Lori Garkovich holds a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Dr. Garkovich joined the faculty of the University of Kentucky in 1976 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and became an Associate Professor in 1982 and a Professor in 1990. Her current appointment is 45% Instruction, 45% Extension and 10% research. She is currently Coordinator of the Public Service and Leadership specialization in the Community Communications and Leadership Development undergraduate degree and is the Director of Graduate Studies.
Dr. Garkovich's research specialty areas include farm family/household change, community change, and land use issues. Most recently she was co-investigator on a five-year study titled: "Sustained Work Indicators of Older Farmers" which is funded by the National Institute of Occupational and Safety and Health. Currently she is involved in studies of the equine industry in Kentucky. Her extension specialty areas include leadership development, strategic planning, community/economic development, and sociodemographic trend analyses. She facilitates strategic planning and community visioning processes in communities and civic organizations, assisting local people in defining their future and identifying strategic actions which will move them toward the tomorrow they want for their families and their communities. She has facilitated strategic planning related to economic development, land use and growth management, tourism development, and general community development. For this academic year, she will be teaching at the undergraduate level Research Methods, Leadership Studies, sociology of the environment and a general College of Agriculture course called "Issues in Agriculture" as well as a graduate research methods  course.

Dr. Garkovich has been a recipient of the Rural Sociological Society's Excellence in Teaching Award, the Gamma Sigma Delta's Master Teacher Award, and the University of Kentucky's Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Teaching - Tenured Faculty. She has also been the recipient of the Excellence in Extension and Outreach Award, Southern Rural Sociological Association and the Noel P. Gist Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of Missouri, Department of Rural Sociology. She has served in several elected positions with the Rural Sociological Society.