About Us

Data in Service to Community

Founded in 2019, the CLASS Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality is the first university-based think tank on gender and sexuality in our region. Focused on Houston and Harris County, our researchers examine the many challenges around these matters now facing individuals, policymakers, businesses and the community.

IRWGS faculty and staff generate data, innovative research, and dialogue within the community on the ways gender and sexuality, viewed intersectionally, affect all aspects of life, including workforce, health, family and relationships, social dynamics, leadership and equity. We aim to spark community discussion, engage current and future leaders, transform public policy and enhance well-being. Demographically, Houston forecasts America’s future, and our findings will inform national discussion as well.

Administration/Staff

Dean, CLASS

Daniel P. O’Connor, Ph.D.

Director

Elizabeth Gregory, Ph.D.

Team

Zach Hough, M.Econ.
Itzel Martinez, M.Ed. 

Past Postdocs

Saumali Daundesekara, Ph.D. (Kinesiology) 2019
Claire Chi-Hung Kang, Ph.D. (Economics) 2020-2022

Graduate Students

Yuwei Zhang (Economics) - 2025-2027
Elham Oghabi (English - 2026
Zahra Tavana (English) 2025-2026
Irene Yue (Bauer Business) 2025
Ezechias Djima (Economics) 2024-2025 
itzia Medrano (Sociology) - 2024
Shreedevi Nandam (Bauer Business) - 2024
Erika Callicott (Economics) — 2022-2023
Alexandra Hallberg (English) - 2022-2023
Yujie Zhang (Economics) — 2022-2023
Carolina Garza (Statistics & Data Science) — 2022
Anh Nguyen (Statistics & Data Science) — 2021
Itzel Martinez (Education) 2020-21 
Sandra Poblano (Sociology) 2019

Undergraduate Students

Dulcemaria Oviedo (Economics) - 2026-2027
Adefemi Abimbola (Economics) - 2024-2025
Elsie Bura (Computer Science) – 2023
Isela Garcia-Hinojosa (Computer Information Systems) - 2022-2023 
Sarosha Momin (Public Health) — 2021-2022

Steering Committee

Amanda Baumle, Ph.D.
Guillermo de los Reyes, Ph.D.
Chinhui Juhn, Ph.D.

Advisory Council

• Sue Payne, Chair
  
• Carmen Peña Abrego
  Dina Alsowayel
  Nina Andrews Karohl
• Annette Bracey
• Lemar Brown
  Patricia Cabrera
  Decie Autin Coleman
  Ruth Dreessen
  Caroline Fant
  Samina Farid
• MaryScott Hagle
  Eliza Horn
• Geordie Hrdlicka
• Mandy Kao
• Shannon Langrand
• GinRu Lee
• Susana Monteverde
  Tanya Pal
• Kathryn Peek, Ph.D. 
• Beverly Robinson
• Yava Scott
  Joy Sewing
  Shreela Sharma
• Angela Shippy, M.D.
• Carey Shuart
• MaryRoss Taylor
• Patricia Gardner Young