Dr. Pfeffer's research is at the intersection of critical inquiry into contemporary families, genders, health, sexualities, and bodies considered marginal, as well as social actors’ management of stigma and discrimination processes. She received interdisciplinary multi-method training in the social sciences and humanities at the University of Michigan and her research has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and American Council of Learned Societies. She has served as elected Chair of the section on Sexualities and Secretary-Treasurer of the section on Body and Embodiment of the American Sociological Association. She is currently Professor and Chair of Sociology, Core Faculty Affiliate of the Center for Gender in Global Context, a Community-Engaged Research Fellow, and a Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Fellow at Michigan State University.