Sociology 

Jasmine Sausedo is a current PhD student in the Department of Sociology. She has a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Texas A&M University and works with Professor Stefanie DeLuca in the Poverty and Inequality Research Lab. 

I am currently assisting two ongoing projects that investigate how college students’ educational trajectories and higher education goals are shaped by disruptive life events. These projects are fascinating complements to one another because, although one study utilizes quantitative research methods and the other relies on qualitative interviews, both aim to create a comprehensive understanding of how students’ educational attainment and prospects at upward social mobility are structured by socio-demographic disadvantages and social contexts. 

Interviewing community college students and hearing their stories about how they have navigated life after high school has been both an intellectually formative and personally gratifying experience. I’m extremely grateful to be a part of a research team whose methods center individuals’ narratives, expertise, and lived experiences. In doing so, we maintain the humanity of our research participants as our priority, while generating a more thorough understanding of our social world. 

I hope that through my work I can help inform efforts to dismantle structures that perpetuate and justify social inequalities.

I decided to come to Hopkins because I was drawn to the social justice-oriented research being conducted by the sociology department. Since my undergraduate years, I’ve always been fascinated in understanding how the paths individuals take into adulthood both shape and are shaped by the life opportunities accessible to them. 

I found that my research interests aligned well with ongoing projects happening at JHU, especially by my adviser, Stefanie DeLuca, and the other researchers at the Poverty and Inequality Research Lab.

In my time outside of classes and academic work, I enjoy drawing and painting. I also love spending time outdoors, whether that is on my back porch or exploring many of the natural areas around Baltimore. My favorite outdoor local spots are Patapsco Valley State Park and Roland Lake. Some of my favorite activities are gardening, hiking, and fishing.