Juanita Sims Doty, Ed. D.

Member

An academician and educator, civil and human rights advocate, entrepreneur and a dedicated family member committed to serving her community, Doty has distinguished herself in many venues and disciplines.  Her accomplishments span national and local volunteerism as she serves on several Boards of Directors and donates her time and resources to many organizations.  She was co-host with the former first lady of Mississippi, the Late Ms. Pat Fordice, of the highly successful statewide television show, “Woman to Woman”, an issue related talk magazine format program; and, is frequently asked to keynote conferences and symposiums.  Currently, she serves as the Mississippi Publisher for Who’s Who in Black Mississippi.  She has been a member of Anderson United Methodist Church for more than 10 years.

Having earned advanced degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and a doctorate in early childhood education from Jackson State University,  Doty went on to become recognized as a leader, both locally and nationally in the areas of education and speech-language pathology.  Her work included serving as a lecturer, clinical supervisor, associate professor and director of the Speech and Hearing Center at Jackson State University.    Doty also served as the Chairman of the Board of National Black Speech Language and Hearing Association.  She was a seven-time recipient of Jackson State University’s Spotlight on Scholars in the School of Liberal Arts and has received numerous grants to assist students and professionals in her discipline.  Additionally, she is published in several academic and educational journals.

Currently, Doty is a Consultant with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.  She serves as Chairman of the Board of the Juanita Sims Doty Foundation (JSD Foundation), a 501© 3 nonprofit organization founded to continue her family’s legacy of service to the community. The JSD Foundation is partnering with Mrs. Myrlie Evers and the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute to implement a national mentoring program for Young Males of Color: Ambassadors of the Evers Academy for African American Males (The A-TEAAM).  This mentoring initiative is a collaborative project with 21 Community Based organizations in Mississippi with a national partnership with the Top Ladies of Distinction. The A-TEAAM Initiative has provided mentors for over 400 males of color across the state of Mississippi and in Louisville, KY; Houston, TX; E. St. Louis, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Washington, DC ; Chicago, IL; Las Vegas, NV and Inglewood, CA. The A-TEAAM is a leadership and character development program where the Ambassadors are taught to live the life and honor the legacy of Medgar Evers. The Superintendent of the Canton Public School District asked Doty to develop a mentorship program for girls and boys in the school system. This program, I!CAN Mentor has 60 Ambassadors with the entire City of Canton providing mentors.  They include the Mayor, business leaders, churches and their members and community leaders.

Doty has received many awards from local and state organizations for her contributions to the community.   She received the 2016 Valiant Woman Award from the Church Women United. She has also received the 2014 Distinguished Service Award in Philanthropy from the Rho Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 2013 Distinguished Dorothy Height Leadership Award-National Council of Negro Women (Metro Jackson), 2013 Presidential Citation of Excellence from Alcorn State University, 2013 Image Award for Community Service from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Distinguished Service Award from the Forward Lookers Federated Club; 2012 Citizen of the Year- Beta Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, 2013 Statewide (MS) Citizen of the Year Omega Psi Phi Fraternity , Inc and 2012 Recognition from the 7^th District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for service to the community, the 2010 Presidents Award presented by the President of the Metro Jackson Chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, 2011 Philanthropy Award-Delta Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; 2006 John Dixon Award presented by the Jackson Branch of the NAACP and the 2004 Ambassador for Peace Award presented by the Interreligious and International Peace Council of Washington, DC.  Additionally, she was named a 2004 Role Model for the 8,000 Middle School GEAR-UP students of Mississippi.

Doty is dedicated to her native Mississippi and serves on many local Boards of nonprofit organizations, chairing numerous committees and events. On the local level she has served on the Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau Board. At the State level she serves on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Head Start Association and the Region IV Head Start Association Board of Directors. At the national level, she has served on the prestigious Board of Directors of the Washington, DC based Corporation for National and Community Service.  She was nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Congress to serve on this Board.

She served as the 23rd South Eastern Regional Director (Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee) of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) from 2006-2010.  Additionally, she served as  the National Program Chairman of AKA  from 2002-2006 and as the 2006 AKA National Founders Day Chairman, which was the first national meeting of AKA held in Jackson, Mississippi.  She also served as Chairman of the International Membership Committee. As National Program Chairman, she assisted the sorority in receiving a $1.5 Million grant (the second largest grant Alpha Kappa Alpha has ever received in during its 107  year history) from the U.S. Dept of Education to fund a national after-school reading program; brought together new partners for AKA with Merrill Lynch ($90,000 contribution) for a Youth Financial Literacy Program; and the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health with a $200,000 partnership for health projects. She was responsible for the publication of a “first ever” book written by children for children, “The Spirit Within:  Voices of Young Authors”.  In the role of National Program Chairman, she has helped to bring more than $2 Million dollars of resources to the sorority. For these distinguished contributions, she received the President’s Spirit Award at the 2006 National Convention in Detroit.

One of Doty’s favorite scriptures can be found in Philipians 4: 4-7-“ Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say again, rejoice! Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do.  Remember that the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.  If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”

As a dedicated advocate, Doty spends much of her time promoting community engagement to all persons and encouraging others to become involved in service.  Her motto is “I serve God by serving others.”  Her favorite book is “The Purpose-Driven Life” by Rick Warren. As a tireless community activist, Juanita Sims Doty continues her life long commitment to her native Mississippi and beyond.  Indeed, her life’s story is a reflection of a call to service to her family, her neighbors, her state and her nation.