Brother Mitchell M. Shears, Ed.D.
A humble servant leader who believes that “it is not about me!”
Dr. Mitchell M. Shears, a Utica native and 1995 graduate of Hinds County Agricultural High School, has spent his professional career serving students and families in Mississippi for over 24 years at four public institutions: Alcorn StateUniversity, Jackson Public Schools, Hinds Community College – Utica Campus and Jackson State University. Three of the institutions are public HBCUs in Mississippi.
His professional journey started as a staff writer at Alcorn State University in the Office of Public Relations. After receiving his master’s degree from Alcorn in 2001, he served in the Jackson Public School District for 13 years as a Teacher, Instructional Specialist, Principal of two high-performing National Title I Distinguished Schools, and Executive Director/Assistant Superintendent serving 19 schools which included an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, a Montessori School and an Academic and Performing Arts Complex.
During his career in Jackson Public Schools spanning from 2001-2014, Dr.Shears was named a 2003 Outstanding Educator by the Parents for Public Schools of Jackson, a 2005 Japan Memorial Fulbright Scholar, the 2010 JPS Administrator of the Year, and the 2010 Mississippi Second Congressional District Administrator of the Year. In addition to being personally recognized, he wrote several grants that were awarded to provide supplemental instruction for students and school-wideinitiatives.
During Dr. Shears’ time at Hinds Community College-Utica Campus from 2014-2017, he served as Academic Dean and Executive Director of Title III and Sponsored Grants. His greatest accomplishments consisted of reducing the number of students on academic suspension and probation while increasing the number of students in good standing. He assisted in creating and implementing a strategic plan that resulted in a 37% hike in enrollment which was the highest of all Hinds campuses and was awarded a number of competitive grants totaling over $17 million to support academic programs for college and high school students.
Currently, Dr. Shears serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Success and Executive Director of Title III at Jackson State University. Through TitleIII funding, Dr. Shears supports many academic programs, student service programs, and renovation projects at JSU. Dr. Shears has written and received over $24 million in competitive grants to increase student success initiatives ranging from middle and high school outreach programs to college academic programs.
Dr. Shears takes pride in being a life-long learner. He is a 1999 and 2001 graduate of Alcorn State University, where he received a bachelor’s in mass communications and a master’s in education. He continued his studies at Mississippi College where he received an education specialist degree in 2004 and doctorate of education in 2012. He has also completed studies and received certifications at Harvard University, the Higher Education Leadership Foundation, Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy, and Leadership Mississippi.
Dr. Shears has received several other awards such as the 2022 TRIO Achiever awarded by the Mississippi Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel; 2022 Honoree for the 1871 Club Sneaker Ball; 2020 Woodson Fund HBCU Changemaker Award; 2020 Distinguished Educator Award at the Hinds Community College – Utica Campus Vice President’s Scholarship & Hall of Honors Gala; 2020 Visit Jackson Hometown Hero Award; 2018 Professional Achievement Award by the Alcorn State University National Alumni Association; 2017 Top 40 Under 40 & Top Ten for the Mississippi Business Journal; and 2005 Outstanding Young Alcornite.
His service extends in the community as a life member of the Grand Chapter and the Southwestern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., a local member and Keeper of Records for the Jackson (MS) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., President for the Metro-Jackson Alcorn Alumni Chapter, Inc., and President for the Mississippi Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel, member of the award winning Mississippi Mass Choir and a member of Anderson United Methodist Church where he sings in the choir.
Gamma Pi Alumni Association – 3rd Quarter 2023