Skip to main content
GGD PARC
Population Studies Center
  • About
    • PSC within Penn
    • Services
      • Administrative Services
      • Library & Information Services
      • IRB & Human Subjects
      • Computing Services
        • Social Sciences Computing
        • Room Reservations
        • Office of Software Licensing
        • Technology Purchasing Guide
        • Computer Lab Information
        • Instructional Technology & Pedagogy Support Services for Faculty
        • Latest Supported Computing Products from ISC
        • Computing Help
      • Resources
    • Information for Visitors
    • Contact Us
    • PSC Space
      • PSC Conference Room, Collaboration Space, and Commons Reservation Form
  • People
    • Research Associates
    • Research Affiliates
    • Postdocs & Visitors
    • GGD Faculty
    • Spotlight
    • Students
      • Students (Alphabetical)
    • Alumni
      • Alumni (Alphabetical)
    • Staff
    • Students on the Job Market
    • Emeritus Research Associates
  • Research
    • Primary Research Areas
      • New Dynamics of Population Diversity
      • Formal Demography and Demographic Methods
      • Child Development and Human Endowments
      • Structures of Inequality and the Life Course
      • Population and the Environment
      • International Population Research
    • Research Projects
    • Pilot Awards
      • Pilot Project Competition
    • Etienne van de Walle Prize
    • Penn @ PAA
  • Working Papers
  • Newsletters
  • News
    • Funding
    • Conferences & Workshops
    • NICHD Funding Opportunities
    • Videos
    • News (Admin)
  • Events
    • Colloquium
    • All Past Events
    • Past Colloquium Events
  • Ph.D. Programs
    • Demography Ph.D.
    • Sociology Ph.D.
  • Partnerships
    • Internal Allied Centers & Initiatives
    • External Allied Centers & Initiatives
    • Association of Population Centers
    • Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science
    • NICHD Centers
    • NIA Centers

