College of Education & Human Sciences at Southern Miss

05/20/2026

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

05/19/2026

05/13/2026

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)

05/13/2026

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.

05/06/2026

Congrats to Neonta Mahjabin, Outstanding Junior for the School of Psychology! 🎉👏🦅

Neonta is from Khulna, Bangladesh, and she is passionate about research, especially related to experimental psychology. Connecting theory with practice to tackle real-world challenges excites her and drives her involvement with the School of Psychology’s many active research opportunities.

Her position as an undergraduate assistant researcher in the Experimental Health Psychology Lab has involved over 13 projects exploring coping mechanisms, impostor syndrome and the relationship between healthcare satisfaction and mental health. She has presented her work at several conferences, including the Health Disparities Conference at Xavier University of Louisiana, Mississippi Academy of Sciences, annual meeting of The Southeastern Psychological Association, and the USM Undergraduate Symposium on Research and Creative Activity.

The strong knowledge of developmental psychology that she has gained at Southern Miss enabled her to secure an internship with the Autism Society of North Carolina earlier this year. Based on her dedication and performance, she has been invited to return as a summer intern as well.

Neonta has served as a learning assistant for Introductory Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences (PSY 360); an international student ambassador for USM International Admissions; president of the USM F.L.I.G.H.T Ambassadors; community service coordinator for USM’s Psychology Club; a special delegate for the Rotary Club of Hattiesburg, and a volunteer for i Friends - Hattiesburg, MS.

05/05/2026

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.

05/05/2026

Congrats to Nicole Eubanks, BSW Student of the Year for the School of Social Work! 🎉👏🦅

Nicole is a dedicated Bachelor of Social Work student, wife and mother from Pass Christian, Miss., whose passion for helping others is rooted in both personal experience and a lifelong commitment to serve. After serving 20 years in the United States Air Force, she brings strong leadership, resilience and compassion to her work with children and families. Her academic journey reflects a deep desire to advocate for children and families in underserved communities.

She has been active on campus and in the community as a representative for the Gulf Park BSW Club, a board member for R.E.A.L Women of Faith and a coordinator for the Pineville Elementary Backpack Buddy program. Outside of the classroom, Nicole gained additional experience through completion of an Early Childhood Student Scholars Research Project for The Children's Foundation of Mississippi.

After graduation next year, Nicole plans to pursue a Master of Social Work and serve in child welfare and school social work, where she can support children and families through both direct practice and advocacy. Her long-term goal is to influence policy and create lasting change that strengthens support systems at both the individual and systemic levels.

05/05/2026

Congrats to Aeriunna Owens, MSW Field Education - Hattiesburg Student of the Year for the School of Social Work! 🎉👏🦅

Aeriunna earned her BSW from Southern Miss in December 2024 and will soon walk the commencement stage again for her MSW. She has already passed the licensure exam, so she will be an LMSW pending graduation.

Her field experience in the Laurel School District was transformational, and she learned so much about being a dedicated and caring social worker from her field instructor’s example (Ms. Tanisha Thompson). Aeriunna’s key takeaways include always being willing to listen deeply first, respecting the seriousness of each student’s expressed difficulties and trauma, and being generous with her time to help clients however she can. She observed current and past students responding to Ms. Thompson with such admiration and gratitude, and Aeriunna aspires to emulate the same compassionate practices so that she can better the lives of others.

After graduation this spring, she desires to have a meaningful career as a school social worker and one day start a non-profit organization that serves low-income mothers and their children in or near her hometown of Waynesboro, Miss.