Lynne Casper

Lynne Casper is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Southern California (USC), affiliated with the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. She holds roles as Director of the Southern California Population Research Center (2007–2013) and former Director of Graduate Studies. Her research focuses on family sociology, demography, work-family dynamics, and gender studies. Casper earned a Ph.D. in Demography and Sociology from Penn State (1992), an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Chicago (1988), and a B.A. in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin (1984).

Research Interests: Family structure, work-life balance, gender disparities, cohabitation, grandparent caregiving, and quantitative methods. Her work explores how economic, policy, and cultural factors shape family well-being and demographic trends. She has led major studies like the NIH Work, Family, and Health Network and contributed to seminal works such as Continuity and Change in the American Family.

Awards:

• Mellon Mentoring Award (2012–2013)
• General Education Excellence in Teaching Award (2012–2013)

Grants & Leadership: Secured over $500K in grants for population research initiatives, including the Southern California Population Research Center. Served as Vice-President of the Population Association of America (2014–2015) and on multiple editorial and advisory boards.

Labs & Collaborations: Founded the Southern California Population Research Center to foster interdisciplinary research on demographic and family issues.