Hey there! I’m Monique, Assistant Professor at MSU

Monique K.

Hey there! I’m Monique – a self-proclaimed sociology nerd with a passion for digging into how society shapes us all. I have a BA in Psychology and Sociology, a master’s in Demography and Social Analysis, and a PhD in Sociology. Right now, I’m an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Michigan State University (MSU), where I’ve been since 2019. I started as a post-doc (2019-2021) and am now a tenure-track faculty member!

My journey into academia started a bit early – during my undergrad, I was a tutor for math and stats for two years. While in grad school, I worked as an adjunct professor at Orange Coast College (2017 - 2019) in the Social Sciences department and earned certificates in teaching and mentoring along the way. I’ve always been passionate about mentorship – I’ve mentored peers throughout my academic career and even volunteered with the University of California Community College to PhD (CC2PhD) Scholars Program.

Now, as a professor, mentoring and helping students are very important to me! I love guiding both undergrad and grad students, whether it’s co-authoring research papers or helping them become solo-authors of their own publications. Though, I am primarily a quantitative scholar, I have training and in-depth knowledge of qualitative methods. Thus, adept at statistics and other research methods.

When it comes to teaching, it's imperative to be relatable and adaptable. I’m a big believer in hands-on, activity-based learning – because let’s be honest, the best way to get the theories and concepts to stick is to connect them to real-life experiences, (pop) culture, have lively discussions, and practice. I have high expectations for my students and mentees, but I also know how to accept feedback to make sure they succeed. Let’s learn together and enjoy the process of doing so!