Judy K. Nelson

Judy K. Nelson, executive director in the Office of Federal Program, Mississippi Department of Education

Dr. Nelson has been the executive director in the Office of Federal Programs since September 2020. She was previously the bureau director in the Office of Federal Programs since October 2017. Prior to coming to the Mississippi Department of Education, she was a classroom teacher, academic coach, federal programs director, and superintendent. She is a Licensed Educator and Career Level Administrator with over twenty years of experience in education. 

She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Mississippi Valley State University, a Master’s in Elementary Education and a Specialist in Educational Administration and Supervision from Delta State University, and a Doctoral in Educational Leadership from William Carey University. Her current responsibilities include the administration of eighteen grant programs authorized by Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds; reviewing and approving applications for each grant program; providing technical assistance and guidance to LEAs and other subgrantees regarding programmatic and fiscal compliance; and finally, monitoring the administration of grant programs which includes both desk and on-site reviews.