Justin Farrell

Justin Farrell is a Professor of Sociology at Yale University's School of the Environment (YSE). His research focuses on intersections of environment, belief systems, and American culture. He holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and is a first-generation college graduate from Wyoming. His work addresses environmental ethics, land conservation, Indigenous rights, and climate change misinformation, funded by the EPA and NSF. He advises students through field courses and thesis mentorship, emphasizing methodological rigor and career guidance.

Research interests include environmental conflicts, climate policy, and the role of morality in social movements. Notable projects explore land dispossession impacts on Indigenous nations, pandemic effects on rural America, and the influence of ultra-wealthy elites on Western land use. His work appears in Science, Nature Climate Change, and American Sociological Review, and has informed policymakers at the Vatican, UN, and White House.

Teaching emphasizes mentorship and practical fieldwork, with courses on environmental sociology and ethics. Grants include multi-year NSF funding for pandemic rural resilience studies. He splits research time between rural Wyoming, Denver, and New Haven, affiliated with the Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative. His lab website provides access to datasets and collaborative projects.