May 2, 2012
Release No: 9-12
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Dr. Jeffery P. Holland, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), met with Dr. M. Christopher Brown II, president of Alcorn State University (ASU) April 17 to reaffirm the “Partnership in Education” relationship that has existed between the institutions since 2006.
"I am very pleased to renew our partnership with Alcorn State University. It is a privilege to be associated with an academic institution with the tradition and vision of Alcorn,” said Holland. “I am certain our joint activities will have a significant impact on Mississippi and the nation."
This ongoing relationship is rooted in the recognition of the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to the future political and economic well-being of the nation, as well as the importance of ASU to the business, industrial, and governmental institutions in the Vicksburg region.
“We’re excited because it expands our applied science component. Certainly, our school has a lot of focus on agricultural soils, science, minerals, sedimentary issues, military science and research science,” said Brown. “Our rural nature has sort of limited our ability to do meaningful applied science and the proximity of ERDC to Alcorn will allow our students and faculty to engage in the application of the sciences they are learning in the classrooms and laboratories. We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity.”
The partnership specifies cooperation between ERDC and ASU that encompass the following areas: collaborating in research of mutual interest, including cooperative research programs; involving ASU students in ERDC research through employment programs such as cooperative education programs, internship agreements and contract student programs; involving ASU faculty in ERDC research by participation in programs such as interagency personnel agreements and cooperative agreements; identifying and developing areas of research where ASU students can obtain academic credit for work on research projects; promoting academic achievement by establishing a list of volunteer professionals with a wide range of expertise to support mentoring needs, assist in the development of science, mathematics and computer science courses, make laboratory personnel available to teach courses and show real applications on special science, mathematics and computer science subjects and conduct site visits to ERDC facilities; and enhancing education in STEM by loaning or donating ERDC equipment to ASU and by exchanging scientific materials, publications and information.
Dr. Beth Fleming, director of ERDC’s Environmental Laboratory, will serve as the partnership manager on behalf of ERDC, aided by Pat Sullivan of the ERDC Executive Office. Their counterparts on the ASU Faculty will be Dr. Norris Allen Edney, interim dean of the Arts and Sciences School and Dr. Thomas C. Sturgis, director of the Office of Pre-Professional and Honors Curriculum Programs.
Following the partnership signing, Brown, Edney and Sturgis were joined by Dr. Samuel White, ASU executive vice president and provost, and Dr. Alpha Morris, chairperson of the ASU Social Science Department, on a tour of ERDC laboratory facilities.
The ERDC is the premier research and development facility for USACE, with more than 2,500 employees, $1.2 billion in facilities and an annual research program exceeding $1.5 billion. It conducts research in both military and civil works mission areas for the Department of Defense and the nation.