SSRC Chronicles: April 2013
Announcements
Dr. Robert McMillen presented findings from the 2012 Social Climate Survey of Tobacco Control at the FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting on April 30, 2013. The meeting addressed modified risk tobacco products. MRTPs are tobacco products that are sold or distributed for use to reduce harm or the risk of tobacco related disease associated with commercially marketed tobacco products.
Survey Laboratory
The Survey Research Laboratory is administering the Social Climate Survey of Tobacco Control in the Delta region of Mississippi. Results from this telephone-based survey will allow researchers to measure public opinion regarding the use and control of tobacco products. Survey respondents include a representative sample of 800 adults living in the Mississippi Delta. Funding for the project is provided by the Mississippi State Department of Health. The principal investigator is Dr. Robert McMillen, Research Fellow and Associate Research Professor at the SSRC. Dr. John F. Edwards, Coordinator of SSRC Laboratories, is overseeing the data collection.
Awards & Recognitions
Dr. Ronald Cossman has been promoted to Research Professor. He has been associated with the Social Science Research Center since 2001.
Dr. Kathleen Ragsdale has been promoted to Associate Research Professor at the Social Science Research Center.
Dr. Guangqing Chi has been promoted to Associate Professor of Sociology.
Dr. Laura R. Walton, APR has been promoted to Associate Professor of Communication.
Dr. Tonya Neeves has been promoted to Project Director at the Social Science Research Center.
Ms. Brittany Mack, an undergraduate research assistant to Dr. Colleen Sinclair, was a recipient of the OGS Summer Research Program for Under-represented Minority Students, which includes a summer grant and research stipend.
Mr. Andrew Finnegan, an undergraduate research assistant to Dr. Colleen Sinclair, won first place in the social sciences category at the Undergraduate Research Symposium this semester for his presentation “Self-interest rules: Assessing the persuasiveness of gay rights arguments from likely and unlikely sources.”
Ms. Amanda Pastuszak, a graduate research assistant working with Dr. Colleen Sinclair and Rahel Mathews, MPH, has accepted an offer to the combined Clinical and Counseling Psychology doctoral program at the University of South Alabama. Ms. Pastuszak is a second-year clinical psychology master’s student at MSU and will begin working with Dr. Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling at USA in the fall of 2013.
Ms. Kelli Conrad and Ms. Tracy Frazier of the Media Collaboration Laboratory were nominated for the 2013 Public Relations Association of Mississippi’s Student of the Year award. Ms. Conrad was announced the winner at the 2013 State Conference in Vicksburg on April 19, 2013. She received a $1,000 scholarship with this award.
The following students have been admitted to graduate programs:
- Mara Smith was accepted to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program at Auburn University.
- Tracy Frazier was accepted to the Marketing master’s program at the University of Alabama.
- Sean Peters was accepted to the Geosciences master’s program at Arizona State University.
- Tishawn Polk was accepted to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program here at Mississippi State University.
- Haley Elise Stewart was accepted to the Human Development and Family Studies master’s program at the University of Alabama.
- Brittney Williams was accepted to multiple programs but has yet to decide where to go.
Personnel
Mr. Bryan Farrell joined the Social Science Research Center as a graduate research assistant working in the Mississippi Public Safety Data Laboratory. He will assist in enhancing the Lab’s public user website for the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety.
Mr. Somya Mohanti, a doctoral candidate in computer science at Mississippi State University, has accepted a position as Assistant Research Professor at the Social Science Research Center. The position will begin with the completion of his doctorate degree, projected for summer 2013.
Publications & Reports
Cossman, R. E., Williams, R. D., Hunt, B. P., Fratesi, C. A., Slinkard, S. B., & Day, T. F. (2013). College students’ sense of cycling capability deters helmet use: Implications for safety helmet ordinances. American Journal of Health Sciences. 4(2):51-54.
McMillen, R., Winickoff, J., Wilson, K., Tanski, S., & Klein, J. (2013). A dual-frame methodology to address landline replacement in tobacco control research. Tobacco Control. Online First: DOI:10.1136/tobaccocontrol- 2012-05072.
