Ellen Whitehead is a sociologist who studies how families navigate economic uncertainty in contemporary society. She joined the Ball State University faculty in 2019 after earning her PhD from Rice University.
Dr. Whitehead's research is guided by one overarching question: in an era when many families face economic instability, how are they making ends meet? Her work explores the livelihood strategies and safety nets that people use to sustain themselves and one another, ranging from kin support and government assistance to crowdfunding and informal work. This research has received support from the Russell Sage Foundation, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Center for Middletown Studies, and Ball State's Aspire Program.
Dedicated to bridging scholarship, applied sociology, and teaching, Dr. Whitehead especially values collaborating with students on research that connects classroom learning to real-world issues. At Ball State, she regularly teaches courses on introductory sociology, family sociology, and quantitative data analysis.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking, attending book clubs, and offering sociological critiques of reality TV.
Education
Rice University
Prior Employment
Rice University
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Vita