Sarah Giroux

Sarah Giroux is an Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Global Development and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Strategic Programs at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Her research focuses on demographic change, inequality, and development in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the impact of fertility declines on education and socioeconomic outcomes. She employs decomposition methods to study macro-level social change and has led large-scale data collection projects, including a nationally representative survey in Cameroon. Giroux teaches courses on global development, research methods, and social inequality. Her work is supported by grants from the Minerva Program, Hewlett Foundation, and Spencer Foundation.

Education: Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Sociology from Cornell University (2011, 2006, 2003). Awards include the Stephen H. Weiss Provost’s Teaching Fellow and NACTA Award of Merit. She co-leads the PINCHET Project tracking youth transitions in Cameroon and collaborates with policymakers and NGOs to design human capital programs.

Her research bridges demographic analysis with policy relevance, emphasizing methodological innovation to address real-world challenges. Recent work explores the demographic dividend in Africa and the role of education in global economic convergence. Teaching focuses on fostering quantitative literacy and critical thinking through experiential learning.