English as Second Language Instructor, Youth Minister Join Mississippi College Staff

Denise Arnold, Intensive English Program instructor in the Office of Global Education, and Brandon Scott Conerly, associate director of the Baptist Student Union, have recently joined Mississippi College's administrative staff.

Denise Arnold, M.A.C.C.S.

Denise Arnold, an English as a Second Language instructor at the Community College of Rhode Island and an English Language Learner consultant for St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, has joined the Mississippi College staff as an Intensive English Program instructor in the Office of Global Education.

Mei-Chi Piletz, executive director and principal designated school official in Global Education, said Arnold will help prepare MC’s international students to enter their academic studies through intensive English learning.

“We are excited to have an instructor with Ms. Denise Arnold’s credentials to help our international students enhance their English skills to succeed in their studies,” Piletz said. “Often, our international students come to the U.S. unprepared, and our IEP instructor could help them with academic writing, teaching them APA styles, finding them conversation partners, etc.”

After receiving her B.A. in English from Tougaloo College, Arnold obtained her master’s in cross-cultural studies from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. In her role as an educator, she has taught at multiple levels, both public and private, from secondary schools and private organizations to institutions of higher learning.

An Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society inductee, Arnold is a UNCF Mellon Fellow who has interned for Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson. She is an active member of the National Council of Teachers of English and English USA.

She has given presentations at many national conferences and has shared her love for educating others in the U.S., the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. She has collaborated with colleagues in education, public health, medicine, and church organizations, providing aid to children in impoverished communities.

Her research interests include the educational, social, and economic effects of stigmatization and cultural assimilation. She frequently gives presentations on factors affecting second language acquisition and effective strategies for English Language Learners.

Brandon Scott Conerly, B.S.

Brandon Scott Conerly, youth minister at Oakdale Baptist Church in Brandon, has joined the Mississippi College staff as associate director of the Baptist Student Union.

After receiving his associate’s degree in sports coaching education from Holmes Community College, where he was outreach leader for the Holmes BSU, Conerly earned his B.S. in kinesiology at the University of Southern Mississippi.

He was heavily active in the BSU at USM, serving on the Lead Team and as Bible study and family group leader, Missions Team leader, and, ultimately, president. He has participated in several mission trips and has served as team leader on missions to Cambodia and East Asia. He has served as youth minister at Oakdale Baptist Church since May and just got married in June. More recently, he led a BSU Disaster Relief Team of five MC students to Louisiana to work with St. Rose Community Church members to help individuals recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in fall 2021.

Mandy Phillips, director of the BSU at MC, said Conerly and his wife, Abigail, have a passion for international missions and helping students figure out how to leverage their lives for the Gospel.

“BSU was an instrumental part of Brandon’s faith development, do he knows firsthand how the impacts of discipleship on the collegiate level can change a life,” Phillips said. “From his time on the baseball team at Holmes Community College to his numerous roles with the Holmes and Southern Miss BSUs, his leadership experience helped craft that balance of drawing students into leadership and empowering them for ministry.

“Brandon’s versatility makes him an incredible asset to MC, but I’d say that students are even more drawn to his approachable, genuine faith. He cares about the students deeply and our ministry is stronger because of the influence he has on their lives.”

She said he oversees the BSU’s Missions and Community Missions Teams and engages in outreach, “equipping leaders and having a major hand in discipleship and community-building.”