2023 Foundation Professor Marta Elliott

Marta Elliott began her career at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1996 as an assistant professor in sociology and social psychology. Now, nearly 30 years later, she’s continuing the leading-edge research and work done in both the Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Ph.D. Program and the Department of Sociology — where she now serves as chair.

“One thing that keeps me here is my role as chair,” said Elliott. “I love that I’m able to participate in hiring junior faculty and mentoring them to ensure their success. I love taking care of an entire department in the discipline that means so much to me.”

In the classroom, Elliott’s teaching focuses on methods and statistics, ranging from introductory to advanced undergraduate and graduate-level seminars. She also teaches topical courses in her research area centered on the social determinants of health and mental health.

“These classes are always very meaningful because many students come in with a pretty narrow understanding of health. And in sociology we expand the lens to look at how social conditions affect people and not just biological conditions or psychology,” said Elliott. “In my research, I involve my students very much as collaborators and we work side-by-side in generating the ideas that we test and planning our data collection, and in analyzing our data, and writing our papers and publishing them. Beyond the University, I believe the findings of my research impact peoples’ well-being. I study peoples’ experiences in the mental health care system, from being diagnosed to living with their diagnosis and treatment. Getting their voices out to the public shares experiences that are usually behind closed doors and, by bringing those to light, gives an opportunity for things to improve for people.”