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Mary Blair-Loy is an internationally recognized sociologist focusing on gender, culture, and work-family issues. She is a professor at the University of California, San Diego, where she serves as Chair of the Sociology department. Blair-Loy holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and has published significant works in social science fields, particularly around concepts of merit and equality in STEM fields. Her acclaimed books include 'Misconceiving Merit: Paradoxes of Excellence and Devotion among Academic Scientists and Engineers,' which co-authored with Erin Cech. This book utilizes a range of evidence to demonstrate how cultural beliefs about merit in academic STEM fields perpetuate gender and race inequalities that can be detrimental to science. In addition, her other influential work, 'Competing Devotions: Career and Family among Executive Women,' has been recognized as one of the most cited studies in Sociology since its publication. In 2018, she was named one of the 'Top Ten Extraordinary Contributors' in the interdisciplinary field of work-family research. Blair-Loy also contributed to the 2024 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Her research interests continue to evolve towards diversity and inclusion in academia, reflecting her commitment to addressing systemic inequalities. Beyond her academic pursuits, she enjoys singing, hiking, and caring for her multi-species family.
Administered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Curricular groups include Climate-Ocean-Atmosphere (COAP), Geosciences (GEO), and Ocean Biosciences (OBP).