Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is proud to announce that Zachary Dozier, Perkinston Campus Language Arts and Foreign Language Instructor, has been named the college’s 2026 Humanities Teacher Award recipient by the Mississippi Humanities Council. The award recognizes outstanding educators who have made significant contributions to the public humanities in Mississippi.

In addition to his role as an instructor, Dozier serves as director of the MGCCC Honors College and advisor of the campus Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter. As a humanities scholar, he will receive a $300 honorarium, a commemorative certificate, and a complimentary ticket to the Mississippi Humanities Council Awards Ceremony, to be held in March in Jackson.

To highlight his expertise, passion, and commitment to humanities-based education, Dozier will present a public lecture titled “Heritage in Humanities: How Our Students’ Backgrounds Help Us Teach.” The lecture will take place on Tuesday, February 25, 2026, from 2–3:30 p.m. in the Hayden Student Union Banquet Room on MGCCC’s Perkinston Campus. A reception will follow the presentation.

Each year, the Mississippi Humanities Council honors scholars, educators, and organizations who have made meaningful contributions to advancing the public humanities throughout the state. Dozier’s recognition underscores MGCCC’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, cultural awareness, and the value of humanities-based scholarship.

“This nomination and accompanying public lecture reflect the important role humanities play in student success and community engagement,” said Dr. Brad Bailey, vice president of the Perkinston Campus and George County Center. “Not only is Mr. Dozier an exceptional foreign language instructor, but he also leads our Honors College and advises Phi Theta Kappa. He consistently goes above and beyond to enrich our students’ experiences, and we are very fortunate to have him at MGCCC.”

Dozier said he is grateful for the honor and excited to share his work with the campus and community.

“I’m honored to receive the Humanities Teacher Award for 2026,” Dozier said. “This recognition means a great deal, and I look forward to the upcoming public lecture, where I’ll be exploring the role of heritage in the humanities. It will be a wonderful opportunity to share ideas and celebrate the value of our students’ diverse cultural legacies.”

Students describe Dozier as an educator that has made a meaningful impact on their lives.

“As a student in the Honors College, there is no other teacher I’d rather have than Mr. Dozier,” said Jacob Ogle, an MGCCC Perkinston Campus sophomore. “He is one of the brightest minds on campus. I believe there is no better candidate for the Humanities Award, and I congratulate him.”

Aniya Crawford, also a Perkinston Campus sophomore, echoed those sentiments.

“Mr. Dozier understands how to build trust and community with his students, which makes him deserving of this award,” Crawford said. “He takes time to learn about his students’ backgrounds and uses that knowledge to connect them to the classroom. He creates a space where students feel comfortable participating and sharing ideas.”