By Jackie Todd, Office of Media Relations
The Clemson University Youth Learning Institute will now report to the university’s vice president for research, effective immediately. The institute was formerly under the office of Economic Development.
The organizational move comes as the university progresses with its ClemsonForward strategic plan, which positions research as one of the plan’s main components.
“This realignment places one of the university’s most valuable platforms for research squarely within the research arm of our institution,” said Robert H. Jones, Clemson’s executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “The Youth Learning Institute provides an exceptional asset for research support in human development and other areas of social science.”
Larry Dooley, Clemson’s interim vice president for research sees this as a strategic repositioning
“As a land grant university, scientific research and technological innovations are not the only contributions Clemson University makes to our state and nation,” he said. “The Youth Learning Institute provides valuable analyses and research into the problems of society and programs for our youth.”
That sentiment was echoed by Youth Learning Institute Executive Director Stephen W. Lance.
“Growing out of Clemson Public Service and Economic Development, the Youth Learning Institute has a proud history of creating and delivering quality programs that benefit youth and families,” he said. “Now, as a part of the university’s research team, YLI programs will serve as living laboratories for multidisciplinary research by faculty and students, allowing us to integrate academics with practice, refine existing programs and create new, innovative human development programs to improve quality of life for youth and families in South Carolina and around the world.”
The Youth Learning Institute operates more than 100 year-round youth development programs across the state in partnership with public and private youth-serving organizations.
Learn more about the Youth Learning Institute.
