Crudden named sociology's interim leader
Adele Crudden
A social work professor with more than 20 years of experience at MSU is now the interim head of MSU’s Department of Sociology.
A faculty member since 1996 in the sociology department -- which encompasses social work and criminology in addition to sociology -- Adele Crudden’s new role began July 1.
With more than a decade of experience serving as the program director for the social work program in the sociology department, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Rick Travis said Crudden has successfully managed the social work program’s accreditation and reaccreditation efforts.
“Dr. Crudden understands the research mission of the university. She has invaluable experience as an award-winning advisor and building a distance education presence,” Travis said.
Crudden said being in an interim position is a “challenge,” but said she is “excited and humbled to serve with an outstanding team of faculty and staff during this time of transition.”
“I appreciate the support and encouragement provided by Dean Travis [and members of my department],” the Waveland native said.
Crudden has been the co-principal investigator on four grants valued at more than $11.3 million and has 23 peer-reviewed articles published or accepted for publication since 2010.
Also serving as interim director of the Older Individuals who are Blind Training and Technical Assistance Center at MSU, Crudden is a former director of the Addie McBryde Rehabilitation Center for the Blind.
She is a nationally certified rehabilitation counselor as well as a Mississippi licensed social worker and counselor.
With a self-proclaimed passion for teaching Social Work Research Methods, Crudden’s main research focus is blindness and low vision, but she also studies disability, gerontology, job retention among people with disabilities, women’s issues and health care. Her professional career has also included working with people who have developmental disabilities, chronic conditions and physical disabilities.
She has received two awards from the International Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired for her work regarding blindness and low vision.
Crudden received her Ph.D. and master’s degree from MSU, both in counselor education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in educational psychology, also at MSU, and her masters of social work from Louisiana State University.
The Department of Sociology is a Ph.D.-granting research department for sociology, offering undergraduate degrees in social work and criminology, whose members participate in research and service through the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision, the Older Individuals who are Blind Training and Technical Assistance Center, the Mississippi Food Insecurity Project, the Social Science Research Center, Nsparc, Southern Rural Development Center, Crime and Justice Research Unit, as well as other research entities.
The National Science Foundation ranks MSU 17th in the nation for research expenditures in the social sciences -- placing it ahead of Duke, MIT, Stanford and Georgetown, among other leading institutions of higher learning.
MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences includes more than 5,200 students, 300 full-time faculty members, nine doctoral programs and 25 academic majors offered in 14 departments. Complete details about the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Sociology may be found at www.cas.msstate.edu or www.sociology.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.
Sarah Nicholas | College of Arts & Sciences
