Research and Interest Groups (RIGs)

What are Research and Interest Groups? Research and Interest Groups (RIGs) reflect the substantive interests of RSS Members and serve as an important avenue for connecting members with similar interests.  RIGs serve a critical role in RSS including identifying, developing, and recruiting for the annual RSS conference; planning special events, speakers, and field trips for the annual conference; providing intellectual leadership in their respective areas; rewarding achievement through internal awards and recognitions; and creating opportunities for members, particularly graduate students, to network and identify colleagues with similar interests. 

To find out more about each RSS Research and Interest Group (RIG) simply click on the title below or contact the leader of the RIG. If you are interested in proposing a new RIG and know at least 6 RSS members who share your interests, contact the current Vice President with your idea.  Tim Slack is the 2024-25 VP and his e-mail address is: timslack.lsu@gmail.com

Click on the RIG's title for more information.  Click here for information about RIG dues. Click here for information on the RIG Manual. 

 

 

RIG Name Chairs Title Emails
Applied and Extension Shriya Rangarajan Chair shrrajan@ucdavis.edu; sr2248@cornell.edu
  Erin Trouba Co-Chair ect5075@psu.edu
Community, Health, and Family Minh Anh Ly Co-Chair minhanh.ly@colorado.edu 
  KC Vick Cunningham Co-Chair kc.vick@uky.edu 
  Annabel Ispen Co-Chair aipsen@ou.edu 
Natural Resources Joshua Fergen Co-Chair ferge176@umn.edu
  Kelly Wilson Co-Chair kellyrwilson@missouri.edu
Population Samuel Mindes Chair smindes@iastate.edu
Gender and Sexualities Jean Bohaczek  Co-Chair jhardy@msu.edu
  Hazel Valasco Palacios Co-Chair hgv5008@psu.edu
International Development and Studies Fridah Mubichi-Kut  Co-Chair fmubichikut@gmail.com; mfm96@cornell.edu  
  Francisco Reyes Student Chair far5137@psu.edu
  Djeynaba Ba  Co-Chair ba.17@osu.edu 
Rural Law and Justice Emma Scott Chair escott@vermontlaw.edu
Rural Policy Kayleigh Ward  Chair k.ward@northeastern.edu
  Presley Powers Chair-Elect presley.alford43@gmail.com
Rural Poverty Aimee Imlay Co-Chair ai311@msstate.edu
  Kristina Brant Co-Chair kmb8133@psu.edu 
Rural Race and Ethnicity Morgan Montanez Chair mmontanez2@radford.edu
The Elders Stephen Gasteyer Chair gasteyer@msu.edu  
Sociology of Agriculture and Food (SAFRIG) Emily Southard Co-Chair ems617@psu.edu
  Chris Morris Co-Chair cmorris@iastate.edu
  Hazel Valasco Palacios Co-Chair elect hgv5008@psu.edu
  McKayla Robinette Co-Chair elect robinettem23@ecu.edu
Teaching and Curriculum Sonja Lindberg Co-Chair lindbergs@grinnell.edu
  Michael Branch Co-Chair branchm@hartwick.edu
Youth, Education, and Rural Vitality Julia Miller  Chair julia.miller@fairmontstate.edu