Jean Calterone Williams

Jean Calterone Williams serves as Professor of Political Science within the College of Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University, where she has established a distinguished 20-year research career focused on Social Welfare Policy, Poverty/Homelessness, and the Politics of Gender/Sexuality. Her interdisciplinary work bridges academic scholarship and policy advocacy, with particular emphasis on marginalized populations including homeless families, undocumented students, and Asian American communities.

Her educational foundation includes a Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University (1998), which launched her career examining structural inequalities through feminist and critical policy lenses. This training informs her dual research trajectories in homelessness policy and sexuality politics.

Professor Williams' scholarship reveals consistent engagement with pressing social issues: early work analyzed homeless women's experiences with domestic violence and shelter systems, while recent publications address contemporary challenges like pandemic-era racism (2022) and media framing of family homelessness (2024). Her research consistently employs intersectional frameworks examining race, gender, and class simultaneously, with methodologies ranging from ethnographic observation to critical discourse analysis.

Her publication pattern demonstrates remarkable productivity and relevance, with 15 significant works published since 2005 including two award-nominated books. The 2016 second edition of 'A Roof Over My Head' remains particularly influential in homelessness policy circles, while her collaborative sexuality research with Jasna Jovanovic has shaped emerging adult relationship studies.

Professional recognition includes:

• Nomination for The Michael Harrington Book Award (2017)
• Nomination for The Leeds Prize (2017)
• Frequent citations in federal homelessness policy documents

As an educator, she mentors students through courses like The Politics of Poverty and Social Movements, emphasizing community-engaged learning with local service organizations. Her advising philosophy centers on developing policy analysis skills while amplifying marginalized voices, reflected in student testimonials about her accessible mentorship style. Current research directions include longitudinal analysis of Housing First policy implementation and comparative studies of sex education frameworks across U.S. states.

Though not directing a formal laboratory, Professor Williams maintains active research collaborations across disciplines, evidenced by co-authored publications with sociologists, public health scholars, and education researchers. Her work continues to influence both academic discourse and real-world policy interventions addressing systemic inequality.