Amanda D. Valdez (Martinez)
October 2015
Department of Sociology
University of Chicago
1126 E. 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
Email: amanda4@uchicago.edu
1101 E. 56th St. Apt W216
Chicago, IL 60637
USA
(909) 912.2271
EDUCATION
PhD Sociology, University of Chicago
Chicago, IL. Expected June 2017
MA Sociology, University of Chicago
Chicago, IL. June 2012
BA
Sociology, University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA. March 2010
summa cum laude
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Public Policy Department, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
04/15-06/15
Teaching Assistant to Dr. Sara Ray Stoelinga and Dr. Kavita Kapadia-Matsko for course titled,
“Urban School Reform History and Policy”; (27 students)
Facilitated 3 discussions and 2 in-class exercises, prepared 3 class plans, assisted in preparation
of grading rubrics, graded students’ weekly assignments and assisted in grading students’ final
papers, advised and counseled students in-person and over email, conducted fact-checks, tracked
attendance, participation & grades, helped construct and maintain course website, including
ensuring access to course readings, added/dropped students from the course and attended all
class meetings.
Public Policy Department, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
10/14-12/14
Teaching Assistant to Dr. Sara Ray Stoelinga for course titled, “Urban Schools and
Communities”; (23 students)
Delivered 3 lectures, facilitated 4 discussions, facilitated 2 in-class assignments, prepared 2 class
plans, prepared PowerPoint presentations, assisted in preparation of grading rubric, graded
students’ weekly assignments and assisted in grading final papers, held weekly office hours,
advised students in-person and over email, recorded attendance, participation and grades, helped
maintain course website, including ensuring access to course readings and attended all class
meetings.
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Sociology Department, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
01/14-03/14
Teaching Assistant to Dr. Linda Waite for course titled, “Population”; (56 students)
Led 1 stand-alone lecture, worked on team to compose syllabus, compiled readings, created and
maintained on-line course website utilizing course management software, worked on team to
create, collect, grade and record assignments, add/drop students, stood ready to fill-in for
instructor (when ill), worked on team to create and update PowerPoints, communicated
announcements to students, reconciled problems, assisted students with all issues related to the
course, held weekly office hours, communicated with other University departments on behalf of
instructor and students, gave tutorial on creating crosstabs in STATA (statistical software),
recorded attendance and attended all class meetings.
Sociology Department, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
01/14-03/14
Teaching Assistant to Dr. Charles Bidwell & Dr. Sara Ray Stoelinga for course titled,
“The Institution of Education”; (21 students)
Led 1 discussion alone and co-led 6 discussions with Dr. Stoelinga, nurtured and worked with
undergraduates in the creation of a term paper proposal, held weekly office hours, served as
liaison between instructors and students, including other University departments, communicated
announcements to students, recorded which students have approved proposals, reconciled
technical difficulties with accessing online course content, connected students with other faculty
who might assist them in their research, and attended all class meetings.
Sociology Department, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
01/13-03/13
Teaching Assistant to Dr. Linda Waite for course titled, “The Family”; (27 students)
Delivered 2 stand-alone lectures, led 8 book discussions, held weekly office hours,
communicated with academic advisors when students disengaged from course, worked on team
to prepare syllabus, compiled readings, created and maintained course website using course
managements software, worked on team to create, collect, grade and record examinations,
communicated announcements to students, reconciled recording errors, liaison between
instructor, students and other University departments, recorded attendance, attended all class
meetings, and added/dropped students.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Sociology Department, University of California, Riverside, CA
04/08-08/09
Grant Manager and Lead Research Assistant/Interviewer
Initiated research project, served as liaison between all University personnel and individuals at
research site (district employees, principal, teachers, administrators, parents and students),
composed grant proposal, worked on team to create documentation for Institutional Review
Board (IRB) approval, created interview guide, hired 6 interviewers, worked on team to train
interviewers, created, disseminated, collected and recorded consent forms for respondents,
organized all on-site data collection, entered data, created codebook, conducted and compiled
literature review, some data analysis and worked on team to create final report.
