Social Sciences

Krysten Long

Assistant Professor of Social Sciences

(423) 746-5251

klong@tnwesleyan.edu

Bio

Dr. Long is a critical, interdisciplinary Black feminist sociologist whose work explores race, gender, and intra-racial dynamics-with a particular focus on how colorism, stereotypes, and identity politics shape the lived experiences of Black women. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Georgia, along with dual master’s degrees in Political Science and Africana Studies, which inform her intersectional and interdisciplinary approach to research and teaching.

Her doctoral research developed Colorist Stereotype
Endorsement (CSE) Theory, a framework that explains how racialized and gendered stereotypes are differentially assigned based on skin tone within the Black community.

Her teaching philosophy is rooted in discussion-based, student-centered learning, and she brings a culturally responsive, community-engaged approach to both the classroom and her mentorship. Dr. Long’s work is grounded in Black feminist thought, critical race theory, and the sociology of identity.

While her full name is Krysten Long-Santos Diaz, she professionally goes by Dr. Long—a nod to clarity and consistency in academic spaces.

Courses

  • Introduction to Sociology

  • Race & Ethnicity

  • Social Research Methods

  • Social Problems

  • Gender & Society

  • Social Movements & Change

  • Social Justice & Community

Publications

  • Long, Krysten L. (2024). “‘She thinks she’s all that’: Intra-group Colorism, Stereotypes, and the Experiences of Light-Skinned Women who Identify as Black.” Journal of Colorism Studies, 5(1), 94-119

  • Long, Krysten L. “Consequencing Color: Light-Skinned Black Women’s Rejoinders to and Social Negotiations with Externalized Colorism.” (under review)

  • Long, Krysten L. “But am I a Fetish Though?: Light-Skinned Black Women, Colorism, and Dating Black Men.” (in progress)

  • Long, Krysten L. “Privileged in Part: Light-Skinned Black Women, Mental Health, and Perceptions of Light-Skinned Privilege.” (in progress)

  • Long, Krysten L. and Vanessa Gonlin. “The Fear of Fetishization: How Skin Tone Impacts Black Women in Intimate Relationships with White Men.” (in progress)