Serving on the Hinds Community College Foundation Board and giving back to her alma mater is a dream come true for alumna Misti Munroe (2001).
A graduate of Clinton High School, Munroe chose Hinds as her college of choice to pursue her higher education. As a first-generation college student and the oldest of three children in a middle-class family, being a recipient of the Foundation scholarship and other aid allowed her to attend school debt-free and graduate without student loans.
“The importance of receiving an education was instilled in me at a very young age,” she said. “The question was never ‘if I was going to go to college’, but ‘how was I going to go’. Receiving the Hinds Foundation scholarship jump-started my educational journey.”
Munroe was both academically and socially involved during her time at Hinds. She was a Hi-Stepper, parliamentarian for the Associated Student Government, and a Phi Theta Kappa member. She also served on the Homecoming court and was featured twice in the Eagle Beauty Revue.
“The most memorable experience of all was having the opportunity to be a Hi-Stepper under the direction of Mrs. Anna Bee,” she said. “I hope to eventually make it back on the field at Homecoming with the alumna ladies.”
After leaving Hinds, Munroe earned a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree from Mississippi College. Now serving as Associate Vice President for Business and Finance at Jackson State University, she appreciates her Hinds experience even more.
Former Foundation board member Laura Jackson (1985), who is now chief operating officer/CFO at Mississippi College, nominated Munroe to be on the board. The two long-time friends share a great appreciation for their memorable experiences at Hinds and serving on the Foundation board. Munroe recalls when President Emeritus Dr. Clyde Muse called her.
“I was ecstatic when I received the call from Dr. Muse letting me know I had been chosen to serve on the Foundation board,” she said. “While attending my first board meeting, I reflected on how my experience with the Foundation had come full circle for me. It is an honor to serve this distinguished institution and help the next generation of students receive the same support that was given to me as a student.”