Chi, G., & Marcouiller, D. W. Accepted. In-migration to remote rural regions: The relative impacts of natural amenities and land developability. Landscape and Urban Planning. [2011 SSCI IF: 2.173; 1/37 Urban Studies; 8/73 Geography; 14/89 Environmental Studies].
Presentations, Panels & Conferences
Chi, G. & Marcouiller, D. W. (2013, April). In-migration to remote rural regions: The relative impacts of natural amenities and land developability. Presented at the annual meeting of Population Association of America in New Orleans, LA.
Chi, G. (2013, April). The impacts of transport accessibility on population change across rural, suburban, and urban areas: A case study of Wisconsin at subcounty levels. Poster presented at the annual meeting of Population Association of America in New Orleans, LA.
Chi, G., & Boydstun, J. (2013, April). Gasoline price changes and residential relocation: Evidence from the American Housing Survey, 1996-2008. Presented at the annual meeting of University Transportation Centers Conference for the Southeastern Region in Orlando, FL.
Chi, G. (2013, April). The relative impact of highway and airport accessibility on population change. Presented at the annual meeting of University Transportation Centers Conference for the Southeastern Region in Orlando, FL.
Gardner, S. (2013, April). Still the tragic mulatto? Multiraciality in magazine media. Presented at Southern Sociological Society in Atlanta, GA.
McCluskey, D. L., Robertson, A. A., & Stovall, M., (2013, April). The use of evidence-based treatments in substance abuse treatment in Mississippi. Poster presented at the 6th Annual Mississippi School for Addiction Professionals in Hattiesburg, MS.
Robertson, A. A., & McCluskey D. L. (2013, April). Drug impaired driving: Offender reports of drugs used on the day of arrest. Poster presented at the 6th Annual Mississippi School for Addiction Professionals in Hattiesburg, MS.
Shackleford, S., McMillen, R., & Hart, R. (2013). Forging collaborations using administrative data and collaborative partnerships to support local and state smoke-free air initiatives. Paper accepted to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Public Health Education in Orlando, FL.
Cross, G. W. (2013, April). Distracted driving: An overview of relevant statistics, research, and proposed deterrents. Invited lecture for Dr. Guangqing Chi’s graduate level course on Transportation and Society at Mississippi State, MS.
Walton, L. R., Hall, S. K., & Frazier, T. E. (2013). Internships that ROCK!: Experiences from Both Sides of the Experience. Invited presentation at the Public Relations Association of Mississippi Annual Conference April 17-19, Vicksburg, MS.
The College of Education’s Faculty and Student Research Forum was held on April 12, 2013, in Starkville, MS. Dr. Ginger Cross represented the SSRC and handed out brochures, reports, and other information about research conducted at the SSRC to interested faculty as well as undergraduate and graduate students in attendance.
Ms. Rahel Mathews, Research Associate III and Research Fellow, attended the National Oral Health Conference from April 21-24, 2013, in Huntsville, AL. There she met with colleagues and esteemed leaders, including Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services Howard Koh and leaders from the CDC, HRSA, and NIH.
Dr. Angela Robertson attended the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Inter-site Conference on April 16-18, 2013, in Atlanta, GA.
Dr. Robert McMillen played a leading role in hosting the Mississippi Tobacco Control Conference at MSU’s Social Science Research Center’s CAVS Extension Center on April 25-26. Speakers from USM, MSU, Southern Research Group, the ACT Center, the QuitLine, the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, and The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi participated.
Dr. Arthur G. Cosby, William L. Giles Distinguished Professor and Director of the SSRC, spoke at the University of Alabama on April 22, 2013, about the recently developed Social Media Tracking and Analysis System (SMTAS) and possible applications for social science research.
SSRC Spotlight: Mike Lightsey
If passing by Mike Lightsey’s office, one would likely not find him behind his desk. The Bay Springs, Miss., native enjoys being on his feet. Currently serving as the special projects coordinator for the Social Science Research Center, he has been employed with Mississippi State University for over 30 years.
Lightsey’s love for the bulldogs has been a lifelong affair that came from growing up in a family full of Mississippi State fans. After attending Jones Junior College for a year, he made his journey to Mississippi State where he pursued a bachelor’s and master’s degree in sociology. Lightsey laughed as he explained how he began his career at MSU.
