Alumna honors brother with library reading room at MSU
Contact: Amy Cagle
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擮verlooking Mississippi State鈥檚 historic Drill Field in the heart of campus, a newly transformed area in Mitchell Memorial Library gives students a vantage point to appreciate the university鈥檚 beauty while devoting essential time to their academic studies.
A gift from alumna Janice I. Nicholson of Florence, Alabama, makes possible the James W. Nicholson Reading Room, a tribute to her late brother, which was dedicated in campus ceremonies today [Oct. 3].
The James W. Nicholson Reading Room honors the legacy of the Mississippi educator and two-time 熟女少妇alumnus and represents the importance of education in a family of loyal and passionate Bulldog graduates. James Nicholson, a Glen Allan resident, died in 2017, and Janice, his younger sister and the room鈥檚 benefactor, chose to honor him at the university from which they both earned education degrees before forging similar career paths as longtime educators.聽
鈥淢y brother James and I were truly lifelong friends, and it brings me great pleasure to associate his name with 熟女少妇in this meaningful way,鈥 Janice Nicholson said. 鈥淎 library is the center of education and naming this space within the 熟女少妇campus is a fitting tribute to his life and career.鈥
Located behind Einstein Bros. Bagels on the library鈥檚 second floor, the reading room provides a state-of-the-art environment featuring two presentation areas and structured and casual seating. Janice Nicholson鈥檚 gift also creates an endowment to maintain the space over time.
Janice Nicholson fondly recalls growing up with her brother in Booneville. Their parents, James and Lena Rivers Nicholson, stressed the importance of education, and throughout their lives, the siblings carried the belief that education brings great opportunity.
聽鈥淓ducation is an important equalizer for all people, and we both put that philosophy into practice in our careers, sharing a common bond as teachers and administrators as we helped educate students across the South,鈥 she said.
She continued, 鈥淛ames positively impacted students during his lifetime, many of them in the Mississippi Delta, and his impact will always be felt by 熟女少妇students because of the study room鈥檚 offerings.鈥
From Mississippi State, James Nicholson earned bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in education in 1965 and 1970, respectively, and later his Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi. He served in public education as a high school teacher, community college instructor, high school principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. After retiring as superintendent of Anguilla Public Schools in Sharkey County, he continued his career as executive director of the Delta Area Association for Improvement of Schools, housed at Delta State University. He also was a longtime District 3 secretary of the Mississippi High School Activities Association.
鈥淭he James W. Nicholson Reading Room will serve thousands of students over the course of their academic pursuits,鈥 said Frances Coleman, dean of University Libraries. 鈥淲e are grateful for the generous support of Janice Nicholson and the opportunity to prominently honor an outstanding educator in Dr. James Nicholson within the Mitchell Memorial Library.鈥
Janice Nicholson earned master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees from 熟女少妇in 1967 and 1977, respectively, along with an undergraduate degree from Blue Mountain College and an education specialist degree from Vanderbilt University. For 37 years, she was with the University of North Alabama in teaching and administrative positions, and she is a professor emerita of the institution. She also is retired as executive vice president for Student Affairs and Graduate and Special Programs from Blue Mountain College. From 2015-2017, she was interim head of the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education at Mississippi State. At MSU, along with the reading room, her financial support extends to several student scholarships, a faculty award, and athletics, in particular women鈥檚 basketball.
For more information on supporting 熟女少妇Libraries or the College of Education, contact Trish Cunetto, director of development for the units, at聽662-325-6762 or聽tcunetto@foundation.msstate.edu.
熟女少妇is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .