Previous Spotlight Members

December 2021 Member Spotlight

Our December edition of the Monthly Spotlight Series shines on Ms. Alyece Loyd from Meridian, MS. Ms. Loyd is a product of the Lauderdale County School District, graduating from Southeast High School in 2005. Upon graduating from Meridian Community College in 2007, Ms. Loyd transferred to THEE Jackson State University, earning a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 2009. She went on to further her education at the University of Alabama to obtain a Master of Social Work degree in 2011.

Ms. Loyd is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with almost 7 years in Mental Health as a Children and Adolescent Therapist, and she currently works as a Renal Social Worker for Fresenius Kidney Care.

Ms. Loyd is an active member of Agape Storehouse Apostolic Church where she serves in many capacities, including but not limited to: Youth Ministry, Announcements Committee, and Church School Department.

Alyece is a proud Life Member of Jackson State University National Alumni Association, and she currently serves as Chair of the Public Relations Committee for the Meridian-Lauderdale Alumni Chapter. She serves as the specialist behind our social media campaigns, postings, and information.

Ms. Loyd is a cherished asset to our University, our local chapter, and our community!

November 2021 Member Spotlight

Dr. Ashley W. Jones is a native of Lambert, MS, where she attended the Quitman County Public Schools. cShe currently serves as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Mississippi. She is a two-time alum of Thee Jackson State University, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (2010) and a Master of Public Health (2012). Ashley received her Doctor of Philosophy in Health Education and Promotion from the University of Alabama.

Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Mississippi, she served as Assistant Clinical Professor of Kinesiology at Mississippi State University-Meridian and the first Executive Director of Community Health Improvement Network (CHIN) a non-profit cross sector network formed in 2017 by community and healthcare leaders to raise community awareness of healthcare needs for underserved residents of Lauderdale County and the surrounding area. Additionally, she has worked to expand Medicaid, training state department staff on the ACA, and implementation of comprehensive sex education in middle and high schools across the state of MS.

Dr. Jones' academic research explores racial discrimination in healthcare, race-related stressors, and culturally relevant health information for African Americans. She has previously worked to explore the psychological and social components of food insecurity and provided implications from a qualitative assessment in older African American adults. In her current work, Dr. Jones uses a qualitative method called found poetry to analyze interview transcripts and to compose narratives about African American men’s past experiences with the health care system. Her work on health equity has been featured in the American Heart Association’s Voices for Healthy Kids initiative. She serves as Research Advisor and Co-founder of Hurdle, a digital teletherapy company that focuses on culturally responsive therapy for minority communities.

Dr. Jones currently serves as 1st Vice President of Meridian-Lauderdale Alumni Chapter, and she is the Chair of the Fundraising Committee.

October 2021 Member Spotlight

Sherry McDonald Moss was born in Heidelberg, MS. She is the youngest of eleven children of the late Manuel and Lillie Mae McDonald. She graduated from Heidelberg High School in 1978. She furthered her education at Jackson State

University and earned a Bachelor Degree in Mass Communications in 1982.

Sherry is an active member of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church where she is a deaconess and sings in the Sanctuary Choir.

While attending Jackson State University, Sherry became a member of Lambda Beta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. on March 12, 1981. After moving to Meridian, she transferred to Delta Nu Zeta Chapter. She has held following

positions: Basileus, First Anti-Basileus, Treasurer, Asst. Treasurer and Chairperson for the Salute to Outstanding Minority Youth Program.

Sherry is very active in her community. She is the Past Worthy Matron of Brookins Chapter 166 Order of Eastern Star, Grand Associate Matron for Mizpah Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, She is an active member of B.R. Jowers Assembly

257, Order of the Golden Circle where she serves as treasurer and she is the State Grand Secretary for the Alabama Council of Assemblies, Order of the Golden Circle, and a Life member of Jackson State University National Alumni Association

where she serves as Treasurer for the Local Meridian Lauderdale Alumni Chapter.

Sherry is employed with WTOK-TV as Senior Master Control Operator for ABC, MyTOK and the CW Network for 38years.

She is married to Sammie Moss (Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.) for 33 years and they have two wonderful sons Travis and Trenton.