National Student Award Named for Judith Little

Judith Little, Professor Emeritus with the Department of Sociology, was honored by the Association on Applied and Clinical Sociology (AACS). Beginning Fall 2009, the student team winning an applied sociology competition will be recognized with the “Judith Little Student Award.”

Each year AACS selects a client from the community that hosts the AACS annual meeting. The organization or group is asked to identify a problem that might be addressed by a student team of applied sociologists. In preparation for client meetings at the annual meeting, student teams advised by AACS faculty members research the problem or issue and develop preliminary plans. At the annual meeting, the teams meet with a representative of the client and gather more information. After the annual meeting, the teams submit their problem solutions to the representative and to the AACS problem solving coordinator. While one team wins the award, all teams receive feedback on the quality and usefulness of their proposed solutions.

Judith was one of the creators of this activity, along with Jerry Krause (HSU Sociology emeritus faculty member) and Stephen Steele (Anne Arundel Community College). She is currently a member of the Commission on Applied and Clinical Sociology, is the Commission representative to the Board of the Association on Applied and Clinical Sociology and immediate Past President of the California Sociological Association.