From left, James King, ATEA national president; Anna Faye Kelley-Winders, award winner; and Dr. Willis Lott, president, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Anna Faye Kelley-Winders received the 2009 American Technical Education Association’s Outstanding Technical Education Achievement Award during ATEA’s 46th National Conference on Technical Education held March 11-13 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who has made the highest meritorious contributions to the improvement, promotion, development and progress of postsecondary technical education and ATEA. She is a past recipient of the NCCET Southern Regional Leadership Award (2007) and the Southern Growth Policies Board Innovator Award (2007).
Kelley-Winders is the vice president for Community Campus and Institutional Development at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. In addition, she serves as project administrator for the Department of Labor and various other federal and state grant programs.
Her career in technical education began at Gulf Coast as a business and office technology instructor. She spent 18 years in the classroom and then held numerous leadership positions at Gulf Coast, including director, administrative dean and vice president. In addition, her expertise and leadership in developing funding proposals for industry support and partnerships have provided career opportunities to many people on the Gulf Coast.
After Hurricane Katrina, Kelley-Winders helped establish partnerships between the college and business and industry; national, state and local government agencies; private foundations; and trade organizations to develop innovative construction training programs. Within two months, Gulf Coast launched rapid-response training programs to alleviate workforce shortages and to assist in the Mississippi Coast’s rebuilding efforts. Kelley-Winders responded quickly to the need by implementing training and an evening/weekend LPN and surgical technology programs.
She has served as president of several organizations, including Delta Kappa Gamma, Lucedale Rotary Club, and Mississippi Postsecondary Career-Technical Deans and Directors, and currently serves as an institutional representative on several regional boards. Through her tireless efforts, she has made significant contributions to the improvement, promotion, development and progress of postsecondary technical education in Mississippi.
ATEA is the premier association for the postsecondary technical educator, with emphasis on professional development. Educators and individuals from business and industry come together at conferences to discuss the latest trends and developments in technology. The organization is dedicated to excellence in the quality of postsecondary technical education, with emphasis on practical teaching ideas and best practices. ATEA also recognizes outstanding performance and leadership in postsecondary technical education and provides a network for career connectivity. ATEA is an advocate for postsecondary technical education and is a force behind workforce development.
