Samuel Todd Brand Ph.D

Qualifications Summary

Accomplished, inclusive, and team-oriented leader with demonstrated record of directing all phases of educational programming and managing operations at the community college. Excellent team builder with proven successes in multiple arenas in the use of both the communication skills and the knowledge necessary to build dynamic teams. 

Focused on institutional improvement, effectiveness, and culture, and possessing the skills necessary to build support both inside and outside the institution. Organizational leadership and expertise that strengthen the ability to strategically plan on both a macro and micro level to produce results that move the needle forward. 

Core Competencies

Professional Experience: Full-Time

BIG SANDY COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE - Prestonsburg, Kentucky 2024 - Present
Interim President/CEO 

Responsible for the overall administration of the college and its four campuses, including an annual budget of over $19 million. Responsible for the development, management, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the various areas of the college, including but not limited to executive management, instructional services, general administrative services, community relations, student services and programs, and fundraising. Acts as the official spokesperson for the college. Responsible for the enforcement of Kentucky Community & Technical College System policies and procedures, aligning strategic plan goals with those of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System,, the Kentucky Council for Postsecondary Education, and the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet. Accountable for integrating the college into regional economic/workforce development initiatives. Member of the leadership team of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System President. 

Key Contributions:

• Led efforts to implement Covey's 4DX system to create a culture of continuous quality improvement throughout the institution. Set WI Gs for the institution relating to credentials awarded and enrollment.
• Led efforts to implement plan created while at ACTC regarding the Kentucky Graduate Profile Academy. Plan involves ensuring that the 10 Kentucky Essential Skills are implemented through curricular, co-curricular, and extra­curricular activities to produce proficiency in graduates. For each demonstrated skill, the student receives a micro­credential in the form of a digital badge, and an alternative transcript.
• Led efforts to create a Work Ready Certificate for students who demonstrate proficiency for all 10 of the Kentucky Essential Skills. The certificate will be awarded at graduation and includes a cord.
• Led college in the development of revised mission and vision statements of strategic plan to align with KCTCS, CPE, and other economic development agencies associated with the college.
• Enhanced operations and captured cost savings by right-sizing staff and reorganizing administration, including moving institutional advancement and fundraising to report directly to the President of the college.
• Led efforts to create a new onboarding process for all new employees at the college.
• Led efforts to create shared program in Surgical Technology with Ashland Community & Technical College.
• Initiated new certificate program in EKG on two campuses in the Health Sciences Division.
• Led efforts to create a partnership with the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
• Led efforts to create a high school dual credit LPN program with Pikeville High School.
• Initiated and led efforts to create a cutting-edge customized food truck training program in Workforce Solutions.
• Initiated efforts to revamp college website to streamline functionality and ensure timely and correct updates.
• Serves on KCTCS Organizational Success Action Team. The team meets regularly to review and make recommendations on the revision of KCTCS policies.
• Serves on the KCTCS President's D.C. team. The team consisting of the KCTCS President, and 3 college presidents works on national matters with Kentucky's Congressional staff as well as other national agencies and leaders.
• Led efforts in the implementation of the college's $1.8 million grant captured from the U.S. Dept. of Education under the Rural Postsecondary & Economic Development Program. The grant will be used to create a Career Services Division to connect students with jobs and to help facilitate the college's transition to Pathways.

ASHLAND COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE - Ashland, Kentucky 2019 - 2024
Chief Academic Officer 

Reporting to the college president, responsible for the day-to-day operations of all facets of all academic programs on three campuses. Providing leadership in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the instructional units of the college. Areas supervised include general education, healthcare education, technical education, career services, library services, e-learning, dual credit, and college's current QEP. Responsible for budget management for all areas supervised. Serving as Dean of the Faculty. Member of the President's cabinet, collaborating in the college's strategic planning efforts. Serving as representative for the college to the KCTCS Academic Council. Per KCTCS policy serving as President of the college in the President's absence. 

