Graduate Student
Specialization:
Race and Ethnicity, Intersectionality, Social Psychology, Conversation Analysis, Ethnomethodology
Bio:
Liz Munday is a doctoral student in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research primarily focuses on the use of "implicit bias" as an interactional resource in conversations, examining how participants navigate and account for behaviors that may otherwise appear deliberately biased. Employing an ethnomethodological conversation analytic approach, Liz’s work contributes to a deeper understanding of social interactions and the subtle dynamics of bias in everyday communication.
Liz holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Summa Cum Laude with Distinction in the Major, from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her academic journey includes several research projects, such as exploring the social visibility of race in her senior honors thesis, where she investigated how stereotypes influence the perception of race in the absence of explicit racial cues. Additionally, Liz has been involved in examining media descriptors in mass shootings under the guidance of Dr. Tristan Bridges, where she analyzed the portrayal of perpetrators and victims in media narratives. She also contributed to projects on reproductive healthcare and Black spirituality, showcasing her versatile research capabilities. Liz’s commitment to research excellence has been recognized through numerous awards and fellowships, including the Louis H. Towbes Graduate Fellowship, the U.C. Chancellor’s Fellowship, and the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research.
Beyond her research, Liz is dedicated to teaching and mentorship. She has served as a teaching assistant for various sociology courses, such as Introduction to Ethnomethodology and Special Topics in Research Methods. Liz’s dedication to student support and academic service has made a significant impact on her peers and the broader academic community.
Liz’s future research endeavors aim to advance the field of ethnomethodology and conversation analysis by meticulously examining the organizational structures of social interactions and the intricate ways implicit biases are navigated and expressed. Her work will focus on the interactions that reveal broader social patterns and contribute to the perpetuation of societal norms. By examining real-life conversational exchanges, Liz seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the tacit rules and practices that underlie social behaviors. This research will not only enhance theoretical frameworks but also offer practical insights for addressing implicit bias in various social contexts, thereby bridging the gap between abstract sociological concepts and tangible social issues