Reuben J. Thomas

Reuben J. Thomas is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the Department of Sociology & Criminology, The University of New Mexico. His research focuses on social network structures, online dating impacts on couple formation, friendship segregation, and social stratification mechanisms.

• Academic Rank: Associate Professor
• Institution: The University of New Mexico
• Research Themes: Social Networks, Online Dating, Life Course Analysis, Stratification

His work examines how digital platforms reshape romantic and friendship networks, with publications in Social Forces, American Sociological Review, and Sociological Perspectives. Recent studies analyze peer support among Mexican immigrant women and the role of ICTs in community-engaged research.

Key article trends include:

• Network-driven inequality (2013-2024)
• Online dating's desegregation effects (2012-2020)
• Life-course friendship homophily (2011-2019)
• Adolescent network impacts on civic behavior (2006-2014)

Thomas teaches graduate courses in social theory, advanced statistics, and network analysis, alongside undergraduate courses on relationships and society.