Soyoung Kwon

Soyoung Kwon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at The University of Texas at Dallas, with a focus on Public Health. Her research explores social determinants of health, health disparities, and mental health among racial/ethnic minorities, particularly Asian Americans and Hispanic communities.

• Ph.D. in Sociology, Purdue University (2012)
• MA in Sociology, Peking University (2006)

Her work examines how structural inequalities, discrimination, and social networks impact health outcomes, with recent studies analyzing pandemic-related stressors (e.g., mask-wearing, discrimination) and interdisciplinary research on health-behavior links in higher education. Publications span public health journals and sociological outlets, emphasizing quantitative methodology.

Key trends in her articles include pandemic response behaviors, health disparities in minority populations, and the intersection of social dynamics with mental health. Awards include editorial board roles at Society and Mental Health and Frontier in Psychiatry, alongside reviewer roles for 19+ journals.

• Professional memberships: American Sociological Association, Southwestern Social Science Association, Population Association of America

Her funded project The Student Health and Success Initiative (SHASHI) investigates social-biological processes in minority student success, supported by The Meadow Foundation ($229,450, 2024).