FSU’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (COSSPP) is proud to announce the appointment of Karin Brewster, Ph.D., professor of sociology, as the William J. Serow Endowed Professor of Population Studies, effective July 1, 2025, recognizing her excellent contributions as a faculty member.
In addition to her work as a professor of sociology, Dr. Brewster serves as the director of graduate studies for the Department of Sociology and is a faculty member and former director of the Center for Demography and Population Health (CDPH).
“It is an honor to name Dr. Karin Brewster as the William J. Serow Professor of Population Studies,” Dean Tim Chapin said. “Dr. Brewster has been a longtime intellectual force and teacher in the area of demography, as well as a fine leader of the Center for Demography and Population Health. She embodies the excellence of Dr. Serow in all ways.”
The endowed professorship was established in honor of William J. Serow, Ph.D., a preeminent scholar and professor of economics from 1981 until his untimely death in 2003. Dr. Serow served as the CDPH’s director from 1990 to 2003 and dedicated an important part of his professional life to the preparation of students for careers in population and applied demography.
During her three-year appointment to the professorship, Dr. Brewster intends to establish an annual Serow Lecture that will take place in the spring semester. The lecture will center on topics that Dr. Bill Serow researched, such as the study of the economic implications of aging and migration, and their intersection, as well as the study of applied demography. The lecture would bring in leading scholars in this area from across the country.
Dr. Brewster joined the COSSPP faculty in 1994 after earning her doctorate in sociology from the University of Washington and completing a postdoctoral fellowship with the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“I am honored to accept the Serow Professorship,” Dr. Brewster said, “Bill welcomed me to the Center three decades ago, and I continue to miss his wise counsel and his laughter.”
Outside of FSU, Dr. Brewster maintains membership in several professional organizations, including the American Sociological Association, the Council on Contemporary Families, the Population Association of America, and the Southern Demographic Association.
She has also published a significant number of research papers on various topics, including studies on romantic relationships in young adulthood, factors influencing binge drinking, the impact of social factors on childcare arrangements, and more.
For more news and updates from FSU’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, visit cosspp.fsu.edu. To read more about Dr. Brewster and connect, visit her faculty page.