Mary Bernstein

Mary Bernstein is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Connecticut's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She holds a PhD from New York University (1997). Her research focuses on social movements, gender, race, LGBTQ rights, and gun violence prevention, with a particular emphasis on intersectionality and policy advocacy. She has received multiple awards, including the Simon & Gagnon Lifetime Achievement Award (2017) and served as President of Sociologists for Women in Society (2014).

Her work on gun violence prevention includes a grant from the Bennett Fund and leadership roles in the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium. Notable contributions include co-editing special issues on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ activism, as well as organizing conferences such as 'Correlates, Causes, and Solutions for Firearm Violence in America.' She directs the Early College Experience (ECE) program for Sociology, enabling high school students across Connecticut to earn UConn credits.

Bernstein actively engages in public sociology through speaking engagements, including keynotes on LGBTQ history and gun violence prevention. Her research bridges academic inquiry with real-world advocacy, addressing systemic issues of race, gender, and policy reform.