Jenifer is a first-year graduate student originally from Washington, DC (the actual city, not the surrounding suburbs). She received her BA in Sociology from American University in 2003. Jenifer’s research interests include Sociology of Education, stratification, race, class, gender, and poverty. She is particularly interested in how parental involvement in education affects a child’s emotional well-being as well as their academic success.

Being born and raised in the fast moving political center of the country means that Jenifer is still trying to adjust to the friendly and quiet nature of the Midwest. During the quiet times in her hectic schedule, Jenifer enjoys just being still, traveling to Indy or Cincinnati, or spending time with her partner and their two children at the park swinging or playing freeze tag.