Nola K. Gibson
I am Director of Enrichment and Special Projects at Millsaps
College. My degrees are from the Mississippi University for Women (B.S. in Journalism)
and the University of Mississippi (M.A. in Journalism and Ph.D. in Higher Education
Leadership). The Community Enrichment Program offers quality noncredit programming for
adults in the areas of art, business, computers, gardening, personal improvement, sports
and music. Three series of enrichment programs are offered each year--in spring, winter
and fall. Other projects that I direct include an Advanced Placement Institute for high
school teachers, summer enrichment camps, and the Great Topics Seminars in the Humanities
and Sciences. These Great Topics
Seminars were established in 1988 to engage corporate and professional leaders and
community volunteers in the Jackson, MS metropolitan area in the study of intellectual
issues affecting current society and the individual. To find out more about any of
these programs or to be put on the mailing list(s), call (601) 974-1130 or email me. I
also serve on the Board of the Millsaps Arts and Lecture Series. This is a wonderful
and enlightening yearly series of lectures and arts programs, including musical programs.
The season always begins with a special presentation and reading by Southern
writers. Don't miss this! If you would like more information on the Arts and Lecture
Series, call (601) 974-1043.
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." -- William Butler Yeats
On a personal note, I live on 13 beautiful acres in Flowood and have two kids, Ginger and Jeremy. We share the space with some transient Canada geese and Mallard ducks, and two cats named Snowy and Zoltan (see them below). Lots of birds, squirrels and catfish also live in the woods and pond. Besides art, theatre, music and reading, my consuming passion at the current time is ballroom dancing. A whole new world has opened up, and I especially like those Latin dances like the cha cha and rhumba. Other favorites are tango and bolero. In case you've always wanted to try ballroom dancing, Millsaps Enrichment offers an introduction to social dancing. It's great!
"There is a magic in some books that sucks a man into connections with the spirits hard to touch
that join him to his kind." -- Roger Waters, Chicago Tribune interview, July 1999
Chefy 1996-2001
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Our cats, Snowy and Stormy, came to us after being abandoned
at a trailer park in December of 2001. They grew into wonderful sweet cats and are just
beautiful despite being so malnourished when we got them. Snowy
is still with us, but Stormy went to live with another family nearby
(her choice, not ours!).
Now we also have our long, lanky Zoltan, better known to us as TanTan.
The photo is when he was a kitten, and he did finally grow into his big
feet, tail and ears.
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Snowy and Stormy
Zoltan (TanTan)
Snowy
Family Photo
My Hobby
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Ballroom dancing is THE hobby for me! This photo was taken on
November 21, 2002, at the Multicultural Festival at Millsaps College. My partner
in this photo is
my dance teacher, Kirk DeBlase, who taught for several years at In Step Dance Studio in Jackson
and now owns Strictly Dancing Ballroom Studio. The dance is
the TANGO! Millsaps Enrichment Program offers a beginning social dance
class at Dance Connection in Pearl and strictly swing class at
Strictly Swing Studio. Information can be found at
www.millsaps.edu/conted.
All these metro area studios offer opportunities for private and group
lessons, as well as practice dances. In addition,
Magnolia Ballroom Dance Association sponsors a monthly dance at the
Agricultural Museum in Jackson. Go to
www.magnoliaballroomdancers.org.
Other interests include independent films. I also serve on the board of Crossroads Film Society. Crossroads offers many opportunities during the year to view independent films and hosts a wonderful film festival each year in April. For more information, go to www.Crossroadsfilmfest.com
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Nola K. Gibson
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