Cassandra Cotton

Cassandra Cotton is an Assistant Professor of Sociology in the School of Social and Family Dynamics at Arizona State University. Her research spans family dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa and romantic relationships across the life course in the United States, making significant contributions to both demographic and sociological literature.

Education:

• PhD in Sociology, McGill University, 2017
• BA in International Relations, Mount Allison University, 2008

Cotton's research explores motherhood, kinship networks, and child fostering practices in sub-Saharan Africa, with particular focus on how migration into informal settlements affects family dynamics in Nairobi, Kenya. Simultaneously, she investigates romantic relationship experiences across the lifespan in the U.S., with recent emphasis on dating and repartnering among older adults. Her methodological approach combines qualitative and mixed methods to examine complex family dynamics in diverse contexts, resulting in publications in top journals including Demography, Population and Development Review, and Journal of Marriage and Family.

Her recent publications reveal two clearly defined research streams: one examining how migration, urbanization, and economic challenges reshape traditional kinship networks in Africa, and another exploring how political considerations, family dynamics, and changing social norms influence dating patterns, particularly among older adults. This dual focus demonstrates her ability to bridge demographic and sociological perspectives across different cultural contexts.

Cotton actively mentors students and has led research projects including a recent capstone where 13 students collaboratively designed an interview study on college dating culture. She has received internal seed grants to support her research on older adult dating, demonstrating institutional recognition of her scholarly contributions. Her work has been published in numerous high-impact journals, reflecting consistent scholarly productivity since completing her PhD in 2017.

She is affiliated with major professional organizations including the Population Association of America, American Sociological Association, Unions for African Population Studies, and International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, positioning her at the intersection of demographic and sociological scholarship.