Coastal Carolina University's fourth annual Campus and Community Research Collaborative is set for Thursday, Jan. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Kline Hospitality Suite of Brooks Stadium. The event connects faculty members with community organizations for collaborative research partnerships.

Kimberly Harmon, director of the Area Agency on Aging, Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, is the keynote speaker and will discuss "Opportunities to Engage: Programs of the Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging." Her presentation will highlight collaborative opportunities for community partners and faculty to work toward strengthening existing programs. It will also address nurturing innovative concepts into new program initiatives. Areas of work include policy writing, advocacy and social justice, grant writing, and an array of existing community partnerships and endeavors.

Harmon earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Francis Marion University. She has served as director of the Area Agency on Aging for 15 years. She has also been the finance director for the town of Kingstree for two years and the finance director for Vital Aging of Williamsburg County.

The event offers an interactive "speed dating" format that brings together representatives of community organizations with members of the CCU faculty. The program coincides with a complimentary luncheon that further facilitates networking.

At a previous luncheon, Stephen Firsing, an assistant professor of public health at CCU, had a conversation with representatives from Tidelands Health; that dialogue turned into a service project for his students.

"My relationship with Tidelands Health quickly grew into a collaborative partnership with representatives from the South Carolina Lt. Governor's Office on Aging and the Department of Health and Environmental Control," said Firsting. "Since then, that partnership has yielded five grant proposals (three funded projects) in three years. Meeting people at the Campus and Community Research Collaborative has been instrumental in me developing my professional networks and scholarly research agenda at CCU."

According to Amy Edmunds, event coordinator, "Examples of how organizations benefit include potential student engagement as interns or new hires. They may also tap the grant writing expertise of CCU faculty, including assistance with data collection and analysis."

This program is jointly presented by CCU's Office of the Provost and the Office of Vice President for Research and Emerging Initiatives. Pre-register at www.coastal.edu/healthsciences/registration/.

For more information, call Edmunds at 843-349-2441 or email at aedmunds@coastal.edu.