Michelle S. Phelps

Michele S. Phelps is a Professor of Sociology and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities), affiliated with the Department of Sociology within the College of Liberal Arts. Her research focuses on the sociology of punishment, policing, and prisons, with a particular emphasis on how punitive systems like probation intersect with mass incarceration and racial inequality in the U.S. She holds expertise in mixed methods and qualitative research approaches. Phelps has been recognized with prestigious awards including the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and Jacob K. Javits Fellowship.

Her work addresses critical questions about the evolution of punitive systems, racial disparities in criminal justice, and the sociological dynamics of social movements. As Director of Graduate Studies, she plays a key role in shaping the academic trajectory of sociology students at the university.