Social Sciences

Elise Blasingame, PhD

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, OXFORD COLLEGE, POLITICAL SCIENCE

Treaty Citizens: The Politics of Native Representation in Congress

This project examines the political lives and legislative impact of Native Americans who have served in the United States Congress. While American political development has been studied extensively, the presence and influence of Tribal Nations and Native leaders are often marginalized or overlooked. My book-in-progress, Treaty Citizens: The Politics of Native Representation in Congress, addresses this gap by centering the stories of Native members of Congress as both political actors and representatives of sovereign nations. In this project I explore how Native identity has shaped congressional politics. The careers of Native legislators reveal a great deal about broader struggles over sovereignty, jurisdiction, representation, and inclusion in the American political system. In creating this book, my hope is that I capture the complexities of Native identity in the halls of Congress, an institution with incredible power in shaping tribal sovereignty–the unifying policy goal of Native Nations and tribal communities throughout the United States.

Karida Brown, PhD

PROFESSOR, EMORY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, SOCIOLOGY

A New Grammar of Modernity: Racial Capitalism and the Making of the Modern World

Sociology continues to rely on a view of modernity bounded by the geography of Europe and the temporal wall of 1492. This framing situates modernity as an effect of European awakening, rather than an extension of enmeshed preexisting imperial and proto-capitalist systems spanning Africa, Arabia, Asia, and Europe--systems that were later exported and scaled to the hemispheric Americas. In doing so, we reproduce the epistemic hierarchies between “the West and the Rest.” My research asks: What new understandings of modernity emerge when we trace its origins not to Europe, but to the medieval world system that bound four continents—an interconnected political economy birthed through empire, religion, commerce, and slavery?  This grant will support archival and site-based research that traces the transition from the late medieval to the early modern world through the Iberian Atlantic. Specifically, I will use URC funds to conduct research travel across Portugal, Spain, the Atlantic Islands, and Brazil—sites that formed the connective tissue of the early Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and the emergence of global racial capitalism. These locations house critical archives, burial grounds, port cities, and material remains that document Europe’s early experiments with slavery, finance, and imperial governance prior to and alongside expansion into the Americas.

Michael Broyde, JD

PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF LAW, CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF LAW AND RELIGION

Arbitration Law and the Jewish Experience: Faith, Freedom, and the Rule of Law

This project explores how Jewish rabbinical courts (batei din) operate within the American legal system as arbitral tribunals under the Federal Arbitration Act. It offers a descriptive and theoretical account of how these faith-based tribunals function, how civil courts have treated their awards, and how theology and jurisprudence intersect in their use. Jewish arbitration embodies a “fusion of covenant and consent”: covenant provides moral purpose and communal authority, while consent grounds participation in freedom and procedural fairness. Drawing on seven decades of case law, rabbinic texts, and comparative perspectives from Christian and Islamic arbitration, plus in-person observation of proceedings, the project situates Jewish arbitration within the framework of American pluralism. It shows that religious arbitration is not an exception to the rule of law but a vital expression of it, demonstrating how liberal democracies can preserve both freedom and faith without privileging one over the other. By analyzing institutional reforms, judicial oversight, and evolving communal practices, the project reveals how religious and secular law coexist when each respects its limits. Ultimately, Jewish arbitration illuminates the logic of liberal governance, where freedom of religion and freedom under law sustain one another in a morally diverse society.

Julie Gazmararian, PhD

PROFESSOR, ROLLINS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, EPIDEMIOLOGY

Leveraging Academic and Community Partnership: An Evaluation of the Impact of Atlanta Public School (APS) System’s Cellphone Policies and Practices in High School

