Black and white photo of Sam Mindes

Dr. Samuel Mindes

Pronouns
he/him/his
Position
  • Assistant Professor
Dr. Samuel Mindes is an Assistant Professor of Rural Sociology in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Iowa State University. He was recently a Fellow at the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (2024–2026).
He previously served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor and Extension Sociologist at ISU, and held research and teaching appointments at the University of Idaho and Washington State University.

Contact

Email
smindes@iastate.edu
Phone
515-294-2556
316 East Hall
510 Farm House Lane
Ames
,
Iowa
50011
Social Media and Websites

Education

  • Ph.D., Sociology, Michigan State University, 2019
  • M.A., Sociology, Michigan State University, 2015
  • B.A., Sociology, Calvin College, 2011

Affiliations

Interdepartmental Programs

More About Dr. Mindes

Teaching

Dr. Mindes teaches foundational and topical sociology courses, including racial and ethnic studies, globalization and development, rural studies, and community sociology. He designs applied, student-centered courses that connect learners to real-world challenges through data, media, and community engagement. His teaching integrates innovative pedagogy, technology, and active learning strategies to enhance student experience and outcomes.

His teaching has been recognized with:

Dr. Mindes co-leads a study abroad program "The Alpaca Textile Industry in Peru: From the Farm to the Store." Read a bit about the trip here: Animal science and rural sociology professors lead students on a trip to an Incan agricultural experiment station

Research

Dr. Mindes’s research focuses on strategic rural systems and structural development—how infrastructure, inequality, and community dynamics interact to shape resilience and opportunity in rural America and beyond. He examines how housing, water, and digital access systems influence community viability, and how race, migration, and representation shape access to development opportunities. His scholarship spans migration studies, global sociology, population studies, community development, and economic sociology. His research has been supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Science Foundation, and the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, and has been published in high-impact outlets, including Rural Sociology, Journal of Rural Studies, Ethnicities, Sociological Perspectives, and Journal of Extension.

Selected recent publications...

  • Mindes, Samuel C.H., and Samantha Mori. 2026. “Rural–Urban Gaps in Working from Home During COVID-19.” Rural Sociology, 91(4). doi: 10.1111/ruso.70076
  • Mori, Samantha, and Samuel C.H. Mindes. 2026 “The Impact of Food Insecurity on Intentions to Migrate: Findings from the North Central Region.” Research Brief. North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. doi: 10.22004/ag.econ.413151 (link to report at NCRCRD)
  • Mindes, Samuel C.H., and Katherine Dentzman. 2026. “The Importance of Social Capital and Community Dynamics for Effective Extension Programming.” Journal of Extension, 64(2). Article 15. doi: 10.66752/1077-5315.5867
  • Gratny, Savanna, and Samuel C.H. Mindes. 2026. “When Housing Isn’t Secure: Access, Affordability, and Stability in the North Central Region.” Research Snapshot. North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. doi: 10.22004/ag.econ.413083 (link to report at NCRCRD)
  • Owens, Sophie, and Samuel C.H. Mindes. 2026. “Beyond Access: Understanding Food Insecurity in the North Central Region.” Research Snapshot. North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. doi: doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.413082 (link to report at NCRCRD)
  • Mindes, Samuel C.H., Zuzana Bednarik, and Samantha Mori. 2026. North Central Region Household Data. NCR-Stat: Housing and Food Security Survey. Purdue University Research Repository. doi: 10.4231/ZAVR-CE69
  • Dentzman, Katherine, and Samuel C.H. Mindes. 2026. “Pesticide Resistance and Community Collapse: The Vicious Cycle of Rural Disintegration and Agricultural Expansion.” Journal of Rural Studies, 121. doi: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103933 (free access link)
  • Mindes, Samuel C.H. 2025. “Rural–urban disparities in work disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Brief 2025-3. Rural Population Research Network. (link to report)
  • Mindes, Samuel C.H. 2024. “Self-employment, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rural-urban divide in the United States.” Rural Sociology, 89(2):214-38. doi: 10.1111/ruso.12534

Recently funded projects...