In this episode of The Annex, we meet Casey Jakubowski (University of Maryland, Eastern Shore) and Chea Lynn Parton (Purdue). We’ll explore the unique experiences and observations that led our guests to develop a keen interest in teaching rural students. We’ll also dive into the similarities and differences between teaching rural and urban students and how culture conflicts, involving class, race, religion, and sexuality, play out in rural campuses or with rural students. Our conversation will touch on the common misconceptions that urban or suburban sociologists may have about students from rural communities and how these misconceptions can impact the classroom. We’ll also explore the relationship between “town and gown” and how to make the discipline more welcoming to people from rural communities.