Ghassan Moussawi is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign holding joint appointments across multiple departments. He serves as Director of Graduate Studies in Sociology while maintaining active roles in Gender and Women's Studies, Anthropology, Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory, and the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. His interdisciplinary scholarship bridges critical social theory with empirical research on marginalized communities. Education: Ph.D., Rutgers University Moussawi's research program centers on transnational gender and sexualities, empire and coloniality, race and racism, queer of color critique, affect theory, and urban studies. His work critically examines how power structures intersect to shape lived experiences, with particular attention to marginalized communities and liberation movements. His theoretical contributions connect postcolonial studies with contemporary social justice frameworks, developing innovative approaches to understanding complex social phenomena through multi-scalar lenses. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory examining the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and empire across multiple geographic contexts. Moussawi's scholarship often employs decolonial frameworks that challenge dominant narratives while centering marginalized perspectives. His work spans book-length projects, journal articles, and handbook chapters that collectively advance understanding of power dynamics in contemporary society. Scientific Awards: Social Problems Theory Division's Outstanding Article Award, Society for the Study of Social Problems, 2025 Conrad Humanities Scholar, University of Illinois (2024-29) Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS) Distinguished Feminist Lecturer Award, 2024 Helen Corley Petit Scholar, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois, 2022-23 Sociology of Sexualities' Early Career Award, American Sociological Association, 2022 National Women's Studies Association's Gloria E. Anzaldúa Book Prize, 2021 Moussawi has received significant recognition for both his research and teaching excellence. His Multiracial Democracy Grant from the University of Illinois (2018) supported important work at the intersection of race and democracy. He has been repeatedly honored as an outstanding teacher, receiving multiple Teachers Ranked as Excellent and Outstanding awards across various semesters. His students benefit from his expertise in courses such as GWS 201: Race, Gender, Power; SOC 396: Sexuality and Society; and SOC 596/GWS 590: Power, Coloniality, Empire, where he integrates cutting-edge research with critical pedagogy. Moussawi maintains an active scholarly presence through his involvement with the Illinois Global Institute's Center for Global Studies and various research clusters within the university. His work connects with broader intellectual communities through his publications in leading journals, participation in interdisciplinary research initiatives, and engagement with multiple academic associations focused on social justice, gender studies, and critical race scholarship.
