Phyllis Moen

Phyllis Moen is the McKnight Presidential Chair in Sociology at the University of Minnesota's Department of Sociology, part of the College of Liberal Arts. She specializes in occupational careers, gender studies, work-family dynamics, retirement, and life course analysis. Moen earned her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1978 and has held leadership roles at Cornell University, including founding the Bronfenbrenner Life Course Center. Her research, funded by organizations like the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and NIH, explores the 'Career Mystique' and workplace policies. She has been honored as a fellow in multiple prestigious societies and chairs the Aging and Life Course section of the American Sociological Association. Moen advises numerous graduate students and collaborates on projects like the Flexible Work and Well-Being study.

Her publications include The Career Mystique: Cracks in the American Dream (2005), which critiques outdated career norms. Media features include TIME Magazine, New York Times, and 60 Minutes. Moen’s work bridges academic research with policy advocacy through roles at Civic Ventures and the Conference Board’s Work-Life Leadership Council.