A native of Prentiss, Mississippi, Shawnboda Mead comes to the University of Mississippi after serving as associate director of diversity and multicultural education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Shawnboda earned a bachelor’s degree in educational psychology from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree in student affairs/higher education administration from Western Kentucky University. She has also held previous positions at the University of Southern Mississippi and Texas A&M University. Throughout her career, she has become increasingly passionate about helping underrepresented student populations succeed and providing cross-cultural engagement opportunities for all students.