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Alumni > Jim Livesay Service Awards > Betsy L. Bradley - 2006 Livesay Winner

Betsy L. Bradley - 2006 Livesay Winner

Betsy Bradley is a shining example of the ideals of service and community involvement that are the hallmarks of the College's most outstanding alumni. Appointed Director of the Mississippi Museum of Art in 2001, she oversees the museum in Jackson and its 14 statewide affiliates. Since arriving at the museum, she has acquired federal funding for an award-winning after-school partnership with the Jackson Zoo, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, and Rowan Middle School; she has launched monthly jazz and multi-disciplinary community programs; and she has secured state bonding authority and a city lease for a new museum building.

Prior to this, during her 10-year tenure with the Mississippi Arts Commission - the largest grants-making organization for the arts in the state - she moved up the ranks from community arts director to deputy director to executive director. Under her leadership, the commission's Whole Schools program grew to serve 26 schools statewide and received national recognition, including a $1 million leadership award from the U.S. Department of Education.

Betsy, who earned a B.A. in English from Millsaps and an M.A. in literature from Vanderbilt University, is involved in numerous volunteer activities. She currently serves on the board of directors of Americans for the Arts and has served on the board of the National Assembly of State Art Agencies, the Southern Arts Federation, and a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts. She has chaired the boards of the Mississippi Center for Nonprofits and the Jackson Servant Leadership Corps.

In addition to her career and civic duties, Bradley has given freely of her time and expertise to Millsaps College, its students and alumni, for many years. She is a past president of the Millsaps Arts & Lecture Series board, where she currently serves on the Advisory Committee. A former Alumni Council member, she is also a longstanding participant on the alumni panel for Admissions Scholars Days. For the past few years, Bradley has served as a caring and conscientious mentor to Millsaps students interested in Arts Administration through the Faith & Work Initiative's Lilly Internship program.