Mississippi College: A Legacy of Notable Alumni

Mississippi College, a private university affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention, boasts a rich history and a long list of accomplished alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. From politics and sports to arts and sciences, Mississippi College has nurtured talent and prepared individuals for successful careers and impactful lives. The university's motto, "Veritas et Virtus" (Truth and Virtue), reflects its commitment to academic excellence and ethical leadership.

A Historical Overview

Founded on January 24, 1826, Mississippi College has undergone several transformations. Originally chartered as Hampstead Academy, it briefly became Mississippi Academy before officially becoming Mississippi College on December 18, 1830. Notably, in 1831, it became the first coeducational college in the United States to award a degree to a female student.

While initially non-denominational, Mississippi College later affiliated with the Methodist and Presbyterian churches before finding its permanent affiliation with the Mississippi Baptist Convention. The college faced challenges during the Civil War, with classes suspended and buildings deteriorating. However, it steadily recovered in the subsequent decades.

The early 20th century saw significant growth, with the construction of key buildings like the Provine Science Building, Lowrey Hall, and Alumni Hall. Accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1922 marked a significant milestone. The college continued to evolve, acquiring Hillman College in 1942 and participating in the V-12 Navy College Training Program during World War II. Post-war, enrollment surged, leading to further expansion and the establishment of new schools and programs, including the School of Nursing (1969), the School of Law (1975), the School of Business (1975), and the School of Education (1977). In 1992, Mississippi College absorbed Clarke College. From 2002 to 2015, the college's enrollment grew from 3,227 to 5,152. The college added a physician assistant program in 2011, and was the first institution in Mississippi to offer such a degree.

Prominent Alumni Across Disciplines

Mississippi College's alumni network spans diverse fields, with graduates making notable contributions in their respective professions. Here's a glimpse into some of the distinguished individuals who have walked the halls of this institution:

Politics and Public Service

Ross Barnett: Served as the 53rd Governor of Mississippi (1960-1964), a prominent figure during the Civil Rights era.
Phil Bryant: The 64th Governor of Mississippi from 2012 to 2020, previously served as Lieutenant Governor and State Auditor.
Charles Hillman Brough: The 25th Governor of Arkansas from 1917 to 1921.
Albert G. Brown: Governor of Mississippi from 1844 to 1848 and a Democratic United States Senator from Mississippi from 1854 to 1861.
Prentiss Walker: In 1964, he became the first Republican to be elected to the United States House of Representatives from Mississippi during the twentieth century.
James Philip Eagle: Served as Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives and as the 16th governor of Arkansas.
Henry L. Whitfield: Governor of Mississippi from 1924 until he died in 1927.
Gregg Harper: Served as a U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 3rd congressional district from 2009 to 2019.
J. Andrew Gipson: Is the current Mississippi Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner since 2018.
William Harvey Johnson Jr.: Served for Newton County in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1952 to 1964.

Law and Justice

Lenore Prather: First woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice in Mississippi.
Karmel L. Keeton: Since graduating from the Mississippi College School of Law, Karmel L. Keeton has served as managing attorney for the Mitchell Firm in Ridgeland.
C. Joyce Hall: A member of Watkins & Eager in Jackson, practices in the health care, general business, and commercial/public finance areas.

Arts and Culture

Ted DiBiase Jr.: A retired professional wrestler and actor, best known for his tenure in WWE.
Jenna Edwards: An American beauty queen who has held the titles Miss Florida and Miss Florida USA.
Sandra Force: Is a flight attendant and former elementary school teacher who won the Miss Tennessee USA pageant in 1968.
Horace Newcomb: Held the Lambdin Kay Chair for the Peabody Award in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia from 2001 through June 2013.
Dylan McLemore: Is an associate professor of sports media in the School of Media and Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
Sarah Beth Fouts: As senior graphic designer and layout specialist for Crema Design Studio, Morgan White Group, in Ridgeland.

Religion and Ministry

Homer Edwin Young: The former senior pastor of the megachurch Second Baptist Church of Houston, Texas.
Morris Chapman: Was elected president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee on October 1, 1992.
Walter N. “Chip” Stevens: Became the 23rd senior pastor of First Baptist Church Jackson in March 2018.
Robert P. Sellers: Has been a respected theology professor and leader in the interreligious movement.
Ross Carlton Johnson: Worship and communications pastor at First Baptist Church, Madison, Ross Carlton Johnson’s objective is to passionately lead God’s people in worship to the throne of God and effectively serve the Lord through full-time music ministry.

Science and Medicine

Lamar Davis: Serves as an associate professor of pediatric neurology and neuromuscular medicine at UMMC and is the only board-certified practitioner in both child neurology and neuromuscular medicine in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Claire Nettles Gilliam: Serves as a pediatric neurologist and associate professor at Children’s of Mississippi.
Eddie Betcher: Chief of Gynecology/ Assoc. Prof. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport.
Jerome Goddard II: Professor of mathematics at Auburn University Montgomery
David C. Mitchell: An accomplished biotech executive with extensive strategic and operational experience.

Athletics

Lance Barksdale: An American umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Harry Craft: An American Major League Baseball player and manager.
Tom Gulley: A professional baseball right fielder and pinch hitter.
Blaine Crim: Former Choctaw, Blaine Crim, Continues to Impress.

Military

Clifford E. Charlesworth: A NASA Flight Director during the Gemini and Apollo programs, including the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission.
Glenn D. Walker: Was a lieutenant general in the United States Army.

Campus and Facilities

Mississippi College's main campus in Clinton spans over 80 acres and features a blend of historic and modern buildings. Key facilities include:

Provine Chapel: The oldest building on campus, dating back to 1860.
Alumni Hall: Opened in 1926, houses a gymnasium and a pool.
Nelson Hall: Serves as the university's administration building.
Aven Hall: Houses the Jean Pittman Williams Recital Hall and the Aven Little Theater.
A.E. Wood Coliseum: Used for basketball games and university graduations.
Self Hall: Home to the School of Business, which is AACSB-accredited.
Lowrey Hall: Houses the School of Education.
Leland Speed Library: Features a Learning Resources Center with studios for the Department of Communication.
Royce Medical Science Center: A 20,000-square-foot facility opened in 2013.
Baptist Healthplex: Contains a gym and medical offices, also home to the Physician Assistant Program.
Cockroft Hall: Houses the nursing and kinesiology departments.
University Place: Residence halls opened in 2015, accommodating 189 students.
Rhoda Royce Prayer Garden: Dedicated in honor of the wife of retired President Lee Royce.

Academic Programs and Schools

Mississippi College offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs through its various schools and departments:

School of Business: Offers undergraduate business majors and the MBA program.
School of Education: Includes departments of Kinesiology, Psychology and Counseling, and Teacher Education and Leadership, as well as the Dyslexia Center.
School of Humanities and Social Sciences: Encompasses departments of English, Modern Languages, History and Political Science, and Sociology and Social Work.
School of Science and Mathematics: Includes departments of Biological Science, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science and Physics, Mathematics, and Physician Assistant Studies.
School of Nursing: Based at Cockcroft Hall.
School of Law: Located in downtown Jackson.

Athletics

The Mississippi College Choctaws compete in NCAA Division II athletics. The university offers a variety of sports programs, and its teams have achieved success in various competitions. For example, in 2015, the women's soccer team reached the championship game of the National Christian College Athletic Association.

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