Sarah Whitley

Instructor

Ph.D., WSU 2012

Areas of Research Interest:

Education, Inequality, Poverty, Rural Food Security, Stratification

Current Research Interests:

My research examines the interaction of food security and retail access changes, particularly in the rural setting. I focus on households experiencing poverty in order to understand the ways access changes and the creation of ‘food deserts’ affects the food security of low-income residents. Using qualitative methods including in-depth interviews and observation in communities, food pantries, and public schools, I have investigated food security and retail access changes in agricultural communities in the Inland Northwest. My findings argue that access changes have negatively affected low-income rural residents’ food security for a variety of reasons that seem unique to the rural setting. My current and future research will continue to look at rural household food security struggles in the aftermath of significant retail changes. At a time when hunger is hitting our nation at an alarming rate, it is important to have an understanding of who faces food security issues and the challenges households, as well as, food programs endure combating hunger.

Selected Publication:

Whitley, Sarah. Forthcoming. “Changing Times in Rural America: Food Assistance and Food Insecurity in Food Deserts.” Journal of Family Social Work, Special Issue: Rural Families

Sarah Whitley