RAYMOND – The Spring 2024 honorees of the IDEAList employee recognition program at Ӱ were recognized at the April 2024 Board of Trustees meeting. IDEALists are nominated by anyone at Ӱ. These are the people who represent Ӱ’ values of Integrity, Diversity, Excellence, Accountability, Leadership and Stewardship.
In alphabetical order the honorees are:
Shannon Anderson, of Brandon, Criminal and Sociology Instructor, Raymond Campus. She has been with the college for five years. Before coming to Ӱ, she worked in the Madison County Youth Court as a Youth Court Counselor and a Probation Counselor. She is a graduate of Jackson State University.
Keri Bernsen Cole, of Clinton, Vice President of Planning Effectiveness & Technology, Raymond Campus. She has been with Ӱ for 19 years. Her duties include strategic planning and development for eLearning, institutional effectiveness, accreditation and technology. She has held several roles over the years including Business faculty, Alumni Coordinator, Dean of eLearning and Vice President of Academic Instruction. She is a Ӱ alumna and earned her MBA degree from Mississippi State University and a doctorate in Education from Delta State University.
Betty Kay Collins, of Raymond, Mathematics Instructor and Department Chair, Raymond Campus. She has been with Ӱ for nearly 12 years. Her teaching philosophy is to “provide opportunities to learn and grow.” Before coming to Ӱ, she taught at Tulsa Vo-Tech, then came to Mississippi and taught mathematics at Northwest Rankin High School. A Ӱ alumna, she also attended Mississippi College.
Timothy Crisler, of Raymond, Chair/Advisor and Instructor for Radio & Television Production and Broadcast Technology, Utica Campus. He has been with Ӱ for 8 ½ years. His duties include training students for roles in the media industry. He teaches courses on theories and ethical practices of news gathering, research, reporting and editing. Before coming to Ӱ, he worked as a news producer for WLBT 3 NBC Affiliate, and he was the senior Corporate Communications Specialist at Entergy Nuclear. He received a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Alcorn State University and his master’s in Mass Communication is from Mississippi College.
Jennifer Scott-Gilmore, of Terry, Dean of Advising, Student Engagement and Disability Support Services, Raymond Campus. She has been with Ӱ for 4 ½ years. She works with youth to help them obtain their High School Equivalency certificate and navigate the workforce and academic programs at Ӱ. Before coming to Ӱ, she worked at the Bolivar County Commission Action Agency under the Delta Workforce Investment Act. She was also a GED instructor, transfer-student coordinator and university articulator for Jackson State University.
Talmechia Cable Griffin, of Brandon, Behavioral Science Department, Sociology Instructor, Rankin Campus. She has been with the college for 10 years. She uses teaching techniques that motivate students to achieve their greatest potential. Before she came to Ӱ she worked in the Behavioral Health industry. Soon after, she began working as an adjunct for Ӱ and moved into a permanent position in the Behavioral Sciences Department. She has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Jackson State University in Sociology.
Felicia W. Jones, of Rolling Fork, Advisor and Academic Counselor, Vicksburg-Warren Campus. She has been with Ӱ for nearly 10 years. She worked in the non-profit sector for many years before coming Ӱ. Here she has worked as a Single Stop Coordinator for Vicksburg-Warren and Utica Campuses.
LaSonja Lightfoot, of Jackson, College and Career Coach/Navigator, Jackson Campus. She has been with Ӱ for six years. She is responsible for “working with students to help ensure they have what they need to be successful and gainfully employed.” Before becoming a Navigator she taught in the Smart Start program at Ӱ. She attended Jackson State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and her master’s degree in School and Community Rehabilitation/Counseling.
Martha Ann McPhail, of Raymond, Recruiter, Scholarship Specialist and Ӱ Connection Sponsor, Raymond Campus. She has been with Ӱ for nearly three years. She is responsible for assisting students with financial aid, reconciling state aid funds, reconciling work study funds and placing students in work-study positions. Before coming to Ӱ, she worked at Merchants & Planters Bank and Belhaven University’s financial aid office. A Ӱ alumna, she received a bachelor’s of Social work from Belhaven University.
Tiffany Moore, of Jackson, Academic Advisor-Disability Services Coordinator, Phi Theta Kappa Advisor and Deputy Title IX Coordinator, for Nursing Allied Health Center. She has been with Ӱ for 6 ½ years. Her duties include helping current and new students with registration across six locations to develop degree plans and class selection. Before working at Ӱ, she was a recruiter at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing. Moore received her bachelor’s degree at Belhaven University in Healthcare Administration. She earned a master’s degree in Teaching through Kaplan University, and she is currently working on a doctoral degree in higher education through Delta State University.
Kelly E. Murphy, of Madison, Assistant Athletic Director/Assistant Football Coach, Raymond Campus. He has been with the college for 15 years. Before coming to Ӱ he worked at Ackerman High School and Wayne County High School. A Ӱ alumnus, he also attended the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State University.
Jonathan David Rose, of Flowood, Network Support Technology Instructor, Rankin Campus. He has been with Ӱ for 20 years. A Ӱ alumnus, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Delta State University and a master’s degree at Mississippi College in Business Administration.