Hall of Fame

Honoring Mississippi's greatest champions of education

Home
About
Alumni
Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

The School of Education Hall of Fame Award honors select alumni for their contributions to the field of education through good deeds and service, all of which perpetuate the good name of the University of Mississippi School of Education and/or the education profession. Hall of Fame inductees typically have 25+ years of experience in the field of education.

Did you know?

The School of Education Hall of Fame initiated its first class in 2015. Inductees include college & university presidents and chancellors, trailblazing faculty, corporate executives, and pioneers in education.

Meet our 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees

Miriam Clark

Learn more about Miriam Clark

See Miriam’s Answer

Beverly Irby

Learn more about Beverly Irby

See Beverly’s Answer

Susan Lofton

Learn more about Susan Lofton

See Susan’s Answer

Thomas Wallace

Learn more about Thomas Wallace

See Thomas’s Answer

Billy Crews

Learn more about Billy Crews

See Billy’s Answer

Help us recognize our alumni!

Each year, the School of Education Board of Advisors accepts nominations for the Hall of Fame alumni awards. Recipients of our alumni awards are recognized each spring.

Nomination Eligibility

Self-nominations are welcome for alumni of the School of Education at the University of Mississippi.
Current School of Education Faculty, Staff and members of the SOE Board of Advisors are ineligible for consideration.
All nominations are considered for three years.
Nominations for the 2025 honorees will open in Fall of 2024.

For any questions, please reach out to our Development Office at soedev@olemiss.edu. We're here to help!

Hall of Fame Nomination Form

Fill out my online form.

Past Inductees

We are forever impacted by the legacy of our alumni. Learn more about our previous Hall of Fame inductees below.

2023 Hall of Fame Inductees

2023 Hall of Fame Inductees
	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

2021 Hall of Fame Inductees

2021 Hall of Fame Inductees
	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), 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 the 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 in 2018 after a five-decade tenure of student mentorship and leadership.

2020 Hall of Fame Inductees

2020 Hall of Fame Inductees
	Dr. David Beckley M.Ed. 1975, Ph.D. 1996 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. 1975, M.Ed. 1976 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 B.A.Ed. 1979 Outstanding Educational Service Award 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.

2019 Hall of Fame Inductees

2019 Hall of Fame Inductees
	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 Distinguished 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 Retired 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.

2018 Hall of Fame Inductees

2018 Hall of Fame Inductees
	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.

2017 Hall of Fame Inductees

2017 Hall of Fame Inductees
	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.

2016 Hall of Fame Inductees

2016 Hall of Fame Inductees
	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

2015 Hall of Fame Inductees

2015 Hall of Fame Inductees
	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