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MC Interior Design Leader and Students Receive Awards


Interior design director Mandy Berami and professor Margaret Bateman and interior design students Kristen Millican of Olive Branch, Kelsey Russom of Olive Branch, and Austin Gauley of Owensboro, Kentucky

National awards keep coming for Mississippi College’s interior design program.

The latest honors are going to MC interior program director Mandy Pickett Berdami, and the university’s student chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers.

The society consists of 16,000 practicing interior designers, more than 7,500 students, educators, industry representatives and others committed to the profession across the USA.

The organization’s South Central region that includes Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi recently saluted MC’s group on the Clinton campus as the Student Chapter of the Year. Berdami was spotlighted as the educator of the year.

Mississippi College leaders are thrilled to see the Christian university’s interior program receive national recognition this summer.

“How impressive to say the least for the chapter and especially for Mandy,” says MC President Lee Royce. The Art Department’s interior design program on the Clinton campus has come very far in just a few years, he added.

“I am so proud of this program,” Art Department Chairman Randy Miley said. “This is a great year for Mississippi College.”

Berdami appreciates all the praise the program is getting from Art Department colleagues, MC leaders and officials with the American Society of Interior Designers.

“These awards would not have been possible without the support from the administration and the department,” she said. “Thank you for the opportunities for professional development that you provided me.”

In April 2012, MC’s program received national accreditation from the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Following extensive peer reviews, years of submitting detailed reports and a site visit, the accreditation was granted. It’s good for the next six years.

MC is among more than 200 interior design programs accredited nationwide, including Louisiana State University, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana Tech and Texas. Mississippi College joins Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi as the state’s three interior design programp winning national accreditation.

Enrolling more than 30 talented undergraduate students at Farr Hall, the MC interior design program has seen some of them win national awards. The honors have come from Georgia-based Cooper Lighting, North America’s leading manufacturer of track and recessed lighting. Award winners have included MC students Austin Gauley of Owensboro, Kentucky and Kristen Millican in recent years.

For more information about the program contact Mandy Berdami at 601.925.3957 or berdami@mc.edu.