Dinetta Karriem
Education long has been a key part of Dinetta Karriem鈥檚 life.
During a 16-year career at Mississippi State, she鈥檚 worked at the College of Education to help guide future teachers through their degree programs and, ultimately, into classrooms.
Some of that influence must have rubbed off at home鈥攁nd possibly in the most gratifying way. She said son Yusuf is beginning his freshman year as a secondary education major at the university.
Student services coordinator for counseling and educational psychology since January, Karriem joined the staff in 1999 as an assistant to the college鈥檚 dean of students. In that role, she focused on student services, helping education majors plot their individual courses through the academic unit鈥檚 diverse program offerings. She also conducted degree audits for students prior to their applications for graduation.
In her new role, Karriem works on institutional effectiveness and accreditation reports that help faculty assess how their teaching strategies are working. She also continues to assist with advising and degree audits, roles that happily allow the continued pursuit of her love for inspiring and engaging students.
鈥淏asically, I help students, faculty and staff achieve their goals,鈥 Karriem said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting stuff. The most gratifying part, I think, is to see the students get through their degree programs and graduate.鈥
Though born on the west side of Chicago, Karriem said she had made her way to Mississippi by high school and has resided here ever since. After earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in social work and a minor in psychology at Mississippi University for Women, she came to 熟女少妇for master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in counselor education.
Expressing appreciation for the many mentors and experiences that have driven her to succeed in both education and career, she said her personal goal is to 鈥減ay that forward.鈥
鈥淚 am really blessed,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 know I am standing on the shoulders of giants who came before me.鈥