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Holmes Community College recently welcomed Chrisanna Saums of Raymond as a new biology instructor on the Ridgeland Campus.
Saums earned a Master of Science in biology from Mississippi College and a Bachelor of Science in general studies with an emphasis in life science from Louisiana Tech University.
Before joining Holmes, Saums taught at Hinds Community College’s Raymond Campus from 2006-2025, serving as science department chair and biology instructor. In that role she managed 13 science employees and taught a wide range of courses including principles of biology I and II, general biology I and II and anatomy and physiology I and II. She taught in traditional, virtual, hybrid, dual credit and 8-week formats.
Through the Hinds Honors Program, Saums created and implemented Bio 2814 Field Experience in Yellowstone National Park, a domestic travel course that allows students to study the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in an 8-week format before traveling to Yellowstone to work directly in the field with a biologist. She said the program was inspired by her love for the national parks.
Prior to Hinds, Saums taught at Clinton Public Schools’ Alternative School as a science and biology instructor in 2005-2006.
She is a five-time nominee for Hinds CC Teacher of the Year (2012, 2015, 2016, 2021 and 2023) and has been active in her community as a volunteer with the Raymond Chamber of Commerce, a youth leader at Hinds Independent Methodist Church and a member of the Central Hinds Academy Touchdown Club.
Saums is also a member of the National Association of Biology Teachers.
Outside of work, she and her family enjoy visiting national parks each summer. Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is their favorite.
She lives in Raymond with her husband, Robert. They have three sons: Christian, a senior in mechanical engineering at Mississippi State University; Jackson, a senior at Central Hinds Academy who plans to attend the University of Mississippi in the fall; and Walt, a junior at Central Hinds Academy.
“After more than 20 years of teaching, I still get excited to share my passion for biology with new students,” Saums said. “I am so excited to be a part of the Holmes CC family.”
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