Ashley Smedley

About Ashley Smedley

Posts by Ashley Smedley:

June 16 2025

RSS Member Awarded Fellowship by Center for Engaged Scholarship

RSS Member Hazel Velasco Palacios has been recognized for her pivotal role in advocating for improved health care access for farmworkers in Pennsylvania. Her work, rooted in community engagement and policy awareness, has drawn national attention to the urgent health disparities faced by agricultural laborers.

“My research centers the voices of migrant communities and aims to inform more equitable labor, health and immigration policies.” — Hazel Velasco Palacios

Velasco Palacios’ research has been published in the Journal of Rural Health, the journal Rural Sociology and Women’s Studies Quarterly. 

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June 11 2025

Book by RSS’s Tim Slack and Shannon Monnat Provides Insights into Rural Americans’ Use of the Informal Economy

RSS Members Tim Slack and Shannon Monnat report in their recent book, Rural and Small-town America (University of California Press 2024) on a compelling study that sheds light on the informal economy’s role in rural communities. The research finds that rural residents are more likely to participate in off-the-books work, barter systems, and other non-traditional economic exchanges. These activities often serve as lifelines in areas where formal employment opportunities are limited.

“In a small town, you either know people directly, or you sort of know them through the people they know. And it’s exactly those kinds of things that facilitate the ability to engage in informal work together.” — Tim Slack, Louisiana State University

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May 16 2025

The Guardian Quotes Pruitt on Rural Governance and Political Polarization

In a story about political upheaval in rural far Northern California and severe federal budget cuts, The Guardian spoke to RSS Member Lisa R. Pruitt. The piece explores how shifts in local governance, fueled by partisan tension and disinformation, are affecting rural communities. Pruitt also speaks to disproportionate rural reliance on federal funding streams.

“These cuts may, in fact, hurt rural communities harder because they just don’t have their tax bases. Their bandwidth for providing all sorts of services is just much weaker to begin with, and that makes them more reliant on federal monies.”—Lisa R. Pruitt, University of California, Davis

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May 2 2025

Tim Slack Talks to Newsweek About Trump’s Low Polling

Recent discussions around Donald Trump’s approval ratings among rural voters have reignited interest in the intersection of political sentiment and rural socioeconomic conditions. While national polls show fluctuating support, rural areas continue to exhibit unique patterns shaped by economic hardship, demographic shifts, and cultural identity.

“Poverty is higher in rural America. Underemployment is higher and labor force participation is lower among rural working-age folks. There is a wide and growing rural-urban gap in death rates among working-age people—part of the rural mortality penalty. So, the struggles are pronounced. — Tim Slack, Louisiana State University

This announcement invites readers to explore how political data can illuminate broader trends in rural America, and why understanding these patterns is essential for shaping inclusive policy and research.

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March 12 2025

RSS Members Explain Immigration Policy’s Effect on Pennsylvania’s Mushroom Industry

In a recent article published by The Conversation, RSS leaders Hazel Velasco Palacios and Kathleen Sexsmith draw attention to the urgent labor shortage affecting Pennsylvania’s mushroom farms, which produce nearly two-thirds of all mushrooms consumed in the U.S. The shortage, already straining operations, is expected to worsen due to recent changes in immigration policy that restrict access to essential migrant labor.

“Mushroom farms – and the broader agricultural sector – must prepare for the ripple effect of more rigid immigration restrictions. Without Intervention from policy makers, the strain on workers, growers, and consumers is likely to intensify.” — Hazel Velasco Palacios and Kathleen Sexsmith, Penn State University

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February 12 2025

RSS Members Pen Washington Post Op-Ed on Rural Marriage and Motherhood

Marriage, Mobility, and Motherhood A Rural Perspective

In a thought-provoking essay, RSS members Shelley Clark and Matthew M. Brooks examine the intersection of population trends, community dynamics, access to higher education, and family well-being in rural America. The article criticizes the Trump administration decision to link federal transportation funding to rates of marriage and child-rearing, noting that this will simply aggravate rural deficits, including the dearth of public transportation.

“Many Americans still imagine rural communities as bastions of tradition, where marriage is widespread and families with lots of children abound. A quarter-century ago, these perceptions would have been largely correct. They no longer are.”—Shelley Clark, McGill University, and Matthew Brooks, Florida State University

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November 1 2024

New York Times Quotes Study by RSS Members about Importance of Informal Economy in Rural America.

New York Times Quotes Study by RSS Members about Importance of Informal Economy in Rural America

In a look at the 2024 presidential race, the New York Times notes that the presidential candidates’ policy proposals may not respond to rural realities, including the importance of bartering and other aspects of the informal economy. It quotes a study by RSS members Ann Tickamyer, Leif Jensen, and Tim Slack:

“There’s a sense in rural America that the dominant institutions of society are not just ignoring them, but are actively working against them.”

This piece underscores the importance of inclusive policymaking and the need for both parties to address the realities of rural life.

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