Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Four Mississippi State professional women are included in the second group of a statewide honor coordinated by the City of Madison's Chamber of Commerce.
Recently recognized as 2008 Dynamic Women of Mississippi are university faculty members Teresa B. Jayroe of the College of Education and Barbara A. Spencer of the College of Business and Industry, along with staff members Ann Carr of the Department of Athletics and Laurie J. Todd of the Office of the President.
Begun last year, the special chamber program seeks to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of state women in business, government, the arts, education, health care, and community service.
The four from MSU are among 12 noted for enhancing the national and international prominence of the state. They will be featured in a desk calendar to be produced by the economic development organization of the bourgeoning Madison County Municipality that adjoins the state's capital city.
Jayroe, an associate professor of curriculum and instruction and MSU doctoral graduate, directs the education college's clinical and field-based instruction program. She has received numerous grants for projects related to teaching and learning. She also has conducted considerable research on Mississippi teacher retention and produced publications on elementary education teacher preparation and language arts and reading.
Spencer directs the business college's graduate studies program. In addition to teaching duties, the management professor and Virginia Tech doctoral graduate has written extensively for professional journals on topics related to organization management. Most recently, she received MSU's Outstanding Executive Administrative Managerial Woman Award.
Carr, a 12-year member of the athletic department administration, was named assistant athletic director for women's sports in 2006. An MSU alumna with bachelor's and master's degrees, the former Lady Bulldog basketball player also directs the department's life skills program that includes academic support and career preparatory efforts.
Todd worked in MSU's Early Childhood Institute before joining the presidential office staff. An MSU doctoral graduate in education, she has directed several grant-funded projects promoting early childhood education. She also is a graduate of the Mississippi Economic Council's Leadership Mississippi and the Children's Defense Fund's Emerging Leaders programs.
For additional information on Madison The City Chamber of Commerce's Dynamic Women of Mississippi program, contact the office at 601-856-7060.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.