College of Education & Human Sciences at Southern Miss

Congrats to our marriage and family therapy students on a 100% pass rate on the AMFTRB Marital and Family Therapy National Examination! 🎉👏

“This milestone ensures that our graduates are not only prepared for licensure after graduation and post-grad supervision, but that they are fully ready for life as practicing clinicians who can make a meaningful impact in their communities,” said Dr. Heath Grames, director of the School of Human Development and Family Science. “It also exemplifies the dedication and perseverance of our students, as well as the expertise, mentorship and unwavering support of our faculty.”

Learn more: usm.edu/news/2026/releases/marriage-and-family-therapy-pass-rate.php

Did you know the fancy gold caps at graduation signify Southern Miss Honors College grads? 🎓

Way to go, scholars! We are so proud of you!

⭐ Makaila Belk (PSY), Summa Cum Laude
⭐ Makenzie Cochran (EDU), Summa Cum Laude
⭐ Ean Fisher (PSY), Summa Cum Laude
⭐ Vivian Hale (PSY), Cum Laude
⭐ Madison Hill (EDU), Summa Cum Laude
⭐ Elize Jackson (PSY), Summa Cum Laude
⭐ Morgan Johnson (PSY)
⭐ Cloe Knight (EDU), Summa Cum Laude
⭐ Paris Labadie (PSY), Summa Cum Laude
⭐ Carstell Lee (SKN)
⭐ Joseph Morris (LIS), Summa Cum Laude
⭐ Zoee Robinson (PSY), Summa Cum Laude
⭐ Erin Simon (PSY), Summa Cum Laude
⭐ Olivia Stringer (PSY), Summa Cum Laude

Service is central to our CEHS mission, so it brings us great joy to congratulate students who were recognized at the USM Center for Community Engagement’s Celebration of Service this year!

Honors College Emerging Leadership in Service Award:
⭐ Scarlett Scott (PSY)

Citizen Scholar Transformation Award:
⭐ Carstell Lee (SKN)
⭐ Bryce Mullen (SKN)

Special Olympics Student Partner Leadership Award:
⭐ DVon Dampier (SKN)
⭐ Clemon Jimerson (SKN)

Volunteer USM Officers
⭐ President: Tasia Griffin (EDU)
⭐ Vice President: O'Jahnae Sanders (EDU)
⭐ Treasurer: Eu'christa Walley (PSY)

Community Service Student Hall of Fame
⭐ Emma Faler (SKN)
⭐ Victoria Mitchell (SWK)

Citizen Scholars:
⭐ Makaila Belk (PSY)
⭐ Julia Catchings (SKN)
⭐ Emma Clanton (SWK)
⭐ Jennifer Covington (SKN)
⭐ Emma Faler (SKN)
⭐ Ella Griffin (EDU)
⭐ Vivian Hale (PSY)
⭐ Norah Hammond (EDU)
⭐ Sarah Langevin (SKN)
⭐ Carstell Lee (SKN)
⭐ Bryce Mullen (SKN)
⭐ Tristan Nguyen (PSY)
⭐ Georgia Patton (EDU)
⭐ Amarely Salinas (SWK)
⭐ Annetta Smith (SWK)
⭐ Tony Tran (PSY)
⭐ Breanna Zirlott (SWK)

Congrats to Saba Shahid on receiving the Graduate Student Research Award from the Office of the Vice President for Research!

As part of the University Research Innovation Awards, this faculty-nominated recognition celebrates a full-time graduate student who has demonstrated the highest standards of research or creative activity.

Saba is an experimental psychology Ph.D. candidate whose research stands out for integrating moral psychology with politically and socially consequential reproductive health issues.

Congrats to Chinedu Chukwu, MSW Student of the Year for the School of Social Work! 🎉👏🦅

Chinedu is a Master of Social Work student from Nigeria with a background in medicine and public health, including a Master of Public Health in epidemiology and biostatistics and training in health planning and management. He has worked for several years as a medical doctor in clinical and humanitarian settings, providing care and leading efforts to address inequities and the needs of underserved and displaced populations.

His research and academic work focus on advancing maternal, sexual and reproductive health, with contributions to peer reviewed publications and presentations at national and regional conferences. Chinedu is dedicated to leveraging his interdisciplinary training to drive meaningful, systems-level change in health and social care.

Chinedu is a member of the Phi Alpha International Honor Society for social work, American Public Health Association (APHA), Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA), and Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

He served as a project director for the Evaluation of Substance Use Disorder and Intimate Partner Violence among Mississippi Moms (SIMM) initiative, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funded project focused on improving providers training and integrating care for substance use disorder and intimate partner violence. Chinedu also worked as a research assistant on the Converge (Title X) evaluation project in Mississippi, including evaluating the distribution of Reproductive Health Kits (RHK), Title X telehealth contraception, and at-home STI testing and treatment intervention.

After graduation next year, Chinedu aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in population health and serve as a researcher who bridges public health and social work to inform high-level policies that transform systems and advance equity in maternal and reproductive health for communities in need.