'' Dorothy Roberts Calls Out the 'Family Policing System' at Philly Child Welfare Reform Summit, The Philadelphia Inquirer The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Dorothy Roberts denounces systemic racism in Philadelphia’s child welfare s April 9, 2025
'' Dorothy Roberts Featured as One of the 50 Most Influential Leaders in Life Sciences, STAT STAT Names Dorothy Roberts as One of the 50 Influential People Shaping the Future of Health and Life Sciences on the 2025 STATUS List. April 1, 2025
'' Dorothy Roberts is Featured for Her Lifelong Work on Social Justice and Advocacy, Harvard Law Bulletin Dorothy Roberts is featured in Harvard Law Bulletin for her work challenging systems of injustice, particularly in child welfare, repro March 31, 2025
'' Dorothy Roberts Advances Reproductive Justice Through Penn Carey Law Course, Penn Today Penn Carey Law highlights January 13, 2025
'' Dorothy Roberts Teaches Reproductive Justice and Rights, Penn Carey Law Dorothy Roberts teaches a course on reproductive justice and rights at Penn Carey Law, emphasizing a broader, justice-c December 17, 2024
'' Dorothy Roberts Interviewed on Torn Apart, Her Groundbreaking Critique of the Child Welfare System, Current Affairs In an interview with Current Affairs, Dorothy Roberts talks about her decades-long research into the child welfare system, the rac December 13, 2024
"" Dorothy Roberts Awarded 2024 MacArthur Fellowship, The New York Times & Penn Today Featured in October 1, 2024
" " Dorothy Roberts is quoted on coerced home searches, Mother Jones Mother Jones quotes Dorothy Roberts on coerced home searches. February 21, 2024
" " Dorothy Roberts talks about the death of a 10-year-old Oʻahu girl, Hawaii Public Radio Hawaii Public Radio features Dorothy Roberts talking about th February 13, 2024
" " Dorothy Roberts addresses the question: Are Civil Rights Enough? Penn Today Penn Today highlights research associate Dorothy Roberts addressing the question January 31, 2024
" " Dorothy Roberts features in a podcast episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Podlink "Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families--and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World", is an episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, featuring Dorothy Roberts&nbsp October 27, 2023
" " Studies by Dolores Albarracin, Courtney Boen, Angela Duckworth, John MacDonald, Eugenia South, Dorothy Roberts and Sarah Tishkoff are highlighted, Research at Penn Research at Penn, 2023 Edition, features the research of Dolores Albarracin (pg 50), July 20, 2023
" " Dorothy Roberts' two books on Black children are featured, Reveal Reveal features two books authored by Dorothy Roberts, 'Shattered Bonds' and 'Killing the B July 1, 2023
" " Dorothy Roberts is quoted on child welfare system for black families, AP News In an article addressing the questions raised by a federal lawsuit on when social workers should separate families, AP News prominently features insig May 31, 2023
" " Dorothy Roberts elected to the American Philosophical Society, Penn Today Penn Today highlights Research Associate Dorothy Roberts being elected to the Am May 22, 2023
" " Dorothy Roberts is a new member of the American Philosophical Society, American Philosophical Society American Philosophical Society welcomes new members for 2023, and research associate Dorothy Roberts May 15, 2023
" " Dorothy Robert’s book "Torn Apart" is named as the most mind-blowing nonfiction book of 2022, The Guardian The Guardian features the historian Dr. Ibram X. January 28, 2023
" " Dorothy Roberts recently published “Race,” a chapter in The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, Penn Law Penn Law highlights that Dorothy Roberts was interviewed by Nikole Hannah-Jo January 26, 2023
" " Dorothy Roberts talks on dobbs decision’s impact on black women, pushkin Pushkin reported that Dorothy Roberts discussed in a podcast, the disproportionate impact the Dobbs decision is anticipated to have on Black women. January 24, 2023
Dorothy Roberts speaks about why "Black Families Matter" in the first episode of the Race and Regulation Podcast Series The first episode of Race and Regulation, a 10-podcast series created by the Penn Program on Regulation features PSC Research Associate Dorothy Roberts. November 9, 2022
Read an excerpt of Dorothy Robert’s new book, Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families - And how Abolition Can Build a Safer World, in Mother Jones PSC Assciate Dorothy Robert's new book analyzes the harmul impact of CPS on black families. April 4, 2022
Dorothy E. Roberts was featured in Penn Law News for a chapter she authored in The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story Dorothy E. March 23, 2022
Dorothy Roberts Interviewed in Youth Today about New Book Dorothy Roberts (PSC Research Associate) did a Q&A for Youth Today making the case to abolish th February 7, 2022
Dorothy Roberts featured on MSNBC News and in the 21st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture in Social Justice Dorothy Roberts (PSC Research Associate) participated in the 21st annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. January 25, 2022