“I wouldn’t leave, so I just hung around, and they kept saying, ‘who’s that guy who’s been here for four years?’ so they hired me to work as a researcher,” Lightsey said.
Lightsey began his work in 1975 with the MSU Department of Sociology studying woods arsonists through a Forest Service funded project. This research sprouted from his background in studying deviant behavior, specifically throughout his time in college. This also led to his next job as the operations coordinator for MASEP, Mississippi’s DUI intervention program, where he worked from 1980-1987.
Lightsey took a two-year break to work with the MSU extension service, and then returned again in 1989 as the head of the MASEP program where remained until 2004.
“Obviously I did that program (MASEP) for so many years [because] working within that was a career of fun,” Lightsey said.
However, this is not the only job Lightsey has had at the SSRC. He was also promoted to associate director of administrations for the SSRC in 2000, when he accepted both this role and the role of the MASEP operations coordinator until his retirement in 2004.
As the associate director of administrations, Lightsey played a supervisory role with the support staff, which gave him the opportunity to work with various staff members. He said that this was, and still is, his favorite thing about the SSRC.
“The most fun is the growth and development of the Center, the incorporation of all the projects and the energy and all that goes along with that and the challenges,” said Lightsey. “I was fortunate enough to grow along with it and have a part in seeing what was happening and developing with the Center as a whole.”
After returning from retirement, Lightsey accepted his current job as special projects coordinator for the SSRC. He described this position as a “utility player.” His main duty lately has been overseeing the facilities enhancement project, such as repainting and recarpeting. However, he also helps with other various projects when needed. Lightsey states returning part-time from retirement is the best of both worlds.
“I enjoy outdoors, so I wanted some of that, but I still wanted to have this environment of working with people,” Lightsey explained. “Now, I get to keep this and do some other stuff too.”
In his free time, Lightsey likes to do anything that lets him be outside, such as hunting, gardening, raising quail and training bird dogs.
SSRC Spotlight: Bradley Long
Bradley Long, a student worker at the Social Science Research Center, is a man of many talents and interests. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Modern & Classical Languages with an emphasis in Spanish while working with Mississippi KIDS COUNT and is a talented singer and pianist.
Born and raised in Tupelo, Miss., Long graduated from Tupelo High School in 2007 and attended Northeast Mississippi Community College as an education major until he transferred to Mississippi State University. Once he began his undergraduate degree at MSU, he took an interest in the Spanish language and changed his major. Long describes the significant event in his life that brought about this change.
“I worked at a summer camp, Camp Lake Stevens, in Oxford, Mississippi, and I got inspired because there was a camper that couldn’t really speak English that well. I realized there was a gap in being able to help people,” Long said.
While Long’s work at the SSRC does not always involve his Spanish skills, he still enjoys his responsibilities with MS KIDS COUNT. Specifically, he aids in checking data for accuracy, helping with data for the MS Kids Count Data Book, interviews for different projects and transcribes the data from those interviews.
Long has enjoyed his work so much at the SSRC that it has impacted his future career goals. Before working here, he wanted to teach Spanish; now he has decided to pursue a master’s in sociology at MSU in the spring of 2014 following his completion of his undergraduate education in the fall of 2013.
“I’m interested in sociology and how all these things in our society play a part in our lives,” Long said.
While Long’s work here might not always reflect his undergraduate background, he was able to serve as a translator for a group of Honduran visitors, which is one of his most favorite memories thus far at the SSRC. Just as memorable are the occasions when he is asked to sing, such as the SSRC Open House and the retirement party for Ms. Doris Bagget.
Long’s favorite thing about being a student worker at the SSRC is the relaxed environment.
“We do important work, but it’s very easy going,” Long said. “We can do our work without being stressed out.”
In his free time, Long said he can usually be found singing or practicing the piano.
Thanks a Million for Your 1,000 Likes!
The Social Science Research Center currently has over 1,000 likes on Facebook! We just wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped make it happen. We couldn’t have done it without you!
SSRC Spotlight: Lauren Colvin
After working as an undergraduate and graduate research assistant at the SSRC, Lauren Colvin now serves as Research Associate and Lead Data Analyst for the Mississippi Tobacco Data Laboratory.
