Michelle Frisco

Michelle Frisco serves as Department Head of Sociology and Criminology and Professor of Sociology and Demography at The Pennsylvania State University, with additional affiliation as Co-Funded Faculty at the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI).

Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Sociology from The University of Texas at Austin (2001), M.A. in Sociology from Baylor University (1996), and B.A. in Administration of Justice from The Pennsylvania State University (1994).

Dr. Frisco's research centers on youth health and well-being through interdisciplinary lenses, with particular emphasis on:

• Obesity dynamics among adolescents and Mexican-origin youth
• Health disparities across socioeconomic and immigrant contexts
• Mental health intersections with family and neighborhood environments
• School systems' impact on developmental trajectories
• Life course approaches to demographic health patterns

She currently leads an NICHD-funded investigation into obesity determinants among children of Mexican immigrants, examining familial, educational, and community influences, while expanding this work to analyze dietary behavior drivers. Her broader research program actively develops new initiatives addressing pediatric and adolescent health disparities.

Dr. Frisco maintains active scholarly engagement through grant-funded research and Google Scholar publications, with office location in the Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building at University Park.