Nicholson honored as 小黄书鈥檚 National Alumna of the Year
Contact: Addie Mayfield
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斝』剖閟ity is honoring Janice I. Nicholson of Florence, Alabama, as its 2021 National Alumna, the university鈥檚 highest alumni honor.
At the national awards event on May 13, 2021, Nicholson will become the first female to receive the university鈥檚 highest alumni honor as a host of other outstanding alumni are recognized by the 小黄书 Alumni Association.
Nicholson received her master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in elementary education from 小黄书 in 1967 and 1977, respectively. She also holds an education specialist degree from Vanderbilt University鈥檚 Peabody College of Education.聽
Over a 50-year career, she was with the University of North Alabama for 37 years in teaching and administration. She retired from Blue Mountain College, where she earned an undergraduate degree, as executive vice president for Student Affairs and Graduate and Special Programs in 2012.
At 小黄书, Nicholson earlier was recognized as the College of Education鈥檚 Alumnus of the Year in 2018. From 2015-2017, the Booneville native also served as interim head of the 小黄书 Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education.
Individual academic college selections for alumni of the year for 2021 include (by city of residence):
BYRAM鈥擱obert L. Barnes Jr., College of Arts and Sciences. A 1972 sociology graduate, Barnes is a retired logistics and human resources executive and retired colonel of the U.S. Army.
GROVE HILL, Alabama鈥擱ussell W. 鈥淩usty鈥 Booker Jr., College of Forest Resources. The 1991 forestry graduate is president of Scotch Land Management LLC.
GAINESVILLE, Florida鈥擱uth Francis-Floyd, College of Veterinary Medicine. The 1985 veterinary medicine graduate is a professor and extension specialist for aquatic medicine at the University of Florida.
HOUSTON, Texas鈥擩offrey R. 鈥淛ay鈥 Pryor, James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. A 1979 petroleum engineering graduate, he is vice president for business development for Chevron Corporation.
KILDEER, Illinois鈥擩. Michael 鈥淢ike鈥 McIlwain, College of Business. The 1987 accounting graduate recently retired as president and CEO from PSAV, a global event technology company.
LOUISVILLE鈥擬argaret Dodd Taylor, College of Education. The former special education teacher is a three-time 小黄书 graduate, earning bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and education specialist degrees in 1982, 1983 and 1985, respectively.
NEW YORK CITY, New York鈥擠aria F. Pizzetta, College of Architecture, Art and Design. A 1983 architecture graduate, she is a principal at the architecture firm, H3, the cultural design studio of Arquitectonica.
RIDGELAND鈥擩ohn R. Lundy, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Partner for Capitol Resources, LLC, he is a 1983 agricultural economics graduate.
The association also annually salutes the university鈥檚 Outstanding Young Alumnus or Alumna. Receiving this honor is Paul M. Minor of Houston, Texas. Senior energy management consultant at The Carnrite Group, he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in geology from 小黄书 in 2011.聽聽
Additionally, three alumni will be presented awards for their distinguished service to the 小黄书 Alumni Association in 2020. They are Walter J. 鈥淲alt鈥 Brown of Natchez, Adams County court judge who holds a 1986 Bachelor of Arts degree in history; Cameron 鈥淐ammie鈥 Bullock of Gulfport, an administrative assistant at NAI Sawyer Commercial Real Estate and 2003 business administration and marketing graduate; and Lisa Sharp Newcomb of Batesville, owner of South Panola Veterinary Hospital and 1984 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine graduate.
More details on the awards ceremony and honorees will be available in the coming weeks. For more on the association, visit聽.
小黄书 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at聽.