Jen McGovern

Jen McGovern is an Associate Professor and Program Director in the Department of Political Science and Sociology at Monmouth University, specializing in how sport reflects and challenges social inequalities related to class, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. Her research examines institutional structures in professional baseball, female athlete experiences, and Latinx youth participation in sports.

She earned her Ph.D. from Temple University and teaches courses including Introduction to Sociology, Race and Ethnicity, Gender Studies, and Sports and Society.

Her research program centers on sport sociology with strong emphases on intersectionality and community-based approaches. Key themes include barriers to sports participation for marginalized groups, gender dynamics in athletics, and racial discourse in sports culture. She employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies in her investigations of social inequality.

Analysis of her publications reveals consistent focus on gender and racial dynamics in sports from 2013-2024. Recent work addresses faculty gender salary equity and structural barriers for Latinx youth, while her popular writings engage public discourse on women's soccer representation and cultural integration. Her scholarship bridges academic research and community impact through practical applications.

Dr. McGovern collaborates extensively with students and faculty across departments on community-based projects, including after-school physical education programs in Asbury Park and research on sport toy gendering. She has secured external funding including an NCAA Research and Innovations Grant for consent communication studies with student athletes, demonstrating her commitment to translating research into practice.