Professor Dr. Kathryn Brasier

Biography

Kathryn J. Brasier is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education at Penn State University. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, obtained in 2002. Dr. Brasier's research and outreach programs specialize in environment-society interactions and collective action concerning agricultural environmental issues. Her work significantly emphasizes stakeholder engagement and collaborative natural resource management. She previously contributed to programs focused on community development and informs strategies for managing natural resources in contexts such as the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania. Her research interests bridge areas such as Collaborative Environmental Governance, Community Development, Water Quality, and the intersection of Gender and Agriculture. As an integral part of the Rural Sociology graduate program, she teaches courses related to these domains, and her outreach efforts aim at applying research findings to community contexts, emphasizing informed decision-making related to environmental issues. Dr. Brasier has authored and contributed to several publications, focusing on stakeholder engagement and participatory management in various environmental contexts. Her dedication to both research and applied outreach elucidates her commitment to enhancing community resilience and sustainable practices in agriculture.

Research Interests