Verna Keith, Ph.D., professor and chair for the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Sociology, has been awarded the James R. Greenley Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Sociology of Mental Health. The recognition is awarded by the Society for the Study of Social Problems, Society and Mental Health Division.
Keith’s teaching and research interest focus on social inequalities and health, as a product of the early graduate training in social demography. During graduate school, Keith worked on projects that emphasized race, social class and gender differences in rural-urban migration, labor force participation, and attitudes toward public policy.
“UAB provides a rich intellectual environment that allows my work to flourish in novel and unexpected ways,” Keith said. “My time here has been productive and stimulating, and I am enjoying new research partnerships that address health disparities.”
After she completed studies at the University of Michigan in the School of Public Health, Keith’s research centered around inequalities in health with particular emphasis on understanding the relationship between social hierarchies and health outcomes.
Keith was also elected as chair-elect for the Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities for the American Sociological Association.
The James R. Greenley Award recognizes individuals who have distinguished careers and have made a significant impact on the field through their scholarship, teaching and community involvement.