Colvin, originally from Germantown, Tenn., received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Mississippi State. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2009, and in 2011, she obtained her Master of Science in Experimental Psychology. Her time at the SSRC began in 2009 when she began working as an undergraduate assistant. She later joined Dr. Robert McMillen as a graduate research assistant, and she has happily claimed the SSRC as her home since.
“I’ve progressively been promoted and stayed around because I enjoy the SSRC so much,” she said.
As Lead Data Analyst, Colvin is responsible for the oversight of more than 10 projects within the Tobacco Data Laboratory. From crunching numbers to supervising undergraduate assistants, she says her daily responsibilities depend on whether the lab is collecting data or analyzing data. Colvin has served as the lead analyst on many projects, including the Mississippi Social Climate Survey and an upcoming focus group in Jackson. Colvin also collected data for the Mississippi Air Quality Study and accompanied Dr. McMillen when he presented the findings to the Senate Public Health Committee at the Mississippi State Capitol.
Perhaps her favorite aspect of life at the SSRC goes back to the friendly, collaborative environment Colvin shares with her colleagues. The team effort they all put forth often leads to “a lot of fun” in the laboratory.
“Everybody is always willing to help each other out and willing to find out how to obtain as many grants as possible, so I like that,” she said. “Everyday, there’s something new.
In her free time, Colvin enjoys spending time outdoors, especially hiking with her boyfriend. She also loves having time to play with her dog.
SSRC Spotlight: Heather Carson
Since May 2012, Heather Carson has worked behind the scenes for Mississippi KIDS COUNT as their in-house communication coordinator. Her efforts have contributed to increased awareness and yet another successful year for the program.
Originally from Edmonds, Wash., Carson made the move to Mississippi in 2008 with her husband. When she became involved with KIDS COUNT in 2012, she was thrilled to know she had joined a team that benefits so many Mississippians. Carson has been responsible for the design and implementation of a strategic communication plan for the program. The plan includes both online and statewide outreach strategies to increase overall knowledge and use of the resources KIDS COUNT offers.
Carson also acknowledges that working with Dr. Linda Southward, the KIDS COUNT staff and the Advisory Board members has been nothing short of phenomenal.
“I am inspired by their passion to make a difference for Mississippi families,” she said.
In addition to her invaluable efforts with KIDS COUNT, Carson is also actively involved in school-community partnerships with the Starkville School District. She has worked tirelessly to improve the quality, quantity and access of playgrounds in the city through her participation in these partnerships. Her role in cofounding the GoPlay Initiative and her assistance in the construction of the Joint Use Agreement are two of her most notable contributions. These projects resulted in the building of two new elementary school playgrounds and the availability of school playgrounds to the public during nonschool hours.
However, KIDS COUNT is never far from her heart, as Carson explains that her involvement with such programs is a great way for her gain an understanding of the needs of the program’s target audiences.
“Working with teachers, administrators and community leaders has certainly provided great insight into how KIDS COUNT resources could be beneficial for grant writing, drafting policies and completing annual reports,” she said.
Carson holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and English from Washington State University. She also received her Masters of Education from the University of Washington Tacoma. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering and spending time with her family. Because she is originally from Washington state, Carson also loves exploring the state of Mississippi.
As for the future of KIDS COUNT, Carson hopes to continue to reach more communities throughout Mississippi to share the valuable knowledge and resources the program offers.
“Our goal is to continue a mission of outreach to community leaders, educators and health care workers,” Carson said. “Essentially all citizens who share our belief that improving the lives of children and families will produce a better, healthier and more prosperous state in the future.”
Kids Count 2013
The January spotlight at the SSRC takes a look at what Kids Count has in store for 2013.
