Rachel Gurney is an interdisciplinary sociologist with a BA in journalism, an MS in environmental science, and a PhD in sociology. Her research explores the intersections of public opinion, rural well-being, and environmental politics, with a current focus on analyzing farmer survey data. Her recent work investigates how agricultural identity, trust, and shared values influence sustainable practices—particularly surrounding dairy production, soil health, and land stewardship across farmer groups. Using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, Gurney’s work emphasizes transdisciplinary collaboration to foster both academic insight and practical solutions to complex environmental challenges.