Amy Land, a Holmes Community College English and Education instructor and Writing Center director on the Grenada Campus, recently earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D) with an emphasis in higher education from Delta State University. Dr. Land’s dissertation was titled, “Analyzing Patterns of Retention in Online Developmental English and General Education Developmental English in a Mississippi Community College.”
“Through my dissertation, I analyzed factors that may serve as a predictor of success for developmental students in completing the English course progression through English Composition II,” Dr. Land said. “Factors I explored were course format (online vs Face-to-Face), ACT score and high school GPA, among others in order to help inform future practices in identifying risks and facilitating success for these students”.
A Holmes alumnus, Dr. Land holds a Bachelor of Science in education from Delta State University in elementary education, a Master of Arts from Ole Miss in curriculum and instruction; 18 graduate English hours from Mississippi State University and an Ed.S. from Delta State University in administration and supervision. She also holds state licensure as a teacher and school administrator.
Dr. Land began teaching adjunct for Holmes in the evenings in January 2010, and was then hired full time to begin August of 2010. This semester completes 14 full-time years at Holmes as an instructor and 16 as a Mississippi educator. Prior to Holmes, Dr. Land taught fifth grade English Language Arts at Batesville Middle School in the South Panola School District. At the close of the semester, Dr. Land will transition into the role of elementary school principal for Winona Christian School where she says, “I will be able to expand my mission field at work beyond the walls of my own classroom. I will still serve Holmes through teaching DE/DC English courses face-to-face for students in Winona.”
An active member of the community, She is president of Junior Auxiliary of Winona, interim youth director and young adult Sunday school teacher at Duck Hill Baptist Church, a member of The Carroll-Montgomery Baptist Association Youth Committee and a member of the Advisory Committee for Teacher Academy at Grenada Career and Technical Center.
Dr. Land and her husband Colby have three children: Brantlee, John Hayes and Nora Kathryn.
“As a first-generation college student, I know this level of education far exceeds the societal expectation for me,” Dr. Land said. “I am so grateful for my parents who instilled in me the values of education, hard work and perseverance. It is my prayer that I can be a light to others on their own journeys to whom God has planned for them to be.”
