ITTA BENA, Miss.—A recent distinction has provided one Mississippi Valley State University faculty member with the opportunity the participate in a unique international learning exchange.

MVSU’s Dr. Cassandra Hawkins, assistant professor in the Rural Public Policy and Planning, was recently nominated and selected as a member of the 2019-2020 Class of Whisenton Public Scholars.

ITTA BENA, Miss.— A Mississippi Valley State University faculty member is pulling back the cover on issues related to her homeland of Jamaica in a new project.

MVSU’s Dr. Sherill Morris-Francis is behind a new book series entitled, "Crime and Violence in the Caribbean: Lessons from Jamaica."

A Mississippi Valley State University executive cabinet member was recently spotlighted by a leading national higher education association.

ITTA BENA, Miss.—When Miracle Johnson made her way to Itta Bena from Chicago to major in biology, she thought for certain that she would one day pursue a career in medicine.

However, while finishing up her studies at MVSU, Johnson realized that she was more comfortable in a white coat than scrubs. That realization, coupled with her love for research, has helped her to launch her career at Kashiv Biosciences as a manufacturing assistant.

ITTA BENA, Miss.—Mississippi Valley State University is on track to re-open two completely renovated residence halls—just in time for the Fall 2019 semester.

With major construction scheduled to wrap up soon, MVSU’s Edna Horton and College Hall I Residence Halls are on track to be completed this fall. Edna Horton is expected to be open by Aug. 2019, while College Hall I will be open for occupancy shortly after.

ITTA BENA, Miss.—Mississippi Valley State University senior Janice Citchens of Tutwiler, Miss. has been utilizing the summer to learn all she can about post-baccalaureate studies through the Ronald E. McNair Program at the University of Mississippi.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the McNair Scholars Program is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities.

ITTA BENA, Miss.—In middle school, Devanon Fitzgerald saw a future for himself as a football player. That all changed when he attended Trezevant High School in Memphis, where he met teacher and band director Dr. Kerry Simon.

Simon opened his eyes to the world of music and band, and the rest is history.

ITTA BENA, Miss.— While many middle and high school students have been spending their summer relaxing, 61 local students opted to keep their minds stimulated during Coding Camps hosted at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU).

The two camps were a project between MVSU’s Mathematics, Computer and Information Science (MCIS) Department and Mississippi State University’s Center for Cyber Education, and supported by the National Science Foundation.

ITTA BENA, Miss.—Philemon King, a rising junior at Mississippi Valley State University, is spending his summer changing the narrative about educational opportunities in the South after landing a competitive fellowship with the Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI).  

SELI is an intensive, eight-week, paid summer fellowship for emerging leaders interested in advancing racial equity and improving education across the pre-k through college continuum. 

ITTA BENA, Miss.— New Mississippi Valley State University alumnus Jordan Freeman will be transitioning onto the next level of his educational and career journey this fall at the University of Mississippi in Oxford.