POPLARVILLE – Three new directors bring a variety of experience to their positions at Pearl River Community College.
Terri Clark is PRCC’s director of adult education services, Delana Harris is director of recruiting and marketing and Dr. Ed Pinero is director of career and technical education programs.
Clark has been adult education/GED counselor at PRCC since October 2009. She taught psychology as an adjunct instructor at PRCC and was a counselor with the Forrest County school system from 2005-2009.
“I am very excited about the services being offered within Adult Education,” Clark said. “Adult learners have many educational and training opportunities ahead with Career Pathways, co-enrollment and GED completion. I am truly honored to work alongside this team as we provide educational services to more than 800 adults within PRCC’s district.”
She holds the bachelor’s degree in family and consumer science from the University of Southern Mississippi and the master’s degree in counseling from William Carey University. Clark will complete the 2015 Leadership Class for National Career Pathways in October. She is a member of several professional associations and participated in the Area Development Partnership’s 2005 Leadership for a New Century program.
Terri Clark
Clark is more than capable of helping adults who didn’t finish high school transition into successful college students, said Dr. Scott Alsobrooks, vice president for economic and community development. “The Adult Basic Education Program here at PRCC is an extremely important program,” he said. “Many of the students that enroll at PRCC come in through the ABE program. Federal and state policy makers are also driving initiatives to ‘speed up’ the education process; building workplace recognized credentials into the curriculum so that a student will be better armed to enter the workforce. Ms. Clark has been following national policy closely, keeping PRCC prepared to meet new challenges.”
A native of Hattiesburg, Clark is an avid runner and frequently runs marathons.
Harris has been an instructor of marketing and management technology at PRCC for nine years and sponsor of the Collegiate DECA chapter. She also has taught online courses for five years and was part of the team that developed PRCC’s first online degree program.
“I’m eager to build positive working relationships with the high schools, local business owners and community members in the PRCC district,” Harris said. “I’m excited to showcase and provide information to the public on the amazing opportunities that PRCC has to offer.”
Harris holds the associate’s degree from PRCC in marketing and management technology, the bachelor’s degree in marketing and merchandisng from USM and the master’s of education degree from Carey. She received an achievement award from the Sales and Marketing Professionals of the Pine Belt in 2014 and is a graduate of the PRCC leadership program and has been active in the Mississippi Association of Marketing Educators and national Collegiate DECA.
Delana Harris
“As PRCC’s DECA advisor; Mrs. Harris has helped students achieve extremely high honors on the national level,” Alsobrooks said. “While it is tough to lose an outstanding faculty member, her energy and enthusiasm will be a tremendous asset to our recruitment efforts.”
Harris and her husband, Jared Harris, are the parents of two sons – 5-year-old Cooper and Grant, 2.
Pinero, mayor of Picayune, comes to PRCC from Pearl River County which he served as director of planning since February 2008. Prior to that, he held several positions in the office of vice president of research at USM and was director of operations for Mississippi Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
“My goal is to increase student participation and awareness of career and technical education by improving student satisfaction and introducing students to the benefits in a career in technical education,” he said.
Pinero holds the bachelor’s degree in business administration from USM, the master’s degree in management from Mississippi State University and the PhD in business and economic development from USM.
Ed Pinero
“He has such a rich and dynamic background including time as an educator in teaching and administration as well as a strong and robust background in public service,” Alsobrooks said. “Dr. Pinero is committed to helping students earn credentials and degrees and assisting them in entering the workforce.”
Pinero was first elected mayor in 2009. He also serves on the MSU MBA advisory board and as a board member and spokesman for Highland Community Hospital. The Pinero family funds a scholarship for the Distinguished Young Woman of Pearl River County program.
He is married to Christie Barfield-Pinero, principal of Southside Lower Elementary School in Picayune. Their daughter, Alyssa, is a junior at Picayune Memorial High School. The family attends First Baptist Church of Picayune and Resurrection Life Ministries.
