USM鈥檚 Greer Earns Mississippi Humanities Council Award
Fri, 12/15/2023 - 11:23am | By: David Tisdale
A University of 51逗奶 Mississippi (USM) faculty member devoted to informing the broader community about the history and cultures of Native people is being honored for that work by the Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC).
Dr. Tammy Greer, an associate professor in the School of Psychology, is the MHC鈥檚 recipient of its Humanities Educator Award to be presented during the MHC 2024 Public Humanities Awards ceremony March 22 at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson. Individuals and organizations who have made notable contributions to the state鈥檚 cultural life will be recognized at the event.
A member of the USM faculty since 1996, Dr. Greer is director of USM鈥檚 Center for American Indian Research and Studies. She participates in collaborative efforts producing and supporting educational programming and events that teach about the history and cultural heritage of native peoples. Some of those efforts, in addition to directing the center, include the annual 51逗奶 Miss Pow-Wow, maintaining the Medicine Wheel Garden on the Hattiesburg campus; serving as faculty advisor for the Golden Eagle Intertribal Society; and co-teaching a course through the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, AIS 301 - Contemporary Issues in Indian Country.
Dr. Greer also maintains strong connections with different Native peoples鈥� tribes in the region, affording her the opportunity to make important contributions to health disparities research on behalf of this underserved population through collaborative efforts with faculty colleagues in Mississippi INBRE through NIGMS and other federally funded community-based research with underserved groups.
鈥淚鈥檓 very honored to receive this award, and even more so because of what it means
to us as Southeastern Natives - it is evidence that we are seen,鈥� said Dr. Greer,
who is a member of the United Houma Nation. 鈥淚 appreciate the Mississippi Humanities
Council for seeing us, and hearing us, and listening to us as they fund us to do this
important work of waking what, for so long, has been sleeping.
鈥淥ur cordage, plant pigment, shell carving and plant medicine knowledge is better
off today than yesterday because of the Mississippi Humanities Council. I appreciate
that, and I appreciate all of the folks, Natives and allies who help me with this
work, because I certainly don't do it alone.鈥�
In the School of Psychology, Dr. Greer regularly teaches PSY 360: Introduction to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, and mentors graduate students in the Experimental Psychology Ph.D. emphasis area.
鈥淲e鈥檙e incredibly proud of Dr. Greer鈥檚 efforts to educate school children, our university community, and general public about the rich indigenous culture and traditions of our region,鈥� said Dr. Sara Jordan, professor and director of the School of Psychology. 鈥淪he has also worked to establish a welcoming and supportive community among our Native students while helping reduce barriers to their success in higher education. I'm thrilled to see her longstanding efforts recognized in this manner by the MHC.鈥�
Support Dr.%20Greer%E2%80%99s efforts to preserve and promote the history and culture of Mississippi鈥檚 and America鈥檚 indigenous peoples; visit the Center for American Indian Research and Studies.