ITTA BENA, Miss. — Mississippi Valley State University Assistant Professor of Piano Alessandro Fonseca will present his first faculty piano recital at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, in Walter Roberts Auditorium in the H.G. Carpenter Building.

The recital will feature nearly three centuries of keyboard music, with works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Liszt, Franz Schubert, Frédéric Chopin, Claude Debussy and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

More than five decades after his death, William H. Copeland’s family discovered another chapter in the story of a father, Marine and longtime MVSU food service director whose legacy of courage, education and service continues through generations.

Donnell Maxie, Communications Director

ITTA BENA, Miss. — There are some things a father tells his son that never leave him.

For Dr. Vincent H. Copeland, it was just three words.

ITTA BENA, Miss. — Mississippi Valley State University has named alumna Dr. Jocelyn Haley director of Library Services, bringing an experienced higher education professional and library leader to the helm of the James H. White Library.

In her new role, Haley will provide leadership for the university’s library operations, resources, technology, programming and assessment while advancing initiatives designed to strengthen student success and academic excellence.

ITTA BENA, Miss. — Mississippi Valley State University's Office of Communications and Marketing is excited to announce Karrington Stockstill as the new communication specialist.

Stockstill previously served as project coordinator and social media manager for the Office of Communications and Marketing. In that role, she coordinated office project requests, managed the University's official social media platforms and led digital campaigns designed to increase engagement and strengthen the MVSU brand.

By: Donell Maxie, Communications Director

ITTA BENA, Miss. — Mississippi Valley State University has named alumnus Chaid L. Thomas as its new director of admissions, bring ing more than 15 years of higher education experience in enrollment management, recruitment, student success and strategic planning to the position. 

ITTA BENA, Miss. — Mississippi Valley State University has received approval from the U.S. Department of Education to continue its Prison Education Partnership Program (PEPP) under the revised Pell Grant guidelines for incarcerated students, expanding educational access and workforce preparation opportunities for justice-impacted individuals. 

ITTA BENA, Miss. — The Office of Communications and Marketing at Mississippi Valley State University earned 47 awards across 18 categories during the 2026 College Public Relations Association of Mississippi (CPRAM) Awards Ceremony held Tuesday evening during the organization’s annual conference hosted by Northwest Mississippi Community College. 

ITTA BENA, Miss. — “Failure and success are not opposites; they are partners.”

That message from keynote speaker Toks Omishakin resonated throughout the R.W. Harrison Complex on Saturday morning as Mississippi Valley State University celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2026 during its 74th Commencement Ceremony. 

A distinguished MVSU alumnus and Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), Omishakin challenged graduates to embrace resilience, take risks and pursue purpose beyond fear and failure.

By LaTunya Evans, Communications Specialist

Itta Bena, Miss. — After four years of balancing her books and business while building her future, Mississippi Valley State University Student Government Association (SGA) President Jouri Thornton will be graduating on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 8 a.m. in the R. W. Harrison Complex. Following graduation, the Accounting and Business Administration graduate will gain hands-on experience as the 2026 Distribution Center Intern with the Dollar General Distribution Center in Indianola, Mississippi.

By LaTunya Evans, Communications Specialist

Itta Bena, Miss. — Throughout his collegiate journey, Jabari Johnson endured academic challenges, personal loss and the pressure of leadership. Refusing to be limited by adversity, Johnson is preparing to walk across the commencement stage at Mississippi Valley State University on Saturday, May 9, 2026.