Angela T RagusaView profile
Senior Lecturer
Dr. Angela T. Ragusa is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology within the Department of Social Work and Arts at Charles Sturt University, Australia. Her work spans environmental sociology, health and well-being, media and communication, and social inequality. She is Editor-in-Chief of Rural Society and serves on editorial boards for several journals including Sustainability and Open Communication Journal . PhD in Sociology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2002) MSc in Sociology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2003) MSc in Science and Technology Studies, Virginia Tech (2000) BA (Honours) in Psychology, St Francis College (1993) Her research critically examines social change, cultural identity, and systemic influences of media, science, education, and health institutions. Key areas include environmental sustainability, mental and physical well-being, consumerism, and rural Australia. She explores how individuals negotiate social systems to produce personal, community, and policy-level change. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent focus on rural issues, sustainability, digital learning, and social inequality. Trends include sociological analysis of environmental behavior, cost-of-living crises as structural violence, online education challenges, and rural mental health. Her work combines qualitative and quantitative methods, often with policy implications, and is increasingly aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Her scientific contributions are recognized through editorial leadership and public engagement. She has contributed to media discussions on the fourth industrial revolution, pandemic family changes, and rural health workforce challenges. As a registered supervisor, she mentors higher degree research students. Her teaching portfolio includes courses in introductory sociology, gender studies, media and globalization, environmental sociology, and advanced research methods. She has been involved in research impacting rural mental health policy in Australia. Her work is deeply embedded in rural Australia, with collaborations extending internationally, particularly in sustainability and education research. She leads research on ruralities, digital learning access, and environmental behavior, contributing to both academic discourse and public policy.








