Brenner named director of MSU Social Science Research Center

Get hold of: James Carskadon

STARKVILLE, Miss out on.—A extended-serving Mississippi Point out school member and administrator is now the director of the university’s Social Science Investigation Center.

Devon Brenner, assistant vice president for outreach and initiatives in the MSU Office environment of Investigate and Financial Growth, has been named SSRC director. She has led the investigation middle on an interim basis considering that past year. As director, Brenner is charged with primary the over 70-12 months-outdated center with a custom of impactful social science research. The middle studies jointly to the Office of Exploration and Economic Improvement and the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Drugs.

“Throughout its heritage, the SSRC has been household to impressive interdisciplinary exploration on the social difficulties that affect our condition, country and earth and has served as a major catalyst for increasing the social sciences at MSU,” mentioned MSU Vice President for Investigation and Economic Development Julie Jordan. “Dr. Brenner’s breadth of encounter has her effectively positioned to move the center ahead and guidance its mission. I glimpse forward to viewing SSRC go on to expand underneath her leadership.”

Brenner has been a element of the MSU faculty since 1999, teaching reading and language arts in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Exclusive Education. She was head of the section from 2011-2015 prior to serving 1 year as an education and learning fellow in the office environment of previous U.S. Senator Thad Cochran. From 2016-2021, she was unique assistant to the vice president for education initiatives in the Place of work of Investigation and Financial Enhancement, assisting with the setting up and launch of Partnership Middle Faculty on the MSU campus.

As a researcher, Brenner has concentrated on rural trainer recruitment and retention and rural schooling plan. She is presently the principal investigator on a Nationwide Science Foundation-funded collaboration between 14 universities to look at rural trainer schooling and retention, and she not too long ago co-authored a textbook on rural teacher education. She is a two-time graduate of Michigan Point out University, earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary training in 1991 and a doctorate in curriculum, training and academic coverage in 2000.

“I’m psyched to have this possibility to collaborate with outstanding students who are doing vital work to assure that knowledge informs coverage and follow in our state and all around the planet,” Brenner mentioned. “Many thanks to outgoing director, Dr. Artwork Cosby, who led an astounding group of scholars for extra than fifty percent of the SSRC’s 72 many years and who designed the infrastructure for rigorous, info-driven interdisciplinary investigation. 

“As I commence my 23rd yr at Mississippi Condition University, I’m hunting ahead to supporting our existing partnerships and assignments and figuring out new spots for MSU students to carry out study to understand and address social, economic, political, education, and relevant investigate inquiries and to deliver a house for unique general public support plans serving our state and neighborhood.”

Headquartered in the Thad Cochran Investigation, Technology and Financial Enhancement Park at MSU, the SSRC is now home to 12 exploration laboratories and programs with a broad range of focuses, such as knowledge science, gender impacts, messaging, tobacco handle, social relations, crime and justice, social robotics and additional. Component of the SSRC mission is to connect university social science capabilities with funding resources and to offer unique investigation alternatives for graduate and undergraduate students. MSU has led all Southeastern Meeting universities in social sciences investigation funding for eight consecutive years and ranks No. 15 nationally in the latest report from the National Science Basis.

For much more on the SSRC, stop by www.ssrc.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s major university, offered online at www.msstate.edu.