Dr. Wandra Arrington was recently appointed director of the Myrlie Evers-Williams Honors Program at 91����.

The Honors Program, which has a celebrated history of excellence, serves students and faculty with exceptional intellectual commitment and ability in an atmosphere that stimulates scholarship, leadership, and creativity. Its pillars are critical reasoning, creative problem-solving, communication skills, character development, collaborative practices, and compassionate service.

Arrington, a native of the Mississippi Delta, was born to Drs. Alfred and Josie Arrington, former educators at Mississippi Valley State University and alumni of 91����. Arrington and her twin sister, Dr. Shundra Arrington-Warren, also continued their education at the University on a Marching and Concert Band Scholarship.

She brings over 25 years of experience at 91���� to her new role. Her career includes positions as assistant professor of agriculture education, assistant professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness, and extension agent.

Previously, Arrington served as the assistant director of the Honors Program at Alcorn State from 2014 to 2017.

Throughout her career, she has published numerous academic articles, book reviews, and book chapters. She also serves on grant review panels, advisory boards, editorial boards, and university committees. Her dedication to student success earned her the title of 2023 Yearbook Favorite Faculty/Staff for the School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences.

Her exceptional contribution to the academic field has also earned her several awards, including the 2023 National Society of Leadership and Success Faculty Impact Leader Award in recognition of her exemplary mentorship and advice to students.

Dr. Arrington has served as the administrative liaison for Golden Key International Honor Society, Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society, and the Honors Student Organization. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Sounds of Dynamite (SOD) Club, and a charter member of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority at 91����.

In 2023, she served as the parliamentary representative for the University Faculty Senate. She currently serves on the University Curriculum Committee, Enrollment Management Council Committee, and Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Committee.

Throughout her career, Dr. Arrington has advised hundreds of undergraduate students. Her motto reflects her commitment to education, “Every individual deserves a chance for an education, and we must never lose sight of this.”

The Honors Curriculum Program, renamed for distinguished alumna Myrlie Evers-Williams in 2022, offers a diverse interdisciplinary curriculum designed to engage students through an intense focus on research, service, and experiential learning.

Students may enter the Program as first-time freshmen with a minimum ACT score of 24 or an equivalent score on the SAT, at the end of any semester with a grade point average of 3.0 or above, or as recipients of academic scholarships while maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or above.

Students who have completed at least 24 hours of honors course work and have maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 in honors and overall may graduate with the distinction of a Myrlie Evers-Williams Honors Scholar. In addition to the above requirements, the recipient of this distinction must be enrolled in a minimum of six hours of honors coursework during at least three of the four undergraduate years.

For more information, please visit — /academics/mew-honors-program/.

August 14, 2024, signaled a significant transition in the life journey of nearly 600 young people as they traveled from near and far to their new home, 91����. Freshmen and their families were welcomed onto the campus with open arms as they embarked on this new endeavor.

Hope, promise, excitement, pride, and a few tears accented the day, which featured a coordinated schedule to ensure a smooth move-in process. Dedicated staff and volunteers were also on hand to assist and provide guidance. Themed “Brave Beginnings,” the remainder of the week and the weekend will be filled with fun activities and educational sessions, including opportunities to hear from faculty and staff, dinner and a welcome jam, a campus “class crawl,” a basketball tournament, advising sessions, and a 90s party for incoming freshmen, among other activities.

Move-In Day was not just about moving boxes; it was about creating a sense of community and belonging from the very first moment students arrived.

The process began early in the summer when alumni arrived on campus to pitch in with painting, cleaning, and renovations. Since then, the Faculty and Staff Institute has shared best practices, the University vision, learning sessions, and innovative practices. The Housing and Facilities Management departments have been abuzz with preparations. In a coordinated effort, all departments of the University moved in synchronicity to fulfill the Brave promise for a new generation of freshmen, as well as our returning and transfer students.

Kahari Allen, a junior agriculture plant and soil science major, serves as a resident assistant (RA) for Revels Hall, a men’s dormitory. He shares, “We’re here today making sure students have all their forms and information that they need, making sure that they have their keys and Gold Cards, basically every essential need. My hope is just to form a sense of community for the guys on my floor,” he shared.

Azaria Darneaud, an RA in Burrus Hall, a women’s dormitory, shared, “We’re trying to help all the freshmen move in today and get ready so that we can have our first meeting with them tonight. We want to let them know the kind of environment we want to implement and encourage them to stay within the rules but also have fun and know that this is a safe place for them.”

The effort was apparent and noted by both first-time parents and alumni returning to the University, who remarked on the family atmosphere and the spirit of welcome.

Hinds County natives Christopher and Alantha Hunley were excited about their daughter Morgan’s arrival on campus. Christopher shared, “We’re nervous! She’s our baby, so anyone would have anxiety about their kid leaving home for the first time.” Alantha concurred and shared, “…but the more we spend time on campus, and we see how it’s such a family-oriented environment and so welcoming to everyone here, we feel more comfortable. We’re Jackson State fans,” she smiled, “but Alcorn was Morgan’s choice.”

