Martha Crowley

Martha Crowley is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at North Carolina State University (NC State), part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She specializes in social inequality, labor processes, and spatial inequality, with a focus on how workplace dynamics, economic structures, and demographic changes shape well-being.

Education:

• B.A. in Sociology, University of Missouri (summa cum laude, 1997)
• M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology, The Ohio State University (1999 and 2006)

Research Interests: Dr. Crowley explores power dynamics in workplaces, the impact of neoliberal management practices on worker well-being, and the socioeconomic effects of industrial restructuring on rural communities and immigrant populations. Her work also addresses spatial inequality, particularly in rural regions, and the role of education in perpetuating class and racial disparities.

Recent Article Trends: Her research highlights the consequences of job insecurity, managerial practices on firm performance, and the interplay between immigration and community well-being. Studies often bridge macro-level economic changes with micro-level individual and organizational outcomes.

Awards:

• 2022-2023 NC State Faculty Scholar Award
• 2015 ASA Advancement of the Discipline Award
• Multiple teaching awards, including NC State Academy of Outstanding Teachers Inductee (2012)

Advising & Grants: She has advised over 40 graduate and undergraduate students, mentoring research on topics like workplace dignity, immigration, and educational inequality. Her grants include NSF-funded projects on community resiliency and emotion management in consumer contexts.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on projects like the Open Community Project (NSF Smart and Connected Communities) and research on rural white underclass formation.