Laura Robinson

Laura Robinson is a Professor and Miller Center Lewis Family Fellowship Chair at Santa Clara University's Department of Sociology, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. She specializes in digital sociology, global media studies (with a focus on Brazil, France, and the U.S.), and research methodologies. Her work explores digital inequalities, pandemic sociology, and the intersection of technology with social structures. She holds a Ph.D. from UCLA, supported by a Mellon Fellowship, and has additional degrees from Université Sorbonne Nouvelle and USC.

Robinson’s research leadership includes global collaborations on digital inequalities, including projects like 'Digital Inequalities 3.0' and pandemic-related studies. She has advised student researchers such as Oscar Quiroz-Medrano (Brazilian media) and co-authored reports with Myles Sansone, Mary Catherine Duane, and Natalie Lays on social entrepreneurship. Her service roles include past chair of the ASA’s CITAMS section, editorial board memberships, and international initiatives like the Brazil-U.S. Colloquium on Communication Research.

Her accolades include the 2023 William F. Ogburn Career Achievement Award from ASA CITAMS, recognizing her transformative contributions to digital sociology. She is among Santa Clara University’s top 25 most-cited scholars, with influential work on topics like pandemic trauma, remote work equity, and global digital inclusion strategies.