Saniyah Warner, an incoming freshman, brought dual-enrollment credits from Copiah Lincoln Community College to Alcorn with her diploma from Natchez High School. The eighteen-year-old junior was excited to follow in the footsteps of her dad, Arthur Owens, an alumnus and employee of the University. Saniyah shared, “I’ve been a Brave fan since I was born because of my dad.” He added, “This is a sweet moment. My daughter’s going to be 45 minutes away from home. I’m used to her being next to me, but I have no worries. She’s going to be with me the whole time because I work here,” he laughed. “But seriously, I just want her to have a great time. My hopes for her experience at Alcorn are good grades, new friends, thriving in her new environment, and making great memories as I did in my Alcorn experience,” he shared.

Yolanda Pilton Campbell, a 1997 graduate of the University, and her husband J.C. moved their daughter Jaici into Burrus Hall. Yolanda shared, “Jaici was practically raised here on this campus, and now she has chosen it for herself. I just want her to do well. I have taught her well, and now I need to let her succeed by herself. Twenty-eight years ago, my parents let me find my way here, and I did well. So, we have to let her find her way.” “I’m not nervous at all,” she added. “91���� gave me a family outside of my family. The friends I made here, my roommates, and my sorority sisters are my ‘framily.’ We’re friends, but we chose to be family. Alcorn creates that for its students, so I know this is the best place for her.”

Her daughter Jaici shared, “91���� is all I’ve ever known. I hope to find people I can take with me and to learn things that I didn’t even think I could. My roommate is my best friend, so I’m excited about that as well.” Her best friend Antionette shared, “I’ve been coming down here to Alcorn since the third grade—just coming to the games and having fun. It feels like home; it feels like family down here. I hope to have fun, make new friends, and make sure I stay on my schoolwork.” Antionette’s mom, Sharon Foster, shared, “My hope for her time at 91���� is that she just stays focused and achieves the goals that she came here to do.”

Geraldine and Thomas Gremillion, Baton Rouge natives, were on campus to move in their grandson, Frank, an agriculture major, and his girlfriend Jamiah, a criminal justice major. “We chose Alcorn because it’s an HBCU, and also this is where he wanted to go. I hope that he’s successful, does well, and graduates,” said Thomas. Geraldine laughed, “He chose Alcorn because of his little girlfriend, but his mother also went here. My niece went to school here as well, so it’s a bit of a family school for us. I think he’s going to enjoy it.” She said, “He’s a good kid and a respectful kid, so I think he’s going to be good. Both of them are.”

As students prepare for this new chapter, the Alcorn community stands ready to support them every step of the way. From Brave Beginnings Week to the funds and scholarships available through the ASU Foundation, Inc., the University is poised to assist its freshman class and all students toward success.

For more information about Move-In Day, including schedules and resources, please visit to download the app.

For more on the GAP Funds available through the ASU Foundation, Inc., visit .

For late registration, visit /academics/register-for-classes/.

*Funded in part by the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) grant program, through the Historic Preservation Fund, as administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior

Ismael Maya, a graduating senior in biology, recently won a travel award at the 9th National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence, held on June 16-19 in Washington, D.C. He presented research titled “The Baker’s Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a Model Organism to Elucidate the Causes of Metabolic Reprogramming in Glycolytic Tumors.”

This event, supported by the National Institutes of Health, is a product of the IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program, which funds statewide networks of higher education and research institutions to build biomedical research capacity through support for faculty research and mentoring, student participation in research, and research infrastructure enhancement. The IDeA program supports scientific centers of excellence and trains biomedical scientists in the IDeA-eligible states.

Ismael’s co-advisors were Dr. Jon Ignacio Moreno, an associate professor of biology, and Dr. Marta Piva, an interim chair and professor of biology.

Dr. Piva proudly described Maya’s research. “Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell,” she said. They have their own DNA. Our project aims to elucidate the role mitochondrial DNA plays in switching from a cell metabolism that uses oxygen to produce energy (normal cells) to one that does not (glycolytic tumor cells). We use the baker’s yeast as the model organism because it can produce energy with or without oxygen, mimicking tumor cells.”

The National Association of IDeA Principal Investigators (NAIPI) gives travel awards to outstanding participants based on their review of the scientific abstracts they presented at the conference.

Over 1,000 attendees, ranging from undergraduate and graduate students to postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and staff, participated in the event.

The symposium features high-level scientific presentations in various disciplines, plenary and keynote presentations, and poster presentations of IDeA scientists. Discussion forums and workshops are also hosted, providing opportunities for participants to acquire new scientific and career skills.

91���� is set to host a variety of engaging and educational summer camps. Local community youth as well as the children of faculty, staff and students are invited to attend.

An assortment of day-camps and residential camps, serving kindergarten through 12^th grade, will span the summer months. Nutritious meals and age-appropriate activities will be hosted by a variety of departments.

