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August 26, 2013

²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù joins Delta Regional Authority

The University of Louisiana at Monroe's Social Science Research Lab (SSRL) joins the University of Mississippi and Arkansas State University to develop the Delta Regional Authority Leadership Academy.

The academy will conduct training of 50 participants through seven workshops held throughout the Delta.

"It was a real honor to be selected among so many qualified universities to participate in the most important leadership training that takes place for the Delta," stated Dr. John W. Sutherlin, ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù professor of political science and sociology.

"Being part of a team with Ole Miss and Arkansas State says a lot about ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù and the talent we have on campus."

In 2000, Congress established the Delta Regional Authority to enhance economic development and improve the quality of life for the hard-working residents of the Delta region.

The Delta Regional Authority supports job creation and retention with investments from the States' Economic Development Assistance Program to improve transportation and basic infrastructure as well as strengthen the workforce and business environment.

Initiatives such as the Healthy Delta Initiative and Delta Leadership Institute ensure that Delta communities are healthy and positioned for growth in the 21st century.

The Delta Regional Authority works to improve the lives of the 10 million people who reside in the 252 Delta counties and parishes over eight states.

Participants in the Leadership Academy will be drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds and come with recommendations from the governors of their states.

"We will reach out to others on campus to be part of this effort, whether that is in developing workshops or in conducting assessments," added Sutherlin.

"There is plenty to do for any faculty member interested in contributing to this project. In many ways, the SSRL was founded to do projects like this."

The SSRL team will include Professor of Behavioral Sciences Dr. Joe McGahan, Associate Professor of Political Science and Sociology Dr. Joshua Stockley, and graduate student Alex Holland of Las Vegas, Nev.

Led by the Delta Regional Authority Board comprised of the Federal Co-Chairman – appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate – and the governors of the eight states, the Delta Regional Authority fosters partnerships throughout the region as it works to improve the Delta economy.

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