Director, Center for Education Support
Phone: (662) 241-6088 EDHS Office 113
Email: psmansell@muw.edu
About Penny
Penny Mansell serves as Director of the Center for Education Support (CES) at Mississippi University for Women. She believes education is a powerful force that drives economic progress, workforce development, and community sustainability. Since joining The W, she has managed more than $2 million in grants and gifts, expanding the university’s reach through innovative partnerships and community-based initiatives. Her collaborative work weaves together programs, events, policies, and systems that extend educational support beyond the classroom. She emphasizes engagement, outreach, and hospitality as core practices, ensuring CES strengthens pipelines, supports lifelong learning, and sustains accountability. Penny approaches leadership as a problem-solver and change-maker, committed to turning community needs into high-impact solutions.
Her motto? You don’t always have to know what you’re doing, but you better work hard, care deeply, and remember Maya Angelou’s words: “When you know better, do better.” Children and families are counting on it.
Education
- Ed.D, University of West Alabama, Rural Education Organizational Change and Leadership (Dissertation focus on Early Childhood Education Community Partnerships; in process)
- M.Ed, University of West Alabama, Early Childhood Education
- B.S., Mississippi University for Women, McDevitt Scholar, PTK Scholar, Hearin Leadership Scholar, Masker Honorary Social Club, Silhouette Social Club (Focus: Education, Public Relations, English)
- A.A., East Mississippi Community College, Scooba; Phi Theta Kappa
- Special Needs Infant and Toddler Credential, Early Childhood Inclusion Center, Institute for Disabilities Studies at the University of Southern Mississippi
- Special Needs Preschool Credential, Early Childhood Inclusion Center Institute for Disabilities Studies at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Committees and Leadership:
- Administrative Council
- Director’s Council
- Diversity Council
- PIE Council
- Academic Council
- Teacher Education Council
- Women’s College Advisory Committee
- MSMS Academic Pathways
- School of Education Advisory Board
- School of Education Dean and Chairs Leadership Committee
- School of Education (MRR) Marketing, Recruitment & Retention Committee, Marketing Chair
- WHEMN – Women in Higher Education – Mississippi Network; MUW Institutional Representative
- Kappa Kappa Iota, Mu State, Beta Chapter (W Campus Advisor)
- Mississippi Professional Educators (W Campus Advisor)
- Mississippi Early Childhood Association (W Campus Advisor)
Community Partnerships and Advocacy
- Advocacy Scholar, Center for Early Childhood Policy Advancement, 2025
- State Board Member, Excel by 5
- Phil Hardin Early Education Instructors Fellow, 2025
- Mississippi Early Childhood Development Coalition
- Mississippi’s Forum for the Future
- Education Committee, Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce
- Mississippi Quality Support System Recommendations Team Member, QSS Project
- Certification Manager, Steering Committee Chair, Excel by 5 of Columbus-Lowndes County
- Mayor’s Coalition for Early Childhood Policy and Education
- National Committee for Collegiate Kappa, Kappa Kappa Iota
- Advisor, Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER Committee) Early Intervention Task Force (2023-2024)
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Member
Awards
| March 2025 | Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award |
| February 20, 2020 | IHL Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award by the Mississippi Board of Trustees |
| January 17, 2020 | The W’s Diversity and Inclusion Award of Excellence |
University Teaching
| ED304 | Principles of Early Childhood Education |
| ED315 | Policy and Advocacy in Early Childhood |
| ED317 | Behaviors in Early Childhood |
| ED320 | Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education |
| ED404 | Teacher Internship in Early Childhood Education |
Areas of interest:
- Raising early intervention and child-find referral rates
- Place-based school models
- Inclusive practices for early educators
- Grassroots efforts to problem-solve systemic education issues
- Rural early education programs and impact
Primary research areas:
- “Using High-Quality Coaching and Training to Raise Childcare Center STAR Assessment Scores in Mississippi”
- “Empowering Rural Communities: The Role of Grassroots Organizations in Transforming Early Childhood Education in Lowndes County, Mississippi”
