Debbie Becher is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Barnard College who researches and teaches the sociology of law, the economy, and urban and rural life.
She researches land as private property and is the author of Private Property and Public Power: Eminent Domain in Philadelphia (Oxford University Press, 2014) and A Fractured Nation (Oxford University Press, forthcoming).
Debbie experiments with research strategies to expose hidden truths that help us learn about social injustice and justice. She experiments with teaching to uplift students and engage them with today’s social problems and promises.
Debbie has a decade of experience in social work, community development, and sustainable residential construction.
Debbie is enthusiastic about hiking, bicycling, canoeing, lying in hammocks, and just about anything outdoors. She enjoys small building projects, collecting firewood, and learning the violin. She is dedicated to and inspired by family and friends. In addition to her New York City home, she maintains strong ties with people and places in Arizona, Montana, and Virginia.
