Hall of Fame
Honoring Mississippi's greatest champions of education
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.
Meet our 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees
Miriam Clark
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Beverly Irby
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Susan Lofton
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Thomas Wallace
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Billy Crews
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See Billy’s AnswerHelp 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!
Past Inductees
 | Dr. Carole Haney Classroom teacher and retired director of the North Mississippi Regional Center; lifelong community advocate |
 | Dr. Kathy Mays Among the first woman district superintendents in Tennessee, Chester County Schools |
 | Dr. Mildred “Mitzi” Norris Chair, UMMC Centers and Institutes; Executive Director of Academic Effectiveness and Professor in School of Health Related Professions, UMMC |
 | Dr. Richmond Roderick 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 Career educator, former IHL reading specialist for the Barksdale Reading Institute, and Oxford and Lafayette Community Advocate |
 | Dr. Melody Musgrove Lifelong educator, served as Director of Special Education Programs for the U.S. Department of Education |
 | Dr. Mignon Chinn 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 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 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 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 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 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. |
 | Dr. David Beckley 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 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 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 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 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 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 Teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent in Ohio schools for 33 years and first appointed Mississippi State Superintendent of Education in 1984. |
 | Mike Edmonds 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 Preschool Director of Christ United Methodist Church in Ridgeland and author of "Doodle the Deer: Problem at the Paint Store." |
 | Fannye Love 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 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 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 Principal of A-rated Davis Magnet School |
 | Dorothy Henderson, awarded posthumously First full-time African-American faculty member in the UM School of Education, elementary education instructor from 1978 to 1998. |
 | Dr. Tom Meredith 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 Former high school English teacher, selected as National Milken Award Recipient, Director of UM Writing Project, Coordinator Independent Study High School. |
 | Dr. Pam Smith 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 President Emeritus, Kansas City Kansas Community College |
 | Laura Dunn Jolly Dean, College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University |
 | Robert C. Khayat Chancellor Emeritus, University of Mississippi |
 | Carole Lynn Meadows Veteran educator of 27 years; co-founder of Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport, MS |
 | Jean M. Shaw Math and science educator with 40+ years experience, including the University of Mississippi from 1976-2006. |
 | Theopolis P. Vinson, awarded posthumously Former assistant dean and director of undergraduate student advising and field experience at UM School of Education. |
 | Suzie Adcock A 31-year veteran teacher and librarian |
 | Jahnae Barnett President, William Woods University |
 | Cecil Brown Mississippi public service commissioner, former state representative and first-ever Outstanding Education Service Award Winner in SOE Hall of Fame |
 | Robert Depro Honored for 51 consecutive years teaching high school social studies |
 | Cathy Stewart A 20-year teacher and founding director of UM's World Class Teaching Program |
 | Milton Kuykendall Three-time state champion basketball coach, 18-year principal and 12-year superintendent |
 | Judith Reynolds A 39-year teaching veteran, nine-time Star Teacher and Mississippi Teacher of the Year |
 | Jerome Smith Honored for 52-year career as a teacher, coach, counselor, principal, exec. director of Mississippi Professional Educators and assistant to the governor for education |