Bethany Nichols
Bethany Nichols is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Sociology. Her research examines how some individuals thrive in the face of trauma while others struggle. In her research, she builds an innovative sociology of trauma that theorizes and examines how and under what social conditions trauma affects life chances. Her other research shows how inequality is produced and maintained in the institutional evaluative processes that mediate individuals’ access to valued socioeconomic outcomes—such as college admissions or hiring. Her research has been featured in the Economist and The New York Times. Bethany also has strong commitments to undergraduate teaching and mentorship. She created an undergraduate research lab on trauma and economic well-being where she collaborates with students on research projects and articles.
