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Pamela Fells, academic counselor for the Holmes Community College Ridgeland Campus, has earned her Executive Ph.D. (EPHD) in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University. Dr. Fells will officially receive her degree at the Dec. 6 commencement ceremony.
The EPHD Program in Urban Higher Education at Jackson State prepares students for senior leadership roles in post-secondary institutions and related organizations. Designed for working professionals, the program follows a cohort model where students collectively complete a 24-month, research-based curriculum. This model fosters networking, collegiality and collaboration while requiring students to plan ahead and balance their coursework with professional duties. Throughout the program, dissertation development is integrated, promoting both academic and professional growth. Cohort members commit to a structured academic path through a signed agreement, emphasizing perseverance and productivity.
Dr. Fells’ dissertation, titled “An Examination of Persistence of First-Generation African American Female College Students at a PWI through the Lens of Tinto’s Model of Attrition,” explores factors contributing to the persistence of first-generation African American female college students (FGAMFCS) at predominantly white institutions (PWI). Through the lens of Tinto’s 1993 Student Integration Model, which includes social and academic integration, as well as institutional attributes, she examined the challenges FGAMFCS face and the factors that influence their success.
The study, grounded in qualitative research, involved web-based semi-structured interviews with 15 participants from a selected PWI. Dr. Fells’ findings revealed that resources such as counseling services, supportive faculty-student relationships, peer networks as well as academic tools were pivotal in fostering persistence. Her research underscores the importance of targeted interventions, inclusive policies and enhanced institutional support systems to improve the retention and graduation rates of FGAMFCS at PWIs.
Dr. Fells’ contributions to higher education are not limited to her research. Since joining the Holmes staff in 2003, she has provided invaluable academic, social and career counseling to students. Her dedication has been demonstrated through her work in coordinating college recruitment efforts and promoting academic advisement and student success. Prior to her current role, Dr. Fells served as the career skills coordinator for Student Support Services at Holmes and as senior counselor for the Upward Bound program at Tougaloo College.
A graduate of Alcorn State University, where she earned her master’s in guidance and counseling in 1996 and her bachelor’s in educational psychology in 1994, Dr. Fells has spent her career dedicated to the advancement of students in higher education.
Outside of her professional commitments, Dr. Fells is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and the Mississippi Counselors Association, as well as the Association of Social and Behavioral Scientists. She enjoys photography, traveling, exercising and officiating basketball and volleyball in her spare time.
Dr. Fells credits her success to the support of her family, including her sisters Jacqueline Fells, Tammy Fells, Bonita Fells, Sandra Jones and her brother, Ronald L. Fells, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
“I am beyond proud of and for Dr. Pamela Fells and her most recent achievement of completing her doctoral degree,” said Academic Dean Dr. Tonya Lawrence. “Her perseverance and ability to follow through on this goal speaks volumes of her strength and focus. She seeks, daily, to pour into the students needing her help and guidance with their future goals all the while being an example by pursuing her own goals.”
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