As a public sociologist, I research inequalities in the construction trades and advocate to increase opportunities for women and people of color in the trades. My evaluation research with Dr. Lindsey Wilkinson has assessed variety of programs intended to increase the recruitment and retention of diverse workers in the trades, including the Highway Construction Workforce Development Program, Green Dot for the Trades, Oregon Tradeswomen and Constructing Hope pre-apprenticeship programs, Mentorship Matters, and City of Seattle Acceptable Work Sites.
Additionally, I am a feminist sociologist with interests in gender, sexualities, work and occupations, popular culture, and research methods. My research has assessed the experiences of queer and trans people, particularly in the context of work. I have also written about research methods about in a variety of contexts, most extensively in my edited volume Feminist Research in Practice.
I teach a variety of graduate courses, including a seminar on gender inequality and courses on qualitative and mixed methods. At the undergraduate level, I teach courses on gender, sexuality, and popular culture.
See www.maura-kelly.com for more information on my research.