MSU Social Science Research Center

06/23/2026

Dr. Cosby shares about his recently published study in The Conversation. Read below!

Cancer deaths in the US have dropped steeply since 1991. But the medical and public health advances leading to these declines have been concentrated among high-income areas.

06/22/2026

Read about affiliate faculty member Dr. Lourdes Cardozo-Gaibisso's work! ⬇

MSU researcher, Partnership Middle School students collaborate on climate science literacy podcast Contact: Sarah Nicholas STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State Assistant Professor Lourdes Cardozo-Gaibisso is immersing local middle school students in climate science literacy exploration through podc...

06/19/2026

This week, multiple SSRC staff attended the 2026 Mississippi Early Childhood Education Conference. Ruby Brenner (pictured) and Tockie Hemphill shared about VROOM resources, and Dr. Katerina Sergi and Lisa Long presented "When Big Feelings Take Over: Real Strategies for Real Classrooms. A Practitioner-Informed Guide to Supporting Young Children with Challenging Behaviors.”

06/15/2026

Dr. Gina Rico Mendez is a skilled applied researcher who uses social science tools across diverse contexts. With a foundation in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning, she focuses on connecting the bigger picture to real-world impact. A standout moment in her career was presenting at the United Nations on global aquatic food systems, highlighting the far-reaching impact of research beyond academia.

06/10/2026

Apply now for the Mississippi Education Policy Fellowship!⬇

Join the 2026-2027 Cohort! Apply Now Priority application deadline: July 1, 2026 Program Overview Program Schedule Frequently Asked Questions Program Coordinators Current Fellows Contact Us OVERVIEWFor 25 years, the MS-EPF has been bringing individuals together to advance equitable policies for Miss...

06/04/2026

We're celebrating Kathy Wooten, who is marking 35 years with the SSRC! Kathy currently serves as a contract and grant specialist but has stepped into several roles during her years here. She says teamwork and multitasking have been integral to her work.

05/28/2026

Dr. Heather Hanna focuses on strengthening early childhood systems by identifying gaps and turning research into meaningful action. As Director of the Systems Change Lab, she leads work that brings together partners to study complex challenges and co-create solutions that support children and families.
She is especially proud of collaborative efforts that center the voices of families and providers and offer technical assistance to co-create shared solutions.
Learn more about SCL at https://scl.ssrc.msstate.edu/.

05/21/2026

Lisa Long, Ruby Brenner, and Dr. Connie Baird-Thomas (all pictured L-R) hosted a Vroom table at the “Sowing Seeds of Success: Cultivating a Bright Future for Mississippi’s Children” Summit held by The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl. The two-day conference included breakout sessions themed around the KIDS COUNT indicators of education, economic well-being, and family and community life.

04/23/2026

Congrats to our Dr. Heather Hanna, the recipient of the MAFES Grantsmanship Award! Dr. Hanna directs the Systems Change Lab at the SSRC.
https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2026/04/msu-cals-mafes-honor-faculty-staff-and-students-excellence

04/15/2026

Director Devon Brenner connected with other rural education scholars from Mississippi during last week's American Educational Research Association meeting in Los Angeles, CA.

Pictured are Jenay Willis and Wendy Pfrenger (University of Mississippi); Amber Dieg (University of Southern Mississippi); and Devon Brenner.