EDUCATION
The University of Texas, Austin, TX.
M.A. (2024), Ph.D. Sociology (Expected 2028) Demography Specialization
Population Research Center Trainee
Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, 2022.
B.A. Sociology; Minors in Women and Gender Studies and International Studies. 2022.
Summa Cum Laude and Departmental Honors.
The University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO, 2018.
General Education Coursework (Dual Enrollment).
PUBLICATIONS
Erving, Christy L., Lacee A. Satcher, Shania Montúfar, and Courtney S. Thomas Tobin. 2025. “Does the Black-White Mental Health Paradox Persist across U.S. Geographical Regions?” SSM – Mental Health 7:100431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100431
Lowe, Ricardo Henrique Jr., Yasmiyn Irizarry, Edward Vargas, Nancy López, and Shania Montúfar. 2025. “Black and Some Other Race: Examining Shifts in the Black Latino Population in the Census Bureau’s 2020 Race Question.” Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. First published online August 25, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/23326492251360333
Pedraza, Silvia, and Shania Montúfar. Forthcoming. “Finding One’s Place in America.” In Growing up Latino/a/x in the Land of Liberty: Drawing on Community and Culture to Face Contextual Challenges, edited by Rosario Ceballo and Deborah Rivas-Drake. New York: Oxford University Press.
Submitted Manuscripts/Under Review
Montúfar, Shania. 2025. “New Destinations, New Distress? State and Immigrant Destination Types in Latinx Mental Distress.” (Under review.)
In Preparation
Montúfar, Shania, and Francisco Rios Casas. 2025. (Working Title) College Doesn’t Pay Off for Everyone: Mental Health Returns to Higher Education Among Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White Adults. (Manuscript in preparation.)
AWARDS/HONORS
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar. Multiyear doctoral fellowship (2022–present, $124,000)
Point Foundation Scholar. National LGBTQ+ graduate fellowship (2022–present)
Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar. (2023–present)
McNair Scholars Doctoral Fellowship, University of Texas at Austin. (2022–2023, $32,000)
Recruiting Fellowship, University of Texas at Austin. $5,000 research awards (2024, 2025)
C. B. Smith, Sr. Centennial Chair Fellowship, University of Texas at Austin. (Fall 2023, $5,000)
Elevate Grant, City of Austin Cultural Funding Program. Award for creative work (2024–2025, $30,000)
Pershing Society Scholarship, Truman State University. (2018–2022, estimated $97,132)
Dean’s McNair Fellowship & Graduate Funding Package, Cornell University. Guaranteed five years of full financial support, including stipend, tuition, health insurance, and summer awards (declined, 2022, ~$332,000)
University Fellowship, Graduate Enrichment Fellowship, Patrick S. Osmer Fellowship, and Inclusive Excellence Fellowship, The Ohio State University. Guaranteed six years of full financial support, including fellowships and teaching assistantships (declined, 2022, estimated ≥$174,000 plus tuition & health insurance)
Woman of Distinction, TSU Women’s Resource Center (2019, 2021)
Excellence in Diversity Award, TSU Center for Student Involvement (2021)
Outstanding Advocate Award, TSU Center for Student Involvement (2020)
TEACHING
Assistant Instructor, SOC 307P: Introduction to the Sociology of Health & Wellbeing, UT Austin (Fall 2025)Instructor of record for 85 undergraduates; designed syllabus, lectures, assignments, and supervised TA.
Graduate Mentor and Instructor, Race, Inequality, and Public Policy Cohort, IUPRA, UT Austin (2024–25)
Developed instructional materials, taught weekly seminars, and mentored undergraduates through capstone projects.
Teaching Assistant, Texas Prison Education Initiative, UT Austin (2023–24)
Taught Math 302 to incarcerated students; created worksheets and study guides on algebra, logarithms, and financial statistics.
Academic Tutor & Peer Mentor, Ronald E. McNair Program, Truman State University (2020–21)
Taught summer curriculum on graduate admissions and research; mentored undergraduates and coordinated community-building events.
