LSU Sociologist Tim Slack Elected to Lead the Rural Sociological Society

June 08, 2026

Tim Slack, professor in the LSU Department of Sociology

Photo Credit: LSU

Tim Slack, professor in the Department of Sociology in the LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences, has been elected president of the Rural Sociological Society (RSS), one of the nation’s leading organizations dedicated to advancing research and scholarship on rural communities, populations, and environments.

Founded in 1937, the Rural Sociological Society promotes the generation, application, and dissemination of social scientific knowledge to improve the quality of life in rural places. Slack’s election places an LSU scholar at the forefront of national conversation about the economic, social, demographic, and environmental challenges shaping rural America.

His three-year leadership term beings at the society’s annual meeting on August 2, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. He will serve sequentially as president-elect, president, and past president. In these roles, Slack will help set the strategic direction of the organization, guide its leadership council, foster partnerships across professional associations, and oversee initiatives that support rural research and engagement nationwide.

His election marks a significant milestone for LSU. The last LSU faculty member to hold this position was Boyd Professor Alvin Bertrand, who was RSS president from 1967-68.

Since joining RSS as a graduate student in 1999, Slack has served the organization in number leadership capacities, including vice president, chair of its Population and Poverty Research and Interest Groups, and two terms as associate editor of its flagship journal, Rural Sociology.

His scholarship has helped shape understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing rural communities across the United States, including issues related to poverty, demographic change, economic development, natural disasters, and community resilience. His research has been supported by major federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In 2025, Slack and Syracuse University sociologist Shannon Monnat received the Rural Sociological Society’s Frederick H. Buttel Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Award for their book, Rural and Small-Town America: Context, Composition, and Complexities (University of California Press, 2024).

This recognition underscores LSU’s growing prominence as a center for impactful humanities and social sciences research. Through scholarship that examines how people, communities, and institutions respond to complex societal challenges, LSU researchers are creating knowledge that informs public policy and strengthens communities in both Louisiana and across the nation.

As an expert on rural issues, Slack’s work has been featured by major media outlets including The New York Times, USA Today, and The Advocate. He is the recipient of the LSU Rainmaker Award, LSU Alumni Association Faculty Excellence Award, and the LSU Distinguished Faculty Award.