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Spencer L. James

Family Fellow

Spencer L. James is an Associate Professor of Family Life and an Africana Studies affiliate at Brigham Young University. He earned a dual Ph.D. in Sociology and Demography at Penn State University. His research centers on global family relationships and how those relationships influence the wellbeing of children, adolescents, and adults. Presently, he is directing the Global Families Research Initiative, which aims to inform the curious public, policymakers, journalists, academics, and other stakeholders of current trends shaping contemporary family life across the globe. Dr. James is an internationally recognized expert on global family trends and has published articles in leading journals in family science, sociology, demography, psychology, and social work. He serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Comparative Family Studies and is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Marriage and Family, Family Relations, The International Journal of African Studies, and The International Journal of Public Health and Environmental Research. Dr. James is also an internationally recognized expert on global family trends and has published articles in leading journals.