Dorothy Roberts Quoted in ABC News Article Dorothy Roberts (PSC Research Associate) was quoted in an ABC News< December 1, 2021
Dorothy Roberts Featured in Panel Discussion on Anti-Racism Initiatives During the 7th Annual University of Pennsylvania Martin Luther King Jr. February 20, 2021
Dorothy Roberts and Julia Lynch featured on In These Times podcast Dorothy E. December 22, 2020
Dorothy Roberts featured in Penn Today about Public Safety Initiative Dorothy Roberts (PSC Research Associate) was featured in a Penn Today  August 12, 2020
Dorothy Roberts featured in Marketplace Tech podcast Dorothy Roberts (PSC Research Associate) was recently featured in the Marketplace Tech  August 12, 2020
Dorothy Roberts selected advisor on Public Safety Review and Outreach Initiative Dorothy Roberts (PSC Research Associate) has been selected to be a presidential advisor of Penn's new  July 31, 2020
Dorothy Roberts discusses economic inequality on MSNBC Dorothy Roberts (PSC Research Associate) appeared on MSNBC to discuss how to address economic inequality during the coronavirus pandemic with contributors Eddie Glaude and Ali Velshi. March 28, 2020
Angela Lee Duckworth and Dorothy Roberts featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer Angela Lee Duckworth (PSC Research Associate) and Dorothy Roberts (PSC Research Associate) featured in article on the stories of women in male-dominated fields. March 6, 2020
Dorothy Roberts’ Book featured in Rewire.News Killing the Black Body, a book by Dorothy Roberts (PSC Research Associate), has been included in the list of books recommended to understand the history of Roe v Wade. March 1, 2020
Book by Dorothy E. Roberts is Listed As Part of Zora Canon’s 100 Best Books by African American women Killing the Black Body, a book by Dorothy Roberts (PSC Research Associate) is on the list of 100 greatest books ever written by African American women by The Zora January 6, 2020
Dorothy Roberts on prison abolition constutionalism PIK Professor Dorothy Roberts has written the forward to the Harvard Law Review’s Supreme Court Issue. December 18, 2019
PSC Associate Dorothy Roberts publishes Harvard Law Review on prison abolition constitutionalism Dorothy E. Roberts has written the Foreword to Harvard Law Review’s Supreme Court Issue on the 2018 term.  November 7, 2019
’More And More Common’: Woman Indicted For Manslaughter After Her Fetus Was Shot PSC Associate Dorothy Roberts was interviewed by NPR about the case of Marshae Jones, who was indicted on manslaugh July 16, 2019
Law faculty react to SCOTUS ruling on jury selection in death penalty case Dorothy Roberts, PSC Associate, and co-author penned responses to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the conviction and death sentence of Curtis Flowers based on racially motivated exclusions of potential juro July 1, 2019
Dorothy Roberts’s book “Fatal Invention” tops New York Times “Antiracist Reading List” PSC Associate Dorothy Roberts' 2011 book Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-First Century (New Press), tops a new  July 1, 2019
Commencement Speaker Dorothy Roberts Shares Thoughts on Her Work, Rutgers-Newark PSC Associate Dorothy Roberts spoke at Rutgers University-Newark's commencement ceremony about her work on the intersection of rac June 9, 2019
Dorothy Roberts, PSC Associate, argues against the decision upheld by the United States Supreme Court in Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, Inc. Dorothy Roberts argues that Justice Clarence Thomas’s Box v. Planned Parenthood concurrence distorts history. Read more here June 5, 2019
Eugenics is Still a Dangerous Idea In an opinion piece for The Phila May 2, 2019
Research, context, and community merge at Penn and Slavery Symposium At the first Penn and Slavery Symposium, hosted by Dorothy Roberts and researchers, students, faculty, and community members talked about the University’s connections to slavery. April 8, 2019
Rutgers University − Newark Announces 2019 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient Dorothy E. Roberts has been named to be Rutgers University - Newark's 2019 commencement speaker. February 21, 2019
Parenthood lost: How incarcerated parents are losing their children forever PSC researcher, Dorothy Roberts, says the child-welfare system has a bias against poor people, especially mothers of color: “Instead of actually responding to the struggles of poor families … we’ve decided that it’s simpler to take their children away” December 4, 2018
What’s the most influential book of the past 20 years? "Killing The Black Body" by PSC Associate, Dorothy Roberts was listed on The Chronicle of Higher Education's list of influential books for the past 20 years. November 30, 2018
Anita Hill, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and Dorothy Roberts on inequality and sexual harassment In a Wednesday evening campus event, UCLA’s Kimberlé Crenshaw, PSC researcher Dorothy Roberts, and Brandeis University’s Anita Hill looked at the recent Supreme Court confirmation hearings, comparing them to the 1991 Clarence Thomas confirmation process. October 15, 2018
Dorothy E. Roberts on how prison and foster care systems harm black mothers In the new volume of the book “Reassembling Motherhood: Procreation and Care in a Globalized World,” PSC researcher Dorothy E. October 5, 2018
