Mandy Pickett Honored as Young Professor of the Year

Mandy Pickett

Combining interior design and teaching has been a perfect combination for Mississippi College professor Mandy Pickett. And her colleagues are taking notice of her academic gifts on the Clinton campus.

Recently, Mississippi College leaders honored the 27-year-old Pickett as the university’s Pittman Young Professor of the Year. Pickett serves as MC’s interior design coordinator in the Department of Art.

“I’m truly honored to receive the Pittman Young Faculty Award,” Pickett said. “I’d like to thank the Art Department and the Administration for their support. The accomplishments within the interior design program are a result of their support.”

Ron Howard, MC’s vice president for academic affairs, says Pickett is valued as “an exceptional teacher and administrator who has given wonderful leadership and vision to our interior design program.”

Pickett received her bachelor’s degree in interior design in 2005 from Mississippi State University in Starkville. She earned her master’s in fine arts from Florida State University’s Department of Interior Design in the College of Visual Arts, Dance and Theatre in 2007. The Meridian native has worked at MC as interior design coordinator and as an assistant professor in the Art Department since October 2007.

During 2009-2010, Pickett served as chair-elect for the American Society for Interior Designers in the Mississippi District. Chairing the group for 2010-2011, the Clinton resident coordinates meetings for the organization in the Magnolia State.

Pickett and her colleagues are also working hard as MC seeks national accreditation for its interior design program. The Council for Interior Design Accreditation granted the MC program candidacy status in March 2010 following a site visit in September 2009. The team interviewed administration, faculty and students, reviewed the work of students and studied reports. A site visit has been scheduled for Fall 2011 at Mississippi College to pursue CIDA accreditation.

Pickett says she knew her strengths were in the art field before attending college. Soon after becoming an undergraduate at Mississippi State, “I knew that interior design was my passion,” she said.

Before coming to Mississippi College, Pickett worked as a facilities coordinator in the Facilities Planning Department at Florida State in Tallahassee.

The teaching award is named for two outstanding MC graduates George and Alicia Pittman. George Pittman served as an MC English professor and longtime chairman of the department. He and his wife, Alicia, both strong MC supporters, also established the Shakespeare Festival that is held every spring at the Christian university.