Key Contributions:

• Led efforts to create a culture of continuous quality improvement throughout the institution. As a result, ACTC was named an Aspen Top 150 College for 2024.
• Led effo1ts with implementation of Covey's 4DX that resulted in a 5% increase in fall-to-fall retention rate at the college, a 15% increase in the graduation rate at the college, and a 6% increase in enrollment at the college. As a result, ACTC now has one of the highest graduation rates (59%)amongst the sixteen colleges that comprise KCTCS.
• The implementation of Covey's 4 DX system campus wide produced the largest increase of any college in the system in the number of credentials awarded for the 2020-2021 year.
• In a partnership with the college's !PRE division, created a system to merge the 4DX system with the reporting of end of program outcomes for the purposes of conveying those aspects of institutional effectiveness to SACS.
• Currently serve as on-boarder for all new faculty and staff with Covey's 4DX system.
• Led focus groups to gauge faculty /staff input for 2023-2028 strategic plan using a context-mapping model.
• Led efforts in renovation of welding lab, which resulted in ACTC's lab being the largest in the Commonwealth.
• Restructured faculty and schedule of welding, which resulted in welding being offered from 6:00 AM. - 2:00 A.M.
• Currently leading a team participating in a statewide initiative sponsored by the Kentucky Council for Postsecondary Education, the Kentucky Graduate Profile Academy. It attempts to incorporate 10 workplace skills across the curriculum. ACTC was one of four KCTCS colleges selected to participate.
• Captured $25,000 grant from Kentucky CPE for Kentucky Graduate Profile Academy group.
• Captured $1.3 million Kentucky AMLER grant to build an integrated health sciences simulation lab.
• In collaboration with the Dean of !PRE, was co-author of college's current policy of faculty load/overload. KCTCS CFO requested that the policy be used as a model for the system.
• Led effmts to develop and implement a new hybrid LPN to RN bridge program and reduced time to completion.
• Expanded the cosmetology program. ACTC is now the state leader in credential production in cosmetology.
• Led all efforts to best align academic programs to those offered through Workforce Solutions area to meet the needs of industry sector partners. Examples are COL, Nurse Aid, and Lineman programs.
• Served as systemwide liaison for general education for the KCTCS system as the college was involved in a $1,000,000 system planning grant to explore moving the KCTCS colleges to a system of competency-based education.
• Led effmts to purchase and install state of the art 30 printer in CADD area with monies from $250,000 grant captured from the United States Department of Agriculture.
• Developed short term program in marine deckhand with Workforce Solutions area of the college, including overseeing building of deck pad and developing curriculum.
• Leading current renovation of college theater. Phase one completed, which involved replacing all rigging, line sets, battens, and some tracks. Phase two will include replacing all audio components and speakers. Phase three will include replacing lighting, boards, and dimmer system.
• Reorganized and restructured the academic area to improve efficiency, balance workload among administration, and improve supervisor /subordinate communication.
• Implemented a short-term program in EKG technology in the college's Workforce Solutions area.
• Implemented a Medical Assisting program at the college.
• Led efforts to develop and implement a radiologic technology program at the college. This included building and equipping a lab and writing a KCTCS TRAINS grant to fund the project.
• Expanded dual credit in the area of technical education, as the Commonwealth expanded dual credit to include Area Technology Centers among the entities that dual credit may be offered in. Welding, electrical technology, advanced integrated technology, air conditioning, and industrial maintenance are all included.
• Introduced the college to and implemented a comprehensive college wide system of program review. This includes three-year performance reviews for all programs, both academic and non-academic.
• Performed system-wide study of post baccalaureate reverse transfer students in the commonwealth. As a result of the study and its recommendations, many colleges in KCTCS are beginning to develop revamped alumni programs.
• Served the college in the community by consulting with outside entities to provide strategic planning assistance for the Paramount Arts Center in 2021, and for Ashland in Motion in 2022.

MERIDIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE -Meridian, Mississippi 2014-2019
Arts & Letters Series Director 

Responsible for the college's Arts and Letters Series. Reported directly to the president of the college in this capacity from 2014-2014. The series consists of a series of cultural offerings to the public. Responsible for budgeting, selection of all events and shows, organizing the marketing campaign, ticket sales, and serving as spokesperson with the media.

