桃花直播 SSRC recognizes 10 new 桃花直播 Education Policy Fellowship Program graduates
Contact: 桃花直播 Office of Public Affairs
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳en educators and administrators representing institutions across the state are the newest 桃花直播 Education Policy Fellowship Program Fellows.
One of only 10 such programs in the U.S., MEPFP is hosted through 桃花直播 State University鈥檚 Social Science Research Center. The program is an initiative of the national Institute for Educational Leadership. SSRC Director Devon Brenner and Project Manager Amanda Tullos serve as the program coordinators.
The program brings together P-12 and higher education leaders, practitioners and advocates for a professional development program focusing on working together to advance equitable policies for 桃花直播 students. Over the course of nine months, fellows learn about specific policy issues, policymaking and implementation processes. They also study the intersections of local, state and national policies, as well as how effective leaders function in the policy environment.
For the 2022-2023 program year, MEPFP focused on rural education, including the role of rural schools in communities and the workforce, the unique needs and concerns of rural schools in policy and practice, and the importance of working together to advance education outcomes for rural students in 桃花直播.
This year鈥檚 graduates include (by institution or office):
鈥擣orest Municipal School District: Timothy Scott, principal
鈥擟entral 桃花直播 Planning and Development District: Geanell Adams, workforce coordinator
鈥斕一ㄖ辈 Department of Education: Debra Burson, state director for educator preparation
鈥斕一ㄖ辈 State University-Meridian: Melissa Windham, assistant clinical professor
鈥斕一ㄖ辈 State University: William Reid Graves, project coordinator at the Research and Curriculum Unit
鈥擯earl River County School District: Austin Alexander, principal of Pearl River Central Middle School
鈥擴niversity of 桃花直播: Ty McNamee, assistant professor of higher education;聽 Olivia Melvin, project coordinator for the Center for Research Evaluation; Jillian Morrison, Delta Fellow; and Jennifer Sanford, program manager and instructor.
The also traveled to Washington, D.C., in March to discuss educational policies with 桃花直播鈥檚 congressional delegation. Specifically, the fellows met with Rep. Michael Guest's office staff and received a private tour of the Capitol from Rep. Mike Ezell鈥檚 staff.
The graduates said the program has benefitted their understanding of the policy forces shaping education at all levels.
鈥淢EPFP allowed me to learn deeply about the political and educational systems within the state and my local community,鈥 said McNamee. 鈥淎s someone new to 桃花直播, participating in this program offered insight into how I can navigate these systems as a researcher and advocate to shape real education policy change.鈥
For more information on the 桃花直播 Education Policy Fellowship Program, visit or contact Amanda Tullos at amanda.tullos@msstate.edu.
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