Drew Halfmann

Drew Halfmann is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Davis, focusing on social movements and the politics of health and social policy with an emphasis on political institutions.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Sociology, New York University, 2001
• MA in Sociology, New York University, 1996
• BA in Political Science and Economics, University of Wisconsin, 1990

Halfmann's research centers on abortion politics and health inequality, examining how political institutions shape policy outcomes. His award-winning book, "Doctors and Demonstrators," analyzes cross-national differences in abortion politics, and he is currently writing on the African-American struggle for health equality. His work integrates historical, comparative, and institutional perspectives to understand social movement strategies and health policy development.

Recent publications (2019-2023) demonstrate consistent focus on coalition formation mechanisms, market innovation in social movements, and comparative medicalization of abortion, applying institutional analysis to uncover how political structures influence movement tactics and policy outcomes across historical and national contexts.

He has received the following scientific awards:

• 2012 Charles Tilly Best Book Award from the American Sociological Association Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements
• 2013 Distinguished Scholarship Award from the Pacific Sociological Association

Halfmann is affiliated with the UC Davis Center for Poverty Research and co-directs the Bay Area Regional Network of the Scholars Strategy Network. He has taught at East China Normal University in Shanghai and provides expert commentary for major media including PBS Newshour, The Washington Post, and The Guardian through op-eds in Huffington Post and Sacramento Bee.

He actively participates in UC Davis research clusters on Social Transformations, Race, Ethnicity and Immigration, Health and Social Welfare, Governance, and Gender, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration on critical social issues through regular engagement with these academic communities.