Georgia Board of Regents presents award to Dr. Michael Meacham

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia recently presented the Global Partnerships for the 21st Century award to Valdosta State University Associate Professor of Social Work, Dr. Michael Meacham. He received the award for his proposal to train students on Mexican culture and language for use in social work in a partnership with Dalton State College and Universidad Veracruzana.

The grant is awarded when two schools in the University System of Georgia team up on an international educational activity. Valdosta State University's Division of Social Work and Dalton State College's Social Services Program come together to establish a cultural immersion and language program in cooperation with Universidad Veracruzana's Jalapa campus.

?This grant is designed to address our growing Latino population that is under-served in social services,? Meacham said. ?I believe any type of international education cooperation is becoming more vital in today's world.?

Since early childhood, Meacham has been captivated by diversity. He accompanied his father, a civil rights advocate and attorney, to various meetings promoting social justice. At a young age, Meacham learned he needed to have both street experience and higher education to be successful in his line of work.

The professor received his doctorate in Sociology with an Emphasis in Minorities from the University of Kansas in 1984.

Meacham visited Mexico five of the last seven years. During his stay, he participates in professional presentations, workshops, cultural immersion, and Spanish courses along with students. As a social worker therapist, he worked in homeless shelters, prisons, and with the severely mentally ill.

Meacham published articles on the difficulties surrounding racial discrimination, gender/sex discrimination, Latino immigrations, and other populations. He is currently developing a grant for a program to Guadalajara.