The Commencement ceremonies taking place at Delta State today can be viewed live at: https://livestream.com/deltastateuniversity
The Delta State University Staff Council recently honored Barkley Falkner, compliance and operations coordinator for DSU Athletics, as the November 2016 Employee of the Month.
Barkley, an Oxford native, is entering his third year in the position. He is a 2009 graduate of Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in accounting. He obtained his Master of Science degree in sports administration from Delta State this past May.
“I would like to thank whoever nominated me for this award and everyone I would work with — because it is truly a team effort on a day-to-day basis,” said Falkner.
Before coming to Delta State, Falkner spent five seasons playing professional basketball abroad in Denmark, Germany, Slovakia and Uruguay. In his spare time, he loves being active in the outdoors and helping run the family-owned business Falkner Farms.
Each Employee of the Month winner receives a plaque, monetary award, an engraved insulated coffee mug, a free parking decal courtesy of the Campus Police Department, a box of treats from The Sweetery, a parking spot of their choice, marquee announcement and website recognition.
Delta State’s Staff Council serves as a liaison between the administration and the staff to provide a formal process for staff to discuss issues involving university policies and procedures and to forward ideas, recommendations and opinions to the president.
The Delta State University Alumni Association announces the hiring of Melissa Love ’04 as the assistant director of Alumni Affairs.
Love has over 11 years of experience in communications and corporate marketing. Prior to joining the Alumni Association staff, Love worked for Delta State’s Communications and Marketing office, where she served as graphic designer.
She was previously the assistant director of communications for Holmes Community College, and then a member of the corporate marketing team for the Conway, Arkansas based Centennial Bank and its parent company, Home BancShares, Inc., until her return to Mississippi in 2015.
“We in the Alumni and Foundation office are very fortunate to add Melissa to our team,” said Jeffrey Farris, Alumni director. “She will bring work experience, institutional knowledge, and specific skills to assist us as we continue to provide our alumni and friends a lifelong alumni experience.”
Love is a graduate of Northwest Rankin High School in Flowood, Mississippi. She was a member of the women’s soccer team at Holmes Community College for two years before transferring to Delta State. She is a member of the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, EPHFIC Women’s Club and the Delta State Alumni Association. Love also volunteers for United Way of Cleveland-Bolivar County and serves as secretary for Bayou Academy’s Patrons’ League.
Additionally, Love and her sister own Anchor Art Company, LLC.
Prior to her return to Cleveland, she served as a committee member for the Faulkner County Arkansas Senior Wellness & Activity Center, Meals on Wheels and Project 3:27. She has also been a member of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi; American Advertising Federation, Jackson, MS Chapter; Southern Public Relations Federation; and the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi.
At home in the Mississippi Delta, Love and her husband, Seals Love ’01, have two children, Austin, 9, and Mary, 6.
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Delta State University Alumni Association’s Mission: To perpetuate the memories of university life. To provide a medium through which interest in Delta State University may be promoted. To assist in establishing alumni chapters. To bind the alumni into a united fellowship working together for the advancement of the university. To serve as a link between the university and its alumni. To act as a service organization for former Delta State students.
Delta State faculty Dr. Michael Putnam and Dr. Jill Cabrera
Faculty from the Delta School Leadership Pipeline (DSLP) Initiative at Delta State recently traveled to New Jersey to present a session on the program’s education leadership preparation model.
Dr. Michael Putnam, Director of the DSLP Initiative, and Dr. Jill Cabrera, associate professor of Educational Leadership, presented the session on the DSLP model at the Equity, Access, Leadership School Leadership Program Project Directors’ Meeting held in Monroe Township, New Jersey on Nov. 9.
“This meeting afforded us the opportunity to highlight the successful and unique features of our DSU educational leadership preparation model while learning about various components of alternative program models from across the United States,” said Cabrera.
The DSLP is housed in the DSU College of Education and Human Sciences and is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The five-year grant was awarded in 2012 and is now in its third cohort. The program continues to build upon an innovative, nationally recognized model for preparing school leaders. Candidates complete intensive school leadership rotations via a sabbatical program funded through the Mississippi Department of Education.
