Woodward Hines Education Foundation

08/07/2026

When students face an unexpected barrier to continuing their education, partnership matters.

Demand for the State Representative Bill Kinkade FAITH (Fostering Access and Inspiring True Hope) Scholarship exceeded available state funding, leaving about 170 eligible students without an initial award for the 2026–27 academic year.

Woodward Hines Education Foundation has committed $800,000 in guaranteed funding to help eligible students continue their education this fall. Mississippi colleges and universities are also helping students find scholarships, grants, tuition assistance, and other resources.

🎓 Students and families: If you received a notice about FAITH Scholarship funding, contact your college or university’s financial aid office to discuss next steps.

🤝 Individuals and organizations: You can support these students through a tax-deductible contribution.

Learn more: https://www.woodwardhines.org/news-updates/faithscholarshipsupport

07/03/2024

Join us in celebrating the addition of Dr. Michael Highfield, Carla Kirkland, and Mayor Errick D. Simmons to the boards of the Woodward Hines Education Foundation (WHEF) and the Mississippi Higher Education Assistance Corporation (MHEAC). Their diverse expertise and passion for education will be invaluable as we continue to enhance higher education opportunities in Mississippi.

05/31/2023

We are thrilled to introduce four new staff members that joined the organization this spring. Read more in our latest blog post! https://buff.ly/3ONT4pD

05/26/2023

We are thrilled to have Dr. Cedric Bradley join the WHEF and MHEAC board! He is the Vice President of the Harrison County Campus, Keesler Center, and Naval Construction Battalion Center at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC). His passion for postsecondary access and success, particularly for underrepresented students, aligns perfectly with our mission of driving positive change. https://buff.ly/45tii2H

04/26/2023

WHEF hired a director to lead the Mississippi Consortium for Higher Education in Prison (MCHEP). “We are excited to bring Yolanda Houston’s experience to the table to lead the efforts to increase higher education access for incarcerated students,” said WHEF President and CEO Jim McHale. https://buff.ly/41VmxRU

04/06/2023

We are thrilled to share our 2021-2022 Impact Report, “Expedition to 55,” which showcases our journey towards Ascent to 55% and the steps we’ve taken and plan to take to reach this goal. View our Impact Report: https://buff.ly/3KFv3yT

03/22/2023

03/09/2023

Getting to and through higher education has never been more important for long-term economic success; but the past few years have made it very difficult for many Mississippians to enroll in and persist through college. We recently shared our new five-year strategic plan, which outlines how we will work toward our statewide goal of ensuring that 55% of working-age adults in Mississippi have a postsecondary credential by 2030. https://buff.ly/3mAiZFn

03/07/2023

WHEF is excited to announce the hiring of three employees and the promotion of five employees! Read more in our latest blog post.

The Woodward Hines Education Foundation (WHEF) welcomed three new employees in December and January. With the revamping of WHEF’s organizational structure, several employees have undergone title changes to support its new strategic plan and levers of change. Three New Faces Josephine Dunigan joi...

02/15/2023

We are pleased to introduce our new five-year strategic plan, which will drive our work to help more Mississippians obtain postsecondary credentials, college certificates, and degrees that lead to meaningful employment. Over the next five years, we will not only enhance the services we have historically provided, but also scale up promising practices and test new ways to address the rapidly evolving needs of Mississippi students. We look forward to building on the foundation of more than 40 years of work to equip individuals with greater opportunity and to build stronger communities across our state. Check out the new plan to learn more: https://woodwardhines.org/strategic-plan