Rosie Harper Austin chronicles her family’s journey and legacy in ‘Portraits of the Past’ New genealogy book traces the history of the Odis Harper family from 1845 to 2020 Rosie Harper Austin’s interest in her family history was sparked after listening to colorful stories during numerous family reunions. She found her parents’ story, particularly fascinating...Read More

Honorable Tyree Irving Judge Irving is a native of Greenwood, Mississippi. In 1968, he graduated from Jackson State College (now Jackson State University) and taught for four years in the public schools of the Mississippi Delta before going to law school. He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1974, and in...Read More

Amber Champion is a native of Memphis, Tennessee and graduate of Hillcrest High School. She graduated summa cum laude from Jackson State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting. During her matriculation at JSU, she was honored to become a 2018 Jacksonian Award of Distinction honoree, 2018 Career Closet Ribbon-Cutting...Read More

Dr. Chianti D. Woodfork is a native of Jackson, Mississippi and graduate of William B. Murrah High School. She graduated summa cum laude from Jackson State University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. While enrolled at JSU, she was also honored to become a Dr. John A. Peoples, Jr. distinguished Scholar....Read More

Georgvell Christian, a native of Chicago, Illinois, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Jackson State University in May of 2005. While at Jackson State, he also minored in mathematics which he attributes to his critical thinking and analytical skills. Both of his parents, the late Cleo Harris and George Christian, Jr.,...Read More

Dr. Josiah J. Sampson, III was named Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at St. Augustine’s University and is a native of Jackson, Mississippi. His father was an orchestra director and music professor at Jackson State University and his mother is a retired teaching supervisor from the Mississippi School for the Deaf. In 1997,...Read More

DarKenya Washington Waller attended undergraduate school at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, where she was a Spring 1995 initiate of Delta Pi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.   Waller is also a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law and earned a Master of Business Administration from Belhaven University. She currently...Read More

Dr. Dennis D. Williams is a native of Chicago, Illinois, and is the oldest child of 3 children and the only son, born to the late Evelyn and Frank Hall. Dr. William’s father emphasized “Once you are educated, nobody can take that away.” This statement prompted him to aggressively approach education.  His primary education journey...Read More

Brittany N. Gibson is a proud native of Vicksburg, Miss., and currently resides in Cordova, Tenn. She hails from a long-standing legacy of JSU Tiger graduates including her mother, aunt, two cousins and younger sister. Brittany received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Jackson State University in 2013. Gipson is employed as a laboratory...Read More

Dr. Destini Jones is a native of Milwaukee, WI. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in management from Rust College in Holly Springs, Miss. Masters of Science in School Counseling from Mississippi State University, Education Specialist in Counseling from the University of West Alabama and a Doctoral degree in...Read More