Mississippi Humanities Award Presented to Dr. WillifordOctober 18, 2017 (Jackson, Miss.) - Dr. Elizabeth B. Williford, professor and chair Belhaven's Psychology and Social Sciences Department, received the prestigious 2017 Mississippi Humanities Council Teacher Award. This special award recognizes the contribution of humanities faculty at each of the state's colleges and universities.

“Dr. Williford has faithfully served Belhaven students since 1988,” said Associate Provost Dennis Watts, Ph.D. “Having earned her undergraduate degree at Belhaven prior to returning as chair of psychology, she understands the passion these students have for learning and seeks to instill in them a desire for spiritual and educational growth. As this prestigious award recognizes the outstanding work of Mississippi's humanities faculty, it is appropriate that Dr. Williford be acknowledged for her service to Belhaven students.”

Each honoree is required to deliver a public lecture. Dr. Williford will give her presentation on October 24 at 7 p.m. in Belhaven's Student Center Theatre. Her lecture, entitled “To Judge or Not to Judge: Explanations, Attributions, and Bananas,” is free and open to the public. There will be a reception immediately following her lecture.

All award recipients will be recognized at the Mississippi Humanities Council's annual awards banquet in the spring. The Mississippi Humanities Council is a private nonprofit corporation funded by Congress through the National Endowment for the Humanities, and provides public programs in traditional liberal arts disciplines to serve nonprofit groups in Mississippi.