Kris Marsh

Dr. Kris Marsh is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park, tenured since 2014. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Southern California (2005) and has affiliations with the Maryland Population Research Center, Department of Women’s Studies, and African American Studies Department. Her research focuses on the Black middle class, demography, racial residential segregation, and education. She has written a book for Cambridge University Press on single, middle-class Black individuals and their social dynamics, and is co-authoring works on the Black middle class in South Africa. Dr. Marsh has received awards including the Jacquelyn Johnson Jackson Early Career Award (2015) and the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award (2017). She chairs the American Sociological Association's Race, Gender, and Class Section and leads police reform initiatives with Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Education:

• PhD in Sociology, University of Southern California, 2005
• MA in Sociology (with Distinction), University of Southern California, 2003
• MA in Sociology (with Distinction), California State University, Dominguez Hills, 2000
• BA in Sociology, San Diego State University, 1996

Research Interests: Dr. Marsh explores the intersection of race, class, and identity through studies on the Black middle class’s mental/physical health, wealth, residential choices, and dating practices. Her work also addresses police-community relations, contributing to bias-free training programs and serving on police reform task forces. She has conducted fieldwork in South Africa and collaborates internationally on global Black middle-class dynamics.

Media and Outreach: Dr. Marsh frequently contributes to media outlets like the Washington Post, CNN, and Al Jazeera America. She founded Applied Research Services, LLP, providing training to public safety agencies, and advises the National Law Enforcement Museum. Her work bridges academic research with policy impact, emphasizing equitable community engagement.