By Allison Barnett
Just over 60 years ago, Verna Bailey became the first Black woman to attend the University of Mississippi. After a career dedicated to education and enriching the lives of students, it’s only fitting that she be inducted into the Beta of Mississippi chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
Bailey was born in Jackson, Mississippi, into a family of trailblazers; her father was a civil rights activist dedicated to registering Black voters and was friends with other prominent activists, including Medgar Evers and James Meredith. Meredith was the first Black man to attend the University of Mississippi three years before Bailey would enroll. During her time at Jim Hill High School, she was involved in the school’s honor society, performed as a majorette in the band, and was immersed in her community as a whole. Though she looked at universities in Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, and even locally in Jackson, she felt that she was called to Oxford, Mississippi.
“I thought that since the University of Mississippi was something that I always read about in the newspaper and saw things on television about . . . that would be the ideal place for me to apply, even though they had very few people of color,” said Bailey.
Unfortunately, her experience itself was tumultuous; she faced seclusion, racist remarks, and bias. “I thought that it would be like my experiences from elementary to high school, that people just accept you because of who you are . . . I had never been treated like that in my life, to that extent, in terms of the isolation,” Bailey recalled. Both students and professors alike made bigoted, hateful comments—particularly in her freshman year. Regardless, she persisted. “[I thought] I’m going to finish this, my degree at this university. That was all, it was tunnel vision. You know, it didn’t cross my mind not to finish,” she said.
This treatment at the University of Mississippi in the 1960s would in turn motivate her throughout her career. “One of the things that I wanted to do with my students was that I didn’t want them to ever feel isolated or [like they were] not being accepted, and I think that was simply because of my experiences at Ole Miss,” she said.
Graduating a year early with a double major in Psychology and Sociology, Bailey contacted the Mississippi State Employment Commission seeking work. When a counselor told her there was nothing for her, she insisted on speaking to the head of the department. The head of the department hired her as a counselor at the Commission for a work incentive program designed to help women with children receiving aid, teaching and guiding them in learning marketable skills so that they could, in turn, support themselves. Bailey taught the mothers basic literacy and provided counseling during their education.
Verna Bailey (ΦBK, University of Mississippi) was the first African American woman to enroll at the University of Mississippi, where she earned a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology, followed by an M.Ed. frrom Lewis & Clark College. She dedicated her career to education, counseling, and education administration in Bend, Oregon. After her retirement, Bailey’s legacy was honored by the Beaverton School District with the creation of the Verna Bailey Be the Change Award, which is presented each year to students of color attending 6th or 7th grade who plan projects that build empathy for others, increase racial awareness, and promote social justice.
She eventually wanted to pivot into something new and found that her liberal arts background provided the groundwork for her to do so. “The value of a liberal arts education is that it allows students to explore different fields of study and how they connect and relate to one another. This kind of education gives students a multitude of options as they explore various career opportunities.”
After working the Mississippi State Employment Commission for three years, she moved west to Seattle, Washington, to work within the public school system; as her career advanced, she served the Lake Washington District recruiting teachers from all over the nation to bring greater diversity to the school district’s faculty. This initiative drew the attention of the Beaverton School District in Bend, Oregon, where she has been ever since. In Beaverton, she’s worn many hats—administrator, counselor, head of the counseling department, assistant principal, and principal for both the elementary and middle school.
Her role as head of the counseling department was one that exemplified her greatest strength: community building. Even with more than 1,300 students, “I made sure that I asked their names, and I wanted them to tell me something about their mom or their dad or their brothers or sisters. And that’s what I did in all of my schools. I just had a real close personal relationship with the students, as well as the community,” she said. Another aspect of building community was developing a strong volunteer base in the schools. “I wanted parents in the classroom. I wanted parents around. In the school, even at the middle school level, a lot of the kids did not want their parents in the classroom. And I said, well, I want you to volunteer in the library again . . . I want you to be a part of this,” Bailey said.
Her commitment to the Beaverton community has certainly not been forgotten. Every year, one middle schooler in the district is awarded the Verna Bailey Be the Change Award, which recognizes a student making a positive change in their school, namely through projects centered around empathy and social justice. Created after Bailey’s retirement, it displays her lasting impact of fostering community and compassion.
Although retired, Bailey hasn’t slowed down. She currently sits on the board of directors for Edison High School, which is dedicated to meeting the the unique needs of students with learning differences; the impact board of Becker Capital, an investment firm; and the executive board of a women’s club. Her time as a board member for the Edison School has been particularly rewarding for her. The students are better able to showcase their intelligence and skills when given access to resources and counselors, an avenue of connection that Verna Bailey is well acquainted with.
After a stellar career, and even post-career, in education, the University of Mississippi recognized her for this with election into Phi Beta Kappa in 2024. “It feels good . . . I was surprised and pleased all at the same time, too. But it’s a good recognition. Of my career, and the kinds of things I’ve done in my community . . . I feel like [my induction is] a full circle kind of thing,” Bailey said.
While her initial experience at the university was a struggle, she feels the school has made great strides of progress. She has gone back both to speak in the Women’s Resource Department as well as accept an award on behalf of her late father. “I was just pleased with the progress and pleased with the chancellors that I met during that time and the kind of caliber of students as well as faculty members at the university. So, I have a lot of pride in the University of Mississippi,” she said.
But as for what she’s most proud of, the answer is unequivocally her daughter, Asha Bailey Wilkerson, who has followed in her footsteps and has pursued a career in education herself, as a professor.
As an educator who has witnessed her students grow and develop, she is excited for what the next generation will accomplish. “This year’s graduates are the movers and shakers of tomorrow,” she said. “They are the generation who have the ability to minimize divisiveness in our country and provide the playbook for a just and sustainable future.”
Allison Barnett is a recent graduate from the University of Mississippi, where she earned a B.A. in English with minors in Southern Studies and Cinema. Currently, she works as a post-production assistant for an upcoming Apple TV series. She was inducted by the Beta of Mississippi chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in 2024.