Dr. Shannon Cavanagh

Biography

Shannon Cavanagh is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin. She is also a Faculty Research Associate at the Population Research Center. Her research primarily focuses on the changing dynamics of American families amidst growing social inequality. Cavanagh explores children's experiences with parental partner instability and the transitions to adulthood in the context of economic uncertainty and cultural change. Her work documents how children navigate through varying family structures and child care arrangements, impacting their health, academic performance, and social relationships. She has authored a monograph in the Rose Series titled "Crosnoe," discussing how macro-level disruptions like the Great Recession and COVID-19 influence young adults' decision-making regarding relationships and career paths. Cavanagh earned her PhD in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2003 and has been a faculty member at UT Austin since 2006.

Research Interests

Awards