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Marci Bounds Littlefield

Assistant Professor of Sociology
Interim Director, IUPUI Diversity Scholars Research Program

Surrounded by colorful photographs of her children, Assistant Professor of Sociology Marci Littlefield explains that as a little girl she dreamed of becoming a lawyer. With the support and encouragement of her mother and grandmother she became the first member of her family to attend college.

After completing an undergraduate degree in political science and a master's degree in public policy, Littlefield debated whether she still desired to pursue that law degree. She aspired to more than a traditional 9-5 job, something with "more time to think and be creative." A professor asked if she had ever thought about a Ph.D. in Sociology. Littlefield realized teaching would provide more opportunities to affect larger numbers of people, and decided to take her professor's advice. She finished the course work and then took a break to get married and start a family, postponing her dissertation for several years.

After finally receiving her Ph.D., Littlefield decided to pursue an academic career. Faculty work fits her goal-oriented, creative nature and values her two professional priorities: teaching and research. One of her current book projects focuses on high-income black women and their views on marriage. A trip to Chicago and New York this fall will give her the opportunity to research how black churches utilize community programs. In the classroom, she leads by example, encouraging students to "look at all your options." Littlefield believes that supporting and mentoring students greatly impacts their lives and careers.

This year, Littlefield is taking her commitment to students and research to a new level. As the Interim Director of the Diversity Scholars Research Program she will manage a scholarship program that brings promising undergraduates together with research mentors from the university and business, creating a highly specialized and personalized undergraduate experience.

Recently, one of Littlefield's undergraduate student mentees finished a master's degree at IU Bloomington, and is now planning to continue to a PhD program. Student successes like this one remind Littlefield every day that forgoing law for teaching in higher education was the right choice for her. It was the right choice for IUPUI, too.

--Colleen Card, BA English 2008
Liberal Arts News Bureau

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Assistant Professor Marci Bounds Littlefield explains that as a little girl she dreamed of becoming a lawyer.

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