Kyle Knight
Department Head and Professor
Humanities, Arts and Social SciencesEducation
B.B.A., University of Texas at Arlington
Ph.D., Washington State University
Brief Bio
I received my B.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2006 before attending Washington State University where I earned my M.A. in Sociology in 2008 and my Ph.D. in Sociology in 2012. Before joining South Dakota Mines in 2022 I was an Associate Professor and Department Chair of Sociology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Research Expertise
As an environmental sociologist, I generally use quantitative cross-national data to investigate such issues as environmental sustainability, environmental concern, resource consumption, and climate change. My research has been published in a number of academic journals, including Social Science Research, Social Science Quarterly, Society and Natural Resources, Global Environmental Change, and Population and Environment. My most recent studies have focused on examining patterns in public opinion regarding climate change using survey data from the United States and other countries.
Teaching
I have taught a number of different undergraduate courses throughout my career, including introductory sociology courses as well as courses in sociological statistics and research methods. I have also taught courses on environmental sociology, environmental justice, and society and climate change. In all of my classes I challenge students to improve their ability to effectively communicate ideas and arguments and to find ways to apply sociological insights to their own fields. It is my hope that students leave my classes with knowledge and skills that help them to make sense of the complex society in which they live as well as to succeed in their future academic endeavors and careers, whatever they may be.