Practitioners of Distinction

Practitioners of Distinction

The School of Education Practitioners of Distinction Award recognizes individuals who imagine, innovate, and inspire the fields of P-12 teaching, higher education, educational leadership, counseling, and more through professional practice. Honorees are typically currently-serving practitioners at all educational career levels.

Meet our 2024 Practitioners of Distinction Inductees

Carlos Clark

Carlos Clark

Why did you choose to attend the University of Mississippi?

See Carlos’s Answer
Michael Fleming

Michael Fleming

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishments (both personally and professionally)?

See Michael’s Answer
LaSheba Hilliard

LaSheba Hilliard

Tell us about the mentors and role models who inspired you throughout your career:

See LaSheba’s Answer
Cindy Risher

Cindy Risher

How did you become interested in your field?

See Cindy’s Answer

Help us recognize our alumni!

Each year, the School of Education Board of Advisors accepts nominations for the Practitioners of Distinction 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 contact our Development Office at soedev@olemiss.edu. We're happy to help!

Practitioners of Distinction Nomination Form

Fill out my online form.

Past Inductees

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

2023 Practitioners of Distinction Inductees
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Dr. Angela Ellison
B.A.Ed. 1998

20+ year educator and current Head of School and Junior High/ High School Principal at Oak Forest Academy

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Dr. Ishmael Miller
M.A. 2015

Project Manager / Analyst of Racial Equity Initiatives at Highline Public Schools & incoming Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow of Educational Leadership at Arizona State University

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Dr. Donna Sheperis
B.B.A. 1986 (Marketing); Ph.D. 2005

Professor of Counseling at Palo Alto University; Board Certified Counselor and TeleMental Health Provider with 30+ years’ experience in clinical mental health counseling

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Mrs. Catherine Tibbs
B.A.Ed. 1992

Career educator at middle school, high school, and university levels and current director of the Hancock Performing Arts Center; former director of Live Oak Writing Project, University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Coast

2021 Practitioners of Distinction Inductees
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Mary Jane Jackson
B.A.Ed. 1980, M.Ed. 1982

35-year social studies and geography educator

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Dr. R. Brit Katz
Ph.D. 1997

Student affairs administrator; retired Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Life, Millsaps College

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Tiffani Pollard
B.A.Ed. 2001, M.Ed. 2004

English and journalism teacher at West Harrison High School

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Dr. Patrick Washington
M.Ed. 1999, Ed.D. 2015

Founding Principal, Promise Academic Academy Spring Hill; Founder and CEO of Man Up Teacher Fellowship

2020 Practitioners of Distinction Inductees
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Chris Chism
M.Ed. 2011
Pearl, MS

Principal Corps alumnus, Principal of Pearl High School, and 2018 Mississippi State
Administrator of the Year

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Dr. Johnny Mattox
B.A.Ed. 1973, M.C.S. 1974, Ph.D. 1979
Corinth, MS

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Professor of Biology at Blue Mountain College.

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Dr. Kelle Sumrall
B.A.Ed. 2002, M.Ed. 2004, Ed.D. 2010
Oxford, MS

Science teacher at Lafayette Middle School, Robert E. Yager Excellence in Teaching Award recipient by the National Science Teachers Association, and 2020 Mississippi Boys Bowling Coach of the Year.

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Joanne Webber
B.A.Ed. 1996, M.Ed. 1997
Collierville, TN

Physical education teacher at West Collierville Middle School, cross country coach, and certified Apple Teacher and Vanguard Coach.

2019 Practitioners of Distinction Inductees

Jamil Northcutt
B.S. 03, M.A. 04, Ph.D. 13
West Orange, NJ

Vice President of Player Engagement, Major League Soccer

Adam Pugh
Ph.D. 09
Oxford, MS

Superintendent of Lafayette County School District

Wanda Quon
B.A.Ed. 74
Jackson, MS

Principal, Pecan Park Elementary School

Angela Victory
B.A.Ed. 00, M.Ed. 02
New Albany, MS

Teacher, New Albany Elementary School

2018 Practitioners of Distinction Inductees

Kevin Allemand
B.A.Ed. 05
Perkinston, MS

Social studies, government, and politics teacher at Hancock High School

LaTonya Robinson
B.A.Ed. 98, M.Ed. 99, Ed.D. student
Batesville, MS

Principal, Greenhill Elementary, North Panola School District

Whitman Smith
B.A.Ed. 89, M.Ed. 94
Oxford, MS

Director of Admissions, University of Mississippi

Patrick Wilcher
B.A.Ed. 03, M.Ed. 04
Guilford, MS

Mathematics Instructor, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

2017 Practitioners of Distinction Inductees

Shelley Clifford
B.A.Ed. 03, M.Ed. 04
Atlanta, GA

Head of Lower School, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School

Jessica Ivy
B.A.Ed. 06, M.Ed. 08, Ph.D. 11
Starkville, MS

Assistant Professor of Secondary Education, Mississippi State University

Jay Levy
B.A.Ed. 11
Canton, MS

English Teacher, Northwest Rankin High School

Wanikka Vance
B.A.Ed. 03
Park Forest, IL

Founder, Foundations 4 adVANCEment