Jessica Schad

Dr. Jessica Schad is an Associate Professor in the Sociology Program, Director of the Community and Natural Resources Institute, and an Extension Specialist. As a rural community and natural resources sociologist, her community-engaged and applied research focuses on the dynamic relationships between extractive and non-extractive natural resource dependency and rural people and places with the goal of promoting resiliency and wellbeing. Notably, Dr. Schad started the Utah People & Environment poll to track Utahns' perceptions on environmental issues of importance to the state longitudinally. Dr. Schad has published 60 peer-reviewed journal articles, four book chapters, nine extension publications, and 20 policy/research briefs and has been on research teams securing extramural grants totaling nearly $21 million. Overall, this work has provided a better empirical and comparative understanding of rural residents’ perspectives on community and environmental issues in diverse rural places across the United States and within Utah. Graduate and/or undergraduate students always work closely with Dr. Schad on her research projects. Reflecting both the breadth and depth of her expertise on rural places, she was recently selected to lead the Rural Communities Chapter of the Sixth National Climate Assessment, the U.S. Government’s preeminent report on climate change impacts, risks, and responses.