Key Contribution:

• Led efforts in total renovation of McCain Theatre, a 550-seat house on campus. This included replacing all lighting, sound, and other equipment, paint, carpet, furniture, and staining of the stage. Total price tag of the project just under $450,000. Phased project over a three-year period.
• Moved the Arts & Letters Series from the red into the black by replacing shows contracted by outside vendors/entities/companies with shows produced in house. This overlapped with position as Academic Chair.
• Led efforts to modernize sales and marketing for the series. This included building a box office and creating a computerized ticketing system.
• Served as a liaison between the college and the school districts in the college's service area. Producing more shows in house created more opportunities for students to be on stage, thus bringing students to campus more often. High school show was created first, then children's shows followed. This created a pathway for children that kept them in a relationship with the college throughout the entirety of their K-12 experience.
• Produced more shows per year than any community college and most 4-year universities in the southeastern U.S. The series produced one straight play, three full length Broadway musicals, one children's show, and a summer dinner theater fundraiser each year.
• Managed a $500,000 endowment housed in the MCC Foundation earmarked for the arts at the college.
• Served as the face of the series and one of the primary faces of the college. Made dozens of media appearances and gave multiple interviews to both print and electronic media.

MERIDIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Meridian, Mississippi 2006 - 2019
Division Chair: Fine Arts/Communication 

Reporting to the chief academic officer of the college, responsible for the day-to-day operations of academic division consisting of four departments: art, music, theatre, and speech. Responsible for formulation and management of budget totaling approximately $1 million. Scheduling of classes and assigning workloads to 12 full time faculty /staff members as well as a variety of adjunct instructors. Responsible for hiring and mentoring of new faculty. Responsible for evaluation of faculty /staff for rehire. Conducting division meetings with faculty /staff. Writing summary end of semester and year reports for the chief academic officer. Establishing and tracking benchmarks for the division, including student learning outcomes. Producer of all plays and Broadway style musicals produced by the division's theater department. Strength and conditioning coach for the men's basketball team (2008 -2014 ). Facilities managed include McCain Theater, Ronald Miller Art Gallery, two fully equipped workshops, chorus room, and band hall. 

Key Contributions:

• Chaired committee that created Lauderdale County School District/Meridian Community College play partnership. This involved four area high schools having common auditions for a county "all-star" musical held at the college. College faculty directed, and dual credit was offered to juniors and seniors who participated. This partnership is currently in its 13th year. 
• Implemented new theater pathway for high school students at the college. This included tracks in acting, directing, and technical theater.
• Increased FTEs at the college by creating a system of students serving on crews at various theater houses in the area. Students received two hours of credit in drama production. In the 2015 school year, the class produced $100,000 in FTE revenue, a record for the institution.
• Fine Arts/Communication area was consistently the number one division in terms of FTE's produced for the college.
• Rewrote the curriculum for Developmental Speech course. Model was adopted by all colleges in Mississippi and course description and SLO's became part of the state Uniform Course Numbering System.
• Created partnership between School of Nursing and speech department to shore up weakness in nursing's rigor of teaching research. This resulted in the speech department becoming a part of the next two ACEN reports. This created an exceptional synergy that exists to this day.
• Served as coordinator for summer camps funded by grants from Gear Up Mississippi. This involved the hiring of faculty and staff, forming committees to select participants, writing curriculum, managing budget, coordinating with marketing team, and reporting for the grant. Two separate camps were held.
• Wrote the section of the Meridian Community College 10-year report to SACS regarding SACS Standard 3.5.1 General Education Outcomes.
• Trained all faculty in the division to write student learning outcomes as the college made its shift from the teaching to learning paradigm.
• Member of college committee that wrote the five-year strategic plan for 2014-2019.

MERIDIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Meridian, Mississippi 2002 - 2006
Instructor/Lead Speech Faculty: Fine Arts/Communication Division 

Reporting to the division chair for fine arts/communication, responsible for teaching courses in the division. Courses taught included public speaking and basic speaking. Responsible for revision of curriculum for developmental speech courses. Responsible for teaching all sections of developmental speech courses. Coordinator for speech department. Lead online instructor for speech. Member of the college's curriculum committee. Teaching macroeconomics and microeconomics online. 

Key Contributions:

• Led the college as the first instructor to offer dual credit courses, teaching the first dual credit course at Meridian Community College in 2005.
• Led the division in the selection of a new textbook. Invited text authors to speak at annual communication meeting at the college to allow faculty to make fully informed choices.
• Coordinated the annual meeting of the Mississippi Communication Association on the MCC campus in 2006.
• Authored mini text on textbook conversion for speech faculty at the college. Speech faculty had been using one particular text for over a decade. The text allayed fears by faculty, and the text was subsequently purchased by the text company.

EAST CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Decatur, Mississippi 2000 - 2002
Instructor /Coach

Reporting to the division chair for communication, responsible for teaching courses in the division. Public speaking was primary course taught. Served as assistant men's basketball coach during the 2000-2001 school year. Only served one year as head coach left the school in 2001. Member of various college committees. 

Key Contributions:

• Served on general education committee for SACS ten-year report as the college had its site visit during the 2000-2001 school year.
• Developed curriculum used by the chief academic officer for an Intro to College class. The curriculum involved creating a matrix of different presenters who represented a cross section of college personnel, both faculty and staff.
• Scheduled speakers for students as part of the college's speaker's series.
• Coordinated boys' and girls' middle school and high school basketball camps during the summer of 2001 for the college.

BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL - Brandon, Mississippi 1998-2000
Teacher/Coach 

Responsible for teaching courses in U.S. History, American Government, and Economics. Serving as assistant boys' high school basketball coach, head ninth grade boys basketball coach, and head tennis coach. 

Key Contributions:

• Successfully raised test scores in the area of U.S. History. Scores were highest in Rankin County School District.
• Coached tennis team that saw male player win state single's championship.
• Coached boys' varsity basketball team to its first top 10 ranking in 20 years.

TRI-COUNTY ACADEMY - Flora, Mississippi 1997-1998 
Teacher /Coach 

Responsible for teaching courses in U.S. History, American Government, and Economics. Serving as head coach for the boys and girls basketball teams, head coach for the junior high boys and girls basketball teams, and head girls softball coach. 

Key Contributions:

• Led basketball programs as youngest head coach in the state of Mississippi at 23 years old.
• Coached boys' basketball team that was top 5 in the state and made state playoffs.
• Coached girls' basketball team that made state playoffs.
• Coached girls' softball team that made state playoffs.

Professional Experience: Part-Time

RUSSELL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT- Russell, Kentucky 2022 - Present
Athletics Staff 
Middle School Head Basketball Coach, 6th Grade Boys

MYTOWN TV - Ashland, Kentucky 2022 - Present
On Air Talent 
Play by play voice for the Russell High School Football Team

THREE RIVERS COLLEGE - Poplar Bluff, Missouri 2012 - 2017
Adjunct Online Instructor 
Reporting to the division chair for social science. Teaching Microeconomics online.

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY - Meridian, Mississippi 2008 - 2009
Adjunct Instructor /Lecturer 
Reporting to the Dean of Arts & Sciences, teaching Introduction to Communication Theory.

FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE - Jacksonville, Florida 2006 - 2007
Adjunct Online Instructor 
Reporting to the e-learning director, teaching Business Communication and Public Speaking online.

DELGADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE - New Orleans, Louisiana 2006 - 2007
Adjunct Online Instructor 
Reporting to the Dean of Business, teaching Macroeconomics and Microeconomics online. 

MISSISSIPPI SAFETY SERVICES - Clinton Mississippi 2004 - 2009
Nationally Certified Defensive Driving Instructor 
Responsible for teaching Defensive Driving Course offered in conjunction with the National Safety Council.

ESPN RADIO 930 AM - Jackson, Mississippi 2001-2002
On Air Talent 
Provided talent as color commentator for Jackson Academy Raider football and basketball teams. Partner on air was station manager Bryan Eubank. 

HEARST ARGYLE TELEVISION 16 WAPT - Jackson, Mississippi 1997 - 1998
Chyron Operator/Fill- In Sports Anchor 
Created graphics for morning news show. Filled in as sports anchor when weekend anchor was on vacation.

Education

Mississippi State University 
Doctor of Philosophy Degree 
Major: Community College Leadership 
Minor: Economics 

Mississippi College 
Master of Science in Communication Degree 
Convocation Paper: Religion and the Internet 

Mississippi College 
Bachelor of Science Degree 
Major: Communication/History 
Minor: Business Administration 

Professional Affiliations

Board of Directors: Russell/Flatwoods Little League (2022 - Present) • Marv Meredith Basketball Board/Russell School District (2021- Present)· President: West Lauderdale Basketball Booster Club Board (2014 - 2016) • Meridian Symphony Orchestra (2006 - 2009) • Board of Deacons: Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church (2010 - 2017) • President: Mississippi Communication Association (2006 - 2007) • Vice President: Mississippi Communication Association  (2005 - 2006) • Board of Deacons: First Baptist Church of Meridian (2006 - 2009) 

Member and Chair: Kentucky Council for Postsecondary Education Kentucky Graduate Profile Academy (2022) • Kentucky Community & Technical College System ALIGN Liaison for General Education (2020 - 2021) • Kentucky Community & Technical College System Chancellor's Digital Literacy Workgroup (2021) • Lauderdale County School District/Meridian Community College Performing Arts Committee (2009-2019) • Lauderdale County NAACP Higher Education Committee (2004-2005)

Member: Kentucky Community & Technical College System President's Council (2024) • Kentucky Community & Technical College System Academic Council (2019 - Present) • National Safety Council (2004 - 2009) • Mississippi Association of Coaches (1998 - 2002) • Meridian Community College Foundation (2004 - 2019) • Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges Faculty and Staff Association (2007 - 2019) • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges 5th 

Year Report Review Committee (2021-2022) 

Affiliated Member: Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (2024) • One East Kentucky (2024) • Ashland In Motion (2022) • Appalachian Regional Commission (2019 - Present) Ashland Alliance (2019 - Present) • Paramount Arts Center (2021 -2022) • Shaping Our Appalachian Region Kentucky (2020 - Present)· American Association of Community Colleges (2019- Present) • Phi Theta Kappa (2003 - Present) • Presidential Representative: Mississippi Community College System/Louisiana Community & Technical College System Summit (2016) • Mississippi Economic Council (2006 - 2019) • East Mississippi Business Development Corporation (2006 - 2019) • NISOD (2004 - 2019)

Selected Publications & Presentations

Presenter: Incentivizing Work Readiness atACTC: A Scaffolded Approach to Student Achievement, Pedagogicon, 2023 • Keynote Speaker: The Art and Science of Play, Kentucky Region PTK Conference, 2022 • Presenter: A Study of KCTCS Postbaccalaureate Reverse Transfer Students, Kentucky Community & Technical College System Chief Academic Officer /Chief Student Affairs Officer Retreat, 2021 • Presenter: Bringing A Little of MC To MCC, Mississippi College Department of Communication Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Presentation, 2016 • Presenter: Engaging Students in the College Classroom Through the Use of Hollywood Film Clips, Meridian Community College Convocation, 2010 • Presenter: Selling Salvation on the Internet: Organized Religion and the Mass Media, Meridian Community College Humanities Professor of the Year Presentation, 2009 • Presenter: The Seven Deadly Sins, Meridian Community College Foundation's Great Books Lecture Series, 2008 • Keynote Speaker: The Paradox of Affluence, Phi Theta Kappa Regional Convention, 2008 • Published text: Teaching Public Speaking Online, Cengage Publishing Company, 2008 • Published question bank for public speaking text, Thomson Publishing Company, 2006 • Published test question bank for public speaking text, Thomson Publishing Company, 2005 • Keynote Speaker: Persuasion: Pedagogy and Implications for the Defensive Driving Course, Mississippi Safety Services CONFAB Conference, 2004 • Presenter: Assessment: Strategies and Objectives, Mississippi Communication Association Annual Meeting, 2006 • Presenter: Use the Force, Luke: The Use of Semiotics in Story Development in Film, Mississippi Communication Association Annual Meeting, 2005 • Keynote Presenter: Four Frames of Viewing an Organization by Bolman and Deal, Meridian Community College Convocation, 2005 • Presenter: Scene from the play The Sunshine Boys, Mississippi Communication Association Annual Meeting, 2004 • Presenter: A Region in Crisis: The Role of Developmental Speech in the Speech Curriculum, Mississippi Communication Association Annual Meeting, 2003

Selected Theatrical Productions

The Color Purple: Director/Producer, 2019 • Peter Pan: Director/Producer: Lauderdale County School District Production, 2019 • Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol: Director/Producer, 2018 • Disney's Aladdin, Jr: Director /Producer, 2018 • The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On: Director/Producer, 2018 • Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella: Enchanted Edition: Director/Producer, 2018 • The Wizard of Oz: Director/Producer: Lauderdale County School District Production, 2018 • The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Director /Producer, 2017 • Decision Height: Producer, 2017 • The Marvelous Wonderettes: Director/Producer, 2017 • Disney's The Little Mermaid: Director/Producer, 2017 • Kiss Me, Kate: Director/Producer: Lauderdale County School District Production, 2017 • 12 Angry Men: Director/Producer, 2016 Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida: Director /Producer: Partnership with Meridian High School, 2016 • Disney's Mary Poppins: Director/Producer, 2016 • Carnival!: Producer: Lauderdale County School District Production, 2016 • A Time to Kill: Producer/ Assistant Director, 2015 • Into the Woods: Producer, 2015 • Disney's My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto's Musical Tale: Director, 2015 • Disney's Beauty and the Beast: Director: Lauderdale County School District Production, 2015 • The King And I: Producer, 2014 • Disney's Tarzan: Director/Producer, 2014 • All Shook Up: Producer: Lauderdale County School District Production, 2014 • Jekyll and Hyde: Producer, 2013 • Peter Pan: Director/Producer, 2013 • Guys and Dolls: Producer: Lauderdale County School District Production, 2012 • Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Director/Producer, 2012 • A Few Good Men: Producer, 2012 • Disney's Beauty and The Beast: Director/Producer, 2012 • Disco Inferno: Producer: Lauderdale County School District Production, 2012· Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol: Director /Producer, 2011 • Phantom of the Opera: Producer, 2 011 • Disney's My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto 's Musical Tale: Director/Producer, 2011 • Back to the B0's: Producer: Lauderdale County School District Production, 2011 • Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol: Director/Producer, 2010 • Cinderella, Enchanted Edition: Producer, 2010 • Elton john and Tim Rice's Aida: Producer: Lauderdale County School District Production, 2010 • The Wizard of Oz: Producer, 2009 • The Wiz: Producer: Lauderdale County School District Production, 2009 • Bamboozled: Producer, 2009 • Carnival!: Producer, 2008 • 12 Angry Men: Producer, 2008 • Man of La Mancha: Producer, 2007 • Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Producer, 2007 • Steel Magnolias: Producer, 2006

Honors and Awards

Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished College Administrator Award, 2024 • AACC Future Presidents Institute, Participation required nomination by Ashland Community & Technical College President Dr. Larry Ferguson, 2021 • Best Featured Actor in a Musical Award, Awarded by the Paramount Arts Center for the role of Cinderella's Prince in Into the Woods, 2021 • Mississippi College Department of Communication Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, Annual award given by the university and requiring nomination by the division chair, 2016 • Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education Distinguished Arts Service Award, Statewide award sponsored by the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education, 2015 • Holliday Professional Development Grant, Competitive annual grant award presented by the Meridian Community College Foundation to faculty/ staff for professional development activities, 2014· Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy, Participation required nomination by Meridian Community College President Dr. Scott Elliott, 2011 • Humanities Professor of the Year, Annual award given to an instructor who has made outstanding contributions in the area of the humanities. The award is sponsored by the Mississippi Humanities Council, 2010 • T.J. Harris Award, Annual award at Meridian Community College for outstanding community involvement requiring nomination by the faculty senate of the college, 2009 • Mid-South Partnership for Rural Community College's Dissertation Grant, Grant award for doctoral research. Dissertation entitled "Socioeconomic factors affecting the enrollment of Postbaccalaureate reverse transfer students at Meridian Community College, 2005 ·Educational Policy Fellowship Program, Program is sponsored by the Institute for Educational Leadership and required nomination from Meridian Community College President Dr. Scott Elliott, 2004 • Montgomery Institute EPFP Scholarship, Scholarship the Educational Policy Fellowship Program, 2004 • Meridian Community College's MCC'er of the Month Award, November, 2004 • Red Rose Scholarship, Awarded to Outstanding Doctoral Student in Higher Education at Mississippi State University • Mid-South Community College Fellowship Program, Program sponsored by the Mid-South Partnership for Rural Community Colleges and required nomination from East Central Community College President Dr. Phil Sutphin, 2002