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School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies

Mary Emery

Mary Emery

Title

Professor Emerita of Sociology

Office Building

Hansen Hall

Office

004

Mailing Address

Hansen Hall 004
School of Psych, Soc & Rural Studies-Box 670A
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007

Biography

Dr. Mary Emery has a deep and abiding interest in community and economic development research and practice including using the Community Capitals Framework (CCF), in evaluation, research on community change and program planning. Recent research has focused on the interaction of social capital and reflexivity in creating a spiraling up effect and on addressing diversity, inclusion and equity in higher education. A co-author of the Field Guide for Community Coaching and the Field Guide to Ripple Effect Mapping, she regularly provides workshops and training on community development processes and approaches. In addition to teaching in the Great Plains IDEA transdisciplinary multi-university distance degree in Community Development, she provides support for the college research initiative. She has recently served or is serving as an evaluator on an NSF ATE regional project, an NSF-funded PLAN project, a USDA-funded project to support Tribal College faculty, and both a HRSA-funded planning grant to increase access to opioid-disorder treatment and the subsequent implementation grant.

Education

  • Ph.D. | Rutgers University

Academic Interests

  • Community and rural development
  • Community wellness
  • Applied sociology
  • Leadership development
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Distance education
  • Leadership development
  • Appreciative Inquiry
  • Community coaching
  • Evaluation
  • Ripple effect mapping

Academic Responsibilities

  • Qualitative methods
  • Evaluation
  • Leadership development
  • Community development
  • Rural sociology/rural development
  • Non profit management

Committees and Professional Memberships

  • Community Development Society (past president)
  • Rural Sociology Society
  • American Evaluation Association
  • Midwest Sociology Society
  • Great Plains Sociology Association
  • Great Plains IDEA

Awards and Honors

  • Member, ECOP Rapid Response Team on Civil Dialogue on Race Relations and Coming Together Team Member, NACDEP National award for diversity, 2019
  • NACDEP Southern regional First place for Diversity Team Award
  • Chazdon, Higgins, Hansen, Emery, Joint CDS and NACDEP National award for innovation, 2017
  • Excellence in Service Award, Great Plains Sociological Association, 2016
  • Invited participant and moderator, NIFA Big Data Summit, Chicago, 2016
  • Invited participant to the September 23rd Whitehouse Workshop on Promise Zones, WDC: September 2016
  • Chazdon, Higgins, Hansen, Emery, National Training award, NACDEP, 2016
  • With Chazdon, Higgins and Hansen; Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Association: Making and Impact Award, 2014
  • Community Development Society: Duane L. Gibson Distinguished Service Award, 2012
  • Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Association: Great Ideas Award, 2010
  • Innovative Program award given to the Great Plains IDEA On-line Master’s Degree in Community Development Team, 2008
  • Iowa Distance Learning Association, Innovators Award, given to the Great Plains IDEA On-line Master’s Degree in Community Development Team, 2008
  • Community Development Society, Community Development Achievement Award, 1999
  • President’s Award, Lewiston-Clarkston YWCA, 1995

Grants

HRSA opioid prevention, treatment and recovery grant (evaluator), HRSA psycho stimulants prevention, treatment and recovery grant (evaluator). NSF Testing a responsible innovation approach for integrating precision agriculture (PA) technologies with future farm workers and work (evaluator). U.S.-Russia University Virtual Partner Program (PI). NSF Plan (evaluator).

Department(s)