Faculty Profile for Dr. Michelle Lynn Edwards

profile photo for Dr. Michelle Lynn Edwards
Dr. Michelle Lynn Edwards
Associate Professor — Sociology
THH 449
phone: (512) 245-2113
Scholarly/Creative Work
Awards
Grants
Service

Biography Section

Biography and Education

 I am originally from Edinburg in the Rio Grande Valley. I received my B.A. in Sociology from Rice University in 2005, my M.A. in Sociology from Texas State University in 2009, and my Ph.D. in Sociology from Washington State University in 2013. I taught at Texas Christian University from 2013-2018. I began teaching at Texas State University in 2018.

Teaching Interests

 My favorite classes to teach are about methods and environmental sociology! At Texas State, I have taught the following courses: Introduction to Sociology (SOCI 1310), Society & Environment (SOCI 3365), Quantitative Research Methods (SOCI 4308), Environmental Sociology (SOCI 5368), and Applied Survey Research (SOCI 5388J).

Research Interests

 My research interests are quite varied, but generally are related to environmental concerns, risk perceptions, perceptions of science, social inequality, and quantitative and qualitative methods.

Some of my past research studies include: a qualitative study of community organizers for farmworkers in Texas, a survey of Washington and Nebraska residents on water governance issues, and a qualitative study of stakeholder perceptions of risk related to hydraulic fracturing in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. I have also looked at how perspectives change for people who are not incarcerated but are participating in prison-based environmental programs (e.g., as educators, scientists, etc.).

Several of my other studies have considered the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process from multiple angles. For example, using the lens of environmental justice, I considered how NEPA is implemented for immigrant detention centers (by DHS). Using the lens of settler colonialism, I analyzed publicly submitted comments by Tribal-affiliated individuals and organizations to better understand how they viewed rule changes to NEPA in 2020. Using the lenses of neoliberal bureacratization and rationalization, I compared the changes to NEPA under both the Trump administration and the Biden administration.

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Edwards, M. L. (2024). Resisting settler colonialism: comments from tribes on NEPA ‘modernization.’ Environmental Sociology. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/23251042.2024.2427466
  • Edwards, M. L., & Edwards, H. (2023). Prison-based Environmental Training Programs: Who Is Being Transformed? Environmental Education Research. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2023.2190523
  • Edwards, M. L., & Caden, Z. (2022). Examining Science Communication on Reddit: From an “Assembled” to a “Disassembling” Approach. Public Understanding of Science, 31(4), 473–488.
  • Tritsch, K., Mix, K., Edwards, M. L., & Piña Jr., M. (2021). What Makes a Small Farm Successful? A Review of Success Factors, Needs, and Challenges. Journal of Extension, 59(2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.59.02.18
  • Edwards, M. L., Luna, B., & Edwards, H. (2021). Environmental Injustices in Immigrant Detention: How Absences Are Embedded in the NEPA Process. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, 4(2), 429–450. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/2514848620909734

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Recipient: 2020 Teaching Award of Honor, Texas State Alumni Association. 2020
  • Award / Honor Nominee: Presidential Award for Excellence: Teaching (Assistant Professor), Nominated by the Department of Sociology. 2020
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Received a "Snap" from a student, National Residence Hall Honorary. 2018
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Mitosfsky Innovators Award to the Dillman Research Team, American Association for Public Opinion Research. 2017
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Senior Class Legacy Gift from Katherine French (Former Student), Texas Christian University. 2017

Selected Grants

  • Edwards, Michelle L. Honorarium for Serving as Panel Moderator for 'The Socio/Demographic/Cultural Profiles of Scientists', Toward a Vision of Diversity in Science and Society Symposium, Texas State University, $500. (Funded: 2018). Grant.
  • Edwards, Michelle L (Principal). Dissertation Research Grant, Department of Sociology, Washington State University, $500. (Funded: 2012). Grant.
  • Edwards, Michelle L (Principal). Travel Grant, Department of Sociology, Washington State University, $250. (Funded: 2012). Grant.
  • Edwards, Michelle L (Principal). Registration Grant, Graduate and Professional Student Association, Washington State University, $100. (Funded: 2012). Grant.
  • Edwards, Michelle L. Travel Scholarship, Department of Sociology, Washington State University, $475. (Funded: 2011). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

Member
Student Learning Outcomes Sub-Committee
August 2022-Present
Member
College Research Enhancement Program (REP) Committee
August 2022-Present
Member
Research and Teaching Review Committee
August 2022-Present
Member
Anti-Racist Committee
August 2021-Present
Member
Liberal Arts Budget, Planning and Curriculum Committee/Liberal Arts Faculty Advisory Council
August 2021-Present