Shared stories, Bicentennial preview, Parke Fellows highlight Convocation of MC’s 200th Session

The Mississippi College family holds hands during a prayer to close the 2025 MC Convocation in Nelson Hall.

Mississippi College ushered in its 200th session on Monday, Aug. 11, with Convocation in Nelson Hall’s Swor Auditorium.

Outside Nelson, the Hillman Bell rang 200 times to convene the assembly of MC faculty and staff, MC Alumni Association and MC Foundation Board members, community leaders, and honored guests. During his remarks, MC President Blake Thompson referred to the ceremony as “perhaps the most significant MC milestone that any of us will be associated with in our lifetimes.

“There is a collective MC story that all of you are a part of,” Thompson said. “We’re gathering to start this 200th academic session, but we will tell stories over the next year-and-a-half of the great history of this college and the great future that’s ahead.”

He proceeded to share many of them, particularly the story of the Hillman Bell and the relationship between Mississippi Baptists and Mississippi College, before previewing the milestone events being planned to celebrate the University’s Bicentennial.

Among them: the 2025 MC Celebration Gala featuring a conversation with Leanne Morgan, scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 18; Founders Week, including a birthday party and a bicentennial exhibition, scheduled for Jan. 21 to 24, 2026; Bicentennial Commencement, scheduled for May 8, 2026; Bicentennial Convocation in August 2026; a week-long celebration to culminate the University’s Bicentennial in October 2026; and various art exhibits, academic lectures and other celebrations throughout the year.

“Thank you for what each of you has done in serving this institution,” Thompson told the audience. “We recognize those who have done great things here and those of you who are new. Thank you for the stories that you will build and for the way that you’ll help us celebrate incredible MC stories.”

While calling the proceedings to order, Dr. Ronnie Falvey, chair of the MC Board of Trustees and an MC alum, said this Convocation was a historic occasion in the life of the University.

“This year, we have the opportunity to look back and celebrate our Bicentennial and to reflect on the faithfulness of God working in this University,” Falvey said. “More importantly, we’ll look for the next 200 years of what God can and will do in the life of this institution.

“It’s an opportunity to celebrate and to work together for the cause of academic excellence, but also for the cause of Christ.”

Dr. Shawn Parker, executive director-treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, led the invocation, and Dr. Jim Turcotte, MC vice president and special assistant to the president, welcomed the assembly by evoking the University’s rich history.

“Throughout our 200 years, MC has enjoyed so many great successes and challenges,” Turcotte said. “Today, we stand on the shoulders of so many who gave of themselves to ensure that our best days are ahead.”

Dr. Mike Highfield, MC provost and executive vice president, recognized 11 former faculty members who have been awarded emeritus status.

They include Dr. Lisa Eichelberger, professor and dean emerita of nursing; Dr. Melinda Gann, professor emerita of mathematics; Dr. Roger Greene, professor emeritus of Christian Studies; Jill Mayo, assistant professor emerita of nursing; Tamara Ford, instructor emerita of nursing; Susan Lassiter, assistant professor emerita of English; Dr. John Meadors, professor emeritus of English and Philosophy; Dr. James B. Potts, associate professor emeritus of English; Dr. Glenn Wiggins, professor emeritus of computer science; Mary Miller, assistant dean emerita of the School of Law; and Dr. Tom Williams (posthumous), professor and chair emeritus of teacher education and leadership.

“I want to thank every one of these emeritus recipients for their unwavering commitment and dedication to Mississippi College,” Highfield said. “Your colleagues, your scholarship and your students speak to who you are. You remain an important part of our community.”

Highfield also recognized the 22 new faculty members who had joined MC in the past year.

“It’s so refreshing and encouraging to hear them share their journey and how they ended up at Mississippi College,” Highfield said. “God had a plan to bring them here.”

Laura Jackson, MC COO/CFO, recognized the 46 new staff members who have joined the institution during the last year, and Dr. Beth Everett, MC assistant professor and director of choral activities, accompanied by pianist Tyler Kemp, MC instructor of music, led the assembly in singing the University’s unofficial hymn, “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us.”

Thompson saved his most poignant story – one of “perseverance despite great challenges” – for the conclusion of his presentation. Referring to the Last Lecture that Dr. Ivan Parke, MC professor of Christian Studies, had delivered from the same Swor Auditorium stage this past spring, Thompson announced the first initiative of the new Institute for Christian Leadership at MC would be named the Parke Fellows program.

“The Institute was created a few months ago and intended to be an interdisciplinary initiative that highlights how faith is integrated across the schools and departments of our campus,” Thompson said. “The Institute will have a group of affiliated scholars who will generate ideas and interdisciplinary programming for the Institute.

“I am pleased to say that Ivan Parke will be the founding fellow of the Parke Fellows program. I’m thankful that its namesake will be here to help us shape the program and decide the direction in which it will go. It’s intended to highlight Ivan Parke’s story of weaving Christian leadership into all that we do as an institution.”

The MC president then turned to address Parke, who had been diagnosed with ALS last academic session. “I’ve been grateful to you for your story, your influence, your faith, the things that you’re teaching us right now, and the things that you’ll continue to teach us in the days ahead.”

Everett and Kemp led the assembly in singing Mississippi College’s Alma Mater, and Dr. Bill Hurt, president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, delivered the Benediction and Blessing. Thompson and Parke led the recessional out of Swor Auditorium.

As they left the auditorium to enjoy a family-style lunch in the B.C. Rogers Student Center’s Anderson Hall, each attendee received a special gift to mark the occasion: a hand-signed and numbered artistic depiction of Nelson Hall by Dr. Stephanie Busbea, professor and interim dean of the School of Christian Studies, Humanities, and the Arts. It is one of six such treasures that will be distributed at various milestone Bicentennial events over the next year and a half.