History:
The Alabama-Mississippi Sociological Association traces its roots to September 1969 when 12 sociologists from 11 colleges and universities met at the University of Alabama to consider the formation of a new two-state organization. The first conference of the fledgling association was held in November 1969 at Mississippi State University. About 100 sociologists attended the conference, representing 22 schools from Alabama and Mississippi. The second conference was held at Alabama State University (in Montgomery) during the month of November 1970, with 30 schools represented. The association’s annual meeting continues to alternate between the two states. Dr. Harold Kaufman of Mississippi State University served as the first A-MSA president (called “chair” at the time), followed by Dr. Harry Dickinson from Samford College. The initial purpose of the organization was “to facilitate and encourage cooperative relations among sociologists in the two-state area” with an emphasis on “the improvement of teaching, research, and the applied phases of sociology”—themes that continue to this day. Since its earliest history, schools of all sizes have been active participants in the A-MSA, and scores of students have made their sociological debuts through paper presentations and panel discussions at annual conferences.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE ALABAMA-MISSISSIPPI SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
Adopted November 7, 1970.
Revised November 11, 1972, November 10, 1973, February 28, 1981, February 22, 1985, February 26, 1999 and February 16, 2001
Officers:
Past-President, Dr. Sherill Morris-Francis, Mississippi Valley State University
Secretary, Dr. Kim Brackett, Auburn University at Montgomery
Treasurer, Dr. Jackie McNett, Auburn University at Montgomery
Communications Director, Dr. Rochelle McGee-Cobbs, Mississippi Valley State University
Archivist, Dr. Thomas M. Kersen, Jackson State University
Member-at-Large (AL), Dr. Ram Alagan, Alabama State University
Member-at-Large (AL), Dr. Seela Aladuwaka, Alabama State University
Member-at-Large (MS), Dr. Andrew Tatch, Troy University
Member-at-Large (MS), Dr. Sade Turnipseed, Jackson State University
“Established in 1969, A-MSA is a community of professionals and students dedicated to building a better world through the use of sociology and other social sciences. Our goal is to facilitate the development of knowledge in an environment that celebrates the diversity of life and recognizes the necessity of incorporating multiple forms of knowledge in the development of answers to social problems.”
-John Green, Former A-MSA President