W launches Wise Start Early Childhood Project to boost early childhood education
by Tyler Wheat
As Mississippi faces growing demands for stronger early learning programs, Mississippi University for Women has secured a $500,000 grant to launch the Wise Start Early Childhood Project—an initiative aimed at transforming early childhood education through the new Office of Early Childhood (OEC) within the Center for Education Support (CES).
“This initiative highlights The W’s dedication to early childhood education by enhancing local services, supporting early educators and giving Columbus and Lowndes County’s youngest learners a strong foundation for the future,” said University President Nora Miller.
The Wise Start Early Childhood Project strengthens communities by equipping families and educators with the tools, resources and support needed to ensure every child from birth to age five gets the strong start they deserve. Prioritizing Columbus and its surrounding rural communities, the project uses local data to identify the distinct needs of families, educators and childcare providers—ensuring early learning strategies are responsive and effective.
OEC will serve as the home for fully executing the Excel by 5 model, supporting community-wide collaboration and quality improvement across early childhood systems. In partnership with local businesses and policymakers, the Wise Start Early Childhood Project will expand early learning, support the current workforce and invest in the next generation.
The Wise Start Early Childhood Project was made possible through a partnership with Dr. Bonnie Camp, the youngest graduate in the university’s history, as well as a developmental pediatrician and researcher. Recognizing the potential for greater impact, Camp secured additional collaborative funding from Sibyl Frankenburg and Steve Kessel to provide a strong foundation for the project.
“This project is the next step in the hard work we’ve been doing,” said Dr. Marty Hatton, dean of the School of Education. “The Office of Early Childhood will serve as a hub for all our early learning initiatives, giving them a place to grow and thrive. It will also work in tandem with our revamped early childhood education degree track.”
OEC will address critical gaps in the Columbus-Lowndes early childhood community, focusing on early developmental support, professional training and community engagement to foster holistic childhood education and brain development. The office will coordinate resources for early childhood development with internal campus partners, including The W’s nursing, speech pathology and music therapy departments, while also facilitating external outreach. By expanding access to developmental screenings and professional learning opportunities for early educators and family support initiatives, OEC aims to ensure that children receive the interventions they need at the earliest possible stage.
“The economic impact of early childhood education is undeniable,” said Penny Sansing Mansell, director of the Center for Education Support and instructor of Early Childhood. “When we invest in young children, we are also investing in working parents, local businesses and the future workforce. No other time is as critical—quality early learning opportunities help parents remain in the workforce, support employers by ensuring reliable childcare and lay the foundation for the problem-solvers, innovators and skilled workers our community will depend on in the coming decades.”
According to Mansell, research shows that 90% of brain development happens before age five, making early childhood the most critical time for preparing children for future success.
“This initiative is about creating lasting change, not just in classrooms but across the entire community,” Mansell added. “By ensuring that our youngest learners are ready for school, we are also ensuring that their families can succeed and that our local economy continues to grow.”
The W has a longstanding legacy as a leader in early childhood education, collaborating with initiatives like Excel by 5, hosting professional development conferences and organizing local resource fairs. Since 1929, The W has operated an early childhood lab school, now called the Child and Parent Development Center. This nearly century-long commitment to young children, families and educators continues today with the launch of the Wise Start Early Childhood Project, which is designed to expand and strengthen early learning efforts across the region.
About The W
Located in historic Columbus, Mississippi, The W was founded in 1884 as the first state-supported college for women in the United States. Today, the university is home to 2,193 students in more than 70 majors and concentrations and has educated men for 40 years. The university is nationally recognized for low student debt, community and social mobility which empowers students to BE BOLD.
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