Debbie Kasper, PhD

Debbie Kasper is a sociologist specializing in sociological theory, culture, and social change. She is Professor of Environmental Studies and the Howard S. Bissell Chair of Liberal Arts at Hiram College in northeast Ohio. There she teaches a wide variety of interdisciplinary courses (such as Community, Human Settlements, Food, Permaculture Basics, Creating Resilience, and more) exploring the social and cultural dimensions of environmental issues in which students explore and apply what they’re learning through hands-on experiences.

She is the author of the 2021 book, Beyond the Knowledge Crisis: A Synthesis Framework for Socio-Environmental Studies and Guide to Social Change. Her current projects explore the roles of spirituality and well-being in our responses to socio-environmental crises.

Kasper has a PhD in Sociology and a Doctoral Minor in Social Thought from the Pennsylvania State University. Her eclectic education also includes rigorous studies in herbalism, Tibetan Buddhism, soil biology, and holistic nutrition therapy, as well as certifications in Permaculture Design and Meditation Instruction.