Linda Cornelius, professor of instructional systems and work force development, was recently recognized by Phi Delta Kappa honor society as one of 14 women nationally to receive the Bessie Gabbard Award Celebrating the Leadership of Women. “I think that it is a great honor for her to be recognized in this way by her peers,” Vivian West said.
A one-time honor, the award is being given by the Phi Delta Kappa chapter in memory of their first female member, Bessie Gabbard, to women who have distinguished themselves in their professional, community and civic activities.
Representing over 95,000 professional and pre-professional educators in the United States, the Phi Delta Kappa honor society is headquartered in Bloomington, Ind. and is dedicated to the promotion of both quality education and service throughout the world.
However, Cornelius said the honor of the award comes more from the opportunity to rather than the prestige.
“I was certainly honored to find out that I had received this award, but the honor isn’t in the award itself. Rather it is in the opportunity to serve. The award is recognition of having the opportunity to do what I love best, to serve others. Serving has been my greatest joy, my greatest gift, and I suppose my greatest accomplishment,” Cornelius said.
She tries to involve herself in those things that she truly believes in whether in work or in life. In work, she tries to lead her students through the example that she sets with her own life, that
personal goals, though fraught with challenges, can be achieved.
“I believe that I empower my students through example-I have a genuine passion for teaching and I try to find ways to help them achieve their goals. I want them to work hard, to set high standards of excellence for themselves-I want them to excel, to achieve, to be well-rounded individuals committed and competent in all their endeavors,” Cornelius said.
In her own life, Cornelius finds her greatest joy in the service she provides for others, whether on-or off-campus. Throughout her tenure at Mississippi State University, Cornelius has distinguished herself among the faculty through both her dedication to her craft and her willingness to take on a variety of tasks and leadership positions. On campus, she serves on a variety of different committees, such as the Robert Holland Faculty Senate, the Academic Judicial Committee and the Academic Association for College Teachers. She also serves as the chair of Academic Affairs, and the chair of the College of Education’s Curriculum Committee to name a few.
Cornelius said she also seeks to serve the community of MSU and Starkville as well as the university. In the past, she has served on former MSU President Malcolm Portera’s PROVO Service Committee, and she currently serves on the Graduate Student Association Government Committee, as the advisor of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and as an area coordinator for Phi Delta Kappa honor society among others. Cornelius has been instrumental in the coordination of various conferences and in bringing speakers to the university.
In the past, Cornelius has earned a variety of honors both from the College of Education and the university in general. Within the College of Education, Cornelius has been recognized for graduate teaching, leadership, and service. She has been acknowledged by the Phi Delta Kappa as its outstanding educator of the year for her superior teaching and service. She has also been selected for a Kappa Award in appreciation of her excellence in leadership and service to Mississippi education.
“I think that it is great that a member of MSU’s faculty and staff has been recognized in this way for her dedication to the community,” John Larkin said.
A native of Louisiana, Cornelius earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge before moving on to Florida State University to earn her education specialist and doctoral degrees. Prior to her arrival at MSU, she worked as the assistant director of the Florida Consortium on Minority Teacher Education while working at Florida State.