Albert Nylander
Director of the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement and Professor of Sociology and Anthropology
Phone Number:
Email: nylander@olemiss.edu
http://mclean.olemiss.edu/

Key Words: Community Engagement, Community Development, Entrepreneurship, Poverty

Research Description: Dr. Albert Nylander is Professor of Sociology and the Director of the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement. The Institute’s mission is to advance transformative service throughout the University and to fight poverty through education in Mississippi. Dr. Nylander has more than 20 years of service as an administrative leader in Higher Education. At the University of Mississippi, he directs the community engagement efforts at the McLean Institute.

Prior to joining the University of Mississippi, Dr. Nylander served as Dean of Graduate Studies & Continuing Education, and Department Chair at Delta State University. His academic leadership focuses on developing and institutionalizing programs with an applied development emphasis. While serving as department chair he developed an academic program in community development, graduating more than 100 students in an 11-year period. Many of these students remain employed throughout community and economic development organizations.

During the past five years directing the McLean Institute, Dr. Nylander has supported the efforts to institutionalize community engagement at the University of Mississippi. Under his leadership, the McLean Institute has developed multiple programs to fight poverty through education and to create transformative experiences for Ole Miss students. One significant project that has created pathways for community-campus partnerships has been the Catalyzing Entrepreneurship and Economic Development program, a $1.6 million dollar grant from the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation.

Dr. Nylander’s research interests involve examining social networks and power structures of institutions, particularly education, and the importance of these social structures in changing life opportunities for those seeking to improve their social and economic standings. As an academic entrepreneur, Dr. Nylander has written and participated in more than 30 proposals, receiving more than $5,000,000 in external funding. Dr. Nylander is known for developing and leading practical and multi-disciplinary programs in leadership and community development in the social sciences.

Honors Theses:

DeMouy, Hallet (2021) Examining Construction and Reproduction of the Educational Opportunity Gap: The Nation?s School Board Members Respond (full text)

Pitts, Holly Ruth (2017) Catalyzing Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Program: An Analysis of the Educational Opportunities in Mississippi's Tourism Industry (full text)

Bauer, Elena (2017) The Sociological and Economic Factors Impacting a Workforce Development Program in an Impoverished Community. (full text)

Lang-VanDerLaan, Henry (2017) Community Engagement Strategies for Civic Participation in Youth Development: the University of Mississippi's Fight Against Poverty. (full text)

Russell, Samuel Claiborne (2016) Mississippi Delta Revitalization Through Tourism: An Examination of Community-Campus Partnerships for Economic Development. (full text)