Message from RSS President, Lisa Pruitt

Dear RSS Members:

Excitement about our 2026 Annual Meeting is building as we are now just over four months away from convening in Raleigh, North Carolina, July 29-August 1. We have some terrific speakers lined up for our plenaries at this 88^th Annual Meeting on the theme Rural Justice. These include Nick Jacobs of Colby College and Lauren Sudeall of Vanderbilt University. Several RIGs are collaborating on exciting field trips and other offsite opportunities, which will soon be detailed on the Annual Meeting Registration page. I’ve recently had a sneak peek at the nearly 250 abstracts you’ve submitted, and I’m very excited about the wide range of important work reflected there. You all have been very busy since we met in Salt Lake City last summer!

Our transition to a new Business Office with Suzanne Bevan at SSB Management has meant several exciting changes in our processes, and we are also experimenting with some changes to the Annual Meeting. These changes reflect our commitment to building a more dynamic, sustainable Annual Meeting—one that maximizes engagement and ensures RSS thrives for years to come.

First, we're launching a new signature event—Celebrating RSS: Annual Awards Mixer—bringing together our awards celebration with our department and partner gathering for one big evening you won't want to miss. Second, we're streamlining the session schedule to boost attendance at every presentation and create more energy in the room. To give more scholars a platform, we're introducing two exciting formats: an elevated poster session with prizes and a dedicated reception, and flash talk sessions that showcase twice the number of presenters per 75-minute block. The RSS leadership, including Program Chairs Pierce Greenberg and Ryan Thomson, along with the RIG chairs, will be working hard to distribute participation opportunities appropriately and equitably across career stages. We are prioritizing cohesive panels that feature a mix of senior, mid-career, and junior presenters. Senior folks will also be participating in the poster session and flash presentations. In addition, RSS will be hosting a webinar in May on “How to Design Effective Research Posters,” presented by Shannon Monnat.

We're energized about these changes and confident they'll make Raleigh one of our best meetings yet! If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to email me, Executive Director Suzanne Bevan, or another member of the Executive Committee or Council.

Latebreaker Abstract Submission

You can now submit your latebreaker abstract.

Submissions Close: April 1st

Upcoming Webinar

May 19, 2026 at 12pm Eastern Time

Designing Effective Research Posters

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.

New: RSS News & Announcements Submission Page

Members now have a dedicated space to share opportunities, updates, and accomplishments with the RSS community. The News & Announcements page features calls for submissions, events, jobs, funding opportunities, and “Members in the News” highlights. If you have an announcement to share, you can now submit it directly through the site—helping us keep the community informed and connected throughout the year.

Raleigh, North Carolina

A visit to Raleigh, N.C., is more than a trip to just any big city; visitors will experience kindness, charm and local flair with unique Southern hospitality that promises elevated experiences! Raleigh stands as North Carolina’s hub of intellect, culture, cuisine and innovation. This cool capital city offers diverse experiences in food, live music, sports, arts and scenic outdoors—it’s an approachable, inviting and thriving destination for all.

Important Update: RSS Listserv Discontinuation

The RSS Listserv (RURSOC-L@LSV.UKY.EDU) will be discontinued. This decision reflects our commitment to streamlining communication and ensuring that announcements and updates are shared through the RSS Business Office and official channels.