Coahoma Community College recently announced that Delta Regional Authority Federal
Co-Chairman Dr. Corey Wiggins will serve as the keynote speaker during the institution’s
70th Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at James E. Miller Stadium at 9
a.m.
Coahoma President Dr. Valmadge T. Towner will preside over the ceremony and is honored to have Wiggins address the 2022 graduating class.
“Dr. Wiggins is a native Mississippian and a graduate of Mississippi. His background is one that is similar to many of our students,” said Towner.
Hailing from Hazlehurst, Mississippi, Chairman Wiggins brings a diverse set of career experiences to his new role that include working in academia, state government, nonprofit, and private sectors. He has focused on creating equitable opportunities through systems and public policy change.
Towner believes this well-roundness will be of benefit to the new graduates.
“Consequently, he has a relatable message of encouragement to our graduates and the story of his life is one that we can learn from as well as gain inspiration,” added Towner.
Wiggins most recently served as the Executive Director of the Mississippi State Conference NAACP. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of Policy at Hope Enterprise Corporation and Hope Credit Union. He also served as Executive Director of the Mississippi Economic Policy Center and as Director of the Hope Policy Institute, where he focused on strengthening communities, building assets, and improving lives in economically distressed parts of the MidSouth.
“Dr. Wiggins is pure example as to how HBCUs can equip and prepare students to do whatever they desire in life,” said Towner.
In addition, Wiggins served as a Barbara Jordan Health Policy Fellow in the United States Senate and as a policy analyst for the Mississippi Legislature Joint Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) Committee. Wiggins also held the rank of Visiting Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management at Jackson State University.
Chairman Wiggins completed his undergraduate studies with a B.S. in Biology from Alcorn State University. He received a M.S. in Public Health with an emphasis in Health Policy and a Ph.D. in Health Promotion and Health Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Additionally, he has a certificate of nonprofit leadership from Boston College and has furthered his training through fellowships with the Kaiser Family Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Wiggins steps in the vacant position previously held by President Trump appointee Chris Caldwell, who resigned on January 20, 2020. Leslie Durham currently serves as DRA Alternate Federal Co-Chairwoman.
Chairman Wiggins and his wife Dr. Shenekia Wiggins currently live in Mississippi with their three sons.
The commencement ceremony will be open to the public. For more information visit: http://www.coahomacc.edu/commencement.html