Tom R. Leppard

Tom R. Leppard is a Research Fellow in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at North Carolina State University. His research focuses on social capital, inequality, and networks, with a particular emphasis on collaboration dynamics in music industries and sports. Leppard completed his Ph.D. in Sociology at NC State, where his dissertation analyzed collaboration networks among UK Grime artists and their relationship to industry structures. He explores how social structures influence inequalities and vice versa, including studies on family dynamics, racial stereotypes in sports, and athlete activism. His work bridges sociology, cultural studies, and social network analysis.

Leppard’s research interests include networks, inequalities, social capital, culture, and sports. He has investigated topics such as gendered stereotypes in parent-child relationships influenced by sports participation, the psychological impacts of pandemic job loss, and racial disparities in college football penalties. His interdisciplinary approach combines quantitative data analysis with qualitative insights, often leveraging large datasets like NHL player records and social media networks.

Leppard has published extensively on social capital, inequality, and cultural production. His articles reflect a commitment to understanding how systemic structures shape individual and collective outcomes, from family relationships to professional activism. Despite no listed awards, his work has contributed significantly to debates in cultural sociology and sports studies.

As a postdoctoral scholar, Leppard continues to engage with academic networks and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams. His current projects likely expand on his dissertation themes and explore emerging areas such as digital networks in music or athlete advocacy movements.