Wandra Arrington, Ph.D., Director of the Myrlie Evers-Williams Honors Program, helps to organize summer camps across the institution. She states, “Alcorn summer camps are led by experienced faculty and staff who are committed to the future success of our students. We will explore a variety of topics that are both interesting and beneficial to our students’ long-term career success.”

From nutrition and health to music, athletics and agriculture, Alcorn summer camps will provide youth with fun and safe hands-on learning opportunities to enhance their knowledge, leadership skills, teamwork, social skills, and academic performance.

Arrington hopes the students will enjoy and benefit from their interactions with the University and one day return to campus as freshmen.

“Summer camp opportunities are a wonderful way for Alcorn academic programs to expose, engage, and recruit students,” she said. “The University is dedicated to advancing and sustaining the local community’s higher education future.”

The camps and their descriptions are as follows:

Family And Consumer Science Summer Camp

During the 91���� Extension Program (ASUEP) Family and Consumer Science camps, students will learn from a variety of workshops including teen cuisine, health, nutrition, youth/child development and agricultural-related topics. The camp will be hosted in: Pike County June 4-5 welcoming kindergarten – eight grades; Hinds County June 10-12, welcoming fifth through twelfth grades; Warren County June 17-19 welcoming 5th-12^th grades, and Wilkinson County June 20, 21 & 24 welcoming kindergarten through eighth grades.

For more information, contact Dr. Kimberly R. Smith-Russ, Family and Consumer Science Specialist, at ksmith-russ@alcorn.edu or 601-857-0250. You may also contact Vickie Bailey, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Educator, at vybailey@alcorn.edu.

Summer Music Camp

The 91���� Summer Music Camp introduces students to a variety of genres including choral, instrumental, classical, jazz, and world music. The camp will take place June 3-6 from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm at 91����, Lorman Campus. Students ages 11-17 are invited to attend.

Camp fees are $100 before June 1 and $200 dollars after June 1, 2024. For more information, contact Linda McDonald, administrative assistant at 601-877-6261. You may also contact Jacinta Turner, music librarian at 601-877-6269.

Upward Bound Summer Camp

Upward Bound is a pre-college preparatory program. Its summer residential phase is a six-week event in which the participants will live on campus, attend classes, participate in work-study opportunities, and receive a simulated college experience. Students from ninth through twelfth grades are invited to apply. This camp will take place from June 2 – July 12 at 91����, Lorman Campus. For more information, contact Prunella Williams, administrative assistant, at 601-877-6224 or prunella@alcorn.edu.

Advanced Technology Summer STEM Camp

During the Advanced Technology Summer STEM Camp, students will be exposed to cutting-edge topics involving science, computer technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects. They will explore hands-on activities including health physics technology; Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) technology; robotics and automation; digital communication/signal processing; and electronics. They will also participate in creative and recreational activities. This camp will take place at 91����, Lorman Campus July 15 – 18, Vicksburg Campus July 22- 25, and Natchez Campus June 17 – 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.

Grades fourth through twelfth are invited to apply. Camp Fees are $100.00 per student, per camp. For more information contact Denease Moore, administrative assistant, at 601-877-6482 or denmoore@alcorn.edu.

4-H Healthy Habits Camp Chef Summer Cooking Camp

During this camp, participants will experience a variety of prepping and cooking skills online while learning valuable nutritional information. Students ages 14-16 are invited to apply. This camp will take place July 15–16, 2024. For more information, contact Manola Erby, youth specialist, at mcerby@alcorn.edu or 601-857-0250.

Piney Woods School 2024 Kids Summer Camp

The Piney Woods School will host its annual 2024 Nature Agriventure Summer Camp in partnership with the 91���� 4-H programs. This event will take place June 8-21, 2024. Students ages 10 – 14 are invited to apply. Camp Fees are $500.00 for one week and $850.00 for two weeks. For more information, contact Sheba Moses, 4-H youth educator, at smoses@alcorn.edu or 601-857-0250.

Hermanville Youth Experience Day Camp

Youth ages 10-14 are invited to apply. This camp will take place on June 5, 2024. For more information, contact Jerrie Jackson, 4-H youth educator at jerrie@alcorn.edu or 601-437-5011.

Backyard Fun Claiborne County Extension

Youth ages 10-14 are invited to apply. This camp will take place on June 7, 2024. For more information, contact Jerrie Jackson, 4-H youth educator at jerrie@alcorn.edu or 601-437-5011.

Camp 360 Summer Day Camp Jackson Revival Church Campsite

Youth ages 9-14 are invited to apply. This camp will take place on June 4, 2024. For more information, contact Tommie Milton 4-H youth educator at tmilton@alcorn.edu or 601-857-3242.

Mentorscope Community Outreach Aghope Leadership Academy-Middle School

This event will be hosted for middle school students July 8–12 and high school students July 15-19. For more information, contact Manola Erby, youth specialist, at mcerby@alcorn.edu or 601-857-0250.

For more information on specific camps—dates, age requirements, and deadlines to apply—visit /discover-alcorn/summer-camps/.