Anna Walther

Anna K. Walther is a PhD Candidate in the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work. Her research interests include poverty, inequality and social policy; precarious work and economic insecurity; program evaluation and policy analysis; economic and reproductive justice; social work macro-practice

Anna’s dissertation is titled Essays on the Social Safety Net, Economic Insecurity, and Inequality during the Transition to Parenthood.

Following the rise of globalization and the “great risk shift” of financial risk from institutions onto individuals, families are increasingly likely to experience economic insecurity. Economic insecurity refers to the risk of economic loss faced by workers and households as they encounter the unpredictable events of social life. Insecurity is especially common towards the bottom of the income distribution; it exacerbates economic vulnerability by draining parents cognitive resources and increasing their likelihood of experiencing material hardship and income poverty. It is especially consequential to families during the transition to parenthood, where negative economic shocks have been shown to impact parent well-being, fetal and infant development, and outcomes throughout the life course.

An understanding of how policy levers might improve economic security is essential to ensuring the well-being of low-income families—especially during critical time periods like the transition to parenthood. Anna’s dissertation examines how and whether the U.S. social safety net supports families’ economic security during the transition to parenthood. It also asks whether the safety net improves, or exacerbates, economic inequality.

Anna has a Bachelor’s degree in Community and Environmental Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Social Work with specialization in Child, Youth, and Family Welfare.

Date of Dissertation Research Fellowship: 2025–2026 academic year

Advisor: Alejandra Ros Pilarz

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