Tiffany Gayle Chenault

Tiffany Gayle Chenault is a Professor of Sociology at Salem State University, where she also serves as Coordinator for the African American Studies Minor. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from Virginia Tech and a B.A. from Ohio University. Her research focuses on social inequality, race and ethnicity, law and social policies, and qualitative methodologies, with a particular emphasis on urban and community studies. Chenault’s work bridges scholarly inquiry and activism, addressing issues such as public housing, voting rights mobilization, and the intersectional experiences of Black women in spaces like recreational running.

Her notable publications include the book The Unseen Politics of Public Housing: Resident Councils, Communities, and Change (2015) and articles exploring critical thinking in education and Black women’s collegiate institutions. She has received the 2015 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award for contributions to social justice. Chenault teaches courses ranging from introductory sociology to advanced topics like urban sociology and research methods, and her presentations address themes such as gendered racism in running and community engagement in voter projects.

Her interdisciplinary approach integrates academic rigor with community-focused activism, reflecting her commitment to equitable societal transformation. Personal interests include examining the racialized experiences of Black women in running, as highlighted on her website runisee50.com.