2024 CTE Conference Program

July 31, 2024

DAY 1: WEDNESDAY

Welcome from the Mississippi Community College Board

For over 33 years, the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) has proudly served the state’s community colleges by concentrating efforts to improve statewide educational opportunities and advancement of the community college system through coordination, support, leadership, and advocacy. The MCCB supports the 15 community colleges as they educate and train Mississippi’s future by delivering more than 250 programs of study to over 97,400 students annually.

Kell Smith Executive Director, MCCB

Mr. Smith is married to the former Mary Straton Karatassos of Starkville. They live in Madison and are the parents of Eleanor and Rosie. Kell attended Mississippi Delta Community College. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2003 and a Master of Public Policy and Administration in 2005 both from Mississippi State University. On January 20, 2023, the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) unanimously selected Mr. Kell Smith to serve as the agency’s sixth Executive Director. He has been with the MCCB since May 2008, previously serving as Director of Communications and Legislative Services from May 2008 to July 2021 and Interim Executive Director from July 2021 until January 2023. Kell believes in the generational impact that community colleges can have on students and families. He works to ensure the system has the tools and resources necessary to provide services that are critical to both student success and the state’s economy. He serves on the State and School Employees Health Insurance Management Board, State Workforce Investment Board, State Longitudinal Data System, Colleges Savings’ Board of Directors, and the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation. He is currently chair of the Mississippi Prison Industries Corporation (MAGCOR). Mr. Smith is a former member of the Board of Directors for the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi and Board of Directors for the Mississippi Council on Economic Education. He is a 2009 graduate of the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy.