Mary C. Waters

Mary C. Waters is the John L. Loeb Professor of Sociology and PVK Professor of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, holding dual appointments in Sociology and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. She specializes in immigrant integration, race and ethnic relations, natural disaster recovery, and the social dynamics of identity formation among second-generation immigrants. Waters earned her BA from Johns Hopkins University (1978), followed by MA and PhD degrees from UC Berkeley (1981-1986). She has been at Harvard since 1986, serving as Sociology Department Chair multiple times (2001-2005, 2013-2017) and currently directs undergraduate studies in Sociology.

Her research includes landmark studies like Inheriting the City (2008) and the long-term RISK Project tracking Hurricane Katrina survivors. Awards include National Academy of Sciences membership, American Academy of Arts and Sciences fellowship, and over 75 scholarly articles. Waters co-leads the National Academy panel on immigrant integration and advises on U.S. Census racial/ethnic measurement. She has received Harvard's College Professorship for teaching excellence and seven teaching awards.

Key research areas span: 1) Immigrant assimilation trajectories, 2) Racial identity formation, 3) Disaster mental health recovery, 4) Urban inequality dynamics. Current projects examine Latino immigrant integration and climate migration policy. Her work bridges empirical research with policy impact, emphasizing marginalized populations' voices in social science.