Mr. Kell Smith
On January 20, 2023, the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) unanimously selected Mr. Kell Smith to serve as the agency’s sixth Executive Director. Mr. Smith has been with the agency since May 2008, most recently serving as Interim Executive Director since July 2021. He previously served as Director of Communications and Legislative Services for the MCCB. Guided by the mission of the MCCB, Mr. Smith is focused on working collaboratively with the state’s community colleges to ensure the system has the tools and resources necessary to serve students.
Executive Director Biography
On January 20, 2023, the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) unanimously selected Mr. Kell Smith to serve as the agency’s sixth Executive Director. He has been with the MCCB since May 2008, previously serving as Director of Communications and Legislative Services from May 2008 to July 2021 and Interim Executive Director from July 2021 until January 2023.
Kell believes in the generational impact that community colleges can have on students and families. He works to ensure the system has the tools and resources necessary to provide services that are critical to both student success and the state’s economy.
He serves on the State and School Employees Health Insurance Management Board, State Workforce Investment Board, State Longitudinal Data System, Colleges Savings’ Board of Directors, and the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation. He is currently chair of the Mississippi Prison Industries Corporation (MAGCOR).
Mr. Smith is a former member of the Board of Directors for the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi and Board of Directors for the Mississippi Council on Economic Education. He is a 2009 graduate of the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy.
Kell attended Mississippi Delta Community College. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2003 and a Master of Public Policy and Administration in 2005 both from Mississippi State University.
Mr. Smith is married to the former Mary Straton Karatassos of Starkville. They live in Madison and are the parents of Eleanor and Rosie.