Blackmon Appointed Interim Associate Director of USM’s School of Social Work

Thu, 08/27/2020 - 11:02am | By: Van Arnold

Dr. J. Bret Blackmon, associate professor at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), has been appointed interim associate director of the University’s School of Social Work. He will serve in this capacity at both the Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses.

Blackmon began his USM career as an assistant professor of social work in 2014. He was promoted to associate professor last spring.

“I am very excited about this opportunity and looking forward to serving the school in a leadership role, especially during these challenging times,” said Blackmon, who will work closely with the school’s director Dr. Jerome Kolbo.

Prior to joining the faculty at USM, Blackmon served in an associate director role for the Louisiana Center Addressing Substance Abuse in Collegiate Communities – a grant-funded program at Louisiana State University. He also served as a research associate with LSU’s Social Research and Evaluation Center.

Regarding priorities associated with his new position, Blackmon pointed to an emphasis on supporting and mentoring junior faculty and enhancing campus partnerships.

To learn more about the School of Social Work at USM, call 601.266.4163 or visit: https://www.usm.edu/social-work/index.php