USA Launches Community Study and Support Initiative in Mount Vernon
Posted on July 30, 2026
USA’s Office of Community Engagement has partnered with the USA Office of Sustainability and Southeast Direct Air Capture, and the Town of Mount Vernon on the project, “Engage Mount Vernon,” a new $486,728 grant initiative funded to gather feedback from residents about a proposed direct air capture facility.
The project team recently hosted a community meeting to gather questions and feedback from Mount Vernon residents. Dr. Steven Scyphers, associate professor and chief sustainability officer and his team at South will support the interview sessions with Abigail Collins, sustainability coordinator. Dr. Joél Billingsley, vice president for the Office of Community Engagement, is serving as co-lead on this project, and Kiara Pugh-Childress is serving as project manager.
The initiative centers on local input while bringing vital services to Mount Vernon, including USA Mitchell Cancer Institute sponsoring health screenings, literacy programs with USA Speech and Audiology faculty Drs. Victoria Henbest and Brenda Beverly, a transit survey by Go Gulf Coast to address the residents of Mount Vernon's travel needs, and an oral history project led by USA’s Dr. Kern Jackson, associate professor of English.
