Abbey Chambers, PhD

Dr. Chambers is an independent, community-based qualitative researcher who studies the impacts of economic development policies and practices on communities. Her thinking and writing on economic issues examine the connections between economic disparities and sociocultural divisions. She uses social structure and visual culture theories to analyze decision-making processes and their outcomes, particularly as those outcomes impact marginalized people and places.

Dr. Chambers is currently working as the project manager for the IU Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture’s Congregations and Polarization Project. She is also working in partnership with the IU Public Policy Institute and United Northeast Community Development Corporation to understand the impacts of economic development interventions that take a more intensely and intentionally community engaged approach than traditional economic development processes typically do.

Dr. Chambers holds a PhD in American Studies from Indiana University, Indianapolis, a Master of Arts degree in art history from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a Bachelor of Science degree in art history from Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, MI.