Sarah K. Cowan

Sarah K. Cowan is an Associate Professor of Sociology at New York University (NYU) and the founder and Executive Director of the Cash Transfer Lab. Her research focuses on cash transfer policies, abortion in the U.S., pregnancies taken to term, and social dynamics around secrecy. She holds a PhD in Sociology and Demography from UC Berkeley and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University under the Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society program.

Education:

• PhD in Sociology and Demography, UC Berkeley
• Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Columbia University

Research Interests: Cowan’s work bridges social demography and policy analysis, with a focus on cash transfer programs (e.g., Alaska’s longstanding program), reproductive health outcomes, and methodological innovations in survey research. She explores how societal structures influence fertility decisions and secret-keeping behaviors within communities.

Labs/Teams: She leads the Cash Transfer Lab, a research initiative examining the socioeconomic impacts of cash transfer policies in the U.S. and globally.