MCC’s Gibson named Humanities Instructor of the Year recipient from Mississippi Humanities Council
Suzanne Gibson, Meridian Community College Social Sciences and Business divisions
chairman and instructor, has been named Humanities Instructor of the Year, an honor
recognizing her dedication to teaching and her impact on students.
As part of the recognition, Gibson will present “Roles, Obedience, and Authority: An Examination of the Stanford Prison Experiment,” on Friday, Feb. 27, at 9:30 a.m. in the College’s McCain Theater. Admission is free and open to the public.
The Mississippi Humanities Council sponsors the award and recognizes the contribution of humanities faculty at each of the state’s colleges and universities. Award recipients present a public lecture, receive a cash award from the Mississippi Humanities Council, and attend the annual awards gala in Jackson.
Gibson’s presentation on Feb. 27 explores what happened during the famous 1971 psychology study and why it remains important. Designed as a two-week simulation of a prison environment, the study was led by Stanford University psychology professor Philip Zimbardo, who managed a research team administering the study. Zimbardo ended the experiment early after realizing the guard participants' abuse of the prisoners had gone too far.
“The Stanford Prison Experiment has always been fascinating to me,” Gibson said. “I never understood why the prisoners didn’t just say, ‘You cannot treat me like this,’ or why the guards had to be so cruel. That pushed me to look deeper.”
She hopes those who attend her presentation will reflect on how systems and leadership affect behavior. “Just being in an authoritative position does not make it okay to mistreat others,” Gibson said. “Sometimes we need to change the system or situation for the better.”
Gibson earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from Mississippi State University. Before joining MCC, she served as a community director of an assisted living facility and later as director of a geriatric and psychiatric facility, where she managed budgets, staff schedules, and daily operations.
“I never had the intention of teaching,” Gibson said. “I was on call 24/7 and traveling all the time. My children suffered from my frequent absences, and I knew a change was needed.”
When a psychology instructor position opened at MCC, she applied and was hired. She has now taught at the College for 25 years.
Born in Michigan, Gibson moved to Oxford, Mississippi, at age 8 when her father began doctoral studies at the University of Mississippi. She has called Mississippi home ever since.
Gibson and her husband, Eddie, have three children and two grandchildren. She enjoys scrapbooking and cross-stitching and hopes to learn crocheting and quilting. Spending time with her grandchildren remains her favorite hobby.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu.