About Me

Dr. Adriana Ponce is a feminist sociologist who is committed to the teacher-scholar model. She views teaching and research as synergistic to one another. Dr. Ponce is a strong advocate for incorporating social justice into her teaching practices and course content, rooted in theory and empirical evidence. Her research, which been awarded by the American Sociological Association, investigates intersectional gender inequality in contemporary family forms through community-engagement praxis.

To learn more about my current study and team, please visit us on Instagram @su_stepparents.

Education

PhD in Sociology, University of Michigan

MA in Sociology, University of Michigan

BA in Sociology, University of California, Berkeley

Professional Certificates

LGBTQIA+ Inclusion and Belonging Certificate, Southwestern University

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Certificate, University of Michigan

Graduate Teacher Certificate, University of Michigan

Preparing Future Faculty Certificate, University of Michigan

Ponce, A. (2026). “An open mind and heart”: A queering analysis of emotions as empowerment during community engagement with families. Catalyst, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.21428/3c91da9a.4198acac

Ponce, A. (2025). “A Literature Review of U.S. Stepfamilies: Directions Toward an Intersectional, Feminist Understanding of Lived Experiences Centered on Social Justice Praxis,” Sociology Compass, 19(11). Online first (e70127): https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.70127.

Ponce, A. et al. (2025). “Teaching with Color: Thematic Hires and the Politics of Teaching in Texas.” Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. Online first: https://doi.org/10.1177/233264922513164

Ponce, A. (2023). “Invested Mothering: An Intersectional Analysis of Mothers’ Feminized Breadwinning Strategies Under State-Mandated Child Support Arrangements.” Journal of Family and Economic Issues. Online first: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-023-09931-x

Public Facing Scholarship

Ponce, A., Rocha, C., and Bahamon, I. (2025). “Feminist Reflections on Community-Engaged Research: A Latina Research Team Partnering with a Family Resource Center in Central Texas.” Medium. https://medium.com/@poncea/feminist-reflections-on-community-engaged-research-a-latina-research-team-partnering-with-a-family-c338421bbb58

Selected Recent Presentations

2026, American Sociological Association (ASA) Annual Conference, “Power Moves: Conceptualizing Informal Gendered Interactions within Formal Gender-Neutral Shared Parenting Arrangements” (New York, NY)

2025, Southern Sociological Society (SSS) Annual Conference, “Intersectionality, Accessibility, and Fraudulent Behavior: Feminist, Qualitative Methodology and Emerging Virtual Recruitment” (Charlotte, NC)

2024, National Women’s Society (NWSA) Annual Meeting, “Stepparents in America: Unearthing Distinct Practices and Processes” (Detroit, MI)