Biography

Kristie LeBeau is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration working with the SNF Ithaca Initiative. Prior to joining UD, Kristie was a postdoctoral college fellow in the sociology department at Harvard University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Saint Mary’s College (IN), in addition to a master’s degree and doctorate in development sociology from Cornell University. Trained as an educational sociologist, Kristie takes a holistic approach to education policy, focusing on the wellbeing of the communities in which schools are embedded. Her research examines the social and economic consequences of education policies across and within school-communities, with a particular emphasis on rural contexts. She is especially interested in understanding the role of public schools as public goods—institutions that not only provide education but also help sustain and advance democratic life.

Research Interests

education finance & policy, school-community relationships, rural community vitality

Degrees

• ​PhD, Cornell University, (2024)
• MS, Cornell University, (2020)
• BA, Saint Mary's College, (2018)