Dr. Lori A. Dickes has over 20 years of experience in higher education and has been a faculty member at Clemson since 2013. With a PhD in Policy, her research leverages specific training in economics and policy analysis to better understand rural and regional development across different geographies and in different contexts.

Dr. Dickes’ research has focused on a range of specific issues impacting the ability of communities to be economically and socially sustainable, including issues of rural entrepreneurship, economic development, opioid policy and interventions and natural resource policy.

Dr. Dickes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and since 2013 has been the Masters in Public Administration (MPA) program coordinator. Most recently, she has been the Associate Department Chair and the Graduate Programs Coordinator.

Dr. Dickes is also committed to a wide range of service activities to the institution and profession. She has been the Clemson University Chair on the Commission on Women, the co-lead of the Provost’s Taskforce on Caregiving during COVID, a participant in the Clemson ACC-Leader’s network and others.

Dr. Dickes was a recipient of the 2022 University Ralph D. Elliott Award for Outstanding Service to Off-Campus, Distance and Continuing Education and the 2021- Clemson University Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring Award. Through her administrative, teaching and research work, she seeks to provide leadership and support to create innovative and transformative organizations that help sustain institutions and communities.