Frances Alexander Earns Doctorate from University of Southern Mississippi

Graduation is set for December 8

#SouthernUniversity

Frances Alexander, Ed.D.

WOODVILLE, Miss. – Frances Alexander, former principal of Wilkinson County Elementary School, recently earned her Doctor of Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg.
 

“I am excited that I was able to persevere and complete the doctoral program in Educational Administration,” said Alexander. It was her family, she noted, that encouraged her to pursue her terminal degree.
 
USM conferred her degree in July. Her graduation is set for December 8 in Hattiesburg.
 
For Alexander, a resident of Woodville, this achievement was a dream come true – something she’s wanted for many years. Now it’s a reality, she said, and she’s ready to move forward into the next chapter of her career.
 
Alexander’s doctoral studies culminated in a capstone project titled, “The Impact of Family Engagement in Elementary Schools Turnaround Initiatives.” Her research shows that “positive family engagement influences students' attendance, behavior, and academic outcomes,” Alexander said. “I recommend further research using a mixed method design where data can be analyzed for a minimum of three years to determine if family engagement influences the school's turnaround initiative.”
 
The academic work was both rigorous and enjoyable for Alexander. “At times I was challenged because I had not taken college courses in nearly 20 years,” she said. “However, I feel that the rigor was appropriate for doctoral level courses.”
 
Alexander viewed the process as a catalyst for personal and professional growth, as well as an opportunity to make a contribution in her field of study.
 
"Learning new things, reading the findings from other researchers, and conducting my own research study was like watching a flower bloom in slow motion,” she said. “I also enjoyed meeting and networking with scholars from across the United States.”
 
Alexander's career in education included 15 years as an administrator and 11 years as a teacher.
 
She served five years as the principal of Cohn Elementary School in West Baton Rouge Parish. Prior to that position, she worked as the school’s assistant principal. From 2013 to 2016, she worked as the education supervisor for Management and Training Corporation, serving at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility.
 
Alexander holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Literature from Southern University, Baton Rouge, La. She earned her Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration at Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge.
 
In addition to her work in education, Alexander remains active as a volunteer in her community. She is past president of the Woodville/Wilkinson County Main Street Association. She is also an exhibit interpreter at the African American Museum and secretary for the Wilkinson County Library System.

#SouthernUniversity #WeAreSouthern #FinishStronger #HBCU #SouthernMiss

Dr. Stuart Rockoff to speak at Oct. 25 meeting of Natchez Historical Society

He will talk about Jewish history in Natchez and other parts of Mississippi

Dr. Stuart Rockoff, Executive Director
Mississippi Humanities Council

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Dr. Stuart Rockoff, the executive director of the Mississippi Humanities Council, will talk about the Jewish history of Mississippi at the Oct. 25 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society.
 
“I look forward to exploring the fascinating story of how Jews found a home in Mississippi, putting down roots and building institutions that made their communities more diverse,” Rockoff said.
 
In his presentation, “Shalom Y’all: The Jewish History of Mississippi,” Rockoff will outline Jewish contributions to the historical, economical, and social legacy of Natchez, the region -- and the state, according to NHS member Mike Gemmell.
 
“In the early 19th century, Jewish immigrants began arriving in the Lower Mississippi River Valley and many settled in towns along the river, such as Natchez, Port Gibson and Woodville,” Gemmell noted in a press statement.
 
Rockoff’s research on the Jewish community is not only substantial, but well known. The Texas native holds a B.A. in History from Wesleyan University. He completed his M.A. and Ph.D. in American History at the University of Texas at Austin, where he specialized in immigration, race, and American Jewish history.
 
Rockoff served for more than a decade as the Director of the History Department at the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson, Miss., where he was responsible for creating the Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities.
 
In addition to giving lectures on the history of Jews in the American South, Rockoff has written widely on the topic.
 
Rockoff’s lecture in Natchez will take place at 7 p.m. at the Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 S. Commerce St. Social time will start at 6:30 p.m.
 
The meeting is free and open to the public.
 
For more information visit: www.natchezhistoricalsociety.org and on Facebook.