SSRC Chronicles: November/December 2012
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Announcements
Mississippi KIDS COUNT is housed within the Family & Children Research Unit (FCRU) at the Social Science Research Center. The program is part of National KIDS COUNT network with grantees working in 50 states and is coordinated by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Mississippi KIDS COUNT provides data, statistics and original research about the health, education, safety and well-being of children. This information goes to policymakers, educators, program administrators, parents, caregivers, advocates and the general public. Mississippi KIDS COUNT also provides an annual forum for interested stakeholders to share challenges and solutions to the problems facing Mississippi’s children and communities. Free Access & Reliable Data Our National KIDS COUNT data center provides state rankings for four domains: Economic Well-Being, Education, Health and Family & Community. This Youth & Work policy report was released in December. The Year Ahead As the nation slowly recovers from the economic recession, attention focuses on the challenges young people face to secure a promising future. Mississippi KIDS COUNT will spend the next year highlighting data and research focused on the economic well-being of children and families across the state. We all play a role in identifying challenges and sharing solutions for a better Mississippi. Look for the 2013 Mississippi KIDS COUNT Data Book release on Jan. 31, 2013, at the Mississippi State Capitol. In the morning, the Data Book will be presented to the state Legislature. Celebrate with us that evening at the Mississippi Children’s Museum for our Light Up The Night benefit dinner honoring our inaugural Luminary Award recipient, former Gov. William Winter, and the 2013 Success Story winners. Save These Dates Lead Off Banquet- Hit a home run this holiday season – buy tickets for this family-friendly dinner and auction! Special guest John Cohen, Mississippi State University’s head baseball coach, will start the evening off with a meet and greet on Jan. 14, 2013, at 5 p.m. Youth tickets are $25 and adult tickets are $50. Details & Tickets Light Up The Night Benefit Dinner- Celebrate our Luminary Award recipient, former Gov. William Winter, and our 2013 Success Story and Program of Promise winners on Jan. 31, 2013. Tickets are $150 per guest or $1,000 for a table of eight guests. Seating is limited to 160 guests. Sponsorships Available. Details & Tickets 2013 MS KIDS COUNT Summit- On Feb. 22, 2013, the summit will focus on economic well-being and include Youth Track. See the SSRC Chronicles MS KIDS COUNT Spotlight Event in this edition. Details & Registration |
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Visitors
Ms. Emily Thomas, third-year medical student at the Yale School of Medicine, visited the SSRC to discuss a possible fourth-year research internship at the Center. Ms. M. Maya McDoom, from Boston University’s School of Public Health, visited the campus of Mississippi State University on Dec. 17-18 as a post-doctoral candidate. The Harvard School of Public Health and the Social Science Research Center hosted her jointly. |
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New Projects
Dr. Laura Myers is serving as director of a project that focuses on the refinement and implementation support for the electronic DUI ticket for the Mississippi e-Citation system and the Mississippi Highway Patrol (DPS). The electronic DUI ticket will be refined with feedback from Mississippi State University and University of Alabama testers and programmers and pilot testing with end-users. Programming changes will be made with testing and pilot results. The new ticket will be field tested on a troop trained in the use of the new ticket. After assessment of this pilot, the new DUI ticket will be delivered to DPS through multiple trainings across the state. Corresponding court clerks will also be trained. In addition, the MSU team will meet with court end-users to gain support for the new electronic ticket. DUI implementation will be assessed and modifications made as needed. This project is funded by the Department of Public Safety. The DUI enforcement project, lead by Mr. Bill Henderson, has been approved for its 20th year. This project, funded by the Office of Public Safety Planning, the Office of Highway Safety and the U.S. Department of Transportation, is aimed at increasing public safety and strengthening Mississippi’s DUI control system by providing training to law enforcement officers that will enable them to more efficiently and effectively enforce the Mississippi DUI law and seat belt laws. Dr. Rebecca Schewe, Assistant Professor of Sociology, will serve as the director of a project funded by Michigan State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The project, an integrated milk quality extension and education program to reduce mastitis and antimicrobial use, will address the need to deliver more versatile bovine mastitis control programs that accommodate the diverse U.S. dairy industry. Dr. Kathleen Ragsdale will serve as director of the Midtown Teen Health Clinic Project: Outcome Evaluations study, supported by Advocates for Youth and the Women’s Fund of Mississippi. