Serendipitous Sociologist: Transitions and Turning Points in My Journey

• Published in: Annual review of sociology Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. 1 - 19
• Main Author: Tienda, Marta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto Annual Reviews 12.08.2024; Annual Reviews, Inc
• Subjects: Affinity; apportionment; autobiography; Careers; children; college admissions; College students; Colleges & universities; Curiosity; Demography; dependency ratios; educational inequality; Family structure; Graduate students; Hispanic population; Humanities; Immigrants; Inequality; Philanthropy; Poverty; Quantitative analysis; school-to-work transition; Serendipity; Social integration; Social policy; Turning points; Urban population; Urban poverty
• ISSN: 0360-0572; 1545-2115
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev-soc-083023-034610

Serendipity, curiosity, and lived experience shaped my career as a social demographer and my interests in social policy. I transitioned from the humanities to sociology and demography as a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, where I discovered my affinity for quantitative research. My interest in Latin American demography gave way to domestic concerns as new opportunities arose at each of the three institutions where I have had the privilege to work—the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Chicago, and Princeton University. That all three institutions hosted vibrant demography and policy programs facilitated my research about the Hispanic population, family structure, urban poverty, college access, and myriad aspects of socioeconomic inequality and immigrant integration. Superb colleagues and talented graduate student collaborators deserve major credit for my career accomplishments. I attribute numerous opportunities to serve on philanthropic and corporate boards to the strength of weak ties.