Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College President Dr. Mary S. Graham was recognized during a dedication ceremony for the new residence hall on the Perkinston Campus.  The decision to name Graham Hall in her honor was made by the MGCCC Board of Trustees during their regular meeting on June 22. The dedication ceremony took place as part of the MGCCC Homecoming Day celebration on October 15.

The standing-room-only event began with a rendition of the college’s alma mater by the Tri-Campus Choir. Speakers included Dr. Ladd Taylor, vice president of the Perkinston Campus; Dr. Michael Tatum, first vice chairperson of the MGCCC Board of Trustees; and Dr. Graham’s husband, Wayne.  Dr. Graham made closing remarks during the dedication, expressing her gratitude for the working relationship she has with college employees and the Board of Trustees.

“I am thankful to have been a part of MGCCC for so many years, and I look forward to the future of our great institution,” Graham said.  “The dedication of Graham Hall was truly a humbling experience. I appreciate the Board of Trustees for not only recognizing me with this honor, but also for trusting me to lead this institution for the past 11 years.”

Graham has served as president of MGCCC since 2011.  She began her career at Gulf Coast in 1987, serving in several administrative positions, including director of Admissions/Registrar, director of Institutional Relations, and vice president of Community Campus.  She served as vice president of the Perkinston Campus for 13 years prior to being named president.

During her tenure as president at Gulf Coast, Graham has brought the community college to the national stage, serving as chair of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and as chair of the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Presidents Association (MACC). She is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Presidential Advisory Board, the Mississippi Power Association Board of Directors, Mississippi Humanities Council Board of Directors, National Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute (NDORI) Board, and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation Board.  Graham was appointed and served on The Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag and serves as co-chair for the Gulf Coast Restore Advisory Committee.