The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) has appointed Professor Sarah A. Burgard as the inaugural James S. House Collegiate Professor of Sociology and Population Studies. This prestigious professorship honors both Professor Burgard’s outstanding scholarship and the lasting legacy of Professor James S. House, a leading figure in social science and population health. House served on the University of Michigan faculty for over 30 years, including as Chair of the Department of Sociology from 1986 to 1991 and Survey Research Center Director at the Institute for Social Research (ISR) from 1991 to 2001. Established in June 2025 through the Provost’s Office, the James S. House Collegiate Professorship recognizes the impact both scholars have had on the University of Michigan and their respective fields.

Burgard is a Professor of Sociology, with additional courtesy appointments in Epidemiology and Public Policy, and she currently serves as Director of the Population Studies Center (PSC) at the Institute for Social Research.

“I was thrilled to be able to honor Jim with this naming,” said Burgard. “He has been both sherpa and optimist throughout my career since I arrived in Ann Arbor as a postdoctoral fellow. Jim has guided me and so many others toward a multidisciplinary career in population health, a field for which he serves as a pioneer. I strive in my work to be like Jim: grounded in real peoples' lives, the structures and policies that favor some and not others, and the power of good data to help us chart a better course.”

U-M Department of Sociology Chair Elizabeth Armstrong also celebrated the announcement and championed the appointment. "The Sociology department was delighted to nominate Sarah for this prestigious professorship. As we prepared her nomination, we learned of accomplishments we didn't even know about. She offers a model of a scholar excelling in all aspects of the profession—transformational scholarship, committed mentorship, generous leadership, and dedicated pedagogy. We are thrilled that her devotion to her fields, her students, and the university has been recognized with this honor,” Armstrong said.

Professor Burgard’s research explores how social factors such as economic status, gender, and race shape health and well-being throughout the life course. Drawing on large-scale population surveys, Burgard has also investigated the particular effects of job loss, economic shocks, and material hardship on health outcomes. She is the current Principal Investigator of the NIA and NICHD-funded graduate and postdoctoral training program hosted at PSC, and of its NICHD-funded population center infrastructure grant. Burgard is also one of the PIs of an NIA-funded research network that supports the careers of new investigators in the social determinants of healthy aging. She has also led major studies, including the Americans' Changing Lives Study and the Michigan Recession and Recovery Study.

Professor Burgard has authored or co-authored more than 75 peer-reviewed publications and, as Principal Investigator, has helped secure over $28 million in grant funding. Her work has consistently advanced innovative research and provided critical support for the careers of numerous students and faculty members. 

Beyond her scholarly accomplishments, Professor Burgard is a stellar mentor supporting the next generation of scholars in the Sociology Department, PSC, and the broader academic community. She has served on over 60 dissertation committees, often as chair, and has mentored countless graduate students and junior faculty. Notably, she also adapted an Introduction to Sociology course specifically for pre-med students when the Sociology of Health and Medicine subplan launched in 2016. At PSC, Professor Burgard has served as a champion and resource for emerging scholars—through its renowned training program for pre- and post-doctoral researchers and through its Population Dynamics and Health Program that broadly supports early-career scholars advancing population science. Professor Burgard’s teaching and mentorship have been widely recognized through honors such as the Rackham Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award (2020) and the LSA John Dewey Award for Long-Term Commitment to Undergraduate Education (2019).

Burgard currently serves as both Vice President of the Population Association of America (PAA), one of the world’s largest professional demographic associations, and as President of the Association of Population Centers.

Through her extensive scholarship, teaching, and leadership, Professor Burgard has paved the way for future generations of social scientists to conduct research in service of the public interest. Her work has made a lasting impact on the University of Michigan community and the broader fields of sociology and population studies. The James S. House Collegiate Professorship reflects both Professor House’s enduring legacy and Professor Burgard’s significant achievements.