Hey! I’m Cherrie and I am currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Sociology at Harvard University and a Senior Research Fellow at DEI consultancy Working IDEAL. My research interests include class, race, gender, housing, labor unions, and social policy. In particular, I am interested in the relationship between neoliberal public policies and racial, economic, and gender inequality, especially in a U.S. context. At Harvard, I study the causes and consequences of racial wealth and income inequality, housing, and the labor movement. At Working IDEAL, I conduct racial and gender equity assessments and generally advise clients on inclusive workplaces.
I am currently working on two academic projects. In my dissertation project, I use longitudinal data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to examine the racial wealth gap, extended family wealth, housing, and neighborhoods. This project is funded in part by the Washington Center for Equitable Growth and the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. My second project analyzes the impact of right-to-work laws on the wages of Black union and non-union workers.
In addition to my research, I am also a proud member (and former bargaining committee member) of the Harvard Graduate Students Union – UAW, working towards the goal of making Harvard a better place for all student workers.
Previously, I was a Research Associate at the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) in Washington, DC, where I conducted research on the labor market experiences of poor and minority workers as well as the benefits of union representation. I was also a contributor to the Girl w/ Pen blog at The Society Pages and managed the large microdata extracts at CEPRdata.org.
I’m originally from South Florida and currently live in Chicago, IL.
I have a Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in Policy Analysis from American University. I also have a BA in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in Structures of Opportunity and Inequality.