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Jones launched her plus-size clothing line in 2007 and named it after her mother, a cancer survivor. Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in business administration from Jackson State. Micca A. Knox (’05) was named principal of Emmalee Isabel Elementary School in Jackson. She previously worked as a teacher at George Elementary School, a counselor at Bates Elementary School and as an assistant principal at G.N. Smith Micca A. Knox Elementary School, all in Jackson. At Smith, she wrote and secured a grant from KaBOOM! and the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group for a new playground. She also founded the GEMS (Girls Excelling in Mississippi Schools) recognition program for female students. Knox holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Jackson State University and master’s degrees in school counseling/education leadership and supervision from Mississippi College. She is working toward a doctorate in early childhood education.
Eric Eugene Barnes
Eric Eugene Barnes (’06) was appointed assistant principal of Desoto High School near Dallas, Texas. Barnes, who has taught in Mississippi and Texas, plans to obtain a law degree to practice K-12 educational policy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business.
Dr. Tonjanita Johnson (’06) is the new vice president of communications at The University of Tennessee. She oversees all communications, marketing and branding for the system. Johnson previously served as chief deputy to the president of Dr. Tonjanita Johnson State University of New York at Stony Brook, assisting with strategic planning and oversight in the offices of Conferences and Special Events and Diversity and Affirmative Action, among others. She also spent two years as associate vice president for marketing and communications at Middle Tennessee State University and spent seven years in various positions at Mississippi Valley State University. Johnson was a reporter at The Decatur Daily in Alabama
before joining the communications staff at the University of Alabama, where she received bachelor and master degrees in communications. She received a doctorate in urban higher education from Jackson State. Reginald K. Riggins (’07) was awarded a pre-doctoral fellowship in mental health and substance abuse services from the American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program. Riggins, a native of Chicago, is one of 15 fellows selected from Reginald K. Riggins a pool of 193 applicants. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from JSU and a master’s in public health from the University of IllinoisChicago in 2009. He is completing his dissertation research while seeking a pre-doctoral internship placement for summer 2014. Tony A. Foster (’08), a school finance officer for the Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Financial Services, provides technical assistance to school districts throughout Mississippi. He holds a bachelor of business administration degree in Tony A. Foster accounting and is a member of the Mississippi Association of School Business Officers. He is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in human resources from Delta State University.
‘10s
Eric LaSaul Ross (’10) is the executive officer, second in command, of the 502nd Human Resources Company comprised of 180 Army personnel and contractors throughout Afghanistan’s Regional Commands South, Southwest and West. Eric LaSaul Ross His organizational skills contributed to the ability of a regional mail distribution center, two Army post offices, 10 satellite Army post offices and more than 60 mobile postal missions to move more than 14 million pounds of mail to 50,000 soldiers and American civilians. As a unit movement officer, the Jackson native also ensured that cargo and equipment was prepared to pass
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