Tierra James

Tierra James is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Auburn University's College of Liberal Arts. She holds a PhD from Kent State University (2022). Her research focuses on systemic inequalities in criminal justice, racial/gender disparities in health outcomes, and death penalty studies. She teaches courses like Special Topics in Sociology: Inequalities, Crime, and Justice, which examines how race, class, and gender shape criminal justice operations.

Her work combines qualitative and quantitative methods to address issues like suicide prevention in Black communities, bibliotherapy for children of incarcerated parents, and intersectional analyses of gendered racism. Recent publications explore Black Americans' misconceptions about suicide and substance use patterns among Black juveniles.

Her research has been published in journals like Death Studies, Deviant Behavior, and Children & Society. Though no formal awards are listed, her work consistently engages critical social justice themes. She advises no listed students but actively contributes to curricular development in sociology and criminology.