Dr. Colleen Heflin

Associate Professor 229 Middlebush Hall Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-4398 Fax:  (573) 884-4872 Email:  HeflinCM@missouri.edu Curriculum Vitae

Ph.D. in Sociology,
University of Michigan, 2002

Dr. Heflin's work is informed by the study of processes that create systems and patterns of social stratification. However, since she is interested in how social policies affect the well-being of vulnerable populations, her work falls at the boundaries of sociology, economics, public health, public administration, and women’s studies. Her interdisciplinary research program focuses on understanding the survival strategies employed by low-income households to make ends meet, the implications of using these strategies for individual and household well-being, and how public policies influence well-being. A central focus of her work has been understanding the causes and consequences of material hardship. Current projects examine how the population using food stamps and unemployment insurance have changed with the recent recession, how household wealth may be impacted when siblings experience economic shocks, and the extent to which veteran status moderates the association between disability status and poverty/material hardship.