Lori Cramer

Lori Cramer is a Professor in the School of Public Policy within the College of Liberal Arts at Oregon State University. She also serves as Assistant Director of the Marine Studies Undergraduate Program, demonstrating a strong commitment to interdisciplinary marine and environmental education.

Her research focuses on environmental and natural resource sociology, rural communities, and community resilience. Key areas include social impact assessment, climate change adaptation, marine conservation, and disaster risk reduction. She teaches courses such as Rural Sociology, Environmental Sociology, and Society and Natural Resources at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on human dimensions of environmental change, including community perceptions of marine reserves, evacuation behaviors in tsunami zones, and the socioeconomic impacts of climate change on rural and coastal populations. Her work often employs mixed-methods and interdisciplinary approaches, bridging sociology with policy, environmental science, and emergency management.

• Oregon State University Graduate Mentor of the Year Award
• Rural Sociological Society Excellence in Teaching Award
• College of Liberal Arts Researcher of the Year, Oregon State University

Lori Cramer has secured significant research funding from NOAA, NSF, and the PEW Charitable Trusts. As Principal or Co-Investigator, she has led projects on marine seascapes restoration, marine reserve perceptions, seafood workforce diversity, and tsunami safety. She actively mentors students and contributes to policy-relevant research, particularly in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Her leadership in the Marine Studies Program underscores her integrative approach to training future environmental leaders.

She is affiliated with research initiatives related to natural hazards, marine policy, and rural development, collaborating across disciplines to address complex socio-environmental challenges.