In the News

Susan Limber named to Olweus ProfessorshipSue Limber

Susan P. Limber has been named the first Dan Olweus Distinguished Professor in the Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life. The newly established professorship will focus on the prevention of bullying and other forms of aggression toward children.

Dr. Limber’s appointment to the professorship marks 10 years of national leadership in bullying prevention by IFNL. The institute has led in the development of a network of research-based programs for bullying prevention, serving as the hub for dissemination of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in the US.

The professorship is established in recognition of Dr. Dan Olweus of the University of Bergen, Norway. Olweus is an internationally recognized scholar on bullying prevention. The professorship is made possible by contributions of a team of authors of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program materials, including Clemson University faculty members, and program directors for the Olweus program in the US.

Professor Limber’s work on the prevention of bullying served as the scientific foundation for the design of a national public information campaign. The Stop Bullying Now! web-based campaign is currently in its fifth year. The campaign has achieved 14,000 airings of public service announcements seen by 150 million Americans, the viewing of DVDs by children in 66,000 schools, and up to 20,000 visits per week to the website.

Limber and CU psychology professor, Robin Kowalski, researched the phenomenon of cyber bullying, resulting in a published book and development of a school curriculum.

Formerly a James Marshall Public Policy Fellow for the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, Limber has focused her research and writing on legal and psychological issues related to youth violence, child protection, and children’s rights. She received the Saleem Shah Award from the American Psychology-Law Society for early career excellence in law and policy. Limber received the APA’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest for her work with the national public information campaign.

She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and an MA, Master of Legal Studies, and PhD from the University of Nebraska.

IFNL Receives Ittleson AwardItelson award

The Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life was awarded the Blanche F. Ittleson Award by the American Orthopsychiatric Association for its “innovation, leadership, and dedication in the design, implementation, and study of strategies to strengthen community support for families in South Carolina, the Nation, and the World.”

Noting the respect for human rights in which IFNL work is grounded, Ortho recognized the emphasis on personal and social significance of the protection of relationships in the family and community.

With the award, Ortho recognized that the IFNL design of strategies relies on the transformation – and sometimes development of - primary community institutions. These strategies have the common element of ensuring that “people don’t have to ask” for help in everyday settings. Relying on “natural” community assets, IFNL faculty and staff have applied this idea in building and evaluating systems for personal safety and family support in schools, early childhood centers, churches, grassroots organizations, and whole communities.

Systems developed by IFNL are capable of responding to the needs of adolescent parents, recent immigrants, families of prisoners, and families in crisis, according to the citation. Not only have immediate needs been met in ways that are respectful of communities, but IFNL has provided models useful in diverse cultural contexts. IFNL has also developed a unique international doctoral program and related partnerships abroad.

Video Lectures

RobinKimbrough-Melton on Buildng Dreams.
Doris Cole on Strong Communities.
Mark Small on Compassion Grants.
Sue Limber on Bullying Prevention.

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