Shamus Khan is Willard Thorp professor of sociology and American Studies at Princeton University. He is the author of over 100 articles, books, and essays, including Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul’s School, and Sexual Citizens: Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus (with Jennifer Hirsch), one of NPR’s best books of 2020. He writes regularly in the New York Times and Washington Post. He has been awarded Columbia University’s highest teaching honor, the Presidential Teaching Award (2016), and the Zetterberg Prize from the Upsala University for “the best sociologist under 40” (2018).
How are you currently involved with the Keller Center?
The Center is supporting a project I'm working on on sexual violence.
What are your thoughts on Keller's Design for Innovation program?
This award will really help accelerate the implementation and evaluation of a new approach to sexual assault prevention.
What impact do you hope to have through the Design for Innovation program?
I hope to have a fuller sense of the impact of SPACE Toolkit--which hopefully will reduce sexual violence on campuses across the country--and be in 200+ campuses within a few years.
Which feature of the Design for Innovation program do you think would be most helpful in your project?
I look forward to connecting with people who have scaled their ideas and accelerated their growth.
What advice would you have for faculty and researchers seeking to have direct, real-world impact beyond the academy?
Learn to meet people where they are, rather than where you'd like them to be.