MC Welcomes New Admissions Team Members
"I couldn't imagine going anywhere else," said Wallace, who began dreaming of an MC education as a small child and earned her bachelor's degree in communication from MC in May. "God truly blessed me with the relationships I have made while I was a student - I hope they continue."
A 2003 Brandon High graduate, Wallace, 22, works a territory including Southwest Mississippi and Louisiana cities such as Baton Rouge and New Orleans as an MC admissions counselor.
Wallace, who stayed active as an undergraduate in the Nenamoosha Social Tribe, the MC Naturals, the MC Chorale and other groups on the Clinton campus, has an extensive family history at the Christian university. Her grandfather, Dr. John Flowers, is a retired Southern Baptist preacher from Senatobia, is an MC graduate who attended the Clinton college in the 1940s.
As she takes part in a new academic year with classes beginning Aug. 22, Wallace is working hard with her admissions colleagues during the sweltering dog days of summer. Their efforts are paying off. All signs point to MC exceeding its record 4,162 students enrolling last fall. Enrollment is expected to climb 7 percent this fall.
Wallace, a Summit native who loves to sing, read, run and go fishing in her spare time, and others on the admissions team are getting noticed.
Enrollment services executive director Chad Phillips "has assembled an incredible cast of admissions counselors," said Scotty Elliott, MC's director of admissions. "Each counselor brings a unique strength to the office," he said, "amidst their diversity, a common bond exists...a passionate love for Mississippi College. This is perhaps the greatest ingredient to our success."
Phillips said the admissions team this fall is one of the strongest MC has seen in the past 15 years. He expects 2007 fall enrollment will be up and there will be a repeat performance in 2008.
Others new on the admissions scene: Robby Followell, 22, of Meridian, who graduated from MC in May with a degree in graphic design. He worked as campus visit coordinator with the admissions office as an MC student. "I was thrilled to continue in a similar capacity." Photography and travel are his hobbies. He shoots pictures at weddings and does portraits when he's not recruiting for MC. The Meridian High graduate recruits potential MC students in east-central Mississippi, south Alabama and Florida. On his road trips, he's a Starbucks fan, but frequents other java places, too.
The third new kid on the block in admissions is Kyle Brantley of Brandon, a 2007 MC graduate with a degree in public relations. He was a student recruiter for three years. "MC has a very personal, uplifting atmosphere and that's what drew me to this campus. I love my job because I get to promote a place that I love."
Brantley's recruiting territory includes: Northwest Rankin, Brandon and Pearl high schools, East Rankin Academy, portions of the Mississippi Delta, North Louisiana, Texas and parts of the Midwest.
There are now 14 people on the MC admissions staff. It's grown exponentially from the days when Larry Franklin, now a Grenada businessman, and college trustee, was the school's lone recruiter after receiving his bachelor's degree in 1968 at MC.
Recruiters like Wallace are setting high goals. "My prayer for this year is that the Lord will use me to my fullest for His utmost glory."
Pictured (left-right): Kyle Brantley, Elizabeth Wallace, and Robby Followell, new members of the Mississippi College admissions team.
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