“The Societal and Economic Stakes of Widespread Loneliness”

Loneliness is not an inevitable part of modern life, it is a challenge to address together in the community and broader society.

This lecture delves into the profound societal and economic consequences of loneliness, such as the lack of Gen Z’s future readiness in the workforce, providing attendees with the knowledge and practical actions to drive meaningful change.

Megan Smith, Ph.D. is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Sociology, where she is deeply engaged in student mentorship, research, and curriculum development. She has earned multiple honors for her contributions to teaching, including the Phi Kappa Phi Distinguished Faculty award and a Trailblazer Award.  Her research and teaching focus on mental health, loneliness, deviance, and criminology, and she actively involves students in projects on aging, AI in caregiving, and the criminal justice system. Beyond the classroom, Smith is a dynamic public speaker, author, and community educator; her latest co-authored two texts, include Ties that Enable (Rutgers, 2021) and Sociological Insights of Mental Health and Distress (Wiley, 2025). She earned a B.A. in Sociology from NC State, (Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa), her M.A. in Sociology from University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her Ph.D. from Emory University in Sociology with a focus on health and criminology.

Register Here

Independent Picture House (4237 Raleigh St, Charlotte, NC 28213), 6 pm