Research Interests

Lauren Rauscher, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development at California State University Long Beach and Chair of the Board of Directors for Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County. Dr. Rauscher joined the faculty at CSULB after receiving her Ph.D. in Sociology at Emory University in 2006. She worked at The Center for Research on Women at The University of Memphis between 1994-1996, earning a Master’s degree in Sociology in 1995.

As a sociologist with interdisciplinary training in Women’s Studies, the majority of her work is anchored in the experiences of women and girls, and how gender intersects with race and social class to form patterns of inequality and privilege in the domains of health, work and the U.S. labor market, and education. Her work has taken several forms – applied community research, scholarly research, academic teaching and advising, and positive youth development programming – yet they share an underlying foundation of social justice.

Her research interests often lend themselves to mixed methods research designs where she use a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies to identify both large-scale patterns of contemporary forms of inequality and subjective experiences, perceptions and meanings of inequity. Dr. Rauscher’s current research examines the impact of Girls on the Run programming on girls’ physical activity, self efficacy, body image, and mentoring relationships; the meanings of health, body esteem, and fat phobia; the relationships between race, workplace stressors, and women’s mental health; and racial inequality among high school students and curriculum placement.

Dr. Rauscher has been awarded multiple teaching awards, and she was honored with the 2010 Annual Advancement of Women Award at CSULB for her contributions to the advancement of women and girls.

Education

M.A. (1995) in Sociology from The University of Memphis

Ph.D. (2006) in Sociology from Emory University

Curriculum Vitae