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UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTER TO HOST FOURTH ANNUAL ADVANCING MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE

8/13/2019 - Jackson, Miss.

Free registration until August 16

Researchers from across Mississippi will share their findings relevant to the state's economic growth at the fourth annual Advancing Mississippi conference. Hosted by the University Research Center (URC), the conference will be held on Friday, September 6, 2019 at the Mississippi Public Broadcasting auditorium in Jackson.

"Each year, we invite researchers from all over the state to share research relevant to the state's economic growth, asking them to focus on systemic issues and make research-based policy recommendations," said Dr. Darrin Webb, State Economist and Director of URC. "The goal of the conference is to uncover productive ways to overcome challenges and foster growth in Mississippi."

In addition to presentations on human capital, health issues and poverty and disparity, the conference will feature a panel discussion during lunch that will focus on Human Capital: Defining Brain Drain and Discussing Its Relationship to the Mississippi Economy.

The sessions include:
9:30 a.m. Welcome
9:45 a.m. Human Capital

Breaking the Cycle of Confinement in Mississippi by Investing in the Human Capital of Inmates: Revisiting the Value of Vocational Education as a Strategy Toward Diminishing Recidivism
• David H. McElreath, Daniel Adrian Doss, Leisa S. McElreath, and Ashley M. Lindsley

Baby Boomer's Path in Retirement in Mississippi: Who Moves and Who Stays
• Ayoung Kim

A Systematic Analysis of the Economic Impact of Childhood Obesity
• Martha D. Ravola, Crystal Lim, and Debarshi Ray

11:00 a.m. Health Issues

Presumptive Eligibility as a Policy Avenue to Improve Birth Outcomes in Mississippi
• Wengora Thompson, John Green, Katie Kerstetter, Rachel Haggard and Jamiko Deleveaux

The Effect of Mandatory Sex Education on Teenage Births in Mississippi
• Betty Thomas and Andrew W. Stevens

Implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the Experiences of Parents with Chronically Ill Children
• Kimberly V. Bracey

12:15 p.m. Lunch/Panel Discussion

Human Capital Migration: Defining Brain Drain and Discussing Its Relationship to the Mississippi Economy
• Hugh L. Davis III, Michael Madaris, Emily Foret, Zach Grady, Catherine Hasty, Jamie Sholar and Dean Price

1:45 p.m. Poverty and Disparities

Multidimensional Poverty Index for Mississippi
• Fernando Arroyo Lopez and John J. Green

An Alternative Narrative: Resilience and Community Agency in the Mississippi Delta
• Anne Cafer, Georgianna Mann, Kim Kaiser, John Green, Stephanie Showalter-Otts and Kristie Willett

Health Disparity, Increased Obesity and Cancer-Triggering Concerns for Mississippi
• Debarshi Roy, Sofia Ievleva and Martha Ravola

3:00 p.m. Closing Remarks

Conference registration is available online and is FREE until August 16, 2019. The cost to register will be $25 per person from August 16, 2019 through September 4, 2019 and will be $40 at the door.

For registrations submitted after August 16, checks or money orders should be made payable to Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. Multiple registration forms may be mailed in a single envelope with one check. Please mail your registration form and payment (check or money order) to:

    Janna Weller
    3825 Ridgewood Rd
    Jackson, MS 39211

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The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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