The Murphy Institute's faculty includes prestigious scholars and practitioners who share a collective commitment to excellence in the classroom.

Professors

Ruth Milkman is Professor of Sociology and an Associate Director of the Institute. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1981.  Dr. Milkman specializes in the sociology of work, labor movements, and gender.  She is the author of four books, including Gender at Work, an award-winning study of job segregation by gender during World War II; Farewell to the Factory, a case study of technological change and downsizing at an automobile factory: a monograph on Japanese-owned factories in California; and most recently, L.A. Story: Immigrant Workers and the Future of the U.S. Labor Movement. She has edited or co-edited several other books, is the author of many scholarly articles and book chapters, and is on the editorial board of several scholarly journals. She also serves on the faculty of CUNY’s Graduate School.

Joshua Freeman is Professor of History with a specialization in U.S. labor history and working-class history.  He received his Ph.D. in History from Rutgers University in 1983. Dr. Freeman rose to national prominence with his definitive historical study of the Transport Workers Union in New York City. His book, Working-Class New York, exemplifies his accessible and engaging rendering of labor history and working-class life. The book is widely used in social science, history, and labor studies courses. An award-winning teacher and author, frequently quoted by the media, Dr. Freeman is a consulting editor for the Murphy Institute's journal, New Labor Forum, and is also on the editorial board of International Labor and Working-Class History. Dr. Freeman is on the faculty of Queens College and CUNY’s Graduate School and serves on a half-time appointment with the Murphy Institute.

Stephanie Luce is Associate Professor of Labor Studies and has gained national and international recognition for her research on living-wage campaigns and on the impact of globalization on jobs and workers. She earned both her Ph.D. in Sociology and her Master’s degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. In addition to authoring three books, Dr. Luce has written dozens of articles and research reports.  She has served on the staff of a Congressional Committee on Agricultural workers; worked for the Department of Labor; directed research projects for U.S. unions; and participated in a wide range of other scholarship useful to activists, community-based organizations, and the labor movement. She serves on the editorial boards of New Labor Forum and Labor Studies Journal.

Penelope Lewis is Assistant Professor of Labor Studies and specializes in social movements. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the Graduate School of the City University of New York. Dr. Lewis has authored several scholarly papers and is completing the manuscript for her first book, which examines the relationship between social class, labor unions and social movements. She has taught at a number of institutions in the Northeast, has led the Writing Across the Curriculum initiative at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, and has been recognized for her teaching excellence. Dr. Lewis has also served as a union organizer and has been active in labor and community organizations including Jobs with Justice.

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