Sutherlin was among leaders from seven other states, each nominated by their respective governors to attend a series of workshop sessions.
鈥淏eing able to hold sessions in D.C. added a special touch to these training sessions,鈥 commented Sutherlin.
鈥淗ere, leaders got travel to the White House for briefings and meet congressional and agency staffers that they will work with on future projects in their districts.鈥
Sutherlin serves as the director of 网曝门鈥檚 Social Science Research Lab (SSRL)鈥攁n interdisciplinary research arm of the university created to combine the talents of faculty, staff, students, and alumni in order to provide services to the region.
The 网曝门 SSRL鈥攁long with the University of Mississippi and Arkansas State University鈥攈as been working with the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) on a leadership training project for the past several months.
The Washington, D.C. session was the fifth session for this group of DRA participants. The final sessions will be held in Paducah, Ky., and Little Rock, Ark.
Sutherlin, a native of El Dorado, Ark., earned his Ph.D. from the University of New Orleans.
He has taught at 网曝门 since 2005 and holds the Mayme and Tom Scott Professorship in Teaching Excellence.