special to The Star



Dr. Dennis J. Mitchell, chair of the Division of Arts and Sciences and professor of history at Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus, was recently presented with a “Chair’s Award for Special Achievements in the Humanities” for 2007, one of the awards presented by the Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC) during its annual recognition ceremony. These prestigious awards acknowledge outstanding contributions by Mississippians to the study and understanding of the humanities.

Dr. Barbara Carpenter, Executive Director of the Mississippi Humanities Council, said the Chair’s Award "recognizes an individual who has made special and /or extensive contributions to public humanities programming.”

She noted that the Awards Committee cited Mitchell’s many years of work with the Mississippi Humanities Council, first as assistant director of the Council and later as a project director, consultant, scholar, evaluator and the Master of Ceremonies for the Mississippi Chautauqua.

Dr. Kathy Baxter, associate vice president of Research, Development and Governmental Affairs at Meridian Community College and adjunct political science instructor at MSU-Meridian, presented Mitchell with the honor during the awards ceremony held recently at the Hilton Hotel in Jackson. Baxter is serving her second term on the Mississippi Humanities Council as a Governor’s appointee.

“Dr. Mitchell amply demonstrated the goals of the award,” said Baxter. “During the presentation, I noted his association with the Mississippi Humanities Council from its inception, his role as presenter in many Chatauquas involving ‘conversations’ with historical figures, his role as academic historian at Jackson State University and Mississippi State University, and his many publications.”

“In his acceptance speech, Dr. Mitchell seemed most proud that he had served as writer for curriculum materials explaining the Mississippi Civil rights era to the state’s school children,” she continued. “This award was, indeed, merited — even overdue, because of Dr. Mitchell’s lifetime dedication to the principle that the humanities are for everyone.”

Dr. Mitchell expressed his gratitude by saying that MHC funding made it possible for him to study and share the knowledge gained with Mississippians in many different settings.

“The teacher seminars entitled ‘Mississippi Culture’ I conducted at Jackson State University were especially helpful in educating me and groups of teachers about the state,” said Mitchell. “They led to the curriculum that is now used in the high schools and to the writing of the most widely adopted Mississippi history textbook in the state.”

Dr. Donna L. Clevinger, dean of the MSU-Meridian Campus, was also on hand to congratulate Mitchell at the awards dinner.

“It is quite an honor for us to have Dr. Mitchell as a member of our administrative team and faculty,” Clevinger said. “He exemplifies the caliber of professors here on the Meridian Campus from whom students are privileged to learn, not only from textbooks but from well-rounded and world-wise scholars.”

Mitchell earned his doctorate and master’s from the University of Mississippi and his bachelor’s from Florence State University (now the University of North Alabama).

Before taking the dual administrative/faculty post at MSU-Meridian in 2000, Mitchell was on the faculty at Jackson State University for 20 years, served in a part-time capacity at Hinds Community (then Junior) College for a short time, Northwest Mississippi Community College for a year, and as a graduate instructor while at Ole Miss. From 1977-1980, Mitchell served as assistant director of the Mississippi Humanities Council.

Mitchell is the author of several books, including "A Rich Past-A Vibrant Future," a coffee table book containing the pictorial account of the history and renovation of the Marks Rothenberg and Grand Opera House buildings into the MSU Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts; "Mississippi Liberal: A Biography of Frank E. Smith"; and "Cross and Tory Democracy: A Political Biography of Richard Assheton Cross." He also has written numerous articles, made many scholarly presentations, and authored a number of grants.