The Systems Change Lab is a team of multi-disciplinary research scientists, associates, and staff who address complex societal problems through data collection and analysis, policy research, training/education, facilitative practices, and systems change methodologies, including collective impact.
Housed at the Social Science Research Center (SSRC), SCL projects use the multifaceted resources of the SSRC, such as the Survey Research Laboratory, to address issues of early childhood, structural inequities, public health, education, and other topics.
The SSRC reports to both the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine and the Office of Research and Economic Development on MSU’s campus.

Faculty, Staff, and Student Workers

Heather Hanna
Director, Systems Change Lab
Associate Research Professor

Laure Bell
Project Coordinator III

Emily Jennings
Undergraduate Student Employee
Emily Jennings is an undergraduate student at Mississippi State University. She supports the SCL with research and authentication of resources for early childhood resource maps.
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John S. McCown
Research Associate III
John McCown supports the grant activities of the SCL in the areas of data science. He leads and contributes to efforts designing research tools and analyzing and managing collected data.
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Gina Rico Mendez
Assistant Research Professor
Dr. Rico Mendez contributes to SCL as researcher focused on applied systems-level inquiry. She brings expertise in policy analysis, evaluation, and social systems research to support project design, implementation, and strategic learning. She engages in efforts to translate complex data into actionable insights and contributes to cross-thematic initiatives within SCL’s applied research portfolio.
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R’riuna Moore
Undergraduate Student Employee
R’riuna Moore is an undergraduate student at Mississippi State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biological Sciences with a Pre-Medicine concentration. She supports the SCL with research and communications efforts.
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Callie Poole
Project Manager
Callie Poole supports the SCL director through coordinating internal and external project meetings and overseeing deliverables. Callie also contributes through qualitative and quantitative research activities, report writing, and the facilitation of systems and policy change efforts.
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Affiliates

Connie Baird-Thomas
Associate Director of SSRC Policy Studies and Evaluation and Research Group (ERG)