Faculty

Jennifer Melvin

Assistant Professor of Sociology, Sociology Program Coordinator

Contact

JMelvin@flagler.edu
904-826-8638
74 Riberia Street, Room 204

Department

Behavioral Sciences
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Professional Profile

Dr. Melvin earned her Ph.D. in Sociology with an emphasis in Demography from the University of Texas at Austin. She received her M.A. and B.A. in Sociology from the University of Florida. Professor Melvin was a research associate at the Population Research Center at the University of Texas, during which time she was awarded an NICHD research grant to study how nativity status combines with race and gender to create unique trajectories of health and functioning in later life. Her current research investigates health disparities in our rapidly aging population, with a focus on the intersection of race, ethnicity, nativity, and gender. 

Education:

  • Ph.D. Sociology with focus on Demography from University of Texas at Austin
  • M.A. Sociology University of Florida
  • B.A. Sociology University of Florida 

Teaching

Area of Research:

  • Health Disparities
  • Social Stratification
  • Aging Social Demography

Courses Taught:

  • Introduction to Sociology
  • Social Problems
  • Marriage and Family
  • Health and Society
  • Social Stratification: Race/Ethnicity, Gender and Sexuality
  • Sociology of Health and Aging
  • Cultural Diversity in Society
  • Research Methods for Social Science
  • Senior Seminar in Sociology

Research

Publications: Books

  • Debating Social Problems. (Routledge) Steverson, Leonard and Jennifer E. Melvin. In Press. 2018.
  • Muntz, Patricia., Jennifer E. Melvin & Christine Nortz. (2009). Introductory Sociology. Jacksonville, FL: McGraw-Hill.

Publications: Peer Reviewed Articles

  • Garcia, Marc A., Ronald J. Angel, Jacqueline L. Angel, and Jennifer E. Melvin. (2015) “Acculturation, Gender and Active Life Expectancy in the Mexican-Origin Population" Journal of Aging and Health.
  • Melvin, Jennifer E., Robert A. Hummer, Irma Elo, and Neil Mehta. (2014). “Race/Ethnic and Nativity Differentials in Disability and Physical Functioning in the United States. ” Demographic Research. 31:497-510.
  • Hummer, Robert A., Jennifer E. Melvin, and Monica He. (2014) “Immigrant Health and Mortality”, in International Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2nd edition, edited by James Wright: Elsevier
  • Hummer, Robert A., Jennifer E. Melvin, Connor Sheehan, and Ying-Ting Wang. (2013) “Race/Ethnicity, Mortality and Longevity," in Handbook of Minority Aging. edited by Kyriakos S. Markides and Kerstin Gerst: Springer. 

Presentations at Professional Meeting:

Melvin, Jennifer E. “Race, Ethnic, and Nativity Differentials in Household Activity Limitations for Older Adults in the U.S.” Presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, August 2017

Melvin, Jennifer E. “The Not So Golden Years: Aging Foreign-born Women”. Presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, April 2015

Melvin, Jennifer E., Robert A. Hummer, Irma Elo, Neil Mehta. "Disparities in Physical Functioning during Middle and Late Life." Presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, August 2014.

Melvin, Jennifer E. "Race/Ethnic and Nativity Differentials in Functioning." Presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, May 2014

Melvin, Jennifer E. and Robert A. Hummer. "Race/Ethnic and Nativity Differentials in Physical Functioning during Middle and Late Life." Presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, New York, NY, August 2013.

Melvin, Jennifer E. and Robert A. Hummer. "Race/Ethnic and Nativity Differentials in Functional Limitations." Presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, May 2013.

Melvin, Jennifer E. and Robert A. Hummer. "Race/Ethnic and Nativity Differentials in Late-Life Disability." To be presented at the Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. November 2012.

Melvin, Jennifer E. and Robert A. Hummer. "Race/Ethnic and Nativity Differentials in Mid-Life and Late-Life Disability in the United States." Presented at the Population Association of America Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 3-5 May 2012.

Melvin, Jennifer E. and Tetyana Pudrovska. "Marital Status, Gender, and Alcohol Use in Late Midlife." Presented at the Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting, Boston, MA. November 2011.

Professional Activities:

  • Faculty Sponsor, Alpha Kappa Delta Honors Society, Flagler Chapter
  • Reviewer, Journal of Aging and Health
  • Reviewer, Demography
  • Reviewer, Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
  • Reviewer: Journal of Sociological Perspectives

More Information

Professional Awards and Honors:

2010-2011
Graduate Diversity Fellowship, University of Texas at Austin 

2012-2013
Dissertation Fellowship: University of Texas -- African Diaspora Studies

2014-2015
Dissertation Fellowship: National Institute of Child Health Development 

Membership:

  • Member, American Sociological Association
  • Member, Population Association of America
  • Member, Eastern Sociology Society

Office Hours (On Campus): 

  • Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM