معرفی
Laura Beth Nielsen is the Board of Lady Managers of the Columbian Exposition Chair and Professor of Sociology at Northwestern University, affiliated with the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences. She also holds a Research Professor position at the American Bar Foundation. Her research focuses on law's role in social change, particularly employment discrimination, legal consciousness, and inequality related to race, gender, and class. She earned her Ph.D. in Jurisprudence and Social Policy and J.D. from UC Berkeley.
Education:
- Ph.D., Jurisprudence and Social Policy, UC Berkeley (1999)
- J.D., UC Berkeley School of Law (1996)
- B.A. in Legal Studies (Honors) and Sociology (Highest Honors), UC Santa Cruz (1992)
Research Interests: Professor Nielsen’s work explores how law intersects with societal hierarchies, including studies on street harassment, workplace discrimination, Title IX policies, and sexual violence on college campuses. Her book License to Harass (2004) and co-authored Rights on Trial (2017) are seminal in the field of law and society.
Grants & Awards:
- NSF grants totaling over $1M supporting research on sexual consent, employment discrimination, and legal inequality
- MacArthur Foundation grants for projects on public interest law and emergency response systems
- Recognition from the Law and Society Association and American Sociological Association
Professional Roles:
- President of the Law and Society Association (2021–2023)
- Editorships at Law & Social Inquiry and Contexts Magazine
- Advisor to the Jack Miller Center and National Public Radio’s Life of the Law
Key Contributions: Her scholarship bridges empirical research and legal policy, influencing debates on free speech, campus safety, and the efficacy of anti-discrimination laws. She has testified in litigation and advised policymakers on issues like Title IX implementation and workplace accommodations.
