MS HR108

Commends Mrs. Colleen Hartfield for her 37-year career in Mississippi's community college system, including 18 years at Hinds Community College where she served as Vice President for Community Relations and Governmental Affairs before retiring June 30, 2016

Recognizes her role in organizing the first statewide Community College Month Celebration and her advocacy work with the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges to secure funding and develop policy for the state's 15 community colleges

Credits her with initiating Hinds' first grants office in 2009, bringing millions in external funding, and expanding programs for high school dropouts and at-risk students including Gateway to College, Single Stop, MI-BEST, and the Minority Male Leadership Initiative

Acknowledges her collaboration on landing Mississippi's largest economic development package, Continental Tire, located near the Raymond campus

Notes her continued service after retirement as executive assistant to the president, legislative liaison, and director of the nation's largest Predominantly Black Institution federal grant, as well as her current work with 2nd Chance Mississippi and homelessness prevention efforts