Hall of Fame Inductees

The School of Education proudly honors these Alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of Education through their good deeds, services, or contributions, all of which perpetuated the good name of The University of Mississippi and the School of Education and/or the education profession:

  • 2023

  • 2021

  • 2020

  • 2019

  • 2018

  • 2017

  • 2016

  • 2015

Dr. Carole Haney
B.S.C. 1972 (Business), M.Ed. 1976
Classroom teacher and retired director of the North Mississippi Regional Center; lifelong community advocate.

Dr. Kathy Mays
Ed.D. 1982
Inducted Posthumously
Among the first woman district superintendents in Tennessee, Chester County Schools.

Dr. Mildred “Mitzi” Norris
Ph.D. 1998
Chair, UMMC Centers and Institutes; Executive Director of Academic Effectiveness and Professor in School of Health Related Professions, UMMC.

Dr. Richmond Roderick
M.Ed. 1997
Executive Director of Student Support Services, Shelby County Schools; Co-Chair of the Transition Steering Committee during the merging of Shelby County Schools and the Memphis City Schools.

Dr. Judith Thompson
B.A.E. 1977, M.Ed. 1986, M.Ed. 1991, Ed.D. 1999
Career educator, former IHL reading specialist for the Barksdale Reading Institute, and Oxford and Lafayette Community Advocate.

Dr. Melody Musgrove
Outstanding Educational Service Award
Inducted posthumously
Lifelong educator, served as Director of Special Education Programs for the U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. Mignon Chinn
Ph.D. 2013
Inducted Posthumously
High school educator, academic advisor, program administrator, adjunct professor, and alumni engagement associate; launched Student Alumni Representatives (STARs) program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center; Canton and Jackson, MS community advocate.

Dr. Barbara Howard
B.A. 1992 (Biology) and M.Ed. 1994
Jackson, MS
Associate professor of educational leadership at Jackson State University; career educator at elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. Scholar, advisor, and advocate for first-generation students and STEM education.

Dr. Cindy Leigh
B.A.Ed. 1968, M.Ed. 1969, Ed.D. 1980
Oxford, MS
Retired long-time professor of education at UM School of Education, advocate for kindergarten education in Mississippi, brain research, and mindfulness education. Advisor and professor to hundreds of Mississippi educators during her 34-year career.

Patricia Nalley
B.A.Ed. 1964
Annapolis, MD
Distinguished teacher, principal, and board of education member in Anne Arundel County Public Schools from 1970-2018, the 43rd largest school system in the U.S.

Dr. Judy Trott
BSPHE 1961, M.Ed. 1964, Ed.D. 1972
Oxford, MS
Panhellenic Advisor, Director of Residence Life, Director of Student Services, and Dean of Students at University of Mississippi from 1966-2001; advisor and counselor to thousands of UM students during tenure.

Dr. Donald Cole
Ph.D. 1985 (Mathematics)
Outstanding Educational Service Award
Oxford, MS
UM student activist who returned to earn his Ph.D. in mathematics after expulsion in 1970; served as professor for 25 years; later became Assistant to the Chancellor for Multicultural Affairs and Assistant Provost; retired 2018 after a five-decade tenure of student mentorship and leadership.

Dr. David Beckley
M.Ed. 75, Ph.D. 96
Holly Springs, MS
Retired President of Rust College, longest tenured senior college president of Mississippi (33 years), former president of Wiley College, and 52 years of comprehensive service in education. Dr. Beckley is also a U.S. Army veteran with service in Vietnam 1970-71.

Ann Henson
B.A.Ed. 75, M.Ed. 76
Germantown, TN
41-year career in early childhood education, most recently served as Early Childhood Specialist for the University of Southern Mississippi’s Institute for Disability Studies. She is also the former president of the School of Education Alumni Advisory Board.

Beverly Johnston
M.Ed. 1993
Madison, MS
Recently retired after a 28-year career in Mississippi public schools as teacher and administrator, most recently principal of Madison Station Elementary School. She is a two-time Madison County Administrator of the Year and recipient of several community organization awards and recognitions.

Dr. Andy Mullins
Ph.D. 1992
Oxford, MS
Nearly 50 years of educational service to the state, including senior staff positions in the UM Chancellor’s office under Drs. Turner, Khayat, and Jones. He is a co-founder of the Mississippi Teacher Corps and served as education advisor to Governor William Winter when the Education Reform Act of 1982 was adopted.

Rose Flenorl Jackson
Outstanding Educational Service Award
B.A.Ed. 1979
Memphis, TN
More than 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, and corporate social responsibility and is manager of FedEx Global Citizenship group. Rose was elected into the UM Alumni Hall of Fame in 1998.

