Dr Cassandra Chaney, PhD is a Professor in Child and Family Studies at Louisiana State University (LSU). Dr Chaney is broadly interested in the dynamics of African-American family life, yet under this umbrella are several primary areas. For one, Dr Chaney examines the narratives of African-Americans in dating, cohabiting, and married relationships, with a particular interest in relationship formation, maintenance, and stability. Furthermore, Dr Chaney explores the ways that religiosity and spirituality support African-Americans. Also, Dr Chaney examines the representation of African-American couples and families (e.g., structural and functional dynamics) in popular forms of mass media (i.e., television shows, movies, music videos, and song lyrics). Given the increasing number of African Americans that have been murdered by members of law enforcement, her work critically examines how racism is demonstrated and solidified via individuals and institutions in America. Given the unique sociohistorical challenges of Black families, her research provides recommendations regarding how policy can better meet the needs of Black families who experience heightened rates of incarceration, unemployment, weakened family structures, and racism. Most important, her scholarship is rooted in a strengths-based perspective and emphasises the various ways that Black families remain resilient in the face of these challenges. In additional to publishing over 70 manuscripts in multiple journals in the United States and abroad, she has also presented her research during many local, state, and national conferences. She has been invited to contribute chapters for over ten book volumes relating to the topics of African American community sentiment regarding marriage, marriage promotion, strong Black marriages, and the racial experiences of Black professors at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). She is the Associate Editor of the Journal of Hip-Hop Studies (JHHS), and is on the editorial boards of Family Relations, International Journal of Crisis Journalism, the Editorial Manager of PLOS One, and is Review Board Member of Social Work Online. She published the co-edited the book Black Women in Leadership: Their Historical and Contemporary Contributions with Dr. Dannielle Joy Davis (Peter Lang Publishers) which explores the leadership experiences of Black women within macro level (such as education, industry, and social services) and micro level (such as family and individual churches) contexts. This interdisciplinary work examines leadership practices, highlighting the historical and current triumphs and barriers of Black women in these roles. Currently, Dr Chaney is writing two co-authored books related to the characteristics of strong Black marriages and community perceptions of law enforcement.
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About Affiliation
The Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy. The current LSU main campus was dedicated in 1926, consists of more than 250 buildings constructed in the style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, and occupies a 650-acre (2.6 km²) plateau on the banks of the Mississippi River.
LSU is the flagship school of the state of Louisiana, as well the flagship institution of the Louisiana State University System, and is the most comprehensive university in Louisiana. In 2017, the university enrolled over 25,000 undergraduate and over 5,000 graduate students in 14 schools and colleges. Several of LSU’s graduate schools, such as the E.J. Ourso College of Business and the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, have received national recognition in their respective fields of study. Designated as a land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant institution, LSU is also noted for its extensive research facilities, operating some 800 sponsored research projects funded by agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
LSU’s athletics department fields teams in 21 varsity sports (9 men’s, 12 women’s), and is a member of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and the SEC (Southeastern Conference). The university is represented by its mascot, Mike the Tiger.
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This profile appears in the World Book of Researchers 2018.
Information correct as on 06 July 2018 0515 HRS GMT.