Kim DaCosta

Kim DaCosta is an Associate Professor at New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study and holds an affiliation with the Department of Sociology. She specializes in racial inequality and the sociocultural dimensions of racial boundary formation. Her research explores multiracial identities, interracial kinship networks, and intersections of race with consumerism and social mobility.

• Education:
• B.A. in Sociology, Harvard University (1989)
• M.A. in Sociology, UC Berkeley (1996)
• Ph.D. in Race and Ethnicity (Sociology), UC Berkeley (2000)

Her landmark book Making Multiracials (2007) analyzes how state policies, family structures, and market forces shape multiracial identity in the U.S. Current projects examine how extended interracial family relationships influence empathy, care, and political engagement. She teaches courses on global race dynamics, social mobility mechanisms, and the commodification of intimate relationships.

DaCosta served as NYU Gallatin's Associate Dean of Students for seven years and has been integral to NYU's Prison Education Program since its launch in 2013, serving as Faculty Director. Her work bridges academic research with community engagement in justice-oriented education.