Mary Stearns

Areas of Study: Specialty: Stratification, Race Relations, Education

Elizabeth Stearns earned her Ph.D. at UNC-Chapel Hill. Her research efforts revolve around the central question of stratification research including who gets what and why do they get it? In her research, she has used this essential question to gain a better understanding of her substantive areas of education and race and ethnicity. In general, she investigates how inequality, particularly racial and ethnic inequality, is generated and sustained in the American educational system. Recently, her work has focused on gender and racial inequalities in higher education, particularly with regard to college majors.  More information about NSF-funded research can be found at https://pages.charlotte.edu/rootsofstem/. For more information about the SPARC4 scholarship program, see https://sites.uncc.edu/sparc/

Recent Publications:

Martha Bottia, Elizabeth Stearns, Roslyn Mickelson, and Stephanie Moller. “Boosting the numbers of STEM majors? The role of high schools with a STEM program.” 2018. Science Education 102: 85-107.  https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21318

Schmutz, Vaughn, Elizabeth Stearns, and Elizabeth J. Glennie.  2016. “Cultural Capital Formation in Adolescence: High Schools and the Gender Gap in Arts Activity Participation.”  Poetics 57: 27-39 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2016.04.003.

Stearns, Elizabeth, Martha Bottia, Eleonora Davalos, Roslyn Mickelson, Stephanie Moller, and Lauren Valentino.  2016. “Demographic Characteristics of High School Math and Science Teachers and Girls’ Success in STEM.” Social Problems 63: 87-110.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/socpro/spv027