WESSON — The Copiah-Lincoln Foundation, Inc. will host a reception honoring new Copiah-Lincoln Community College president, Ronald E. Nettles and his family, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, in the Multipurpose Room on the Natchez Campus.

Nettles, who became Co-Lin’s seventh president on July 1, replaced Howell Garner, who retired June 30.  The public is cordially invited to attend.

Nettles, 46, previously served as executive vice president of the college, a position he has had since July 2004. He served as Copiah-Lincoln’s dean of the Natchez Campus 1997-2004 and director of community and economic development on the Wesson Campus from 1994-1997. Prior to coming to Co-Lin, he had various administrative positions at the University of Southern Mississippi from 1984-1994.

A native of Jefferson County, Nettles is a graduate of Trinity Episcopal Day School in Natchez. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Master of Education degree in Counseling and Personnel services. Nettles received a Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi in Educational Leadership in 1994.

Nettles is a member of numerous professional organizations and civic clubs, including the Mississippi Community College Academic Deans Association, National Council of Instructional Administrators, Mississippi Association of Colleges, Wesson Lions Club, Wesson Chamber of Commerce, Wesson Attendance Center PTA and has been a youth league soccer, basketball and baseball coach.

He received the National Institute for Organizations Development Excellence Award (1998), Co-Lin’s High Performance Award (1999) and was a member of Mississippi’s Economic Council’s Leadership Mississippi Class of 1990.

Nettles is married to the former Rosie Jones of Natchez. They have two children, daughter, Jordan and son, Brandon.

They are members of St. Francis Church in Brookhaven. Nettles is the son of Ronald and Esther Nettles of Eddiceton.

For more information contact the Foundation Office at (601) 643-8313.