E. Dianne Looker is an Emerita Professor of Sociology at Mount Saint Vincent and  Acadia Universities in Nova Scotia. Her research focuses on issues relating to rural-urban location, gender and other equity issues. Over her career much of her research has examined rural youth and their transitions to adulthood, taking a life course perspective on the paths they pursue. Her current research looks at alternate and atypical paths to adulthood, including those chosen by youth who opt to stay in, return to or move to rural areas. Much of this research deals with various forms of mobility – mobility in and out of the parental home, to and from one’s community of origin, and to and from rural areas. Most recently she has worked on looking at factors influencing youth and young adults to stay in a locale, challenging the notion that mobility is the only or the best path for all young people.

Dianne has published and presented extensively on these topics, and has been awarded several major research grants and contracts dealing with equity issues, including issues of rurality and mobility/stability. She has served as an advisor for a number of organizations, including Industry Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Statistics Canada, the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission, the Council of Ministers of Education Canada and the Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation.