New Faculty Spotlight: Maintaining the Humble Work

Stephanie M. Ortiz, Ph.D., came to FAU with the intention to develop a deeper understanding of racial and gender inequalities in everyday life, particularly in new media spaces. She is a first-generation, working-class woman of color who was born and raised in Connecticut by Puerto Rican teen parents. "Everyday life in a state with such enormous income inequality shaped my concern for how people navigate structural barriers, especially at the intersection of race and gender," she said.

Ortiz joined FAU in the Fall of 2020 after earning her master's in ethnic studies at San Francisco State University and her doctorate in sociology from Texas A&M University. Her research primarily focuses on online gaming, trolling, racism and sexism across social media. She aims to help students learn a vocabulary to describe the world around them, develop deeper questions about the inequalities they witness and experience, and realize their power in enacting agency in their lives. As a new faculty member at FAU, Ortiz looks forward to "fusing our collective talents and interests."

Here's a look at Ortiz's research and her journey to FAU:

Q. What is your research focus?

A. I'm interested in the relationship between racial/gendered inequalities and everyday practices. How the interactions and rules we take for granted at work, within the family, and across online spaces reproduce inequality, but also how that inequality then shapes our daily social lives.

Q. What is your goal for this research? How will FAU help you in the journey?

A. My research, like much of sociology in general, is about taking what seems obvious or very personal and showing the larger, societal processes that gave rise to that experience or event. It's been my goal to draw attention to how identity-based harassment online fits into — and distinctly contributes to — how racism and sexism maintain power.

Q. If you could give advice to a person who is considering a career in your field, what would you say?

A. No matter what role you choose to take as a sociologist (educator, researcher, advocate, or a resource for people doing justice work) you must stay humble. We don't know more than artists, activists, or even our own families — we just have a different form of knowledge that can be used as a tool for those who need it.

Q. What are your hobbies interests outside of research?

A. I love gardening and swimming in the ocean. I'm obsessed with my dogs and conure [a small, type of colorful parrot]. I also spend a fair amount of time on social media staying connected with friends and family.