Sicong Sun

Sicong (Summer) Sun is an Assistant Professor of Social Welfare at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Born in China as a first-generation immigrant and identifying as nonbinary queer, they hold a Ph.D. and MSW from Washington University in St. Louis. Previously, they served as faculty at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. Their research focuses on intersections of race, poverty, and health equity, with a particular emphasis on how structural racism influences wealth disparities and health outcomes. Sun’s work bridges quantitative analysis, policy advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration to address systemic inequities.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis
  • Master of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis
• Research Interests:
  • Racial/ethnic inequities in wealth and health
  • Social determinants of health
  • Financial capability and asset building
  • Immigration and mental health

Sun’s publications span journals like Annual Review of Public Health, SSM – Population Health, and Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, emphasizing empirical and theoretical contributions to health equity. Their research highlights how wealth disparities rooted in structural racism exacerbate health inequalities across lifespans. Recent work examines racial differences in wealth-health relationships and evaluates interventions like cash transfers in global health contexts.

Awards:

• Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award (Society for Social Work Research)
• Jane Aron Fellowship (National Association of Social Workers Foundation)

Teaching: Courses include Foundations of Social Welfare Policy and Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE).

Dr. Sun advocates for data-driven policies to combat socioeconomic and racial inequities, with ongoing projects in Uganda and Hong Kong. Their interdisciplinary approach integrates public health, social work, and economics to foster actionable solutions.