Kelsey L. Kramer, PhD

Hi there! I am Dr. Kelsey Kramer—though some call me "Dr. K."I am a criminologist whose research broadly examines the social and structural determinants that shape the who, what, where, how, and why of punishment in the criminal legal system.My current research focus is on the development of Fat Criminology (FC), an emerging subfield that examines how bodies (particularly fat bodies)—as they intersect with race, gender, class, and disability—are constructed, surveilled, criminalized, and punished. My dissertation work empirically examined whether body size influenced sentencing outcomes in one large southern county.I received my PhD from Sam Houston State University in Criminal Justice (2024), and in Fall 2025 I joined the Sociology Department at Bates College as a Visiting Assistant Professor.When I'm not immersed in teaching or research, I enjoy spending time volunteering, visiting art galleries and museums, antiquing, or discovering new local cafés.If you're interested in learning more about my work, have questions, or want to collaborate, please research out via email.