Lori Guasta, Ph.D.

Ph.D., Leadership Studies, Gonzaga University
M.A., Clinical Sociology, University of Northern Colorado

 

Dr. Lori Guasta is an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner whose work bridges sociology, organizational leadership, and applied research. She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Sociology from the University of Northern Colorado. With more than twenty years of experience spanning government, academia, and industry, her work integrates sociological theory with real-world organizational and community challenges.

 

Dr. Guasta teaches a broad range of undergraduate sociology courses at UCCS, including Introduction to Sociology, Sociology of the Family, Sociology of Poverty, Nonprofit and Non-governmental Organizations, Urban and Community Sociology, and Social Services and Welfare Reform. Over the course of her career, she has developed more than 25 university-level courses. Her teaching emphasizes critical thinking, applied learning, and helping students connect sociological frameworks to contemporary social issues, institutional systems, and community dynamics.

Her academic interests center on organizational culture, inequality, social systems, leadership, and the intersection of work, family, and community structures. Drawing from her background in clinical sociology, she is particularly interested in applied and engaged sociology—examining how sociological insight can inform policy, strengthen institutions, and improve human outcomes.

 

In addition to her academic work, Dr. Guasta has led research and improvement initiatives in high-risk industries through her roles with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and in private consulting. She has published and presented widely at professional conferences and executive forums, focusing on leadership, organizational behavior, risk management, and safety culture.