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Sociology Department, University of California, Riverside, CA
01/08-04/08
Research Assistant to Dr. Scott Brooks
Conducted online fact searches, entered data, communicated with Principal Investigator and
senior research assistant.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
09/15-present
Resident Head, Max Palevsky Residential Commons
Organize and oversee activities for 72 undergraduate residents, including social, intellectual,
recreational, cultural and informational; provide academic and personal support to residents,
including referral to resources as-needed; facilitate house meetings; supervise two undergraduate
Resident Assistants
Regal Entertainment Group, Ontario, CA
05/05 - 08/10
Associate Manager
Supervised and trained staff employees (varied from 3-6 members on daily basis), customer
service and relations, problem solving, communicated with upper level management,
disseminated policy updates to staff employees and peers, daily cash management, completed
daily paperwork and assessments, ensured that business ran in an efficient and organized manner
(taking into considering hourly Cost Per Capita).
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Family
Education
Demography/Population
Aging
Policy
Youth
Poverty/Opportunity
Race/Ethnicity & Social Stratification
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Kposowa, A.J., & Valdez, A.D. (2013). Student Laptop Use and Scores on Standardized Tests.
Journal of Educational Computing Research, 48(3), 345-379.
Kaneshiro, M., Martinez, A. & Swanson, D. (2012). Disappearing Hispanics? The Case of Los
Angeles County, California: 1990-2000. In R. Verdugo (Ed.), The Demography of the
Hispanic Population (pp. 95-123). Charlotte: Information Age Publishing.
NON-REFEREED PUBLICATIONS/REPORTS
Kposowa, A.J. & Martinez, A.D. (2009). An Evaluation of a 24/7 Laptop
Program. Grant Report submitted to Community Foundation June 2009.
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GRANT ACTIVITY
“UChicago Graduate Student-Parent Writing Group”. Submitted January 2014 to the UChicago
Graduate Innovation Grant on behalf of the University of Chicago Student Parent Group.
Budget Submitted: $5,000. Not awarded.
“The 24/7 Laptop Program: Cielo Vista Elementary School.” Submitted April 2008 to the
Wallace P. Brithinee Charitable Donor Advised Fund at The Community Foundation,
Serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Principal Investigator: Augustine J.
Kposowa. Co-Investigator & Grant Manager. Amanda D. Martinez, University of
California, Riverside. Budget Submitted: $32,788.26. Fully Funded for the Period
03 April 2008 through 31 August 2009.
HONORS AND AWARDS
University of Chicago NIA pre-doctoral Fellowship, 2015-2016
University of Chicago Social Sciences Division Fellowship, 2010-2015
University of Chicago Social Sciences Division Summer Grant, 2014
National Science Foundation Fellowship 2011-2014
Phi Beta Kappa, inducted June 2010
Student Marshall at Commencement, June 2010
Academic Achievement Award, UC Riverside Chicano/Latino Commencement, June 2010
Academic Excellence in the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences, Honors
Convocation 2010
Outstanding Achievement in Sociology, Honors Convocation 2010
Academic Excellence Award. UC Riverside Women’s Resource Center, March 2009
National Association for Theatre Owners Scholarship, 2009-2010
Brithinee Continuing Student Scholarship, 2007-2009
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Work and Family Researchers Network, 2014-present
American Sociological Association, 2008-present
SBE Initiative, University of Chicago, 2010-2011
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Occasional Manuscript Reviewer for American Journal of Sociology, 2013-present
Member of Student Parent Group, University of Chicago, 2013-present
Volunteered for Chicago Point-in-time Count of Unsheltered Individuals, 2014
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Hospitality member, Children’s Instructor, volunteer for outreach events to student and local
community population and ACTS member (assist with community needs as they arise) at Hyde
Park Vineyard Church, 2010-2014
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Student President of University Christian Fellowship at University of California, Riverside,
2007-2009
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