Dr. V. Clyde and Vashti U. Muse

Clyde and his late wife Vashti have been residents of Raymond, MS for many years. Clyde began his education career at East Central Junior College in Decatur and graduated in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in education from Delta State University, where he met Vashti Underwood. Upon his graduation he began teaching and coaching at Canton High School. In 1959 the Muses moved to Starkville, where both of them attended MSU while Clyde taught and coached at Starkville High School. Clyde completed his master’s degree in 1959 and his doctoral degree in 1968, both in education. Vashti graduated from MSU in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree and in 1976 with a master’s degree in education.

Both Clyde and Vashti Muse spent their lives and careers in education. Clyde began his career teaching and coaching before moving into administration. He served as principal and assistant superintendent for Starkville School District and as a superintendent in both Hinds County and Meridian public schools. In 1978 Clyde became the president of Hinds Community College where he served until his retirement in June 2020. The Board of Trustees awarded him President Emeritus in honor of his 42 years of service to the college. The Legislature honored him with resolutions in 2020 in recognition of his 68 years of service in education. At MSU, Clyde was awarded the Alumnus of the Year in 1992 and Alumni Fellow in 2011 for the College of Education.

Vashti spent 50 plus years in the education field, teaching elementary school in Starkville and later in Hinds and Lauderdale counties. She joined her husband at Hinds Community College, teaching reading and advocating for underprepared and at-risk college freshmen. Prior to her death in 2010 she served as president of the National Association of Developmental Educators and the Mississippi Association of Developmental Educators. In 2006, she was the first recipient of the Vashti U. Muse Outstanding Developmental Educator Award, which was established in her honor by MADE. In April 2010, the Mississippi Legislature presented a joint resolution recognizing her impact on education in the State of Mississippi.

The Muses also shared a love of MSU with their children; all three attended the institution. Along with MSU scholarships, the Muses’ generosity further supports the College of Education and the John C. Stennis Endowment in Political Science.

Both the Muses established and supported numerous scholarship endeavors over the years, but a scholarship devoted to quality teachers in Mississippi has special significance.
“As educators ourselves, both Vashti and I early on realized the critical need for quality teachers as a way to provide opportunity for the state’s young people,” Dr. Muse said. “It is my desire that this scholarship at MSU will not only help increase the number of teachers who have the skills to make a difference in Mississippi classrooms, but help remove some of the financial burden that many of them face as they continue their own education preparation.”