Mississippi College Welcomes New Faculty and Staff

Kristian Gautier, admissions counselor, MC Law School

Kristian Gautier enjoys working where he can help students reach their goals.

It’s what motivates the Jackson native to arrive each morning at Mississippi School Law School with enormous energy, and enthusiasm as a new admissions counselor.

“I love working at a place where I can help students achieve and strive towards their dreams,” says Gautier, a 2016 MC School of Business graduate “I love establishing that relationship and helping them all the way through law school.”

Gautier, 25, is among new faculty and staff members who will be introduced at the university’s Fall convocation. President Blake Thompson will serve as keynote speaker at the August 17 event in Swor Auditorium to begin the institution’s 193^rd academic year.

In August, Gautier joined MC Law Dean Pat Bennett and other legal community leaders welcoming 120 first-year law students at orientation. The Jackson Prep graduate looks forward to that day when the newcomers receive their MC Law diplomas in three years.

Named Mr. MC in 2016, Gautier stayed involved in the Civitan Men’s Club, the admissions office and in orientation roles as an undergraduate. He spends time leading worship at Pinelake Church in Flowood. He’s a member of the Christian worship band named “The Lowly Heirs.”

Other new employees joining the Blue & Gold family include Ann Jones, an instructor of legal analysis and communication at MC Law School.

A 2015 Magna Cum Laude graduate of MC Law, Jones served as executive editor of the “MC Law Review” and a member of the Moot Court Board. She earned her undergraduate degree at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond in 2011. Ann worked at the Mississippi Department of Human Services in child support enforcement before returning to private practice.

MC School of Business leaders recently hired two new professors: Taylor Corso and J. Brandon Bolen.

A native of New Orleans, Corso moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast 15 years ago. She earned her bachelor’s in accounting, master’s in taxation and juris doctor degrees, all at the University of Mississippi. She began her career in public accounting at a Big Four firm in New York City. She later worked at small accounting firms in Oxford and Ridgeland.

“Throughout my field experience, my ultimate goal was to eventually be able to use the knowledge I have gained to educate students at the university level,” Corso said.

Traveling, hobbies like scuba diving and caring for four pets (two dogs, a cat and peacock) are things she likes to do away from the classroom. Corso worked as an adjunct instructor at Mississippi College last Spring, and now serves as a full-time professor.

Bolen earned three degrees from Mississippi State University, including his doctorate in applied economics. His teaching interests run from sports economics to the principles of macroeconomics. He’s taught classes in recent years at Mississippi State, Holmes Community College and Belhaven University. Bolen previously worked at Trustmark Bank in Jackson.

New additions at the Leland Speed Library are Peter Dean and Lauren Martiere. Dean serves as an MC reference librarian on the Clinton campus. Martiere is the coordinator of reference services. Dean brings experience as a librarian at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach.

Rounding out the list of new hires: physician assistant professor Daniel J. Watkins, psychology & counseling instructor Susan “Hope” Gilbert, teacher education professor Clifford “Ace” Bryant, intensive English instructor Hunter Harrison and professor Shawn Callahan of the Biology Department.