Sara Martucci

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Sociology

Areas of Expertise
  • Statistics
  • Sociology

Dr. Sara Martucci holds a PhD in Sociology from the CUNY Graduate Center. She is currently a Doctoral Lecturer at John Jay College and an Adjunct Professor at the CUNY School of Professional Studies. Her research interests have included urban inequality and gentrification, the impact of Covid-19 on mothers’ careers, and, most recently, student experiences of sociology curriculum. Her new book, There Was Nothing There explores the gentrification of Williamsburg, Brooklyn from the perspectives of new and long term residents.

Publications

There Was Nothing There

1 May, 2024

NYU Press

In There Was Nothing There, Sara Martucci draws on four decades of residents’ memories and experiences, providing insights into the tensions, contradictions, and inequalities brought about by gentrification. Martucci focuses on the individual level, exploring how residents form connections to their neighborhoods and how these attachments shape their daily experiences of public spaces, local consumption, and evaluations of safety. As established residents, bohemians, and newcomers vie for ownership and belonging, their perceptions give rise to conflicting narratives that define the essence of the neighborhood.

Recent news

Teaching Empathy in Sociology: Comparing In-Person and Online-Asynchronous Courses

August 03, 2026

Teaching Sociology: Sage Journals

CUNY SPS Academic Director of Communication, Culture, and Society and Assistant Professor of Sociology and Human Relations, Dr. Melanie Lorek collaborated on this Teaching Sociology article with Dr. Sara Martucci, adjunct faculty also in the Sociology and Human Relations programs, and Dr. Daniel Douglas. The research interrogates assumptions about online learning and the measurement of student learning outcomes. By analyzing data from students enrolled in introductory sociology courses, the study found no evidence that sociology courses increased empathy, whether online and asynchronous or in person. Additionally, the article highlights the need for new approaches to assessing how sociology helps students understand the perspectives and lived experiences of others.