Our Mission
Our mission is to generate, share, and apply the knowledge needed to strengthen ties between families and communities. We believe that help is most acceptable, efficient, and effective when it is built into everyday life. We are particularly interested in the everyday experiences of children, youth, and adults in neighborhood institutions, such as schools, workplaces, religious organizations, civic groups, and courts. We seek to provide the knowledge necessary to enable these institutions to ensure respect for individual dignity, enhance "natural" social assistance, build a sense of community, promote civic participation, and foster family and neighborhood responsibility. We also strive to understand ways that public policy supports or hinders families and neighborhoods in these tasks and to offer alternatives that foster the creation of neighborly and family-friendly communities.
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Our Work
In order to accomplish the goals of the Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life, the Institute conducts empirical research, performs policy analyses, develops and evaluates programs, and provides technical assistance and community education. We work at all levels from neighborhood to global, because a comparative perspective offers new insights in understanding grassroots phenomena in neighborhoods and developing effective responses in public policy and community development practice.
Institute Themes
The Institute's work is focused on three themes. We conduct research and provide public service related to these broad topics:
- The nature of everyday life in families and neighborhoods
- The development, maintenance, and enhancement of community institutions
- Current and alternative public policies supportive of family and neighborhood life
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Our People
Faculty
Mark A. Small
Director, IFNL, ProfessorSusan P. Limber
Associate Director, IFNL, Dan Olweus Distinguished professorNatallia Sianko
Assistant ProfessorArelis Moore de Peralta
Assistant ProfessorMatthew Hudson-Flege
Research Assistant ProfessorBonnie Holaday
Emeritus Professor, Clemson UniversityJim McDonell
Emeritus Professor, Clemson UniversityJan Urbanski
Research Assistant Professor, Director Safe and Humane SchoolsStaff
June Jenkins
OBPP Training CoordinatorJane Riese
Associate Director Safe and Humane Schools, Director of TrainingAdjunct Faculty
Asher Ben-Arieh, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer in Social Work, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Director, Haruv Institute, JerusalemNizel Fernandez, Ph.D.
Researcher/Professor, Universidad Iberoamericana UNIBE, Dominican RepublicEdlira Haxhiymeri, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Social Work and former Provost, University of Tirana, former Deputy Minister of Education, AlbaniaRichard Holden, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Indiana UniversityMigena Kapllanaj, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Marin Barleti University, AlbaniaRobin Kimbrough-Melton, J.D.
Research Professor, Kempe Center, University of Colorado, DenverOsnat Lavenda, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Ariel University, IsraelJill McLeigh, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Colorado, DenverNikoleta Mita, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, University of Tirana, AlbaniaJulie Richards, Ph.D.
Youth Family and Community Studies, Clemson UniversityKathleen Robinson, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor, Clemson UniversityLaura Sánchez, Ph.D.
Associate Professor/Researcher, Universidad Iberoamericana UNIBE, Dominican RepublicMartie Thompson, Ph.D.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Endowed Professor in Public Health, Appalachian State UniversityJitka Vacková, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Social Work, University of South Bohemia, Czech RepublicOdile Camilo Vincent, Ph.D.
Vice-provost UNIBE -
Affiliated Organizations
The Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice
The American Orthopsychiatric Association is a membership organization focused on mental health and social justice.
International Society for Child Indicators
The International Society for Child Indicators is a membership organization that brings experts from around the world together to share knowledge and experience to improve the lives of children.
Childwatch International Research Network
The Childwatch International Research Network is a global network of institutions that collaborate in child research for the purpose of promoting child rights and improving children’s well-being around the world.
The University Based Child and Family Policy Consortium
The University Based Child and Family Policy Consortium engages members around the core components of the Consortium’s mission:
- Research – scientific collaboration around child and family policy issues.
- Career Development – cross-disciplinary undergraduate and graduate training to support the next generation of child and family policy researchers.
- Engagement - effective research-to-policy and research-to-practice translation; efforts to use research to inform policy and practice.
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Giving
Contributions to the Institute on Family & Neighborhood Life may be made to Clemson University Foundation. Please direct your gift to the Friends of Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life. Gifts may be made online at https://iamatiger.clemson.edu/giving, by phone at (864) 656-5896 or by mail:
Clemson University
Annual Giving Office
PO Box 1889
Clemson, SC 29633 -
Contact Us
Clemson Campus
Our Clemson location is where you will find the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, community youth development projects, Institute's administrative offices and the Coordinator of the doctoral program.
Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life
Clemson University
321 Brackett Hall
Clemson, South Carolina 29634-0132
Phone: (864) 656-6320Greenville Campus
Our Greenville location is where the PhD program is based and graduate students and faculty workspace exists. This location also serves as an office for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.
Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life
University Center
225 S. Pleasantburg Dr., Suite E3
Greenville, South Carolina 29607
Phone: (864) 656-6320
