Head shot of Christina Cross

Christina Cross, PhD

Assistant Professor
Sociology, Harvard University

Christina Cross is an assistant professor of sociology at Harvard University. Cross’s research examines how family structure, change, and dynamics influence individual well-being across the life course, particularly among minority and/or low-income populations. Her current work focuses on 1) documenting the prevalence and predictors of previously underexplored family structures that are common among disadvantaged populations (e.g., the extended family); 2) investigating the relationship between family dynamics and child outcomes and the extent to which it differs by structural position; and 3) examining within-group heterogeneity in family processes among major racial/ethnic groups. Cross was a postdoctoral fellow at HCPDS (2020–2022), and holds a PhD in public policy and sociology from the University of Michigan.