Leadership Mississippi Heads to Starkville on August 22-23 for Session on Education
Leadership Mississippi is heading to Starkville on August 22-23 for their Session focusing on Education. At this session, the class will be discussing topics ranging from early education to higher ed and its effect on Mississippi. The session will kick off on Thursday, August 22 at the Hilton Garden Inn with a discussion led by Dr. Sam Jones, Dean of Students at Jones County Junior College. The class will then hear presentations by their peers on Perceptions vs. Realities of their local communities. After a lunchtime session with Joe Max Higgins, President & CEO of The Golden Triangle Development Link, the class will embark on an exciting tour of Mississippi State’s campus and the Thad Cochran-Research, Technology & Economic Development Park. That evening, the current class will be joined by local Leadership Mississippi alumni at the A.B. McKay Enology Lab for an alumni reception sponsored by Atmos Energy.
On Friday, the current Leadership Mississippi class will have a packed morning beginning with breakfast at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Seminar Room in the Thad Cochran-Research, Technology & Economic Development Park. After a greeting from Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum, the class will recieve an Update from the Capitol from Sen. Gray Tollison, Chair of the Senate Education Committee and Rep. John Moore, Chair of the House Education Committtee.
Afterward, the class will participate in a riveting panel session entitled, “Education Reform and Where it’s Headed,” moderated by Dr. Richard Blackbourn, Dean of Education at Mississippi State University. Panelists include Dr. Gail Lindsey, Interim Director, Mississippi State University-The Early Childhood Institute; Suzette Matthews, Director of Development, Teach for America; Pete Smith, Director of Communications, Mississippi Department of Education; and Rhea Williams-Bishop, Director, The Center for Education Innovation.
The class will then hear from a second panel on “Connecting Workforce to Education in Mississippi,” also moderated by Dr. Richard Blackbourn. Participants in this panel consist of Dr. Lewis Holloway, Superintendent, Starkville School District; Jean Massey, Associate Superintentent, Vocational Education, Mississippi Department of Education; Dr. Albert Rankins, Acting President, Mississippi Valley State University, Associate Commissioner for Academic and Student Affairs, IHL; William “Skip” Scaggs, Division Director, Existing Industry and Business, Mississippi Development Authority, 2007 Graduate of Leadership Mississippi; and Dr. Rick Young, President, East Mississippi Community College.
The session will conclude with a luncheon in the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Seminar room at the Thad Cochran-Research, Technology & Economic Development Park.
Leadership Mississippi would like to thank our sponsors for the Starkville session: Atmos Energy, Mississippi State College of Business, Mississippi State Research and Technology Corporation and Mississippi State University Office of Institutional Diversity & Inclusion.
For a printable agenda, Click Here.