Digital and social media use is ubiquitous among adolescents, with nearly one-third of users reporting that they use social media almost constantly. While social media can confer benefits, it has also been linked to impaired mental health and poorer academic performance. In response, schools in the U.S. have adopted various policies to regulate cellphone use, often without  rigorous evidence regarding feasibility or effectiveness. Georgia recently enacted legislation (HB340) requiring all K-8 public schools to adopt policies prohibiting cellphone use during the school day beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year. Robust evaluation is needed to identify which policies and practices most effectively support student academic and well-being outcomes.   Emory University has a time sensitive opportunity to collaborate with Atlanta Public Schools (APS) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their portable electronic device (PED) policy. Since 2023, APS has maintained a cellphone policy across nine high schools serving more than 9,000 students in grades 9–12. Each high school was granted discretion in determining how the policy is enacted—including the use of Yondr pouches and teacher-managed collection systems. APS leadership seeks to understand whether implementation approaches influence student outcomes, including academic performance, discipline, attendance, and well-being.   This project aims to identify evidence-based “best practices” of cellphone policies to guide high schools in Georgia and nationwide. Specific objectives are to: 1) describe APS high school cellphone policies and practices; 2) examine associations between policy models and academic, disciplinary, attendance, and mental well-bei

Joya Hampton-Anderson, PhD

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Implementation of a Contextually-Informed Intervention for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors (STBs) in Black Youth

Although there has been an overall downward trend in youth suicide rates, Black youth suicide rates have increased to unprecedented levels. Existing literature has called for a reassessment of existing theories and prevention strategies for this group, and preliminary work has identified context moderators that may differentially impact suicide risk and treatment outcomes. Variables such as interpersonal stressors, approaches to coping, negative impacts on self-concept, and family connection have all been identified in the research literature as impactful for suicide risk in Black youth. These findings necessitate the development of a contextually responsive intervention for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in this group. The purpose of this community-based participatory, mixed methods (CBPR) study is to implement a 6-session suicide risk intervention for 20 Black youth ages 13 – 17. Specific Aim 1 is to implement the intervention led by a supervised clinical social worker with a focus on building a sustainable service model. Specific Aim 2 will use qualitative interviewing to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. The exploratory aim will use quantitative methods to measure changes in suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), coping strategies, and self-concept pre- and post-intervention. The principal investigator (Dr. Joya Hampton-Anderson of The Division of Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Services at Emory University School of Medicine) has extensive experience in both community-based mixed-methods and treatment of youth mood concerns across the severity spectrum. Findings will lay the foundation for funding applications for trials focused on potential replicatio

Nathan Hoffmann, PhD

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, EMORY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, SOCIOLOGY

Sexual Minority Migrants in the European Union

The policy landscape for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) people in the European Union (EU) has shifted rapidly, with increasing rights in many states while others retrench with anti-queer legislation. Effects of these shifting policies have been studied in such realms as employment and health, but little is known about how new laws have affected the migration decisions of LGBQ people. With freedom of movement open to many Europeans and a variety of policy contexts, the EU constitutes an ideal test case to assess how changing laws and culture in origins and destinations interact with individual identity to crystallize into migration decisions. The proposed URC project investigates the effects of LGBQ policy changes on the migration of queer people in two ways. First, a quantitative analysis of European Union Labor Force Survey data for 1983 to 2023 will characterize the population of migrants in same-sex couples in the EU and assess how changing laws have related to changing incidence of these LGBQ couples. Second, to shed light on the actual motivations of queer people who choose to migrate, I will conduct 20 interviews with queer migrants in Belgium, where leading migration and sexualities scholars have invited to host me at two universities. The URC grant will support this research by granting me time to conduct the quantitative analysis, funding two trips to Brussels, and enabling the publication of at least two papers on my journey to tenure and future external funding.

Andrew Jennings, JD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF LAW

Corporate Americana: Farmers, Dentists and the Nation's Community Banks

This grant will support travel for an interview-based book project, “Corporate Americana: Farmers, Dentists, and the Nation’s Community Banks.” The book–the requester's first–will document and theorize how community banks govern themselves and fulfill their corporate purposes in urban, suburban, and rural settings. By documenting these institutions’ unique governance practices and shareholder dynamics, the book will address a significant gap in the corporate and financial-regulation literatures. Fieldwork will include in-person interviews at approximately 20 community banks across the United States, which will offer rich qualitative insights and produce a comprehensive understanding of these institutions’ governance. The book will aim to inform both academic and public audiences while contributing to debates on corporate governance, purpose, and power. The project will also generate a companion limited-series podcast, which will broaden its public and industry impacts and accessibility.

