A Message from the Dean
Welcome to the School of Applied Sciences.
Our school exists to prepare people who serve others. Across our six departments, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, Kinesiology and Sport, Nutrition and Hospitality Management, Public Health, and Social Work, our students learn by doing, and they graduate ready to make a difference in their professions and their communities. We are also proud to be home to the Institute of Child Nutrition, established by Congress in 1989 and the only federally funded national center dedicated to applied research, education, and training for child nutrition programs across the country.
I have had the privilege of serving this school as a faculty member, a Department Chair, and as Associate Dean, and I have seen firsthand what sets it apart. It is the people. Our Dean’s Office staff work every day, often behind the scenes, to support the entire school. Our Department Chairs and the Executive Director of the Institute of Child Nutrition lead with vision and care for their programs. Our faculty and clinicians are outstanding teachers, practitioners, and nationally recognized scholars whose work addresses real problems. Our department staff keep each program running, and our Academic Advisors know our students by name. And the staff of the Institute of Child Nutrition carry our mission to child nutrition programs in communities nationwide.
To our Dean’s Office staff, the Executive Director of the Institute of Child Nutrition, Department Chairs, faculty and clinicians, department staff, Academic Advisors, and the staff of the Institute of Child Nutrition, thank you. Your dedication to our students and to one another is the reason this school thrives, and I am sincerely grateful for all that you do.
As Interim Dean, I am guided by two commitments. The first is putting students first, which means that every decision we make begins with our students and the opportunities we can open for them in the classroom, in the clinic, in the field, and after graduation. The second is investing in our people, because recruiting, supporting, and retaining exceptional faculty, clinicians, and staff is how we deliver an outstanding experience for every student. Alongside both, we will continue to grow the research and community partnerships that serve Mississippi and reach well beyond it.
Whether you are a prospective student, a current student, a graduate, or a friend of the school, I invite you to explore what we do and to get involved. My door is open, and I would be glad to hear from you.
Hotty Toddy!
