Makaela Brass

Research Interests: Race/Ethnicity, Crime, Human Trafficking, Black Feminisms

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Education: 
BA: Sociology, 2023, Vanguard University of Southern California

Bio: 
Makaela Brass is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at the University at Buffalo. She holds a certificate in Anti-Human Trafficking, which has significantly shaped her research interests. Her work focuses on the intersections of race/ethnicity, gender, culture, and other social inequalities, particularly in relation to human trafficking and exploitation. Additionally, Makaela is deeply interested in Black feminism. She aims to explore how interactions within communities and cultures generate social expectations and controlling images among Black women, leading to their exploitation.

Presentations:

Brass, Makaela. 2024. "Misogynoir and Digital Violence: Understanding the Intersections of Race and Gender among Digital Platforms." Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Brass, Makaela, Zara Escamilla, and Isaac Voss. 2022. "A Tale of Three Congregations: Building Resilience in Congregations in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods." Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Student Congress on Racial Reconciliation Conference. November 30, Costa Mesa, CA.
   
Ruthi Hanchett, and Makaela Brass. 2023. "Prevention Through Policy and Youth Empowerment." Plenary at the Annual Ensure Justice Conference. March 4, Costa Mesa, CA.

Email: makaelab@buffalo.edu