Top
  • Apply
  • Contact Us
  • Give
  • Locations
  • Request Info
  • Indigo Portal

William Carey University Crest Logo
  • I want to...
  • Prospects
    • Apply Now
    • Campuses
    • College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Explore Degree Programs
    • Graduate Admissions
    • International Student Admissions
    • Request Information
    • School of Pharmacy
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • Visit Campus
  • Students
        • Services
          • Canvas
          • E-Mail
          • Indigo Portal
          • Library
          • Office 365
          • OneLogin
          • TK20
          • WEPA Printing
      • Resources
        • Apply for Graduation
        • Faculty & Staff Directory
        • How To Tutorials
        • Register for Classes
        • Request a Transcript
        • Student Handbook
  • Faculty & Staff
    • Canvas
    • Library
    • Indigo Portal
    • E-Mail
    • Early Alert
    • Office 365
    • OneLogin
    • Sadernet
    • TK20
    • WEPA Printing
  • Alumni
    • Alumni Association
    • Alumni Chapters
    • Alumni Newsletter
    • Carey Magazine
    • Homecoming
    • Update Your Information
  •    
  • Search

  • President

  • Meet the President
  • Staff

President

  • Meet the President
  • Staff

Dr. Ben Burnett began his tenure as the 10th President of William Carey University on August 16, 2022. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Burnett served William Carey as Executive Vice-President and Dean of Education. Dr. Burnett holds the rank of Professor of Education and actively teaches in the Educational Leadership Department. Under his leadership as Dean of Education, the William Carey School of Education grew to an enrollment of 1,800 undergraduate and graduate majors.

Before accepting a full-time position with William Carey in 2014, Dr. Burnett spent 28 years in the K-12 public school system of Mississippi. A 1982 graduate of Oak Grove High School, he began his career in education in 1986 as assistant high school band director for the Meridian High School. In 1988 he returned to his alma mater as director of the Oak Grove High School band which increased in size from 50 to over 220. During his career, Dr. Burnett served as President of the Mississippi Bandmasters, President of SEMBDA and state chair of the National Band Association. He served on the staff of the Mississippi Lions All-State Band in 1990 and 1996 and was the recipient of the A.E. McClain outstanding young band director award in 1988. In 2013, he was inducted to the Southeast Mississippi Band Director’s Association Hall of Fame.

In 1997, Dr. Burnett became Principal of Oak Grove Middle School. During his ten-year tenure as Principal, he served as President of the Mississippi Association of Middle Level Education and was Mississippi’s Middle School Principal of the year. In 2007, he was elected Superintendent of the Lamar County School District and was re-elected in 2011. During his tenure as Superintendent, the Lamar County Schools were rated an A school district under the Mississippi Department of Education’s accountability system and also received many state and federal grants in the areas of early childhood, school safety, dyslexia training and after school tutoring. He was named the Lamar Times Person of the Year in 2012.

Dr. Burnett holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Music Education from USM and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from USM. He has been married to Denice Burnett, a retired special education director, for 32 years and they have one son, David Lane Burnett, who is a graduate of William Carey University.

Hattiesburg
WCU Box #1
710 William Carey Parkway
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
president@wmcarey.edu (601) 318 - 6495
President
  • Meet the President
  • Staff
 
More Information
  • About William Carey University
  • Academics
  • Federal Disclosures
 

Recent News

WCU Spring Registration
Tuesday, January 17, 2023 11:55 AM
WCU's “Medical Missions Emphasis Week"
Monday, January 16, 2023 5:02 PM
Winter Preview & Arts Day
Monday, December 19, 2022 2:14 PM


View All News

Upcoming Events

Here you can find plenty to do on campus and all-around involving Carey students, staff, and alumni.

Event

Retrospective

  • Tuesday, January 10, 2023 4:30 PM
  • Lucile Parker Gallery
More Info
Event

Carey Big Band Concert & Dance

  • Thursday, February 2, 2023 6:00 PM
  • Tatum Court, Third Floor
More Info
Event

Spring 2023 Registration

  • Thursday, February 16, 2023 8:00 AM
  • William Carey University
More Info


View All Events
  • Social Media Directory
  •    William Carey University
  •    William Carey University
  •    William Carey University

I want to...
View Degree Options
 
 
Prospects
  • Apply for Admissions
  • Apply for Financial Aid
  • Apply for Housing
  • Contact an Office
  • Estimate Tuition & Fees
  • Get the Parent Newsletter
  • Request Information
  • Schedule a Campus Visit
  • View Courses
Students
  • Apply for Financial Aid
  • Apply for Graduation
  • Apply for Housing
  • Check My Email
  • Do Research
  • Get VA Information
  • Hattiesburg Campus Map
  • Pay My Bill
  • Register for Classes
  • Request a Transcript
  • Student Health
  • View Catalog
  • View Courses
  • Withdraw from Carey
Alumni
  • Get Alumni Updates
  • Get My Transcript
  • Give to Carey
  • Join an Alumni Chapter
  • Support Friends of Carey
Community
  • Attend an Event
  • Attend Homecoming
  • Give to Carey
  • Work at Carey
Offices

  • Academic Affairs
  • Admissions
  • Advancement
  • Alumni
  • Athletics
  • Baptist Student Union
  • Bookstore
  • Campus Dining
  • Campus Life
  • Campus Safety & Security
  • Carey Center
  • Church Relations
  • Commencement
  • Disability Services
  • English Language Center
  • Executive Vice President
  • Finance
  • Financial Aid
  • Graduate Programs
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology
  • Institutional Research
  • Institutional Review Board
  • Library
  • Media Relations
  • Online Learning
  • President
  • Provost
  • QEP
  • Registrar
  • Residence Life & Housing
  • Student Accounts
  • Student Activities
  • Student Assistance
  • Student Counseling Center
  • Student Life
  • Student Success Center
Campuses
  • Hattiesburg
    710 William Carey Parkway
    Hattiesburg, MS 39401

    (601) 318-6051 Toll Free: (800) 962-5991

  • Tradition
    19640 Highway 67
    Biloxi, MS 39532

    (228) 702-1775

  • Baton Rouge
    Suite 1010, 1st Floor
    3600 Florida Blvd
    Baton Rouge, LA 70806

    (225) 953-7017
 
Online Learning
  • Online Learning
    710 William Carey Parkway
    Hattiesburg, MS 39401

    (601) 318-6051 More Info
 

Popular Tags
  • Education
  • Music
  • Arts and Letters
  • Osteopathic Medicine
  • Theatre and Communication
  • Art
  • Admissions
  • Alumni
  • Nursing
  • Athletics

Web Accessibility | Clery Act | Title IX | Terms of Use | Online Privacy Policy | GDPR Privacy Notice