CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University proudly announces that Jesse Brown, Assistant Professor of Art (Photography), has been named the university’s 2025 Mississippi Humanities Council Teacher of the Year. Brown will be recognized during a special event on Thursday, February 6, at 5 p.m. in the Jobe Hall Auditorium, where he will deliver a lecture titled “This is the Beast. The Beast is Us.” Selections of Brown’s photography will also be on display.
Each year, the Mississippi Humanities Council honors 30 distinguished faculty members across the state with the Humanities Teacher Awards, paying tribute to excellence in traditional humanities disciplines. At Delta State, a committee of past award winners reviewed eligible candidates and nominated Professor Brown, with the nomination later approved by the College Advisory Council for the College of Education, Arts, and Humanities.
Professor Brown’s teaching philosophy emphasizes fostering an environment where students are encouraged to take creative risks, cultivate their voices, and discover their personal agency. He challenges students to think critically and delve beyond surface-level interpretations in their photography work.
“Professor Brown is an outstanding teacher,” said Chuck Westmoreland, Interim Chair of the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “He challenges his students to find their own voices through the medium of photography. He develops creative assignments that enable them to hone their technical and critical thinking skills. As an artist and teacher, he not only has developed his own impressive portfolio but has also mentored students as they become accomplished artists in their own right. We are extremely proud of him as he is most deserving of this honor.”
Brown’s photographic works have been showcased at prestigious venues, including the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Portland, Maine. His innovative teaching and artistic expertise have made him a beloved mentor and a vital part of Delta State’s arts community.
The recognition event and lecture are open to the public. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with Brown’s thought-provoking ideas and view select pieces of his work.
For more information, please visit Delta State’s College of Education, Arts, and Humanities website at deltastate.edu/education-arts-humanities/.
