Tressie McMillan Cottom

Tressie McMillan Cottom became a New York Times Opinion columnist in 2022. She is a sociologist, professor and cultural critic known for her incisive essays on social problems. She is the author of two books: “Lower Ed: The Troubling Rise of For-Profit Colleges in the New Economy” and “Thick: And Other Essays.” Her second book was a 2019 finalist for the National Book Award for nonfiction.

Dr. McMillan Cottom’s New York Times newsletter has covered sartorial politics, scam culture and depictions of social change in popular culture. She is a regular commentator on higher education, work, media and inequality, including for “The Daily Show,” “Fresh Air,” The Atlantic and The Washington Post. A 2020 MacArthur “genius” grant recipient, she is currently writing an essay collection and a memoir. She lives in Chapel Hill, N.C., surrounded by extended family and a dog, Kirby.