Bridgebuilder Recognition
December 2007
The President's Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) at Mississippi State University would like to recognize several individuals who we consider bridgebuilders between MSU and the greater Golden Triangle Community. This recognition is designed to highlight women who are making a difference in the lives of people within the surrounding area. While these women's official careers take place on campus, their professional and personal lives extend deep into Starkville and beyond. Their acts of service, involvement in civic and educational activities, and commitment to improving their communities characterizes these women. Kay Brocato, Ann Carr, Lady Cox, Jean Marcus, and Melissa Moore strengthen the ties between the academic world and authentic community needs. Kay Brocato, Ann Carr, Lady Cox, Jean Marcus, and Melissa More strengthen the ties between the academic world and authentic community needs.
Dr. Kay Brocato is an assistant professor in Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education. She currently has three children in Starkville Public Schools and serves as a parent representative to Armstrong's Curriculum Team, as a board member of Starkville's Foundation for Public Education, and has held numerous positions as a community representative for the schools. Most recently, Kay Brocato has spearheaded efforts to form a studio high school to serve students who are two to three grades behind in West Point, Starkville and Oktibbeha County schools. She has proposed housing the non-traditional school at MSU, and it would have slots available for 25 students from each district served. She said the goal is to open the school in August 2008. Ann Carr is the Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator and a mother of an eleven year old daughter, Khristian. Having served on the PTA board at Sudduth and co-president of the PTA at Overstreet, her desire to continue to give and grow in a community that has embraced her and her daughter was heighten by being asked to co-chair the Starkville School Bond Issue. As co-chair she spoke at local civic group meetings, board meetings, school meeting and to anyone who would listen concerning the importance of the bond. She would also meet with school committees when they met to discuss what each school needed. Ann said, "To be asked to be a part of the bond issue was an honor. This was another opportunity for me to get involved in my child's education and this community."
Lady Cox, a native of Starkville, is currently a coordinator in the Office of Parent Services on campus. While her job creates avenues for her to reach out to students, her personal life is driven by community service. She was named 2007 Woman of the Year by Junior Auxiliary and served on the Executive Board of the Cotton District Arts Festival. She also served as member and secretary of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership Ambassadors. Lady's commitment to helping Starkville grow as a thriving community has led to her involvement in the Oktibbeha County FORUM Leadership Program, and she has served as a member of the FORUM Leadership Program Steering Committee since 2005.
Jean Marcus is an Instructor of Anthropology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work and Faculty Advisor to the MSU Anthropology Club. She is the mother of 2 young adult children. She volunteers in the community by serving on the Board of Directors of Friends of the Starkville Library. Friends of the Starkville Library sponsor book sales on the first Monday of each month raising funds to purchase books, computers, CDs, DVDs and genealogy supplies. Friends of the Library sponsor summer programs for children, sponsor the monthly brown bag lunch program and promote cultural and related programs for the community. She also volunteers for the Starkville Area Arts Council and co-chaired the 2007 Cotton District Arts Festival Golf Tournament.
Dr. Melissa Moore is an associate professor in Marketing, Quantitative Analysis, and Business Law and is the mother of five children. In her spare time, as co-president of Henderson Middle School's PTA, she helped start a program at Henderson Middle School called Henderson's Heroes. The initiative is designed to promote positive selfesteem, pro-social behaviors and school spirit for 6th graders. At the end of each month all students selected that month will eat lunch at a special table with Principal Bourne, and other Heroes of the community.
The President's Commission on the Status of Women would like to commend these women on their hard work within the community. They are just a small example of the strength Mississippi State's Faculty and Staff brings to the community where they work. Despite the demands of their jobs, they find value in building bridges between academia and pressing community issues. Thank you!
The PCSW will update the list of bridgebuilders as they are recommended to us. Please feel free to make further recommendations.
