.D. (1991) in Sociology from Brown University. She has authored five books and published articles in journals such as *Social Forces*, *Research on Aging*, *Journal of Social and Personal Relationships*, *Journal of Aging and Health*, and *Ethnic Groups*. Her work bridges theoretical and applied sociology, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to family and health-related issues.