Faculty

Crudden earned her MSW at Louisiana State University, a Ph.D. and MS from Mississippi State University in Counselor Education, and a B.S. in Educational Psychology, also from MSU. She joined the Social Work faculty on a full-time basis in 1996, after serving as an adjunct instructor for two years; she was appointed Program Director in 2000. Crudden has participated in federally funded research through the MSU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision since 1994. She has published in professional journals, including: The Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, The Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, Review, and the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. Crudden has professional experience working with persons with developmental disabilities, chronic health conditions, and physical disabilities. She is a former director of the Addie McBryde Rehabilitation Center for the Blind. Crudden is a Mississippi licensed social worker and counselor. Her research interests include disability, gerontology, job retention among persons with disabilities, women's issues, and health care.

Ms. Edwards graduated from Mississippi State University in 1998 Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. She received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Alabama in 2000 with a concentration in Children, Youth and Families. She holds her Licensed Master Social Work (LMSW) in the state of Mississippi. Ms. Edwards began teaching as Adjunct Faculty with the Social Work Program in the spring of 2005, and became a full-time instructor in the fall of 2005. Her social work practice experience is with the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District, Elderly and Disabled Home and Community Based Waiver Program as a case manager for five years.

Melinda Pilkinton is a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) and a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW). She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Mississippi State University in 1975 and Master of Social Work degree from University of Southern Mississippi in 1976. She received her Ph.D. degree in Social Work at Jackson State University in May 2007.

Pilkinton has worked in a variety of social work settings over the past 30 years. She has expertise in mental health and substance abuse, school social work, administration, and supervision. Her research interests involve substance abusers, the effects of substance abuse on families and children, and issues affecting women such as poverty, barriers to employment, incarceration, and domestic violence.

Ms. Pilkinton joined the faculty at MSU Social Work Program in 1999 as an adjunct faculty member and began teaching full-time in 2000. She currently serves as the field coordinator. She has taught all levels of social work practice, populations at risk, addictions, human behavior in the social environment, research, and senior seminar.

Michael Humble received his BSW in 1998 from San Jose State University and an MSW in 2000 from California State University, Long Beach. He completed his PhD in Social Work at The University of Georgia in 2008. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the State of California.

Mr. Humble has worked in a variety of social work settings. Upon graduation from the MSW program, he spent one year working for Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in the Greater Los Angeles area. After working at DCFS, Mr. Humble started a career in medical social work. He has worked in oncology, HIV/AIDS, and critical care.

Mr. Humble joined the faculty at Mississippi State University in 2008. His research interests include HIV/AIDS, methamphetamine use, and medical social work.

Mollye Cash obtained her B.S. from Mississippi University for Women and her M.S.W. from University of Southern Mississippi. Ms.Cash holds her Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in the State of Mississippi. Ms. Cash worked as a Social Worker Advanced for the State of Mississippi Department of Welfare in protective services for 22 1/2 years. She was Director of Social Work at Baptist Memorial Hospital for 10 years. She retired from Columbus Air Force Base in 2004 after working there for 6 years as Family Advocacy Intervention Specialist. Currently Ms Cash is Adjunct Instructor at Mississippi State University and is Testing Administrator at Columbus Air Force Base.

Dr. Jensen earned her MSW at the University of Southern Mississippi in 1978, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Alabama in 1993. She began her career at Community Counseling Services in Starkville and then came to Mississippi State University in 1986 to work at the MSU Counseling Center. Since that time, Dr. Jensen has taught courses in the Social Work Program, while working fulltime in the Division of Student Affairs at MSU. Since 1993 Dr. Jensen has written a grant through the Office of Justice Programs to fund Sexual Assault Services on campus. She is currently the Director of Assessment and Testing Services for the Division of Student Affairs.

In addition, Dr. Jensen has a business, Counseling and Consulting Services, providing counseling to individuals, couples, and families, as well as consulting with businesses and providing adoption home studies. Dr. Jensen has done extensive continuing education in the area of churches and sexual misconduct and presents regularly at statewide and national conferences on that topic as well as on prevention of violence against women. Research interests are in the areas of violence against women and clergy sexual misconduct. Dr. Jensen is a MS licensed social worker (LCSW) and has been a member of NASW since 1978.

Tamara H. Whetstone obtained her B.S.W. from Mississippi State University in May 1996 and her M.S.W. from Florida State University in August 1997. Ms. Whetstone holds her Licensed Master Social Worker(LMSW) in the State of Mississippi. Upon returning to Starkville, MS, she worked briefly for Community Counseling Services and then accepted a position with the Home and Community-Based Services Program at the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District, where she remained for 3 1/2 years working with the Geriatric population. Currently, Ms. Whetstone is employed at Boardtown Village, an affordable housing facility for seniors and persons with disabilities and has been in this position for 7 years.