{"id":51,"date":"2025-05-22T22:53:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T22:53:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ruralsociology.org\/annual-meeting\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T16:39:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T16:39:44","slug":"annual-meeting","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ruralsociology.org\/annual-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Annual Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n 2026 Annual Meeting <\/span>\n\n \n \n July 30 - August 2, 2026 - Raleigh, NC <\/span>\n <\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Each year, the Rural Sociological Society brings together a diverse and passionate community of scholars, students, practitioners, and policy professionals to explore the social dimensions of rural life\u2014locally and globally. The RSS Annual Meeting is more than just a conference: it\u2019s a space for exchanging ideas, forging collaborations, and advancing the field of rural sociology.<\/p>\n

Join us in Raleigh July 29 – August 2, 2026 as we gather to share research, develop networks, and engage with the pressing issues facing rural communities today. Whether you’re presenting new findings, attending your first professional meeting, or reconnecting with colleagues, we welcome you to be part of the conversation.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ready to Participate?<\/h2> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em> Submit an Abstract <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em> Register Now <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em> Hotel & Travel Info <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em> General Information <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em> Presentation Policy <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Get Ready for the 2026 Meeting:<\/h2> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\u00a0Conference Theme<\/h5>\n

\u201cRural Justice\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

A great deal of rural sociological scholarship is motivated by a desire for fairness and justice. Our discussions of food justice, environmental justice, energy justice, and just transitions are just a few examples of this.\u00a0 Many pursue scholarship that informs advocacy for rural communities and their residents. Some of that advocacy\u2014often framed in relation to uneven development or spatial inequality\u2014implicates comparisons to urban and suburban places, as we seek to measure or establish whether rural people and their communities are getting their fair share of resources from higher scales of government.\u00a0 Some of this advocacy is for justice within rural communities, attending to the varied and diverse populations of a given place and the myriad bases on which some are disadvantaged within that place or region.\u00a0 Still other work stretches across borders, considering fairness and justice in relation to migration and other global processes.\u00a0 Yet, in spite of significant justice rhetoric, another key field that explores these themes\u2014law and legal scholarship\u2014remains largely untapped and under-engaged by most rural sociologists.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>

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Meanwhile, a growing but still small group of legal scholars\u2014many in the broad and rich tradition of \u201claw and society\u201d\u2014have been drawn to rural sociology in recent years.\u00a0 These scholars work on a wide range of topics, including the ones that draw rural sociologists\u2019 attention:\u00a0 immigration, land use, crime and punishment, the family, labor and employment, education, healthcare, water and the environment, poverty, and the regulatory state, to name a few.\u00a0 While these scholars are realistic about the practical limits of law and legal processes to achieve justice, they have found engagement with rural sociology indispensable to their advocacy regarding law and its operation within rural communities, as well as upon them.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our 2026 Annual Meeting in Raleigh is an invitation to bring our advocacy for justice to the fore and have robust discussions about what constitutes justice for rural America, as well as within and among diverse rural communities.\u00a0 It is also an invitation to bring not only rural sociological and legal insights to the table but also to initiate collaborations with scholars and stakeholders from other disciplines.\u00a0 Those other disciplines and traditions will likely include economics, various \u201chard\u201d sciences, and the humanities\u2014not least because rich interdisciplinary collaborations are more likely to inform what should be done to achieve the more just world that we seek.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>More <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u00a0For Students & First-Time Attendees<\/h5>\n

Don\u2019t miss the welcome breakfast hosted by the RSS Council\u2014an opportunity to connect early, meet mentors, and build your professional network. Student rates are available, and travel support donations help make this possible.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Optional Field Trips on July 30<\/h5>\n

Stay tuned for field trip details.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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What to Expect<\/h3>\n

A high-level look at how the week unfolds:<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Wednesday, July 29<\/h3>
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Field trips, early networking, informal gatherings, presidential address, opening reception.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Thursday, July 30<\/h3>
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Opening sessions, keynote, concurrent panels<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Friday, July 31<\/h3>
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Student programming, poster sessions, Research and Interest Group meetings<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Saturday, August 1<\/h3>
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Awards luncheon, closing panels & community events<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Save the Date<\/h3>
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2027 Annual Meeting
<\/strong>July 26 – 31, 2027
Kansas City, MO
The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center
<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Why Attend?<\/h2>\n

The RSS Annual Meeting offers more than sessions and schedules\u2014it\u2019s a gathering of people committed to understanding and shaping the future of rural communities through rigorous research and inclusive dialogue.<\/p>\n

Whether you’re a seasoned scholar or attending your first conference, the meeting provides:<\/p>\n

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    Scholarly Exchange<\/strong>: Present your work, engage with current research, and receive meaningful feedback from peers who care deeply about rural issues.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Networking & Mentorship<\/strong>: Build relationships with rural sociologists, interdisciplinary collaborators, and potential mentors from across the country\u2014and beyond.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Impact Beyond Academia<\/strong>: Connect with researchers, practitioners, and policy professionals working to apply rural sociological insights to real-world challenges.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Student & Early-Career Support<\/strong>: Dedicated programming for students and emerging scholars, including poster sessions, awards, and mentoring opportunities.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Community & Recognition<\/strong>: Celebrate achievements in the field, learn from award-winning scholarship, and join a society rooted in shared purpose.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Each year, attendees leave with new ideas, lasting connections, and a deeper sense of belonging to a professional community dedicated to rural well-being.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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    Location & Venue<\/h2> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    The 2026 Annual Meeting of the Rural Sociological Society will take place in Raleigh, North Carolina<\/strong>, which blends Southern charm with cutting-edge innovation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    Conveniently situated near the heart of the Research Triangle, this hotel offers easy access to Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, placing guests close to top universities, tech hubs, and cultural attractions.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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    Embassy Suites by Hilton Raleigh
    Durham Research Triangle<\/strong>
    \ud83d\udccd 201 Harrison Oaks Boulevard, Cary, North Carolina, 27513
    <\/em>Dates:<\/strong> July 30 \u2013 August 2, 2026<\/em><\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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    As the state capital and a cornerstone of the Research Triangle, it offers a vibrant mix of historic landmarks, world-class universities, thriving tech industries, and lush green spaces\u2014making it a dynamic place to live, work, and explore.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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