October 14, 2019

East Mississippi Community College humanities instructor Marilyn Ford has been named president of the Mississippi Faculty Association of Community and Junior Colleges.

Ford, who assumed the two-year position Sept. 27, will represent faculty at community and junior colleges across the state.

“One of my main goals as president will be to promote unity among, and support for, all stakeholders in our community and junior college system,” Ford said.

The MFACJC serves as an advocacy agency for faculty and other non-administrative employees who provide instructional support. Among other things, the MFACJC facilitates an open dialogue among legislators and other educational organizations to promote the mission of the state’s community and junior colleges.

The MFACJC also coordinates Capitol Day, an annual spring event in which students, faculty and staff gather at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson to stress the role that community and junior colleges play in providing educational and economic opportunities to residents in the state.

Guest speakers during this year’s Capitol Day, which took place Feb. 27, said for every $1 spent on education in Mississippi, 7 cents goes to community and junior colleges, with 18 cents dedicated to universities and 75 cents earmarked for kindergarten through 12^th grades.

“With the myriad of services Mississippi’s community and junior colleges offer to their students, to our communities and to our state, that amount simply is not enough,” Ford said of the funding allocated to community and junior colleges.

Ford, who has taught creative writing, literature and English at EMCC for 23 years, is a past president of MFACJC, having served in that position more than a decade ago. She is in her second year as president of the EMCC Faculty and Staff Association.

In April, she was named the 2018-19 Educator of the Year by the Columbus Lowndes Chamber of Commerce.  

The MFACJC meets in Jackson at least once per semester. Ford said she is looking forward to establishing new relationships as she meets with legislators and others with a vested interested in improving the state’s community and junior colleges.

She said her top priority will serving as an advocate for faculty members.

“Faculty members are the ones in direct contact with our students on a daily basis,” Ford said. “Not only do we teach, but we also advise and guide our students as they transfer to a sister university or graduate to enter the workforce.  Teaching at a community or junior college is a passion. Working together with our college presidents, alumni and community leaders, faculty at our community and junior colleges make vast differences in our students' lives.”

Ford can be reached by email at mford@eastms.edu.