Carrie Seigler

Department: Sociology
Faculty Adviser: Matthew Desmond
Year of Study: G6
Undergraduate School: Furman University (Greenville, SC)
Undergraduate Major: Sociology; Poverty Studies

Personal Bio

My name is Carolina, but everyone calls me Carrie! South Carolina is my home: it’s where I was born, where I grew up, and even where I went to college (Go, Dins!). Before coming to Princeton, I spent three years as the Multifaith Coordinator at Elon University’s Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. Before that, I worked for the Community Development Project of NYC’s Urban Justice Center. And before *that*, I worked at your friendly neighborhood Trader Joe’s.

Although I took a lot of courses in Religious Studies and Philosophy while an undergraduate, I fell in love with the way social scientists (especially sociologists and social psychologists) understand the world. I had the opportunity to work on a variety of great research projects throughout my time in college. Some of these were collaborative (like working with a Botswana-based nonprofit to get a sense of what people in their communities knew about sexual assault) and others were independent (like understanding the social organization and mobilization of LGBTQ+ Christians in the US South), but every research experience was incredible. I am excited that you, too, are considering research as an undergraduate!

I am particularly interested in connecting with students who don’t see their academic or personal interests fitting in with “traditional” scholarly research efforts. For example, do you find yourself discerning a vocational calling? Are you looking at attending divinity school or seminary? Considering a career in social work, direct service, or advocacy? Not even sure if your interests align with “doing research”? I would love to meet you and imagine ways that you *can* get involved!

Fun Fact

Before college, I trained at a fine arts institute.

Research Pitch

Broadly, I look at gendered and sexualized inequalities within organizations. I have examined this topic in several ways using several different methods, but my dissertation specifically explores how religious organizations procedurally handle instances of sexual misconduct among prospective leaders. My research focuses on understanding the decision-making processes of religious stakeholders when they're aware of a candidate's past misconduct. By studying how these organizations balance morality, authority, and trust, I aim to uncover why systemic sexual misconduct persists in these settings. My work fills a gap in understanding the organizational factors that contribute to these issues, using methods like social experiments and qualitative interviews to gather data. This research is crucial for shedding light on how institutions may inadvertently enable misconduct, ultimately contributing to more ethical practices in religious and other value- or mission-driven organizations.

Upcoming Programs That I Am Attending:

Plans for Summer 2025

Interested in participating in Summer 2025 ReMatch+ program.