The Breach—’We Don’t Heal from It.’ Dorothy Roberts was interviewed on Rewire.News about the effects of drug use during pregnancy leading to felonies. September 28, 2018
What’s At Stake If Brett Kavanaugh Ascends To The Supreme Court PSC Associate, Dorothy Roberts, was quoted in a Pacific Standard Magazine article about the Kavanaugh hearings and how his ascent to the suprem September 13, 2018
Serena Williams is always going to carry that baby weight Dorothy Roberts was quoted in an The Undefeated article about maternal mortality in black women. August 26, 2018
Dorothy Roberts on "Information is the Best medicine" Dorothy Roberts was interviewed by WURD Radio about family seperations and her book "Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare". August 7, 2018
Overturning Roe: More than Abortion is at Stake Dorothy Roberts spoke at a webinar organised by National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) on the effects of Roe vs Wade. August 2, 2018
Why Progressives Should Embrace the Genetics of Education PSC researcher, Dorothy Roberts, was mentioned in a New York Times article on her views on the correlation between genetics and intelligence. July 30, 2018
Black Families Matter: How the Child Welfare System Punishes Poor Families of Colour Dorothy Roberts co-authored an article in The Appeal about the effects of the child welfare system on poor black fa July 20, 2018
Women Could Go to Jail for Miscarriages if ‘Roe’ Is Overturned PSC researcher Dorothy Roberts was interviewed on MSNBC about overturning Roe vs. Wade. July 20, 2018
U.S. Family Policy with MSNBC’s Ali Velshi Dorothy Roberts was recently interviewed on MSNBC to give her analysis on family policies in the U.S. following the separation of parents and children at the U.S./ Mexico border. July 18, 2018
Americans Love Families. American Policies Don’t. PSC researcher, Dorothy Roberts, was mentioned in a New York Times article about family-friendly poliies in America.  June 26, 2018
Policing Poor Black Families Dorothy Roberts was interviewed on The Dig podcast about rascism and poverty policing that pervades the child protection system. June 7, 2018
High Mortality Rates of African American Women PSC research associate Dorothy Roberts details the history of high mortality rates of African American women on the American Medical Association ethics podcast. May 31, 2018
Black Motherhood in Academe Dorothy Roberts was quoted in Inside Higher Ed discussing the issues with black motherhood and academia and its regulations. May 31, 2018
Dorothy Roberts and Sarah Tishkoff are on the front page of the University News this week after speaking about the relationship between genetic classifications and race. June 22, 2017
Dorothy Roberts spoke last week with the Penn Current about the anniversary of her groundbreaking book, "Killing of the Black Body: Race, Reproduction and the Meaning of Liberty." Dorothy Roberts spoke last week with the Penn Current about the anniversary of her groundbreaking book, "Killing of the Black Body: Race, Reproductio May 15, 2017
Dorothy Roberts is quoted in PBS New Hour segment report about racial ’care gap’ in medical treatment. Dorothy Roberts is quoted in PBS New Hour segment report about racial 'care gap' in medical treatment. August 5, 2016
Dorothy Roberts is quoted in Quartz article "African-American genes show how slavery and the Great Migration shaped the US". Dorothy Roberts is quoted in Quartz article June 2, 2016
Dorothy Roberts is featured in Penn News article about the use of race in human genetic research. Dorothy Roberts is featured in Penn News article about the use of race in human genetic research. February 4, 2016
Dorothy Roberts wrote an op-ed for TheHill.com about racial surveillance. Dorothy Roberts wrote an op-ed for TheHill.com about racial surveillance. January 4, 2016

Main navigation

nichd

Quick Links

  • IRB & Human Subjects
  • NIH Public Access Policy
  • PSC Library Catalog
  • Sociology Department
  • Economics Department
  • RESERVE SPACE

DONATE TO THE PSC

About Us

The Population Studies Center (PSC) at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) was founded in 1962 and stands as an international leader in research and training on the dynamic structure, organization, and health and well-being of human populations. The services that PSC provides have been funded by infrastructure grants awarded by the Population Dynamics Branch at Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) since 1978. The center and its associates are also supported by research grants and contracts awarded by federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation and by private foundations. Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences is the administrative home of the PSC and provides generous dedicated support to the center.

Read more

Contact

Tel: 215-898-6441
Fax: 215-898-2124
239 McNeil Building
3718 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6298
[Map & Directions]
Contact Us
twitter.com/pennpsc
facebook.com/pennpsc
PSC Directory

Penn A-Z - Penn Calendar

© 2025 University of Pennsylvania
Report Accessibility Issues and Get Help