Race and Ethnicity

Jenifer Kunz’s interest in writing about sociology and the family grew out of the experiences she had in her own family while growing up. She reflects, “We worked hard, played hard and had fun together. I came to learn and understand that the family is the most important and most influential social institution in the world.”

Her travels around the globe have expanded her understanding of marriages and families. Living abroad for 18 months in Uruguay gave her a deeper understanding that people are more similar than different. She has said, “These experiences have affected my professional and private life in profound ways. It affects how I teach, what I research and my interactions with others.”

She received her Ph.D. from Brigham Young University in 1994. Jenifer began teaching at West Texas A&M University in 1993. She is a Professor of Sociology and recently served as the Department Head for 7 years.

Jenifer has made several scholarly presentations about the family on the national and international level and her articles and publications have appeared in many academic journals and books. She has received numerous awards for teaching and has been an international visiting professor several times at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. She has also served as a consultant and a facilitator for various government and independent agencies. She is actively involved in the community and mentoring. Jenifer’s areas of specialization include marriage and the family. She is a member of many professional associations and academic organizations that focus on the family. She has a special interest on the effects of divorce on children.

Jenifer lives in Texas. In her free time she enjoys just about everything: working out, mountain biking, snorkeling, traveling, playing the piano, speaking Spanish, and spending time with family and friends.