Dr. Pfeffer's research involves critical inquiry into contemporary families, genders, health, sexualities, and bodies considered marginal, as well as social actors’ management of stigma and discrimination processes. She completed her PhD in Sociology, MSW in Social Policy and Evaluation, and Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies at the University of Michigan, where she received interdisciplinary multi-method training in social sciences and humanities. 

Her research has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and American Council of Learned Societies. She's been nationally elected to serve as Chair of the sections on Sex & Gender and Sexualities and Secretary-Treasurer of the section on Body and Embodiment of the American Sociological Association. She's Editor-in-Chief of Fat Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Body Weight and Society. 

At Michigan State University, she's Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology, Community-Engaged Research Fellow, Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Fellow, Core Faculty Affiliate of the Center for Gender in Global Context, and former (inaugural) director of the Consortium for Sexual and Gender Minority Health.