According to many who know her, Dea Dickerson embodies the spirit of Mississippi State and exemplified outstanding leadership in her role as president of the Student Association at MSU-Meridian.

    Dickerson was recognized as MSU-Meridian’s 2012 Spirit of State Award recipient at the Spirit of State Awards ceremony held recently in Starkville. The Spirit of State Award is bestowed upon students, like Dickerson, who demonstrate an exceptional personal commitment to enhancing student life at Mississippi State.

    Nominated by many of her fellow students and officers and in the student association, “Dea represents the true spirit of Mississippi State as she was more than willing to help any of the students at the university even when it meant giving up of her personal time,” said Clint McMullan of Enterprise.

    “Dea helped foster an environment of selfless service among the university and community,” noted Josh Luke, secretary of the Student Association at MSU-Meridian. “She gave consistently far above the requirements of her office as president, despite personal and occasional financial sacrifice. Her example of dedication, integrity, and community spirit was felt throughout the entire campus.”

    A non-traditional student, the 52-year-old Dickerson earned a bachelor of business administration degree with a concentration in accounting and a minor in history while working full-time at Bimbo Bakeries USA, as well as serving as president of the Student Association.

    Dickerson and her husband of 19 years, Richard, have six grandchildren. She enjoys sports, reading, scrap booking, traveling the Caribbean and visiting historic sites.