Curriculum Vitae

Click here to download my CV.

Education

Present Ph.D. in Sociology, The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Morenoff

2021 Bachelor of Arts (High Honors), Michigan State University - East Lansing

Research Interests

Economic Sociology; Racial Stratification; Demography

Academic Positions Held

Research

2022 - Present Research Fellow, Center for Racial Justice

The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Director: Dr. Celeste Watkins-Hayes

Research Director: Dr. Mara Ostfeld

Associate Director: Dr. Dominique Adams-Santos

2021 - Present Research Assistant, Detroit Metro Area Communities Study

The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Faculty Lead Researchers: Dr. Jeffrey Morenoff, Dr. Elisabeth Gerber, Dr. Mara Ostfeld

2019 - 2021 Primary Investigator, Sins of Omission: A Visual Content Analysis of the Portrayal of Racial Minorities

Michigan State University - East Lansing

Faculty Mentors: Dr. John Waller, Dr. Melissa Fore

Teaching

2021-2022 Teaching Assistant

Wayne State University - Detroit

Department of English, Basic Writing (ENG 1010), Dr. Thomas Trimble, Dr. Nicole Varty

2020 - 2021 Teaching Assistant

Michigan State University - East Lansing

Department of Sociology (SOC 100), Dr. Eric Beasley

Honors and Awards

Internal Funds

2023 National Center for Institutional Diversity Anti-Racism Grant ($5,000)

2022 Rackham Conference Travel Award, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ($900)

2022 Population Studies Center Conference Travel Award, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ($400)

2022 Clifford C. Clogg Scholarship, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ($2,800)

External Funds

2023 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship ($147,000)

2021 Population Studies Research Traineeship, Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD

2020 Provost Undergraduate Research Initiative, Michigan State University - East Lansing ($4,000)

2020 Andrew Undergraduate Fellowship, Michigan State University - East Lansing ($1,000)

2020 MLK, Jr. Advancing Inclusion Through Research Award ($300)

2020 Diversity Research Showcase, Michigan State University - East Lansing ($1,000)

2020 Richard B. Gerisch Scholarship, Michigan State University - East Lansing ($5,000)

2019 Ernest G. Green Black Alumni Scholarship, Michigan State University - East Lansing ($1,000)

2018 Guyer Public Policy Award, Michigan State University - East Lansing ($1,000)

2018 Reverend C.O. Stewart Education Ministry, Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church

Honors

2023 Honorable Mention - Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

Publications

*= GRADUATE STUDENT CO-AUTHOR

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Book Chapters

Benson, E*. 2021. “Dissecting the American History Textbook: A Content Analysis on the Erasure of Structural Racism and Oppressed Voices.” Social Science Scholars Program Volume 5. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press.

Non-Refereed Publications

Public Sociology (Writing)

Erykah Benson* & Jasmine Simington* (2023). “Forty Acres and a Mule? How Flint residents believe the government should repay Black Americans”. Issue Brief. Center for Racial Justice.

Erykah Benson* & Jasmine Simington* (2023). “Collective Remembrance and Detroiters’ Views Toward Racial Inequity.” Issue Brief. Center for Racial Justice.

Erykah Benson* & Jasmine Simington* (2022). “The Electoral Impact of Racial Reckoning: The Effect of Reparations Policy on Voter Engagement in Detroit.” Issue Brief. Center for Racial Justice.

Lydia Wileden & Erykah Benson*. (2022). “The Economic Well-Being of Detroit Residents Two Years Into the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Issue Brief. Detroit Metro Area Communities Study.

Presentations

Academic Conferences

2023 Hudgins, K.*, Benson, E.*, Simington, J*.“Crafting Democratic Futures: Understanding Political Conditions and Racialized Attitudes towards Black Reparations in the

US.” April 21st, 2023. Russell Sage Foundation. Black Reparations: Insights from the Social Sciences. New York City, NY.

2022 Benson, E*. “Entrepreneurship and Perceived Economic Uncertainty in Detroit during COVID-19.” November 17th - 19th, 2022. Association for Public Policy

Analysis and Management Fall Research Conference. Washington, D.C.

Other Colloquia or Conference Participation

2023 “The Love Jones Cohort: Single and Living Alone in the Black Middle Class: A Conversation with Dr. Kris Marsh.” Book Talk Discussant. October 3rd, 2023. Gerald R.

Ford School of Public Policy.

Public Panels

2022 Michigan Humanities Emerging Research Scholars Program (MICHHERS) Graduate Student Panel, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Select Media Coverage

“Detroiters' financial recovery from COVID mixed.” Axios. May 2022

“Housing costs take bulk of paycheck for thousands of Detroiters....” Detroit Free Press. May 2022

“What could improve Detroit turnout? Candidates who support reparations” Bridge Detroit. November 2022.

“Detroit residents largely support reparations, survey finds.” Crain’s Detroit. April 2023.

“U-M report: Half of Black Detroiters support reparations.” Michigan Chronicle. April 2023

“U-M report finds majority of Detroiters supports some form of reparations.” CBS News Detroit. April 2023

Departmental Service Activities

2023 - Present Student Coordinator, Race & Racial Identities Workshop, The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor