Asa part of Delta State Homecoming events, the College of Education held an awards luncheon to recognize five outstanding education alumni. They are: (seated from left), Sen. Robert M. Dearing from Natchez, Kimberly Kilpatrick from Memphis, Tenn., Dr. Robin Wilbourn Lee from Murfreesboro, Tenn., (standing from left) Dr. Dorothy Lynn Prestwich from Clarksdale, and Dr. Jacquelyn C. Thigpen from Cleveland.
Sen. Dearing received the BSE degree from Delta State in 1957, with a major in physical education and a minor in English. While at Delta State, he was elected president of his freshman and sophomore classes and vice president of the Student Government Association. He was a member of the football and baseball teams, the M Club, and served as a student assistant coach. Dearing earned a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Dearing was elected a state senator in 1979, and is currently in his eighth term.
Dearing’s service to Delta State includes presiding over both the Alumni and Athletic Alumni Associations. In 1997, he was selected as Delta State’s Outstanding Alumnus.
Kimberly Kilpatrick received a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Delta State. She was the recipient of the Mary Stancil Harvey Professionalism Scholarship; held various offices in Kappa Delta Sorority; was selected for Who’s Who Among American Universities and Colleges. She earned a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Alabama.
A registered and licensed dietitian, Kilpatrick currently serves as the clinical nutrition manager for Baptist Memorial Hospital East in Memphis, Tennessee. She has distinguished herself professionally through research related to nutrition, the development and delivery of nutrition and diabetes patient support programs; and the coordination of dietetic internships.
Kilpatrick served as chair of the Memphis Area Nutrition Council Fundraising Committee in 2007-2008; currently serves as treasurer of the Memphis District Dietetic Association; is a member of the American Dietetic Association; in 2009, she was elected to the Morrison Management Specialists Registered Dietitians Hall of Fame.
Robin Wilbourn Lee received the Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Delta State in 1990, followed by the Master of Education degree in Community Counseling in 1992. She was a member of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International; Phi Mu Fraternity; Phi Delta Kappa Professional Education Fraternity; and Omicron Delta Kappa. Wilbourn earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Mississippi State University.
Wilbourn is an associate professor of the Professional Counseling Program at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., where she is also a licensed professional counselor. She was named Counselor Educator of the Year by the Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselors’ Association from 2007 – 2009 and, in 2008, receiving the President’s Outstanding Service Award from the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.
Dr. Dorothy Lynn Prestwich earned the Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees in Special Education from Delta State. She was a Dean’s and President’s List Scholar, Secretary of the Student Council for Exceptional Children, and a graduate assistant. She earned advanced degrees from the University of Mississippi.
Prestwich’s current work experience and responsibilities include the following: special education and 5th grade language arts teacher at Heidelberg Elementary School in Clarksdale; instructional specialist and magnet school liaison, Clarksdale Municipal School District; and mentor with the World Class Teaching Program at the University of Mississippi.
Dr. Jacquelyn C. Thigpen received the Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Social Work from Delta State. She also earned Master’s degrees in Counseling, Administration and Supervision, and School Psychology, the Educational Specialist’s degree in Administration and Supervision, and the Doctorate of Professional Studies from Delta State.
Thigpen’s extensive career in the Cleveland School District includes service as a teacher assistant, school psychometrist, director of Special Services, interim superintendent, and superintendent. She has also served the greater region as an alcohol and drug counselor and a mental health consultant.
Thigpen has partnered with Delta State through service on the provost search committee; the Healthy Campus/Healthy Community Advisory Board; the Delta Area Association for Improvement of Schools; and lifetime membership in the Delta State Alumni Association.
