Laura Napolitano, PhD is Chair and Associate Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice and faculty advisor at the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated at Rutgers University Camden. Broadly, she focuses on inequality among families using cross-sectional and longitudinal research designs.

Dr. Napolitano received the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2024. She is a Civic Engagement Faculty Fellow, Writing and Design Lab Fellow, and Digital Teaching Fellow. She received her Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania and her B.S. in Sociology from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Before coming to Rutgers, Professor Napolitano was a Harold A. Richman Postdoctoral Fellow at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.