Renowned Sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox to continue groundbreaking work at UVA as a Foundation-funded University Professor
The Jefferson Scholars Foundation and UVA’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences are pleased to announce that W. Bradford Wilcox, a leading voice in the study of marriage, family, and fatherhood, will continue his transformative work at the University of Virginia. Dr. Wilcox has been named the Melville Foundation Jefferson Scholars Foundation Distinguished University Professor, one of UVA’s most prestigious academic appointments.
Dr. Wilcox is widely celebrated for his pioneering research on the societal and individual impacts of marriage and family stability. As director of the National Marriage Project at UVA, he has dedicated his career to illuminating the challenges facing American families and offering evidence-based solutions to strengthen them. His research has been published in leading academic journals such as The American Sociological Review and The Journal of Marriage and Family. Beyond academia, his insights have reached broader audiences through appearances on NPR and NBC’s The Today Show and have been featured in popular publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic.
A prolific author with six books to his name, Dr. Wilcox continues to shape national conversations about family life. His latest book, Get Married: Why Americans Should Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization, was recently named Book of the Year in the general nonfiction category by WORLD Magazine. This compelling work challenges cultural norms around marriage and makes a strong case for prioritizing family stability as a solution to critical cultural and economic challenges. His ability to connect rigorous academic research with practical public policy has positioned him as one of the most influential sociologists of his generation.
“Dr. Wilcox’s decision to remain at UVA represents a tremendous win for the university,” said Jimmy Wright, president of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation. “His research tackles some of the most critical social questions of our time, and retaining a scholar of his caliber ensures UVA will remain at the forefront of these vital discussions.”
This appointment also marks a historical milestone for UVA. Dr. Wilcox holds one of the university’s first fully endowed University Professorships, a distinction reserved for scholars of exceptional renown. University Professors report directly to the provost and president and represent the pinnacle of academic excellence at UVA.
Dr. Wilcox’s continued presence at UVA underscores the university’s commitment to advancing research that addresses real-world challenges, ensuring its leadership in exploring the intersection of family, culture, and society.
