Meigs Professor of Sociology; Director, Owens Institute for Behavioral Research Dr. Jody Clay-Warner, Meigs Professor of Sociology (view Dr. Clay-Warner's Meigs video) and Director of the Owens Institute for Behavioral Research, received her Ph.D. in Sociology from Emory University. Her research bridges social psychology, criminology, and the sociology of health. Her scholarship examines how victimization and injustice shape emotions, mental and physical health, and social behavior. A central focus of her work is understanding vulnerability to violence and its consequences, with a particular focus on sexual violence and revictimization processes. She also has a longstanding research program investigating how social structure shapes peoples' perceptions and experiences of injustice. Clay-Warner’s recent interdisciplinary work addresses the methodological challenges involved in studying hidden and vulnerable populations. In collaboration with statisticians and other social scientists, she has advanced and evaluated network-based approaches to estimating the prevalence of human trafficking and other forms of criminal victimization. She also investigates, more generally, the use of aggregate relational data for estimating the size and characteristics of social networks. Her research has appeared in several leading journals, including Social Science & Medicine, Social Psychology Quarterly, Social Science Research, Social Networks, American Journal of Public Health, and Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of State. Clay-Warner is a former co-editor of Social Psychology Quarterly and previously chaired the ASA Sociology of Emotion section and ASA Social Psychology Section. Her courses include Experimental Methods in Sociology (SOCI 4930/6930); Gender, Crime, and Justice (SOCI 8840); Theories of Social Psychology (SOCI 8730); and Introductory Sociology for Honors (SOCI 1101H). Education Education: Ph.D., Sociology, Emory University, 1997 M.A., Psychology, Georgia State University, 1992 B.A., Speech Communication, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1990 Research Research Areas: Social Psychology Crime, Law, and Deviance Social Networks Medical Sociology Gender Grants: 2019 - 2025. “Measuring the Prevalence of Trafficking around the World: Implications for Research, Programming, and Policy (co-PI), with David Okech (PI), and Alex Balch (co-PI, University of Liverpool), Lydia Aletraris (co-I), and Tamora Callands (co-I). U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. $15,750,000. 2018-2023, “Anti-trafficking Research and Programming in West Africa.” (co-PI), with David Okech (PI), and Alex Balch (co-PI, University of Liverpool), Tamora Callands, (co-I) and Nate Hansen (co-I). U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons SSJTIP18CA0015. $4,000,000. 2010 - 2012. "Collaborative Research Examining Emotional Reactions to Favorable Violations of Standards of Justice" (PI), with Dawn T. Robinson (co-PI) and Lynn Smith-Lovin (co-PI). National Science Foundation SES 0966536. $160,596 2008 - 2011. "DHB Testing a Dynamic Theory of Social Emotion Using Infrared Imagery." (co-PI), with Dawn T. Robinson (PI), Chi Thai, and Kevin McCully (co-PIs). National Science Foundation BCS 0729396. $717,375 2005 - 2008. "Collaborative Research Examining the Relationship between Identity, Injustice, and Emotion," (co-PI) with Dawn Robinson (PI) and Lynn Smith-Lovin. National Science Foundation #0519969. $283,218 Selected Publications Selected Publications: Nesbit, Rebecca, Su Young Choi, Jody Clay-Warner. 2026. Does Court-Ordered Community Service Work? Evidence from a Case Study. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press Clay-Warner, Jody, Hui Yi, Tenshi Kawashima, Jiacheng Li, David Okech, and Fred Konteh. 2025. “A Comparison of Top-Coding Strategies for Aggregate Relational Data.” Social Networks 83: 50-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socnet.2025.05.006 Nesbit, Rebecca, Su Young Choi, and Jody Clay-Warner. 2025. Court-Ordered Community Service: The Experiences of Community Organizations and Community Service Workers. Cambridge University Press. Clay-Warner, Jody, Justine Tinkler, Sarah M. Groh, Kylie M. Smith, and Sharyn Potter. 2024. “What Will People Think? Evaluating Bystanders Who Intervene.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence, https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241259008. Edgemon, Timothy, Jody Clay-Warner, Tenshi Kawashima, David Okech, and John Anarfi. 2024. “Violent Victimization Increases Psychological Distress among Women Trafficking Survivors in Ghana.” Violence Against Women, https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012241231780 Clay-Warner, Jody, Tenshi Kawashima, and Timothy G. Edgemon. 2022. “Measure of Personal Network Size Using Known Population Questions: A Methodological Guide.” American Journal of Public Health 112(5): 747-753. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306731 Tinkler, Justine, Jody Clay-Warner, and Malissa Alinor. 2022. “Sexual Harassment Training and Men’s Motivation to Work with Women.” Social Science Research 107:102747-102767 Clay-Warner, Jody, Timothy G. Edgemon, David Okech, and John Anarfi. 2021. “Violence Predicts Physical Health Consequences of Human Trafficking: Findings from a Longitudinal Study of Labor Exploitation in Ghana.” Social Science & Medicine, vol. 279. Culatta, Elizabeth, Jody Clay-Warner, Kaitlin Boyle, and Assaf Oshri. 2020. “Sexual Revictimization: A Routine Activity Theory Perspective.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 35:2800-2824 Awards, Honors, and Recognition Of Note: Honors 2024. Team Impact Award, UGA Office of Research 2019. Distinguished Contribution to Teaching Award, Southern Sociological Society 2017. Sociologist of the Year, Georgia Sociological Association 2017. Owens Creative Research Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Social and Behavioral Sciences, UGA Office of Research 2014. Outstanding Graduate Student Mentoring Award, UGA Graduate School 2013. American Society of Criminology Teacher of the Year Award 2011. Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorship 2010. Distinguished Contribution to Sociological Perspectives Award, 2010 2010. Outstanding Recent Contribution Award, ASA Sociology of Emotion section 2004. Richard B. Russell Undergraduate Teaching Award, University of Georgia 2003. CURO Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award, University of Georgia 2002. Special Sandy Beaver Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Georgia, College of Arts and Sciences Leadership Development 2021. Fellow, SEC Academic Leadership Program 2017. Women’s Leadership Fellow, University of Georgia 2015. Future Leaders Program, University of Georgia Elected Offices 2023-2024. Chair, Social Psychology Section, American Sociological Association 2019-2020. Treasurer, International Society for Research on Emotion 2016 -2019. Secretary/Treasurer, Social Psychology Section, American Sociological Association 2015-2020. Executive Board, International Society for Research on Emotion 2014- 2016. Council, Social Psychology Section, American Sociological Association 2013-2014. Chair, Sociology of Emotion Section, American Sociological Association 2011-2013. Council, Sociology of Emotion Section, American Sociological Association .
