Sara Goodkind

Dr. Sara Goodkind is an Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, primarily appointed in the School of Social Work and affiliated with the Department of Sociology and the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Program. She holds a PhD in social work and sociology from the University of Michigan, alongside an MSW and a BA from Amherst College. Her research focuses on structural inequities in systems serving youth, particularly within child welfare, education, and juvenile justice. Dr. Goodkind’s work critiques systemic biases and advocates for policy reforms to address racial, economic, and gender disparities. She leads the Pittsburgh Wage Study, examining wage impacts on low-income families, and co-convenes the Black Girls Equity Alliance’s Juvenile Justice Action Team.

Her research interests include juvenile legal systems, feminist praxis, participatory research, and community engagement. She has secured grants from the National Institute of Justice for studies on juvenile diversion initiatives and racial disparities. Dr. Goodkind also serves as co-president of WSW and co-editor-in-chief of Affilia: Feminist Inquiry in Social Work.

• Key Projects: NIH-funded studies on wage increases and benefits cliffs, evaluation of juvenile diversion programs, and systemic change advocacy for Black youth.
• Grants: Principal investigator on NIJ’s “Caring Connections for Youth” and co-PI on the Pittsburgh Wage Study.
• Community Engagement: Collaborates with Black Girls Equity Alliance and low-wage worker advocacy groups to translate research into policy.

Dr. Goodkind’s interdisciplinary approach combines academic rigor with grassroots activism, emphasizing participatory methods to center marginalized voices in research and policy.