This fall semester, the Charles Pickering Honors Institute at Jones College welcomed David Miller as the new director of the esteemed program.
Miller has an impressive academic record, receiving his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Virginia, his master’s degree in history from the University of Southern Mississippi, and his doctorate in law from the Yale Law School. This is Miller’s third year as a full time instructor at Jones College, where he teaches Western Civilization and American History. Along with his history classes, as of this semester Miller is also teaching Honors Forum I and III.
This year, Miller plans to center the focus of the honors forum around leadership, relating it to the outstanding leadership skills that many of the founding fathers of America possessed. As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, Miller hopes to structure the class around this milestone. In the summer of 2026, Miller plans to take students on an optional trip to New England to visit historical sites that they will have discussed in class this fall and spring semesters. Some of those locations will include Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Boston, Massachusetts.
“This year, we will be travelling up the east coast to celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence,” said Miller. “Next year, we’re planning on visiting Italy to learn about the Roman era, the renaissance and other elements of our common heritage.”
Under Miller’s guidance, the members of the honors college have become more involved in recruitment around campus. Honors students have recently participated in Jones College’s Dual Day, explaining to future students how enjoyable honors college can be and why joining is favorable. In addition, there are plans for these students to host booths at upcoming preview days for local high schools.
Something students have found helpful in this new era of the honors college is that both freshmen and sophomore forum classes have been combined into one. This has provided students with new opportunities to make connections with others who may share similar interests and ideals.
“I think it’s been very beneficial to have the honors forum with both freshmen and sophomores,” said freshman Honors student Chloe Jarrell. “It’s helped me to make a lot of new friends and connections with other students that I otherwise wouldn’t have met.”
Miller has already provided students with networking opportunities this semester, even inviting Jones College president Dr. Jesse Smith to lead the students with a Q&A session during one class period. Additionally, honors students were invited to a reception with Mississippi State University president, Dr. Mark Keenum, where they could meet him and learn more about opportunities afforded for transfer students at the university.
“We hope to continue to grow the program so our best and brightest have more opportunities to interact and expand their horizons,” said Miller about his aspirations for the future.
To be eligible to join honors college, students must either graduate as the valedictorian or salutatorian of their high school, have a composite ACT score of 26 or higher with a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4 point scale, or have a cumulative Jones College GPA of 3.5 or higher, with a minimum of 15 credit hours, excluding college preparatory courses. Any students interested in learning more about joining the Honors College can contact Miller at 601-477-8920.
Kate Atwood
