معرفی
Maria Kefalas is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Saint Joseph's University. She holds a BA in Economics from Wellesley College, followed by an MA and PhD in Sociology from the University of Chicago. Her career includes a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania and prior teaching at Barnard College. She researches urban inequality, criminal justice policy, youth development, family dynamics, and poverty. Notable works include Promises I Can Keep (winner of the William Goode Award), Hollowing Out the Middle, and her memoir Investing in Miracles.
Her research spans snitching behavior in urban communities, marriage attitudes among young adults, and the impact of immigration on small towns. She has secured grants from the Department of Justice, MacArthur Foundation, and William T. Grant Foundation. Her writing appears in The Washington Post, The Root, and Slate. Courses taught include crime and communities, social theory, and criminal justice ethics.
Key contributions include analyzing unmarried motherhood, rural brain drain, and the intersection of grief and societal roles. Her work bridges academic rigor with public engagement, addressing pressing social issues through interdisciplinary lenses.