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of the Midtown Teen Health Clinic efforts to provide the metro-Jackson area youth with access to primary and preventative health care. Dr. Angela Robertson was invited to be a part of the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety’s newest initiative, the establishment of a Judicial Outreach Liaison (JOL) position for the state of Mississippi. Dr. Robertson will work with the MOHS to help improve the delivery of impaired driving and other traffic safety education to the judiciary in Mississippi. One of the primary objectives for the JOL will be to create relationships in the judicial community with an expectation of helping communities reduce crashes. Dr. Kathleen Ragsdale recently had several MSU ORED Cross-College proposals funded or renewed, including: -a project entitled “The eHealth research group: Risk behavior prevention among rural & minority youth,” which will develop and pilot cell phone and other eHealth interventions to reduce risk behaviors among rural and minority youth. -a project entitled “eBaby research group: Enhanced early infant feeding and care among teen/young mothers,” which will develop and pilot eHealth interventions to enhance early infant feeding and care among rural and minority teen/young mothers. -a “Health impact assessment of local community health initiatives,” (with R. Williams) which will assess local community health needs for the development and implementation of community health initiatives. -a project with Dr. Rebecca Schewe involving a “food insecurity research team,” which will identify the mechanisms by which food insecurity contributes to obesity and identify community priorities to address food insecurity and obesity prevention. -the “Exercise is Medicine (EIM) on-campus program evaluation,” (with M.E. Holmes) which will enhance evaluation of MSU’s EIM program. It will focus on examining the efficacy of the three facilitating arms of the program, including the Longest Student Health Center, the Sanderson Center and the Department of Kinesiology. |
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Survey Laboratory
On behalf of the Mississippi Delta Sustainable Water Resources Task Force, the Wolfgang Frese Survey Research Laboratory is conducting a telephone-based survey of agriculture producers located in the Mississippi Delta. The purpose of this survey is to elicit perceptions, beliefs and needs related to quantifying agricultural irrigation water use throughout the region. The survey respondents include approximately 800 agricultural landowners and crop growers from the Mississippi Delta. Researchers involved in this project include: Mr. Trey Cooke, Facilitator for the Education and Outreach Workgroup of the Mississippi Delta Sustainable Water Resources Task Force, Mr. Kent W. Thornton, an agricultural consultant with FTN Associates in Little Rock, Ark. and Dr. John F. Edwards, MAFES Research Scientist and Coordinator of Social Science Research Center Laboratories at Mississippi State University. The Wolfgang Frese Survey Research Laboratory is also collecting data for the 2012 Mississippi Social Climate Survey of Tobacco Control. Results from this telephone-based survey will allow researchers to ascertain the degree to which a representative sample of 1,500 Mississippi residents live in smoke-free homes, work in smoke-free environments, understand the health risks of tobacco, dine in smoke-free restaurants, talk to their children about tobacco use, etc. The project is funded by the Mississippi State Department of Health and the primary investigator for this research is Dr. Robert McMillen, Research Fellow and Associate Research Professor at the Social Science Research Center. The data collection is being overseen by Dr. John F. Edwards, MAFES Research Scientist and Coordinator of SSRC Laboratories. |
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Awards & Recognitions
Dr. Laura R. Walton, APR, Assistant Professor of Communication, researcher and coordinator of the Media Collaboration Laboratory, has been recognized as the College of Arts & Sciences Researcher of the Month for November 2012. |
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Personnel
Ms. Lacey Williams Breen joined the Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program (MASEP) as Data Management Assistant. Ms. Breen’s various roles for MASEP will include processing enrollment data for the classes statewide. Ms. Breen has a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the Mississippi University for Women. |
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Publications & Reports
Robertson, A. A., Gardner, S. K., Xu, X., Chi, G., & McCluskey, D. L. (2012). Mississippi’s DUI offender intervention: 40 years of programming and research. Accepted for publication in the Journal of Offender Rehabilitation. DiFranza, J., Wellman, R., Savageau, J. A., Beccia, A., Ursprung, S., & McMillen, R. (2012). What aspect of dependence does the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence measure? Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. DOI: 10.1155/2013/906276. Available here. Cosby, A., Aanstoos, K., Matta, M., Porter, J., & James, W. (2012). Public support for Hispanic deportation in the United States: the effects of ethnic prejudice and perceptions of economic competition in a period of economic distress. DOI: 10.1007/s/12546-012-9102-9. Ragsdale, K., Bersamin, M., Shwartz, S. J., Zamboanga, B. L., Kerrick, M. R., & Grube, J. W. (2012). Development of sexual expectancies among adolescents with no prior sexual intercourse experience: Contributions by parents, peers and the media. Journal of Sex Research. |
