Webinars / Online Events
Upcoming Events
Designing Effective Research Posters May 19, 2026 12:00PM EST
Poster sessions are a staple of academic conferences and a powerful way to share your work, spark conversations, and build connections with fellow scholars. Yet many of us have never received formal guidance on what makes a research poster effective (or what to actually do while standing next to one). Whether you’re a graduate student preparing your first poster or a seasoned scholar looking to up your game, this webinar is for you. Shannon Monnat will walk through the key principles of high-impact poster design, share examples of what works (and what doesn’t) for both quantitative and qualitative research, and offer practical tips for making the most of your time during poster sessions — from layout and data visualization to engaging passersby in meaningful conversation about your research. This webinar is open to all RSS members and is especially useful for anyone presenting a poster at the 2026 annual meeting.
Presenter: Shannon Monnat - Syracuse University
Shannon Monnat is Director of the Center for Policy Research, the Lerner Chair in Public Health Promotion and Population Health, and Professor of Sociology in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Monnat is a rural demographer and population health scholar whose research examines trends and geographic differences in health and mortality, with a special interest in rural health and health disparities. Monnat has published over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and she regularly writes policy briefs for non-academic audiences.
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The Current Policy Landscape and Its Implications for Rural Wellbeing and Opportunity January 22, 2026 12:00PM EST
Join us for a free webinar where a panel of experts from the Rural Sociological Society examine how today’s shifting policy environment is shaping rural wellbeing and opportunity. We’ll explore the impacts of the “big beautiful bill,” the recent federal shutdown, and state legislative sessions, highlighting how these developments create both challenges and openings for rural communities across the United States.
Panelist: Shannon Monnat - Syracuse University
Shannon Monnat is Director of the Center for Policy Research, the Lerner Chair in Public Health Promotion and Population Health, and Professor of Sociology in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Monnat is a rural demographer and population health scholar whose research examines trends and geographic differences in health and mortality, with a special interest in rural health and health disparities. Monnat has published over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and she regularly writes policy briefs for non-academic audiences.
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Panelist: Becky Schewe - National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Becky Schewe (she/her) has spent nearly twenty years researching agriculture, rural communities, and the environment. She holds an M.S. in Rural Sociology and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a passionate advocate for a sustainable agricultural and food system and evidence-based policy. She comes to National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) from the Maxwell School for Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University where she has researched agricultural and food system policy impacts, conservation behaviors, and their connection with social systems like labor equity.
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Panelist: Kevin Alejandrez - Oregon Health Authority
Kevin Alejandrez is the School Outreach & Engagement Advisor for the Oregon Health Authority. There, he works at the intersection of health and education, partnering with education entities and youth-serving organizations across the state to share information about the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid), and identify opportunities to increase awareness and access to services for youth and their families. He also serves as a community engagement consultant with Omnis Education, working with education leaders to advance educational equity and improve student outcomes in Oregon.
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Panelist: Ann Eisenberg - West Virginia University
Ann Eisenberg is the Patrick D. Deem Professor of Law at West Virginia University College of Law and the Research Director for WVU’s Center for Energy and Sustainable Development. Her research examines how law affects rural populations and shapes the rural economy. Her 2024 book, Reviving Rural America, debunks common myths about rural people, places, and law, and was recently featured on the Aspen Institute’s 2025 List of Books for Rethinking Rural Development.