I’m Serra Kocak, a Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology at Lafayette College. I received my Ph.D. in Sociology from Binghamton University. My research explores how second-generation American Muslim women navigate pathways to success and social mobility through family, friendship, and community networks.

My research and teaching focus on the intersections of gender, immigration, and labor, with particular attention to how these dynamics shape socioeconomic mobility.
A central aim of my work is to uncover differences and complexities within seemingly homogeneous groups and to connect these nuances to broader social structures.
I approach these questions through ethnographic methods and in-depth interviews, with a strong commitment to reflexivity.

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As an educator, I am committed to fostering critical thinking and creating inclusive, engaging classroom environments that embrace diverse perspectives and experiences. My teaching philosophy centers on interactive, student-centered approaches that encourage dialogue, invite feedback, and respond to students’ evolving needs.​

With over a decade of teaching experience in the United States and Turkey, I have designed and taught courses including Sociology of Reproduction, Gender, Immigration, and Labor, Cine-Migration, Crime and Society, Sociology of Sports, Reproductive Justice, and Introduction to Sociology.

In addition to designing and teaching my own courses, I have served as a teaching assistant for fourteen courses, including Introduction to Sociology, Sociological Methods, and Foundations of Sociology. In these roles, I facilitated discussion sections, held office hours, and supported student learning through individualized feedback and assessment.

​My commitment to inclusive and effective teaching was recognized with the Excellence in Teaching Award at Binghamton University in 2025. This recognition reflects my broader commitment to creating classrooms where students are encouraged to think critically, engage openly with challenging questions, and connect sociological ideas to their own lives and the world around them.
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Outside the classroom, you might find me cycling, running a marathon, practicing handstands, swimming laps, doing pull-ups, ​horseback riding, or taking on my next athletic adventure.