Shelia Hardwell-Byrd, media relations specialist in Jackson State University’s communications unit, was awarded the first-ever Distinguished Service Scholar scholarship for 2014 from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District III.
Hardwell-Byrd was selected from the entire pool of scholarship recipients to receive the Distinguished Service Scholar, which will provide funding for her attendance at the organization’s annual conference in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 16-18, and a mentoring opportunity with a CASE professional. Hardwell-Byrd also received the New2CASE scholarship.
CASE serves educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas. CASE helps its members build stronger relationships with their alumni and donors, raise funds for campus projects, produce recruitment materials, market their institutions to prospective students, diversify the profession, and foster public support of education.
As part of her scholarship, Hardwell-Byrd will receive special one-on-one mentoring with a professional with “extraordinary commitment, dedication and service to the advancement field.”
Hardwell-Byrd has worked in University Communications since January 2013. She’s a writer and editor and promotes the university through state and national media outlets.