By Mary Kathryn Carpenter

NATCHEZ — Copiah Lincoln Community College has named Brett Brinegar the new coordinator of the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration.

Brinegar, a Mississippi native, has worked for Co-Lin on the Natchez campus since 2009 as a history instructor as well as Director of Student Affairs and Coordinator for Disability Services.

Brinegar will be taking the reins on the NLCC from 26-year co-chairman and founder Carolyn Vance Smith, who is set to retire on June 30.

Smith said she will continue to work as a volunteer to assist Brinegar.

“I think Ms. Brinegar will do a super job,” Smith said. “I’ll be happy to be a volunteer in whatever capacity she and the committee want me to. I look forward to seeing what happens in February.”

While Brinegar has not had much involvement in the NLCC so far, she is bringing a heavy helping of experience in conference planning to the NLCC table.

While earning her Master’s of Science degree in History from Mississippi State University, Brinegar said she worked for the Center of International Security and Strategic Studies.

She planned four international conferences for the center during her time with them.

“It was pretty daunting for a 20-year-old,” Brinegar said. “It was a great experience. It was totally worth it.”

Brinegar said she has not done much planning so far and does not see many things yet that she plans to change.

“The conference, as it is works very well and I don’t see any need to change it,” Brinegar said. “It’s been around for 26 years for a reason.”

President of Co-Lin Dr. Ronnie Nettles said he is eager to see the job Brinegar does with the conference.

“I think Brett has some different skills,” Nettles said. “We are giving her an opportunity to take something and build on it.”