VSU Announces Formation of Center for Applied Social Sciences

VALDOSTA -- Valdosta State University’s Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Criminal Justice, and Marriage and Family Therapy announces the opening of the Center for Applied Social Sciences. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved the center’s formation in July.

“Everyone has been very supportive … It has been a dream of mine to start this center,” said Dr. Darrell L. Ross, department head and center director, who joined the VSU family in August of 2010.

During a reception on Thursday, Sept. 8, representatives from Meggitt Training Systems Inc., a division of Meggitt Defense Systems Inc. located in Suwanee, Ga., presented the department $20,000 in start-up money for the center.

“We picked Valdosta because of Dr. Ross, its size, its aggressiveness and its desire to do business with the private sector,” said Randall L. Murphy, new product development, Meggitt Training Systems Inc. “We plan on bringing a lot of stuff down here and doing a lot of big things, and we look forward to it.”

Dr. Louis H. Levy, interim VSU president, said that he appreciates the opportunity for VSU faculty and students to do applied research and he vowed to do everything in his power to make the center a success.

“This will be very beneficial for our faculty,” he said, adding that it will also excite students to do research, especially research with the potential to affect human lives locally and around the world. “It’s a great fit for Valdosta State University.”

According to information provided by the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Criminal Justice, and Marriage and Family Therapy, the Center for Applied Social Sciences will focus on expanding “human knowledge through innovation, research and creative activities.” It will address justice issues, social phenomena, social inequity, family and wellness issues, human factors and safety issues, decision-making and field performance, human and natural security issues, technology innovation and much more, both locally and abroad.

“The sky's the limit,” said Ross.

To learn more about the Center for Applied Social Sciences, contact Dr. Darrell L. Ross, head of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Criminal Justice, and Marriage and Family Therapy and center director, at (229) 333-5943 or dross@valdosta.edu. To learn more about Meggitt Training Systems Inc., visit www.meggitttrainingsystems.com.