Norah MacKendrick

Norah MacKendrick is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Rutgers University, affiliated with the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS). She holds a PhD from the University of Toronto (2011) and has held academic positions since 2012. Her research focuses on environmental health, gender, food systems, and consumer behavior. She has led major projects like the Air Quality Study and served as Chair of the American Sociological Association’s Environmental Sociology Section (2020–2023).

Education:

• PhD in Sociology, University of Toronto, 2011
• MSc in Rural Sociology, University of Alberta, 2003
• BSc in Conservation Biology and Management, University of Alberta, 1999

Research Interests: Environmental health, maternal responsibility, precautionary consumption, food justice, and science activism. Her book Better Safe Than Sorry (2018) won prestigious awards, examining how mothers navigate toxic exposure risks through daily consumption choices.

Key Awards:

• Allan Schnaiberg Outstanding Publication Award (2020)
• Best First Book Award (2019)
• Fellow, Institute for Research on Women (2020)

Grants and Service: Secured over a dozen grants including Rutgers Research Council awards. Active in professional organizations, serving as Chair of ASA’s Environmental Sociology Section (2021–2023). Leads initiatives like the Air Quality Study exploring climate-related health impacts.

Labs/Teams: Current projects include hormonal wellness discourses, plant-based diets, and climate-driven air quality challenges. Collaborates with institutions like the Environmental and Occupational Health Institute.