Contact: Sammy McDavid
Nineteen educators from Georgia to Texas are increasing their professional development in community college leadership during a weeklong training session near Louisville.
Organized by Mississippi State and Alcorn State universities, the 2002 Mid-South Community College Fellowship Program began Sunday [July 21] at the Lake Tiak O'Khata Conference Center. The Phil Hardin Foundation of Meridian, along with the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges and participating institutions, also are providing support.
Now in its ninth year, the fellows program is the first and only university-based curriculum in Mississippi focusing on the preparation of future community college leaders. Problem-based learning, team building, technology in education, conflict management, and workplace diversity are among areas covered during the training.
Ned Lovell, the recently retired head of MSU's educational leadership department, led in creating the program in 1994.
"It is important to nurture and prepare the next generation of community college leaders and that's what our program is designed to do," said Lovell, who continues to serve as its coordinator.
"Prior to this year, we had provided specialized training for nearly 200 community college professionals," he added. "While most of our participants work at Mississippi schools, we've also attracted community college leaders from Alabama and Arkansas."
In addition to representatives from eight of Mississippi's two-year colleges, the 2002 session again includes administrators from sister schools in Alabama. Among newcomers in this year's class are representatives of East Georgia College, Louisiana Delta Community College, and Southwest Tennessee Community College, among others.
Lenore Prather, former Mississippi Supreme Court chief justice and interim Mississippi University for Women president, and George Boggs, president of the American Association of Community Colleges, are featured speakers this week.
The 2002 MCCFP Fellows group includes (by institution or office location):
BESSEMER, Ala.--Jill Tolbert, graphics/printing communications instructor at Bessemer State Technical College.
COMMERCE, Texas--Molly Clark, an adviser in Texas A&M University-Commerce's undergraduate admissions office.
DECATUR--Sandra Amis, Tech Prep coordinator, and Samuel T. Brand, oral communication instructor, both at East Central Community College.
FULTON--Bronson Prochaska, career services director at Itawamba Community College.
GAUTIER--Sheri Stanford, academic counselor at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's Jackson County Campus.
GOODMAN--Audra Kimble, chair of the business administration department at Holmes Community College.
GULFPORT--Karla Smith, social sciences instructor at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's Jefferson Davis Campus.
HAMILTON, Ala.--Susan Burrow, chair of the general education and health science divisions at Bevill State Community College's Hamilton Campus.
JACKSON--Nikisha G. Ware, director of parent relations and legislative support for the Mississippi Department of Education.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.--Thomas Walker, dean of student services and enrollment management at Southwest Tennessee Community College.
PEARL--Sue P. Pitts, career and technical dean for Hinds Community College's Rankin County campus.
PERKINSTON--Michelle Sekul, admissions director at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's Perkinston Campus.
POPLARVILLE--Elaine Smith, Tech Prep coordinator at Pearl River Community College.
REGISTER, Ga.--Dana Nevil, chair of East Georgia's humanities department.
SENATOBIA--Charlie Barnett, mathematics instructor at Northwest Mississippi Community College.
STATESBORO, Ga.--Sandra Sharman, director of East Georgia's Statesboro Campus.
WESSON--Brenda Brown, director of federal programs for Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
WEST MONROE, La.--Monty Sullivan, Louisiana Delta's associate chancellor.