NW Board extends president’s contract

At its monthly meeting, held June 9 on the Senatobia campus, the Northwest Mississippi Community College Board of Trustees voted to extend the contract of Northwest President, Dr. Gary Lee Spears for an additional two years, according to Jerry Moore, board chairman.

With the additional two years added to the two years currently remaining on the president’s contract, this will be a total of four years left on the contract.

“The Board of Trustees is very pleased with the progress at Northwest under the administration led by Dr. Spears. It was an easy decision to extend his contract in order to have his leadership for at least four more years,” Moore said.

In accepting this opportunity to serve four more years as president, Spears expressed appreciation to the Board of Trustees.

“I am humbled and pleased that this board has expressed their confidence in me as the leader of this college,” he said.  “I share the accolades for all of our accomplishments with a dedicated faculty, staff and administration.”

Lawson elected president of state academic officers’ association

Northwest Mississippi Community College Vice President for Education Richie Lawson has been elected president of the Mississippi Community and Junior College Academic Officers’ Association for 2016-2017. Lawson served as vice president of the association during the 2015-2016 school year.

Lawson was named vice president for Education in July 2014. Lawson began his career at Northwest in 1983, teaching what was then called Mortuary Science at DeSoto Center. He taught until 1987, when he was named director of Vocational Technical Education.

In 1988, he moved to Northwest’s Olive Branch Center as center director, and returned to DeSoto Center two years later as director of Vocational Technical Education.

In 2002, Lawson was named dean of DeSoto Center and served there until his appointment as vice president.

The purpose of the Mississippi Community and Junior College Academic Officers’ Association is to consider academic policies concerning curriculum and instructional matters and to maintain an open channel of communication with other administrative organizations in the State of Mississippi.