Student Success names Acklin, Cater ‘Student Success Champions’ for 2025-26
The Office of Student Success at Mississippi College has named Kayla Acklin, chair and assistant professor in the Department of Counseling at MC, and Christel Cater, licensure and certification coordinator for the Department of Teacher Education and Leadership at MC, 2025-26 “Student Success Champions” for demonstrating a strong commitment to promoting student achievement.
The award recognizes one full-time faculty member and one full-time staff member for their exceptional activities that involve broad, collaborative participation supporting student success.
Stephanie Carmicle-Davis, MC assistant provost for student success, said these champions promote a holistic student experience and an environment that supports success in school and in life.
“Student success belongs to everyone,” Carmicle-Davis said. “We are excited to highlight our partners across campus for their hard work to support, encourage and connect students across campus.”
One nomination emphasized Acklin’s “exceptional commitment” to student success through her consistent engagement, accessibility and holistic support to students’ academic, clinical and personal development.
“(She) prioritize(s) meaningful relationship-building and maintain(s) a high level of responsiveness, making (herself) available beyond traditional office hours . . . to support students during critical periods, such as clinical work, advising and comprehensive exam preparation and completion.
“(She) actively connect(s) students with institutional resources, including mental health services, student success and the Writing Center, while normalizing help-seeking. (Her) work reflects a passion for empowering students to persist, achieve, thrive and develop their identity as professional counselors.”
Acklin said she is “truly honored” to receive this recognition.
“Student success goes far beyond grades – it’s about helping students develop the judgment, self-awareness and clinical presence required to do this work well,” Acklin said. “That kind of growth is not easy, and being part of it is something I take seriously.
“What this award represents to me is the opportunity to witness students become counselors – not just learn the material, but actually step into the responsibility of holding space for others in their most vulnerable seasons of life. There’s something incredibly powerful about watching that shift happen in real time. It’s in those moments that you see the profession take root, not as a set of skills, but as an identity and a calling.
“I’m grateful to be in a role where I get to do this work every day and mentor students as they find their professional identity as counselors.”
Cater was nominated for her support for students by helping to establish a probation program for education majors who require extra support in meeting program requirements.
“It means a tremendous amount to be recognized for working with education students to meet the necessary licensure requirements set by the Mississippi Department of Education,” Cater said. “My goal is to ensure they can achieve their aspirations of serving their communities as K-12 educators.
“Collaborating with faculty, staff and departments across campus is instrumental in providing the necessary support for these students to rise to the standards set forth as education majors, and I am proud to be a part of the process.”
Multiple nominations cited the time Cater spends ensuring that students complete their licensure materials.
“When students are struggling and their grades fall below the stated requirements, Mrs. Cater works with them individually. She also contacts their advisors and works . . . to develop a plan to help students reach their goals.”
“Mrs. Cater has a strong desire to make sure our education students meet each requirement in order to attain their Mississippi teaching license and to be ready to make a positive impact in the field of education. She truly is a Student Success Champion.”
This marks the fourth year the MC Office of Student Success has awarded Student Success Champions. Past recipients have included Ashley Krason, assistant professor of modern languages, and Taylor Hathorn, adjunct faculty in English, in 2022-23; Beth Barlow, chair and professor of biological sciences, and Marcy Hutton, director of student-athlete development and compliance, in 2023-24; and Ivan Parke, professor of Christian Studies and Philosophy, and Drew Ahlrich, associate director of undergraduate admissions, in 2024-25.
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