Centers and Institutes

The College of Social Sciences and Public Policy hosts a number of centers and institutes that continually contribute to their respective academic communities and enrich the opportunities of our students. 

Center for Demography and Population Health – CDPH supports evidence-based public policy through its interdisciplinary research on demographic processes and population health; trains Master’s students seeking careers as applied demographers; and mentors doctoral students in social demography, population economics, social epidemiology, and environment and health.

Center for Disaster Risk Policy – As an applied research center, our mandate is to translate cutting-edge ideas and policies into practical products and projects for local, state, and federal entities. We’ve built statewide bioterrorism exercises, facilitated plan development, worked in emergency operations centers, and more. This real-world experience creates better solutions and ties into our work in the classroom.

Civil Rights Institute at Florida State University – The Civil Rights Institute at FSU commemorates, celebrates, and studies the U.S. civil rights movement to promote justice and equality at FSU and in communities where we work and serve.

Claude Pepper Center – The Claude Pepper Center aims to identify policy solutions that enhance the financial, psychological, cognitive, physical, and social well-being of older adults and their families in the state of Florida and beyond, and help people reach later life with the resources they need to be active and engaged members of their communities.

DeVoe L. Moore Center for the Study of Critical Issues in Economic Policy and Government – The DeVoe L. Moore Center is an interdisciplinary, applied public policy research and teaching center examining the role of the private sector in addressing pressing concerns relevant to Florida. The center uses a market-oriented lens to examine, develop, and propose policy recommendations and guidance for policymakers at the state and local levels.

Florida Center for Public Management – Since its founding 30 years ago, the Florida Center for Public Management has become a global resource for improving management, leadership, and organizational effectiveness.­ FCPM offers professional designations, customized training, and management consulting ­on a worldwide basis to government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations.

L. Charles Hilton Jr. Center for the Study of Economic Prosperity and Individual Opportunity – The Hilton Center focuses on research designed to enhance the understanding of how legal, social, and political institutions influence market transactions and, thus, the level of income, the rate of economic growth, and economic opportunity within and across geographic regions. Faculty and graduate students conduct research in a broad range of areas, including law and economics, public economics, public choice, industrial organization, regulation, economic geography, new institutional economics, economic history, and economic development.

LeRoy Collins Institute – The LeRoy Collins Institute is a nonpartisan, statewide policy organization that studies and promotes creative solutions to key private and public issues facing the people of Florida and the nation. Our mission is to perpetuate the leadership of Governor LeRoy Collins by developing and promoting bold, visionary public policy that will empower and uplift Floridians and Americans for generations to come. The Institute works in affiliation and collaboration with the State University System of Florida and is located at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute – The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida State University is an exciting, challenging scholarly program tailored for adults 50 and older who love to learn in a stress-free environment where there are no tests and no homework. Designed as a member-centered organization, OLLI allows students to expand their intellectual horizons, engage in social activities, participate in volunteer opportunities, and hold key leadership positions within the organization.

Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy – The mission of the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy is to initiate research, educate students, and provide outreach activities that address the opportunities and challenges of an aging population.

Stavros Center for Economic Education – The mission of the Stavros Center is to further free enterprise and economic education in schools and the broader community. The Center develops and disseminates innovative ideas and materials that will help make economics more interesting and understandable. It seeks to help instructors at all levels become great teachers of economics.