Abraham Oshotse, PhD

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, GOIZUETA BUSINESS SCHOOL, ORGANIZATION & MANAGEMENT

Understanding Reading Engagement and Retention on Digital Literacy Platforms: Evidence from 22 Million Families

Six in ten children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read a simple story after years of schooling. Literacy deficits constrain human capital formation, with downstream consequences for economic development. While home literacy environments are critical to reading outcomes, existing research emphasizes school factors while neglecting homes and communities. Digital platforms offer a transformative opportunity: where physical books are scarce, mobile phones are plentiful. This project investigates reading engagement determinants through a partnership with Worldreader, whose BookSmart platform reaches 22+ million families globally. Using 45+ million event records, we ask: What book characteristics predict sustained reading? How does content typicality affect engagement? What factors predict churn? Employing two-part engagement models and hazard specifications, we estimate effects across initiation, intensity, breadth, and disengagement. This research contributes to organizational sociology and education research while providing evidence-based guidance for content strategies that support literacy development.

Rebecca Schneider, PhD

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Mindfulness Intervention for Sound Acceptance (MISA): Pilot of a Novel Approach to Adolescent Misophonia

 Misophonia is a debilitating condition characterized by intense emotional and physiological reactions to specific sounds, often emerging in adolescence and disrupting family, social, and academic functioning. Despite its prevalence, no evidence-based treatments exist for youth, leaving families with few options. Both acceptance-based strategies that target psychological flexibility (e.g., acceptance, mindfulness, values) and arousal-reduction techniques that target distress tolerance (e.g., progressive muscle relaxation) have shown promise as treatment targets. However, these approaches have never been tested together in a youth-focused intervention. We propose a pilot study to evaluate the novel Mindfulness Intervention for Sound Acceptance (MISA). MISA is a telehealth-delivered, 10-session weekly outpatient protocol for adolescents with misophonia that integrates acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) strategies with distress tolerance and physiological regulation techniques drawn from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and progressive muscle relaxation. We will conduct an open trial with 10 adolescents (ages 13–17) to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of MISA, with symptom outcome data collected at pre/post and one-month follow-up. Mixed-method feedback collected after each session and daily during treatment using the Emory-developed Fabla app will inform iterative refinement and ensure the intervention reflects the lived experience of youth. Findings will provide critical pilot data to support a future randomized controlled trial and clarify whether an approach combining psychological flexibility and physiological regulation strategies is feasible and acceptable for adolescents. This project represents the first step toward developing a scalable, evidence-based treatment for misophonia.

Ruoxuan Xiong, PhD

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, EMORY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, DATA AND DECISION SCIENCES

Sequential Decision Making from Incomplete and Strategic Data Sources

In high-stakes domains such as healthcare and social services, systems are inherently dynamic: current decisions influence both future outcomes and the information available for subsequent choices. Improving decision policies in these environments is critical for effective resource allocation. However, direct experimentation is often infeasible or prohibitively expensive. Consequently, researchers increasingly rely on historical observational data to evaluate and learn new policies. A key challenge, often overlooked in existing policy learning methods, is that real-world data are frequently imperfect: they are usually partially observed, biased by prior decision-making processes, or provided strategically by human agents. This project addresses these limitations by developing a new suite of policy learning and optimization tools tailored for dynamic systems with imperfect data generation and reporting. It is organized around three core tasks: (1) develop off-policy learning methods that model system dynamics and optimize policies by leveraging heterogeneous data sources, including structured records, free text, and patterns of informative missingness; (2) introduce sequential data-attribution tools to quantify the influence of specific data sources, time periods, and trajectories on learned policies, thereby enhancing model transparency and enabling the detection of harmful or adversarial inputs; (3) design incentive-aware learning mechanisms that remain robust when data are strategically reported, reducing incentives for misreporting and promoting truthful information provision. Together, the project will deliver new methodological foundations and open-source software to support safer, more efficient sequential decision-making in dynamic, high-stakes environments.

