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Janel Benson

Assistant Professor of Sociology
Sociology & Anthropology , 425 Alumni Hall
p 315 2286095

Degree

 BA, Franklin and Marshall College

MA, PhD, University of Pennsylvania

Interests

 My research investigates sources of risk and resiliency in the transition from early adolescence to young adulthood. I am particularly interested in how contexts of development in early life shape attainment, family formation, identity and health in adulthood.

Specialities

 Adolescence and the Transition to Adulthood, Life Course, Family, Education, Race/Ethnicity, Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Publications

Benson, Janel. forthcoming. “The Transition to Adulthood.” In The Handbook of Child Well-being, edited by Asher Ben-Arieh, Ferran Casas, Ivar Frones, and Jill Korbin.

Benson, Janel, Monica K. Johnson, and Glen H. Elder. 2012. "The Implications of Young Adult Identity for Educational and Work Attainment in Young Adulthood." Developmental Psychology, 48(6): 1752-1758.

Johnson, Monica and Janel Benson. 2012. “Family Context, Parent-Child Relationships, and Achievement in Young Adulthood.” In Early Adulthood in a Family Context, edited by Alan Booth, Susan L. Brown, Nancy Landale, Wendy Manning, and Susan M. McHale. New York: Springer.

Benson, Janel and Glen Elder, Jr. 2011. “Young Adult Identities and Their Pathways: A Developmental and Life Course Model.” Developmental Psychology, 14(6): 1646-1657.

Burdette, Amy; Wang, Victor; Elder, Glen H.; Hill, Terrence; Benson, Janel. 2009. “Serving God and Country? Religious Involvement and Military Service among Young Adult Men.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 48(4): 794-804.

Benson, Janel and Monica Kirkpatrick Johnson. 2009. “Adolescent Family Context and Adult Identity Formation.” Journal of Family Issues, 30(9): 1265-1286.

Benson, Janel. 2007. “Make New Friends but Keep the Old: Peers and the Transition to College.” Advances in Life Course Research, 12: 309-334.

Benson, Janel and Frank F. Furstenberg. 2006. “Entry into Adulthood: Are Adult Role Transitions Meaningful Markers of Adult Identity?” Advances in Life Course Research, 11: 199-224.

Benson, Janel. 2006. “Exploring the Racial Identities of Black Immigrants in the United States.” Sociological Forum, 21: 219-247.

Media Coverage

Radio interview with Nikki Medoro of KGO Radio in San Francisco about the consequences of growing up too fast (11/30/2012) Listen Here

Contribution to the New York Times Room for Debate Discussion on Family Values (April, 24, 2012): "Regulating Sex is a Distraction."

Distinctions

 Principal Investigator, Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute Grant, Colgate University. "The Implications of Maturational Timing and Racial Stressors on the Mental Health of Racial Minority Young Adults.”

Teaching Experience
  • Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
  • Sociology of Education
  • Sociology of the Family
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • Senior Research Seminar
  • Transition to Adulthood in Contemporary Society

Other

 Academic Liaison, Colgate University Women's Softball Team

Institutional Review Board, Colgate University

Board Member, A Better Chance Fayetteville Manlius