Maria Krysan

Maria Krysan is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Senior Scholar at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). She holds a PhD from the University of Michigan (1995) and is affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on racial residential segregation, racial attitudes, and survey methodology, with a particular emphasis on multi-method approaches. She co-authored the award-winning book Cycle of Segregation: Social Processes and Residential Stratification (2017), exploring the causes and persistence of segregation through interviews, surveys, and policy analysis.

Dr. Krysan co-founded and directed the Chicago Area Study (2006–2014), a program supporting UIC faculty and students in conducting research on Chicago’s social dynamics. Her work has been funded by the NSF, NIH, Russell Sage Foundation, and Ford Foundation. She serves on editorial boards for RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of Social Science and Social Problems, and advises the General Social Survey.

Her research spans housing markets, educational policy, and public opinion on race. Notable projects include analyzing the long-term impacts of the housing crisis on Cook County segregation and investigating childcare center resilience during funding disruptions. Krysan frequently engages with policymakers, community leaders, and media, including outlets like the New York Times and Washington Post, translating academic insights into public discourse.

Key awards include the recognition for Cycle of Segregation as an award-winning study of urban inequality. Her contributions bridge academia and practice, emphasizing equitable urban policies and methodological rigor in studying race.