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Presentations, Panels & Conferences
Dr. Angela Robertson attended the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology on Nov. 14-17 in Chicago, Ill. Dr. Kathleen Ragsdale collaborated with Dr. Alexander Rödlach (Creighton University) on a panel entitled “Cross-cutting Borders between Community and Health: Health Disparities and Community Health across Diverse Vulnerable Populations.” They submitted the panel for consideration at an invited session at the 2012 American Anthropological Association Conference, held Nov. 14-18 in San Francisco, Calif. Ms. Melanie Morse, a former Graduate Research Assistant, presented her research at the 46th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Her work, “Can a Simple Manipulation of Social Desirability Change Late Adolescents’ Attitudes Towards Substance Use by Peers?” was presented at the conference, held Nov. 15-18 in National Harbor, Md. Dr. Kathleen Ragsdale was invited to serve as a Panel Discussant at a state-level conference, entitled ”Proven Solutions to Preventing Teen Pregnancy: A Statewide Conference on Abstinence-Plus, Evidence-Based Sex Education.” The conference was organized by the Women’s Fund of Mississippi and the Mississippi State Department of Health. It took place on Dec. 6, in Jackson, Miss. The panel was entitled ”Increasing Access to Youth Friendly Health Services.” Dr. Ragsdale presented with Dr. Kate Fouquier (UMCC) and Amy Rosenstein (Advocates for Youth). Ms. Rahel Mathews, Research Associate III, and Ms. Amanda Howell, graduate student, attended the teen pregnancy prevention conference hosted on Dec. 6 in Jackson, Miss., by the Women’s Fund of Mississippi and the Mississippi Department of Health. Ms. Rahel Mathews, Research Associate III, attended a meeting in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 7 with a statewide group of doctors, nurses and community-based organizations concerned with treatment and services for patients with HIV. She is collaborating with this group and the Mississippi Department of Health to develop and implement a statewide assessment of need for core and support services for patients with HIV. Ms. Alicia Falls attended the Mississippi Association of Highway Safety Leaders, held at the Office of Highway Safety in Ridgeland, Miss., in November and December to represent the e-Citation Project on behalf of the SSRC and the Public Safety Data Laboratory. Dr. Arthur Cosby, Mr. Josh Richardson and Mr. Somya Mohanty lead a workshop on “Social Media Tracking and Analysis Systems (SMTAS)” at the Stennis Space Center Nov. 28. |
SSRC Spotlight: Sean Galey
Sean Galey, web and graphic designer for the SSRC, has turned his passion for graphic design into a career that is making a difference.
Galey, who is originally from Jackson, Miss., knew that upon graduation he wanted to pursue a career in graphic design. He came to Mississippi State University in 2005 and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
“State had the best graphic design program in all of Mississippi, and I would argue one of the best in the Southeast,” Galey said.
After graduation, Galey held a series of roles at the SSRC that led to his position today. He began working in the Survey Research Lab as a telephone interviewer for Dr. John F. Edwards. Edwards recognized his design abilities and connected him with Dr. Laura Walton, coordinator of the MCL. Galey took the lead on the SSRC website redesign, his favorite project thus far, launched in the spring of 2011. Now he does a little bit of everything in a design capacity at the SSRC.
One of Galey’s favorite things about working at the SSRC is that the work he does here can be part of a process that improves people’s lives.
“That’s an important aspect of graphic design that many designers and maybe the general public don’t see,” Galey said.
Galey is very passionate about graphic design, specifically typography, for the attention to detail it requires. His long-term goals include becoming more specialized in web design and possibly doing more freelance work. In his free time, Galey enjoys playing video games and screen-printing posters.
Luckily for the SSRC, Galey enjoys being involved in as many projects as possible and likes having the opportunity to help researchers promote their work while benefiting them and the SSRC.
SSRC Open House 2012
A slideshow of pictures from the Social Science Research Center’s annual Open House on Oct. 10.
A slideshow of pictures from the Social Science Research Center’s annual Open House on Oct. 10.
Media Archives
SSRC 2012 Annual Report
Click here to download the PDF version. Click here for the interactive online version.
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