Director, Center for Education Support
Phone: (662) 241-6088 EDHS Office 113
Email: psmansell@muw.edu
About Penny
Penny serves as the Director of the CES. She believes education is a powerful force that drives the economy, jobs, poverty rates, and community sustainability. Her collaborative work on campus and in the region produces strategies to improve educational support opportunities through implementing programs, events, policies, and initiatives. She believes education doesn’t end in the classroom; it should be a lifelong journey that adapts to changing circumstances and needs to create positive change.
Education
- Ed.D, University of West Alabama, Rural Education Organizational Change (Focus on Early Childhood Education Community Partnerships; in process)
- M.Ed, University of West Alabama, Early Childhood Education
- B.S., Mississippi University for Women, McDevitt Scholar, PTK Scholar, Hearin Leadership Scholar, Masker Honorary Social Club, Silhouette Social Club (Focus: Education, Public Relations, English)
- A.A., East Mississippi Community College, Scooba; Phi Theta Kappa
- Special Needs Infant and Toddler Credential, Early Childhood Inclusion Center, Institute for Disabilities Studies at the University of Southern Mississippi
- Special Needs Preschool Credential, Early Childhood Inclusion Center Institute for Disabilities Studies at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Committees and Leadership:
- Administrative Council
- Director’s Council
- Diversity Council
- PIE Council
- Academic Council
- Teacher Education Council
- Women’s College Advisory Committee
- MSMS Academic Pathways
- School of Education Advisory Board
- School of Education Dean and Chairs Committee
- School of Education (MRR) Marketing, Recruitment & Retention Committee, Marketing Chair
- Advisor, Masker Honorary Social Club
- Advisor, Kappa Kappa Iota, Collegiate Kappa
- WHEMN – Women in Higher Education – Mississippi Network; MUW Institutional Representative
Community Partnerships and Advocacy
- State Board Member, Excel by 5
- Mississippi’s Forum for the Future
- Education Committee, Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce
- Mississippi Quality Support System Recommendations Team Member, QSS Project
- Certification Manager, Steering Committee, Excel by 5 of Columbus-Lowndes County
- Mayor’s Coalition for Early Childhood Policy and Education
- Member, Kappa Kappa Iota, Mu State, Beta Chapter
- National Committee for Collegiate Kappa, Kappa Kappa Iota
- Advisor, Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER Committee) Early Intervention Task Force (2023-2024)
Awards
| February 20, 2020 | IHL Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award by the Mississippi Board of Trustees |
| January 17, 2020 | The W’s Diversity and Inclusion Award of Excellence |
University Teaching
| ED304 | Principles of Early Childhood Education |
| ED317 | Behaviors in Early Childhood |
| ED320 | Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education |
| ED404 | Teacher Internship in Early Childhood Education |
Areas of interest:
- Raising early intervention and child-find referral rates
- Place-based school models
- Inclusive practices for early educators
- Grassroots efforts to problem-solve systematic education issues
- Rural early education programs and impact
Primary research areas:
- “Using High-Quality Coaching and Training to Raise Childcare Center STAR Assessment Scores in Mississippi”
- “Empowering Rural Communities: The Role of Grassroots Organizations in Transforming Early Childhood Education in Lowndes County, Mississippi”