David John Frank
Professor, Sociology
School of Social Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Ph.D., Stanford University, 1995, Sociology
University of California, Irvine
Department of Sociology
4107 Social Science Plaza
Irvine, CA 92697
Department of Sociology
4107 Social Science Plaza
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
world society, university and society, environment and society, sexuality and society
Websites
Awards and Honors
Coleman Award for Best Article Honorable Mention, ASA Section on Sociology of Education (2025)
American Bar Foundation Visiting Scholar (2017)
International Centre for Higher Education Research Visiting Professor, Universität Kassel, Germany (2015)
American Bar Foundation Visiting Scholar (2014-15)
Best Scholarly Article Award, ASA Section on Global and Transnational Sociology (2011)
Elected to the Sociological Research Association (2011)
American Bar Foundation Visiting Scholar (2009-10)
American Bar Foundation Visiting Scholar (2017)
International Centre for Higher Education Research Visiting Professor, Universität Kassel, Germany (2015)
American Bar Foundation Visiting Scholar (2014-15)
Best Scholarly Article Award, ASA Section on Global and Transnational Sociology (2011)
Elected to the Sociological Research Association (2011)
American Bar Foundation Visiting Scholar (2009-10)
Publications
David John Frank & John W. Meyer. 2020. The University and the Global Knowledge Society. Princeton University Press.
Frank, David John, Daniel Scott Smith, and John W. Meyer. Forthcoming. “The University: Exalted Institution and Ruined Organization.” Minerva. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11024-025-09604-z.
Frank, David John, and John W. Meyer. 2024. “On University Competition.” Studies in Higher Education 49 (10): 1779-1787. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2024.2385541.
Lerch, Julia C., David John Frank, and Evan Schofer. 2024. “The Social Foundations of Academic Freedom: Heterogeneous Institutions in World Society, 1960-2022.” American Sociological Review 89 (1): 88-125.
2025 Best Article Honorable Mention from the ASA’s Section on Sociology of Education
Frank, David John, and John W. Meyer. 2023. “The University: Global Institution and National Organization.” Global Perspectives 4 (1): 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1525/gp.2023.87668.
Zapp, Mike, David John Frank, and Marcelo Marques. 2023. “Animals in World Society: Constitutional and Legislative Incorporation, 1972-2020.” International Journal of Comparative Sociology 64 (2): 161-82.
Lerch, Julia C., Evan Schofer, David John Frank, Wesley Longhofer, Francisco O. Ramirez, and Christine Min Wotipka. 2022. “Women’s Participation and Challenges to the Liberal Script: A Global Perspective.” International Sociology 37 (3): 305-29.
Frank, David John, and John W. Meyer. 2021. “Expanded Education and Global Integration: Solidarity and Conflict.” On Education. Journal for Research and Debate 4 (10): 1-6.
Frank, David John, and John W. Meyer. 2024. “On University Competition.” Studies in Higher Education 49 (10): 1779-1787. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2024.2385541.
Lerch, Julia C., David John Frank, and Evan Schofer. 2024. “The Social Foundations of Academic Freedom: Heterogeneous Institutions in World Society, 1960-2022.” American Sociological Review 89 (1): 88-125.
2025 Best Article Honorable Mention from the ASA’s Section on Sociology of Education
Frank, David John, and John W. Meyer. 2023. “The University: Global Institution and National Organization.” Global Perspectives 4 (1): 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1525/gp.2023.87668.
Zapp, Mike, David John Frank, and Marcelo Marques. 2023. “Animals in World Society: Constitutional and Legislative Incorporation, 1972-2020.” International Journal of Comparative Sociology 64 (2): 161-82.
Lerch, Julia C., Evan Schofer, David John Frank, Wesley Longhofer, Francisco O. Ramirez, and Christine Min Wotipka. 2022. “Women’s Participation and Challenges to the Liberal Script: A Global Perspective.” International Sociology 37 (3): 305-29.
Frank, David John, and John W. Meyer. 2021. “Expanded Education and Global Integration: Solidarity and Conflict.” On Education. Journal for Research and Debate 4 (10): 1-6.
Grants
Mellon Foundation Affirming Multivocal Humanities Grant (2023); Spencer Foundation Residential Fellow (2007-08); Spencer Foundation Research Grant; Spencer Foundation Small Grant (1994-95); MacArthur Fellow, Stanford Center for International Security (1994-95)
Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5063
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5063
Last updated
01/19/2026
01/19/2026