The Fairfax County Community and Recreation Services department presented four of George Mason University’s Center for Social Science Research staff members with Distinguished Colleague Awards on May 6. The award was for continuing work the office conducted with Fairfax County, according to Lee Clark, office manager of the center.
Three of the winners are graduate students and one is a faculty member.
Andrea Robles (pictured, second from left), a sociology PhD student, is a research project manager with the center, Randall Salm (middle), also a sociology PhD student, is a researcher, Safiya Khalid (second from right), earning her master’s degree in public administration, is a project assistant and Emily Zimmerman (not pictured) is a faculty member in the department of sociology and anthropology.
The Center for Social Science Research has participated in a variety of programs and conducted research locally and nationally.
With Fairfax County Community and Recreation Services, the center participated in the Neighborhood Initiative Program, a long-term program involving several agencies, non-profit organizations, community groups and Fairfax residents in five “economically challenged and culturally diverse neighborhoods,” as described by Robles and Laurie Dopkins in an American Sociological Association presentation in July of 2008. Center staff also wrote grants and proposals, and conducted various studies, including a “quality of life” study with Fairfax residents.
The center hopes to build on these accomplishments during the upcoming academic year.
Photo courtesy of Lee Clark.