SUSI

History

President Byrd and Professor Fred Jones2006: President Byrd and Dr. Fred Jones, Ph.D Sociology, began working to create an institute that would allow Simpson students the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research on social and urban issues.

2007: Simpson College together with Representative Wayne Ford (District 65) and his Des Moines non-profit,Urban Dreams, established a collaboration that included the establishment of the Simpson Urban Studies Institute on November 17, 2007.

 2008: The Simpson Urban Studies Institute secured an Iowa Campus Compact Americorps*VISTA and celebrated its first anniversary. President John Byrd and Mr. Wayne Ford signed an official agreement of partnership to commemorate the occasion.

2009: Amy Campos assumed the role as Research Director of SUSI and expanded the focus of SUSI from being a non-profit driven institute to an academic institute that fully represents the vastness of urban issues. The steps taken focus on expanding research recruitment efforts to all of the Simpson academic departments and divisions as well as increase outreach efforts with community shareholders to incorporate as many resources as possible in order to strengthen research and Simpson learning opportunities.

 

SUSI belongs to urban Iowa and must reflect the communities and needs that are present.

Last Updated: 11/18/11