Janice Barton
M.Ed. 78, Ph.D. 00
Hernando, MS
Former chief academic officer of elementary schools in Desoto County Schools and 2009 Mississippi National Distinguish Principal. She currently serves as principal of Tunica Academy.

Richard Boyd
Outstanding Educational Service Award
Rocky River, OH
Teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent in Ohio schools for 33 years and first appointed Mississippi State Superintendent of Education in 1984.

Mike Edmonds
B.A. 84, M.Ed. 85, Ph.D. 90
Colorado Springs, CO
Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at Colorado College for past 28 years. He previously held various roles at Ole Miss, including Assistant Dean of Students.

Terre Blanton Harris
B.A.Ed. 76
Ridgeland, MS
Preschool Director of Christ United Methodist Church in Ridgeland and author of "Doodle the Deer: Problem at the Paint Store."

Fannye Love
M.Ed. 70
Bartlett, TN
Retried UM faculty member with more than 54 years of service in education. Served in several roles at UM including Director of Regional Campus Programs and Associate Dean of the SOE. In 1999, she became the first tenured African American professor in the SOE.

Ralph Walton, awarded posthumously
Ed.D. 81
High school science teacher and administrator 51 years in Georgia and Florida. Recognized as a STAR teacher of the year three different times.

Dr. Bob & Sylvia Ferguson
Outstanding Educational Service Award
Tupelo, MS
Collective Mississippi educational service of 66 years as teachers, coaches, principals, and superintendents. Since retirement, they have provided more than $11 million in college scholarships to students from charitable proceeds of Bingo business.

Dr. Kathleen Grigsby
B.A.Ed. 98, M.Ed. 99
Jackson, MS
Principal of A-rated Davis Magnet School

Dorothy Henderson, awarded posthumously
M.Ed. 79
First full-time African-American faculty member in the UM School of Education, elementary education instructor from 1978 to 1998.

Dr. Tom Meredith
Ed.D. 71
Oxford, MS
Former Vice Chancellor University of Mississippi, President Western Kentucky University, Chancellor University of Alabama System, Chancellor University of Georgia System, and Mississippi's Commissioner of Higher Education.

Dr. Ellen Shelton
Ed.D. 00
Oxford, MS
Former high school English teacher, selected as National Milken Award Recipient, Director of UM Writing Project, Coordinator Independent Study High School.

Dr. Pam Smith
Ph.D. 01
Jackson, MS
Former Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs with Board of Governors in Illinois, Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs and Development with Mississippi Commission of Higher Education, Past President Mississippi Council on Economic Education.

Thomas Burke
B.A. 70, M.A. 72, Ph.D. 81
Kansas City, KS
President Emeritus, Kansas City Kansas Community College

Laura Dunn Jolly
B.S. 77
Ames, IA
Dean, College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University

Robert C. Khayat
B.A.Ed. 61, J.D. 66
Oxford, MS
Chancellor Emeritus, University of Mississippi

Carole Lynn Meadows
Outstanding Educational Service Award
B.S.C. 60, M.B.Ed. 64
Gulfport, MS
Veteran educator of 27 years; co-founder of Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport, MS

Jean M. Shaw
M.Ed. 74
Oxford, MS
Math and science educator with 40+ years experience, including the University of Mississippi from 1976-2006.

Theopolis P. Vinson, awarded posthumously
M.S.S. 82, Ph.D. 97
Former assistant dean and director of undergraduate student advising and field experience at UM School of Education.

Suzie Adcock
B.A.Ed. 77
Jackson, MS
A 31-year veteran teacher and librarian

Jahnae Barnett
M.B.Ed. 67, Ph.D. 72
Fulton, MO
President, William Woods University

Cecil Brown
B.A. 66
Jackson, MS
Mississippi public service commissioner, former state representative and first-ever Outstanding Education Service Award Winner in SOE Hall of Fame

Robert Depro
M.Ed. 70
Sikeston, MO
Honored for 51 consecutive years teaching high school social studies

Cathy Stewart
B.A.Ed. 78, M.Ed. 81, Ed.D. 95
Oxford, MS
A 20-year teacher and founding director of UM's World Class Teaching Program

Milton Kuykendall
M.Ed. 76
Hernando, MS
Three-time state champion basketball coach, 18-year principal and 12-year superintendent

Judith Reynolds
B.A.Ed. 68
Clinton, MS
A 39-year teaching veteran, nine-time Star Teacher and Mississippi Teacher of the Year

Jerome Smith
B.A. 48, M.A. 51
Jackson, MS
Honored for 52-year career as a teacher, coach, counselor, principal, exec. director of Mississippi Professional Educators and assistant to the governor for education