class notes_jacksonian_41
Class Notes ‘50s
Al Hall (’58) was commended by the Mississippi House of Representatives in a resolution that notes the “impressive and noteworthy success” of the Prentiss, Miss., native as an African-American poet. Hall formerly served as vice president and now serves as chaplain of the Greater Washington, D.C. area Jackson State University Alumni Chapter. Dr. Malcolm M. Black (’59) has been named a Broward County Pioneer by the Broward County (Fla.) Historical Commission for distinguished service in promoting the growth and enhancement of the county. Black worked as an educator in Mississippi and Florida, retiring from Broward College after 47 years in academia.
‘70s Dr. James Baber (’72, ’73 master’s) is executive vice president for academic and student affairs at Eastern Gateway Community College in Steubenville, Ohio. Baber previously held positions at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Miss.; Triton Dr. James Baber College in River Grove, Ill.; Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kan.; and within the Metropolitan Community Colleges District, Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Mo. He earned his doctorate degree in adult and continuing education from Northern Illinois University. Dr. Cheryl Slaughter Ellis (’74, ’75 master’s) received the 2012 John Pleas Faculty Recognition Award from Middle Tennessee State University, where she is a professor of community and public health. The award is presented each year to an MTSU faculty member who contributes Cheryl Slaughter Ellis significantly to teaching, research and service efforts to better the lives of African Americans. As an advocate for community and public health, Ellis, a cer-
tified health-education specialist, presents and coordinates hundreds of programs throughout Tennessee in collaboration with Nashville’s Meharry Medical College and MTSU.
‘80s
Dr. Marilyn Evans (’82) has joined the faculty of Belhaven College in Jackson as assistant professor of education and chair of undergraduate teacher education. Evans holds a master’s from the University of Phoenix and an Ed.D. from Texas Southern University. Michael Gater (’84) has taken on an expanded role at Comcast as senior director of human resources for customer care for the Central Division-West Area. With the position comes human resources responsibility for call Michael Gater centers in Huntsville, Ala.; and Tennessee’s Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville locations. Gater is a certified human resource professional. Michele Purvis Harris (’84) became the first female and the first African American to serve as public defender for Mississippi’s Hinds County. She has close to 25 years of experience practicing law, including 16 years in criminal prosecution. Harris, a former chief Michele Purvis Harris prosecutor for the city of Jackson, began her law career with Legal Services Corp. in Mississippi. Harris earned her law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Joe McGhee
Joe McGhee (’85) was appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer of Atlanta-based Tiverity, a Unified Communications and Contact Center systems integration firm. McGhee has held various executive leadership positions in the telecommunications industry