Kathleen D'Alfonso
Research Interests: Medical Sociology; Teaching and Learning; Life course; Deviance; Quantitative Methods
Pronouns: she/her
Education:
MA: Sociology, 2023, University at Buffalo
B.A: Sociology, Minor: Psychology, 2021, St. John Fisher College
B.A: Public Health, Minor: Gerontology, 2021, St. John Fisher College
A.S: Psychology, 2019, Monroe Community College
A.A.S: General Science, 2019, Monroe Community College
Recent courses taught:
Introduction to Sociology
Sociology of Deviance
Social Problems
Basic Statistics for Social Sciences
Sociology of Aging
Bio:
Kathleen D'Alfonso is a PhD candidate in the Department of Sociology and Criminology who has extensive experience teaching both in person and online, specifically having served as the instructor of record for 17 courses with class sizes ranging from 21 to 75 students. Kathleen's commitment to teaching mentorship has led to invitations to present at TA orientations, lead campus workshops, and speak on the Teaching Table Podcast at the University at Buffalo. Through these efforts, she has sought to cultivate communities of practice that extend the impact of inclusive pedagogy across departments and institutions. Simultaneously, Kathleen's research interests are focused on health insurance status across the life course with particular attention in the dissertation on the transition to adulthood. She additionally has a working paper investigating whether the association between insurance status (being privately, publicly, or uninsured) and two dimensions of health varies by nativity and citizenship.
Presentations:
D’Alfonso, Kathleen R. 2025. “Health Insurance Patterns and Health in Young Adulthood.” Presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, August 11, Chicago, IL.
D’Alfonso, Kathleen R. 2025. “Describing Patterns of Health Insurance in Emerging Adulthood.” Presented at the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood Conference, June 4, Charleston, SC.
D’Alfonso, Kathleen R. 2025. “Refining Library Research through AI: An Introduction to Approaching AI Integration for Undergraduate Students.” Presented at the Teaching and Learning Conference, June 5, Rochester, NY.
D’Alfonso, Kathleen R. 2024. “The Long Arm of Health Insurance Coverage.” Presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, August 12, Montreal, QC.
D’Alfonso, Kathleen R., A. Welch, and M. Williams. 2023. “Affordability, Access, and Allowance: Reproductive Freedom and the Entitlement of Purchased Family.” Presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, August 9, Philadelphia, PA.
D’Alfonso, Kathleen R. 2023. “Does Health Insurance Matter?” Presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, August 8, Philadelphia, PA.
Email: krdalfon@buffalo.edu