Christopher Hansen joins the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts as an Assistant Professor of Sociology. Hansen was drawn to LMU by the opportunity to collaborate with faculty in his department and across the university, specifically in BCLA’s Health and Society and LGBTQ Studies minors. He described his values as being aligned with LMU’s commitment to cura personalis, which emphasizes the care and education of the whole person.
Originally from Virginia, Hansen received his undergraduate degree in Hispanic Studies and History from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. He then moved to Chicago, where he earned his master’s degree in the Social Sciences from the University of Chicago and went on to pursue his Ph.D. in Sociology at Loyola University Chicago. Hansen’s research uses large-scale survey data to study the health and well-being of sexual and gender minority groups. He is interested in advancing methods for measuring gender and sexuality within survey research that will enhance data quality and improve our understanding of issues related to structural inequality and resilience.
As a professor, Hansen is inspired by seminal thinkers in critical pedagogy, including bell hooks and Paulo Freire. Quoting bell hooks, Hansen describes his teaching philosophy as “the practice of freedom.” He focuses on seeing the classroom as a space where reflection and action can come together to help students imagine and build toward a more just and equitable world.
In the Fall 2025 semester, Professor Hansen taught two sections of SOCL 1000 “Principles of Sociology.” This course introduces LMU students to the discipline of sociology, providing an overview of the major theories and methods that organize sociologists’ work. He hopes that through his courses, students develop their “sociological imagination,” which he describes as “an approach to analysis that seeks to understand how our everyday experiences are shaped by broader historical and social forces.” Through developing this skill set in his courses, students will better understand how their lives are connected to each other’s and will more clearly recognize the urgency of their work as sociologists. He explained how sociology is more than an academic exercise; it provides tools for addressing today’s most pressing social justice issues.
Outside of his research and teaching, Professor Hansen has been spending time getting to know more about LA. He enjoys exploring hiking trails, attending live music shows, and visiting other performing arts venues.