Faculty Spotlight: Min Li

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Dr. Min Li headshot

Dr. Min Li is a quantitative sociologist who explores the intersections of health, environment, and social inequality. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Florida, with a minor in statistics. She employs quantitative methods to analyze and interpret data on various social issues. She joined the Fitchburg State University in the fall of 2022 as an Assistant Professor of Sociology in Behavioral Sciences Department.

Dr. Li’s research interests crosscut a range of areas in Medical Sociology and Social Inequality, tracking discourses that naturalize and normalize inequality in the United States and around the world. During the pandemic, she focused on the impact of COVID-19 on racial minorities in the United States. She investigated how residential segregation, historical housing policies, and health inequality contributed to the disproportionate effects of the pandemic on racial groups.

She used New York city as a case study and tested that the unequal distribution of COVID-related fatalities along racial lines may have resulted from the segregation of the minorities in neighborhoods afflicted with poverty and all accompanying health-compromising conditions. Another ongoing project of Dr. Li addresses the issue of racial inequality in food access and mobility patterns in Boston. She analyzes how residents’ daily mobility influences their access to food and other resources, and how this varies by neighborhood disadvantage. She aims to identify areas with multiple disadvantage and food insecurity, and to understand the structural factors that create and maintain these inequalities. She hopes that her research will inform effective interventions to improve food access and reduce social isolation for residents of
disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Dr. Li teaches a range of sociology courses, from introductory to advanced levels. In her Introduction to Sociology class, she helps students connect the course material with their own experiences and apply sociological concepts to everyday situations. In her upper-level courses, such as Environmental Sociology, Sociology of Aging, and Medical Sociology, she uses debates as a pedagogical tool to foster active learning and critical thinking. Through carefully selected topics, she engages students in lively discussions and reflections on current social issues.

Outside of the classroom, Min enjoys calligraphy, piano, and ice skating. She started ice skating when she moved to Massachusetts and has been practicing regularly ever since. She also likes to read classic novels. Notably, a poignant quote from "The Great Gatsby" resonates deeply with her: “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantage that you’ve had.” This powerful sentiment mirrors her commitment to the study of social inequality as a sociologist.

Selected publications:

  • Li, M., & Yuan, F. (2022). Historical redlining and food environments: A study of 102 urban areas in the United States. Health & Place, 75, 102775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102775
  • Li, M., & Yuan, F. (2021). Historical redlining and resident exposure to COVID-19: A study of New York City. Race and Social Problems, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-021-09338-z
  • Yuan, F., Li, M., Liu, R., Zhai, W., & Qi, B. (2021). Social media for enhanced understanding of disaster resilience during Hurricane Florence. International Journal of Information Management, 57, 02289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102289
  • Yuan, F., Liu, R., Mao, L., & Li, M., (2020). Internet of people enabled framework for evaluating performance loss and resilience of urban critical infrastructures. Safety Science 134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105079
  • Yuan, F., Li, M., & Liu, R. (2020). Understanding the evolutions of public responses using social media: Hurricane Matthew case study. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 51, 101798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101798
  • Wang, C., & Li, M. (2018). Gender Differences in Employment among People with Disabilities in China. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 29(1), 12-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207317745667
  • Li, M., & Wang, C. (2017). The association between the new rural cooperative medical system and health care seeking behavior among middle-aged and older Chinese. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 29(2), 168–181. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2016.1220225