Megan Styles

Megan Styles is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS), affiliated with the School of Integrated Sciences, Sustainability, and Public Health in the Environmental Studies program. She joined the UIS faculty in 2014 after a teaching postdoc at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on sustainable development in Kenya and the U.S., particularly agricultural practices and environmental policy.

• Ph.D. and MA in Environmental Anthropology, University of Washington
• B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Studies (Social Science Track), Washington University in St. Louis

Dr. Styles specializes in ethnographic and qualitative research, examining topics such as cut flower farming in Kenya, community gardening in Springfield, and Illinois farmers’ experiences with hemp production. Her work bridges social science methods with environmental policy, addressing the intersection of labor, ecology, and globalization.

The articles in her portfolio span environmental anthropology, agricultural policy, and sustainability. Key themes include the political economy of floriculture, community resilience in agribusiness, and policy implementation in local and global contexts. Her publications often integrate interdisciplinary perspectives, combining ecological and sociocultural analysis.

She actively mentors students interested in qualitative or mixed-methods research on environmental challenges and serves as faculty advisor for the UIS Community Garden and the UIS Green Fee Committee. Additionally, she is President of the Lincoln Memorial Garden Executive Board, promoting local sustainability initiatives.