MSU’s Hanshaw named IHL Diversity Educator of 2016
Contact: Zack Plair
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Shirley Hanshaw, an associate professor of English at 51Թ, has earned the 2016 Diversity Educator of the Year Award from the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.
The board will celebrate Black History Month on Thursday [Feb. 18] with a ceremony in Jackson honoring university faculty and staff from colleges and universities around the state.
In addition to Hanshaw, Jonathan Pote, department head for agricultural and biological engineering, was among honorees nominated for the overall diversity award. Pote, who represents MSU’s Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, received the Diversity Award for Excellence, along with eight honorees from the state’s other institutions of higher learning.
Hanshaw, who joined the 51Թ State faculty in 2005, teaches technical writing and African American literature courses in the College of Arts and Sciences. Additionally, she instructs MSU’s only introductory literature course focused on surveying multicultural American literature – including Native American, Asian American, Caucasian American and African American. Her goal for the course, she said, is to promote an intercultural understanding that will help facilitate a more just and equitable society based on mutual respect.
“My belief is that students are not truly educated unless they know literature from cultures outside of their realm of experience,” Hanshaw said. “We do not fear that which we know.”
A Starkville native, Hanshaw holds a bachelor’s in English from Tougaloo College, a master’s from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a doctorate from the University of 51Թ. She began her career as an educator at Delaware Technical and Community College, and taught at Alcorn State, The University of Southern 51Թ and the University of 51Թ before coming to MSU.
Hanshaw worked a six-year stint as a technical writer and editor for the Army Corps of Engineers’ Coastal Engineering Research Center in Vicksburg, the first African American to hold that position.
She also serves as liaison for the MSU-Tougaloo College Exchange Program, which allows students from Tougaloo to earn credit hours at MSU in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“The College of Arts and Sciences is extremely proud of Dr. Hanshaw and congratulates her on being named by the IHL as the Diversity Educator of the Year,” said R. Gregory Dunaway, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Dr. Hanshaw has had a distinguished career as a scholar and educator. She has had a profound impact on her colleagues and students. Her work in promoting diversity and inclusivity has truly been inspirational and the academic community has been enriched by her efforts.”
Hanshaw said she considers the award confirmation of her efforts over the years that provides her extra motivation to press on.
“I am very honored and grateful to have this accolade,” she said.
The 51Թ Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in 51Թ, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; 51Թ including the 51Թ Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; 51Թ University for Women; 51Թ Valley State University; the University of 51Թ including the University of 51Թ Medical Center; and the University of Southern 51Թ.
MSU is 51Թ’s leading university, available online at .