March 18, 2025

East Mississippi Community College Dean of eLearning Coranette “Chris” Square was among the speakers during a panel discussion titled “Leadership, Mentorship, and Sponsorship: Empowering Women in Higher Education” that took place Feb. 27 during the annual Women in Higher Education – Mississippi Network, or WHEMN, conference at the University of Mississippi.

 A record 500-plus people representing all institutions of higher learning in the state of Mississippi attended the annual conference.

“Our topic explored the central role of advocating for mentorship and sponsorship and how that plays in advancing women cross academia, careers and beyond,” Square said. “I was able to talk about my experiences and how they could approach those issues.”

The two-day conference that ran Feb. 27-28 included multiple panel discussions on various topics and provided attendees an opportunity to network and learn from their peers at educational institutions across the state.

“It was very insightful to hear from women in different roles in academia,” Square said.

WHEMN’s mission is to identify, develop, advance and support women in higher education. Founded in 2003, the inaugural spring leadership WHEMN conference that year included 57 attendees. The annual conference has grown nearly tenfold since that time.

Square is familiar with the organization. Membership of WHEMN consists of institutional representatives from each two-year college and four-year university in the state. Square is EMCC’s representative for WHEMN, a role she has held for more than five years.

In addition to overseeing all aspects of eLearning at EMCC, Square, whose office is located on the college’s Scooba campus, supervises the Center for Teaching and Learning. She is also a computer science adjunct instructor.

A lifelong learner, Square earned a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems. She is a doctoral candidate in Business Administration with specializations in Information Systems and Project Management. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, reading, cooking and spending quality time with her daughter.

Square first began working for EMCC in 2006 in the Information Technology department. A year later she was asked to fill in as an administrative assistant in Distance Learning, which was followed by a quick succession of promotions that led to her current role as dean of eLearning.

Although she did not plan to pursue a career in higher education, Square said she has found her niche.

“I am passionate about education and technology and I am fortunate to be able to do both here at EMCC,” Square said. “It is rewarding to be able to help students shape their futures and careers.”

Square said the annual WHEMN conferences help educators gain insight from others who are equally passionate about serving their students.

 “It’s wonderful to get people in the same room and have something to say that will be an encouragement to them while being exposed to new perspectives from others in higher education," Square said.

One of the things Square spoke about during the panel was leadership.

“Great leadership isn’t about being in charge – it’s about lifting others up, inspiring growth, and creating a path for those who follow,” Square said. “True mentors don’t just teach; they empower.”