Leslie Hossfeld

Leslie Hossfeld serves as Dean of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences and Professor of Sociology at Clemson University, bringing extensive leadership experience from prior roles as Department Head at Mississippi State University and Chair at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Her nationally recognized scholarship bridges rural sociology, public health, and agricultural policy.

She earned her PhD in Sociology from North Carolina State University, Master of Social Science in Sociology from the University of Mississippi, and BA in History from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Her academic journey reflects deep commitment to understanding structural inequalities through interdisciplinary lenses.

Dean Hossfeld's research centers on rural economic development, social determinants of health, health-agriculture policy integration, and food/nutrition security. She examines how economic restructuring impacts rural communities through food systems, employing engaged sociology methodologies to address health disparities and promote food sovereignty. Her work consistently emphasizes community-driven solutions and policy coherence across sectors.

Analysis of her 2020-2024 publications reveals dominant focus on food insecurity during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in rural and college settings. These works demonstrate sophisticated interdisciplinary approaches examining intersections of socioeconomic factors, health outcomes, and food environments using mixed-methods frameworks across diverse geographic contexts.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Clemson University URSAAA Award for research expenditures exceeding $1 million (2024)
• SC Sociological Association Excellence in Scholarship Award (2023)
• NC Sociological Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2019)
• MSU President’s Commission on Status of Women Faculty Award (2018)
• SSRC Research Fellow designation (2016)

Dean Hossfeld has secured major USDA funding including the SERA-47 multi-state initiative across 13 southern states, developed economic recovery projects for rural North Carolina counties, and implemented food sovereignty initiatives in the Mississippi Delta. Her congressional testimony on rural economic decline demonstrates impactful policy engagement, while her leadership in national sociological organizations shows commitment to advancing public sociology.

She actively collaborates with Clemson's Center for Research on Health Disparities and Institute for Family and Neighborhood Life, leading interdisciplinary teams that integrate community engagement with rigorous research to address complex societal challenges through engaged scholarship frameworks.