Bin Xu, PhD

PROFESSOR, EMORY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, SOCIOLOGY

When Millions of Bells Toll: How the World Remembers and Forgets COVID Deaths

How do societies around the world commemorate and memorialize the mass, excess, and unequal COVID deaths? What do the commemoration and memorialization tell us about the world the COVID dead left behind? If commemoration and memorialization are intended to remember, reflect, and heal, what forms do they take to achieve the goals? These questions are significant for the public understanding of this unprecedented crisis and for various disciplines and interdisciplinary areas, including sociology, memory studies, and public health. I examine cases of public mourning for important individuals, commemorative rituals, memorial sites, artistic works with memorialization purposes, and so on. I treat commemoration and memorialization as complex social and political processes, including advocacy, sponsorship, organizing, public debates, activism, protests, etc. I have collected textual and visual data of 290 cases of commemoration and memorialization from 11 countries with the most casualties and have conducted fieldwork in Italy. I am applying for this grant to support research in the next stage of the project, including a survey with involved people, a quantitative content analysis of the textual and visual data, and two fieldwork trips to the UK and Brazil, including site visits to memorials and interviews with groups and individuals involved in the memorialization process. The specific goal of this project is to publish a public-facing book and two peer-reviewed articles (one of which was published). The ultimate goal is to use my research and writing to record history, diagnose problems, and resist forgetting.

"Tony" Zirui Yang, PhD

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, EMORY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, POLITICAL SCIENCE

Swiping Democracy Away? How TikTok Shapes Democratic Values and Public Opinion toward China

TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has become one of the world's most popular social media platforms, particularly among younger users. Meanwhile, recent surveys show that TikTok users in democratic societies have more favorable views toward China and less faith in liberal democratic systems. Therefore, democratic governments increasingly worry that TikTok may influence public opinion, with the US, EU, and India restricting or investigating the platform. Yet, few research investigates whether such suspicion is supported by evidence, and if so, through what specific mechanisms. This project examines whether and how TikTok use shapes attitudes toward China and democratic values in Taiwan, a democracy facing sustained geopolitical and informational pressure from China. We propose a field experiment using a withdrawal design, where 2,000 active TikTok users are randomly assigned to either deactivate their accounts or continue normal usage for one month. By measuring changes in democratic values and attitudes toward China before and after the intervention, and tracking ex ante TikTok content exposure, this study provides rigorous causal evidence on TikTok's political effects and identify whether political or non-political content is the root cause. Our findings will inform ongoing policy debates about foreign platforms, national security, and democratic resilience, and will generate preliminary data for larger grant proposals on the impact of Chinese Artificial Intelligence on democracies to the National Science Foundation. Results will also help democratic governments develop evidence-based approaches to addressing potential foreign influence through social media while preserving freedom of speech of their own citizens.

Kathryn Yount, PhD

PROFESSOR, ROLLINS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, GLOBAL HEALTH

Trump’s Gender Executive Order: Longitudinal Effects on Well-Being among Federally Funded Gender Scientists

Significance: In January 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order to prioritize sex over gender in all federal documents and to terminate federally funded gender-identity activities. As agencies implemented Trump’s Gender Executive Order (GEO), the Principal Investigators (PIs) of federal grants involving gender-related activities experienced various funding disruptions. Understanding these disruptions and their influences on the well-being of Gender Scientists in institutional context is urgent. Objective: This URC grant is the first longitudinal, mixed-methods study of how GEO-related funding disruptions are affecting the multidimensional well-being of federally funded PIs of gender-related activities. Approach: Eligible participants will be contact PIs of active grants in 2024 that were tagged as gender-related in the NIH Reporter database. Consenting PIs will enroll in a two-wave, online survey in June and December 2026 to gather information on personal backgrounds and identities; exposure to grant disruptions (continued/closed normally, delayed continuation, temporary termination, enduring termination); professional and economic well-being and strain, research productivity, personal resilience and psychological distress, and perceived institutional changes. Regression adjustment and inverse probability weighted regression adjustment will be performed to estimate the effects of grant-disruption exposures, overall and conditional on PI identity, career stage, and perceived institutional context. Twenty-four survey completers, six per exposure group, will participate in one remote semi-structured interview. Inductive-deductive coding and thematic analysis of transcripts will explore nuanced experiences and contextualize the quantitative findings. Impact/Innovation: This project is the first to examine the longitudinal effects of GEO-related funding alteration.