Holmes Community College is proud to announce that Dr. Amber Mabus, Chair of the English and Foreign Language Division on the Grenada Campus, has been named the 2026 Humanities Teacher of the Year by the Mississippi Humanities Council.
Dr. Mabus has served Holmes Community College for eleven years as an English instructor and has spent the past nine years as chair of the English and Foreign Language Division. She teaches English composition and literature courses and provides academic leadership for the division, supporting both faculty and students through curriculum development and instructional excellence.
The prestigious Humanities Teacher of the Year Award is presented annually by the Mississippi Humanities Council to recognize outstanding teaching and meaningful contributions to the humanities in higher education. Dr. Mabus will be formally recognized during the Mississippi Humanities Council’s Spring Humanities Gala in Jackson.
Dr. Mabus will give a presentation entitled: “From Austen to Bridgerton: The Enduring Appeal of Regency Romance in Popular Culture,” on Tuesday, March 3, at 2:00 in the Corey Forum of the Grenada Campus. She will discuss how Jane Austen’s stories still resonate with modern audiences, 250 years after her birth, thanks to the ongoing popularity of Regency-era romance in books, television, and film. By connecting Austen’s work to modern adaptations like Netflix’s Bridgerton, Mabus’s presentation will demonstrate why Austen’s portrayal of romance within strict social boundaries continues to captivate audiences today.
“Dr. Mabus exemplifies the very best of humanities education at Holmes Community College,” said Dr. Tina Garrett. “Her commitment to teaching excellence, innovative curriculum development, and student success has made a lasting impact on the Grenada Campus and reflects the mission and values of our institution.”
Dr. Mabus recently earned her Doctor of Arts (D.A.) in English Pedagogy, with an emphasis in writing pedagogy, from Murray State University in Kentucky. Her capstone project, titled “Teaching Community College Composition Students How to Use AI Technology Ethically Through the Research Process,” focused on helping students understand the ethical use of generative artificial intelligence in academic writing.
Dr. Mabus holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Science in Education in English Education from Delta State University, as well as an associate degree from Holmes Community College. Prior to joining Holmes full-time, she taught English at Grenada High School for six years.
In addition to her academic work, Dr. Mabus is active in the local community. She is a member of Providence Baptist Church in Gore Springs, where she serves as worship leader and teaches young women’s Sunday School. She is also involved with the Kirk Academy PTA, and is an active member of Junior Auxiliary of Grenada.
Dr. Mabus has received several honors for her work in education, including the Ovid Vickers Award for Excellence in the Teaching of English from the Two-Year College English Association of Mississippi in 2017. During her doctoral studies, she was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. In 2025, she was elected to serve a three-year term on the Regional Executive Committee of The Two-Year College English Association of the Southeast (TYCA-SE). TYCA-SE is one of seven regional affiliates of the Two-Year College English Association (TYCA) National, which operates under the umbrella of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
Dr. Mabus and her husband, Jack, have one daughter, Isla. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, exercising, and spending time with her family.
For more information about the Mississippi Humanities Council, visit https://www.mshumanities.org/.
