Research Interests
Spatial health disparities, Rural health/mortality
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Sociology and Demography - Florida State University
- Master of Science (M.S.), Sociology - Florida State University
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Sociology and Women's Studies - Florida State University
Biosketch
Prior to coming to UMass Lowell, Lynne Cossman led the largest college at University of Texas at San Antonio, with more than 6,000 students and nearly 200 faculty. As founding dean of the College for Health, Community and Policy, she oversaw creation of academic and research infrastructure of a college that includes eight departments and four research centers and institutes, while building connections with community and institutional partners.
Among her accomplishments was leading a strategic planning process for the college, creating a dean’s advisory board and launching the Institute for Health, Community and Policy to align the college’s research endeavors.
Cossman previously served as chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at West Virginia University, and held faculty and administrative roles at Mississippi State University, the University of Central Arkansas and Miami University.
A medical sociologist and demographer, she has studied community health, health disparities and the health care workforce, with a recent focus on effects of COVID-19 on subjective life expectancy, protective behaviors and health behaviors.