Dr. Alicia M. Walker

Biography

Dr. Alicia Walker (she/her/hers) is a professor in the department of sociology, anthropology, and gerontology. Walker is a microsociologist, whose work focuses on intimate sexual relationships, sexual identity and behavior, and gender. Specifically, her work looks at how we make sense of ourselves as sexual beings, how we navigate our sexual worlds, and our lived experiences as sexual beings. Walker has particular interest in closeted sexual behaviors and online initiation of sexual relationships. She is credited with creating a sociology of infidelity.

Her work has been discussed in articles published locally, nationally, and internationally in publications, such as The New York Times, Fox News, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, The Sun, Vice, The Independent, The Globe and Mail, Medium, The Daily Mail, USA Today, Good Housekeeping, Psychology Today, Marie Claire, Business Insider, The New York Post, The Guardian, The Cut, Logo, Redbook, The Today Show, and CNN, among others.

She also writes a column for Psychology Today called Hidden Desires, which explores the complexities of modern relationships.

She currently serves as a Council member for the Sexualities section of ASA. She is the former Co-Chair of the Council on Contemporary Families as well as the former Editor-in-Chief of the CCF blog.

Her first book, The Secret Life of the Cheating Wife: Power, Pragmatism, and Pleasure in Women's Infidelity, and her second book, Chasing Masculinity: Men, Validation, and Infidelity both focus on experiences of participation in infidelity. Her third book, Bound by BDSM: Unexpected Lessons in Building a Happier Life, is written with coauthor Arielle Kuperberg. Her fourth book, Always Wanting More, focuses on women who self-describe as "highly sexual" and will be in print in 2027.

Details

Education

• PhD, Sociology, 2015, University of Kentucky
• MEd, Educational Administration, 2010, Texas State University
• Post-Bac Certification, Education, 1995, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
• BA, English, 1992, University of Tampa

Teaching

• SOC 150 Introduction to Society
• SOC 301 Research Methods
• SOC 311 Sociology of Sexuality
• SOC 315 The Family
• SOC 318 Sociology of Intimate Relationships
• SOC 337 Sociology of Gender
• SOC 354 Sociology of Reality Television
• SOC 355 Sociology of Gender in Film
• HON 397 Sociology of Reality Television

Professional experience

American Sociological Association, Council Member, Sexualities Section

Walker, Alicia & Arielle Kuperberg. 2025. Bound by BDSM: Unexpected Lessons in Building a Happier Life. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/bound-by-bdsm-9798881803032/
Walker, Alicia M. 2025. The Infidelity Trap: Constrained Agency and the Limits of Monogamous Marriage. Sexuality & Culture. . https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-025-10485-3
Walker, Alicia M. and Arielle Kuperberg. 2025. From Wonder Woman to Fifty Shades. Contexts, 24(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/15365042251386832
Walker, Alicia. 2020. Chasing Masculinity: Men, Validation, and Infidelity. Palgrave Macmillan.
Walker, Alicia. 2017. The Secret Life of the Cheating Wife: Power, Pragmatism, and Pleasure in Women’s Infidelity. Lexington Books.

Research and professional interests

Inmate sexual relationships and sexual behavior
Gender
Sexualities/sexual Identities
Focused specifically on:

• Closeted sexual behaviors
• Online initiation of sexual relationships
• Sociology of infidelity (which she is credited with creating)

Awards and honors

• 2026 Summer Faculty Fellowship, Missouri State University
• 2025 Early Career Scholar Award Sexualities Section American Sociological Association
• 2025-2026 Director’s Award for Outstanding Research
• 2024-2025 FCTL Teaching Excellence Award Finalist
• 2024 Judy Awards Outstanding Research in the Social Sciences
• 2022-2023 Director's Award for Outstanding Faculty Research, Honors College
• 2023-2024 FCTL Teaching Excellence Award Finalist
• Summer Faculty Fellowship, College of Education, Missouri State University, 2015
• Beers Fellowship, University of Kentucky, 2013

Additional resources

• Personal Website
• Curriculum Vitae

Areas of Expertise

Media Appearances