Dr. Sandra Barnes

Biography

Sandra L. Barnes is the C.V. Starr Professor of Sociology at Brown University, following her previous role as a Professor in the Sociology Department of Human and Organizational Development at Vanderbilt University from 2008 to 2019. Barnes served as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Vanderbilt from 2016 to 2018. Her research employs mixed methodologies to explore themes of race, religiosity, and the intersection of spirituality and sexuality within the Black Church context. By examining the adaptive and resilient strategies of poor, working-class urbanites, her scholarship contributes significantly to the fields of sociology and racial studies. Her extensive academic record includes nine books, three edited volumes, sixty peer-reviewed articles, and numerous documentaries. Notable publications include 'Kings Mississippi: Race, Religious Education, Making Middle Class Black Family Segregated South' and 'Live Long Prosper: Black Megachurches Address HIV/AIDS Poverty Age Prosperity Theology'. Additionally, Barnes has served as editor for 'Issues in Race & Society', managing over two million dollars in research grants. She has received numerous accolades, including the 2019 Cox-Johnson-Frazier Award from the American Sociological Association. Barnes has presented her research globally and has contributed to documentaries examining the role of Black churches in urban environments.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards