Dr. Katherine Magnuson

Biography

Katherine Magnuson is a Professor and the Director of the Institute for Research on Poverty at the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work, UW–Madison. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University. Her research focuses on the well-being and development of economically disadvantaged children and families. Magnuson examines how disparities in socioeconomic status (SES) affect children's development, particularly the impacts of altered policies and programs, such as early childhood education initiatives. She is deeply interested in the effects of maternal education on child development and integrates various streams of research that have traditionally been considered separately. Her work includes a focus on the influence of parental employment, income, and education, and welfare policies on children's well-being, with special emphasis on the extent to which differences in SES and racial/ethnic groups explain disparities in children's school performance. Additionally, Magnuson investigates direct child interventions, especially early education, aiming to serve a compensatory role for disadvantaged children. Her extensive literature sheds light on the potential benefits that can accrue to children from these interventions, enhancing not only their well-being but also guiding service and resource allocation towards children rather than primarily focusing on parents, thus buffering the harmful effects associated with growing up in disadvantaged families.

Research Interests