“Experiencing full-time internships at schools other than their home sites coupled with face to face class held each week on the DSU campus provides one of the richest learning environments possible,” Putnam said. “We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our students, and the opportunity we have to provide such a data-intensive, research-based, practical hands-on program.”
Division Chair Dr. Tom Brady said, “This is yet another example of a powerful experience our tremendous faculty can bring back to our students. As with past experiences, Drs. Cabrera and Putnam will train our DSLP students in what they learned, and through these students have impact on the schools throughout The Delta.”
Dr. Leslie Griffin, Dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences, said the DSLP model helps to build and sustain educational leadership in the Delta.
“Drs. Putnam and Cabrera are a strong leadership team, providing guidance for future school leaders and program development that is cutting edge. The DSLP model utilizes a coaching model and team-building at the district level to build and sustain leadership in Delta area schools. We are appreciative of the support and vision that has been provided at each of the institutional, state, and national levels to sustain this signature program through the years,” Griffin said.
Delta Jewel Lela Bearden of Sumner, Mississippi, speaks during an oral history gathering in Charleston, Mississippi.
The Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership is hosting its final program at the Smith Robertson Museum in Jackson on Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public through support from the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area and the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center.
“We are honored to host the final Delta Jewels program,” said Pamela Junior, director of the museum and MDNHA board member. “This partnership has meant so much to the Mississippi Delta region, the state and our nation. In addition to great speakers and special guests, we plan to feature live performances. This will be an exciting cultural celebration for our entire community to enjoy during the holiday season.”
Since March 2015, the MDNHA and The Delta Center for Culture and Learning have engaged communities through the Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership. The program features Alysia Burton Steele’s book “Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom,” a collection of oral histories and portraits of African American church mothers from the Mississippi Delta. The program has engaged over 1,000 residents and visitors in the Delta, the state and Washington, D.C.
“The Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area is about educating and engaging people, connecting organizations and building community pride by telling the Delta’s story,” said Dr. Rolando Herts, director of The Delta Center. “The Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership Program has accomplished this by fostering collaboration among numerous people and organizations. We have effectively raised awareness about the importance of preserving community voices and stories through oral history gathering, storytelling and photography.”
An attendee holds a copy of the Delta Jewels book.
“It has been such a pleasure and an honor to partner with the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area and The Delta Center on this educational project,” said Steele. “On behalf of all of the Delta Jewels, thanks to these partners and all sponsoring organizations that have made these events so educational, so impactful, and so meaningful for so many people. Words cannot express our appreciation.”
Through The Delta Center, Steele first presented Delta Jewels sessions at Delta State University’s Winning the Race diversity and race relations conference in 2015. A month later, the MDNHA and The Delta Center partnered with various regional organizations to host a series of Delta Jewels community gatherings in Clarksdale, Charleston, Indianola, Yazoo City, Ruleville and Mound Bayou. The Mound Bayou program was held in conjunction with the town’s 128th Founders Day celebration and witnessed a gathering of 30 Delta Jewels church mothers. Over 300 guests attended the Mound Bayou program.
“The importance of this work truly came to life for me when I attended the Mound Bayou Program to meet the real Delta Jewels,” said Dr. Myrtis Tabb, chair of the MDNHA. “This remarkable group of strong women inspired me and others with their wisdom and humor. What an honor to be in their presence and hear their stories. I am happy the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area could play a part in promoting and celebrating their legacy.”
Continued demand for the events led to the official creation of the Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership in October 2015. Through the new partnership, events were held at Mississippi Valley State University, Jackson State University, Delta State University, Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation in Vicksburg, Alcorn State University, University of Southern Mississippi, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland and Holmes Community College in Grenada.
Alysia Steele discusses the project during a gathering at Alcorn State University.
The partnership culminated in March 2016 with a historic presentation at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum in Washington, D.C., to commemorate Women’s History Month and the National Park Service Centennial. This special program featured Annyce P. Campbell of Mound Bayou, who appears on the front cover of “Delta Jewels,” and Reena Evers, daughter of civil rights activist Myrlie Evers-Williams, who also is a Delta Jewel.
For more information about the Dec. 15 Delta Jewels program, contact Pamela Junior or Charisse Bester at the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center at 601-960-1457.
