Mechelle Wallace, MSCD Research Fellow, Delta State University Institute for Community-Based Research

Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Mechelle Wallace went to the Mississippi Delta intentionally to become part of a rural community and pursue social change at the grassroots level. Transplanting herself and her family to the small town of Alligator, located between Clarksdale and Cleveland, Mississippi, Mechelle’s world definitely changed. She has learned so much due to her openness to new experiences and commitment to life-long learning through service.

Before going any further in this Membership Spotlight, it is important to note that Mechelle is married and has three children. Of all her roles in life, anyone who spends five minutes with Mechelle knows that family is central to her identity and serves as her motivation for everything else. Now, back to the story…

Early on, Mechelle founded the nonprofit organization Friends of the Environment (FOE), and began working with youth in Alligator to facilitate their learning about environment, community and empowerment. Mechelle pursued an undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at Delta State University (DSU), and she started working with the Institute for Community-Based Research as a Research Assistant. She helped with a variety of projects, including evaluation of the Healthy Start initiative.

After completing an undergraduate degree, Mechelle entered graduate school at DSU and started in the Master of Science in Community Development degree program. She was awarded the prestigious Hearin Fellowship to pursue her studies full time. She also participated in the Mid-South Delta Leaders Program. During this time, Mechelle continued to work with the Institute.

Mechelle completed the MSCD program in 2008. She continues to work with the Institute, now as a Research Fellow with duties that include supervising students and co-directing evaluation of the Healthy Start initiative and the Center for Community and Economic Development’s Mississippi Delta Leaders Empowering Youth program. Mechelle still serves as volunteer Director of FOE. In the past two years, the group added a greenhouse and youth garden to its numerous endeavors. Impressively, in late spring 2009, Mechelle was elected to serve as an Alderwoman to represent people in the town of Alligator.

Mechelle first attended the Rural Sociological Society (RSS) conference in New Hampshire (2008). She was able to do so through partial financial support from the RSS Minority Travel Scholarship. Her presentation went well, and she was impressed by the meeting. She reported making great contacts and sharing information with other students and faculty. It must have had an impact, because Mechelle was ready to attend again in Wisconsin (2009). As part of her involvement in the Madison meeting, she presented in a workshop on community-based research organized by Randy Stoecker and John Green.

As a young scholar and community development professional, Mechelle has benefited from her involvement in RSS. However, RSS has probably benefitted from her involvement even more. Thanks, Mechelle. We recognize the importance of your participation for the future of this organization.

Dr. Stevenson comes to The Valley from Jackson State University where he most recently served as director and founder of the Executive Ph.D. Program/Jake Ayers Institute for Research in Urban Higher Education. Dr. Stevenson founded the institute in 2004, after serving as JSU’s provost and vice president for academic and student affairs from 2001 to 2004.

While on sabbatical last year, he was visiting provost-in-residence for the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). Among his accomplishments was the crafting of the first national research and policy agenda for NAFEO and HBCUs throughout the United States. Previously, he served as a Kellogg Leadership Fellow at NAFEO as a part of a minority-serving institutional leadership development program. His presidential mentorship for this fellowship was completed at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Stevenson was campus provost and chief executive officer at Golden Gate University–Sacramento and Central Valley campuses from 1997 to 1999. He also served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at York College, The City University of New York.

His impressive dossier includes stints as associate vice president for academic affairs at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and as executive assistant to the president at Middle Tennessee State University.

Dr. Stevenson currently lecturers on transformational leadership at Tuskegee University; strategic planning and budgeting for diversity at Stanford University; future higher education trends at Tougaloo College; and future academe at the University of Georgia.

The Valley’s new provost earned a doctorate degree in educational policy and management from the University of Oregon in 1986. He holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction leadership with emphasis in K-12 education, also from the University of Oregon. Dr Stevenson holds three degrees from California State University, including a master of arts degree in social science education with an emphasis in government, a master of arts degree in education administration with an emphasis in higher education, and a bachelor of arts degree in government.

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Our very own, Elaine Baker was recently honored  and presented with  the President’s Volunteer Service Award.   More information on the event will be published in the Bolivar Commercial in the near future.  Elaine, congrats!  What an awesome honor!  Click on the associated files below to view Elaine’s official certificate and letter!

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