Biography
Dr. Liz Legerski is a first-generation college graduate who was born and raised in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. She has been teaching at UND since Fall 2010. She earned tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor Fall 2017. She has served as the Chair of the University Senate from 2020-2021 and as the Faculty Advisor to the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education from 2020-2022.
Dr. Legerski currently teaches Soc 110: Introduction to Sociology, Soc 306: Social Movements and Change, Soc 326: Sociological Statistics, Soc 355: Drugs & Society, Soc 409: Special Topics on Social Policy Impacts & Outcomes, and Soc 436: Social Inequality.
Dr. Legerski's research interests include gender, social inequality, and health and social policy. She is particularly interested in the way family characteristics, employment opportunities, and social policies shape the lives of low-income and working-class families.
Dr. Legerski's research has been published in journals such as the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Social Forces, Gender & Society, Sex Roles, the Journal of GLBT Family Studies, Health Sociology Review, Sociological Inquiry, the Social Science Journal, and Women’s Health Issues.
Ph.D., Sociology, University of Kansas, Aug. 2010. Dissertation Title: “Hierarchies of Risk: The Longitudinal Dynamics of Family, Work, Welfare, and Health Insurance in Low-Income Women’s Lives.” Honors.
M.S., Sociology, Brigham Young University, Aug. 2004. Thesis Title: “Women’s Response to Spousal Unemployment: Gender, Family, and Labor Market Constraints.”
B.S., Sociology, Research and Analysis emphasis, Brigham Young University, Dec. 2002. Cum Laude.
Dr. Legerski is a mixed-methodologist who has utilized quantitative research techniques such as survey construction and secondary data analysis, as well as qualitative research methods such as in-depth interviews. She enjoys working on collaborative, multi-disciplinary projects and has been awarded research grants from regional organizations such as the Midwest Sociological Society as well as federal organizations such as the National Institute of Justice.