As envisioned, the center will include a hall of fame honoring Mississippi's many artists in numerous disciplines, an amphitheatre for concerts, a 500-seat concert hall, an artists-in-residence village and support facilities such as restaurants, shops and broadcasting studios.

"We are delighted to be able to name someone of Charlotte's caliber to this important position," said Paul Ott, president of the MAEC board. "We had candidates from all over the country and, after careful review, Charlotte's credentials put her at the top. We can now move forward on a full-time basis to make this dream of an arts and entertainment center a reality."

Dr. Tabereaux, who is also co-founder of the Rankin County Arts Alliance, is a graduate of Russellville (AL) High School. She received both her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of North Alabama and, in 2002, was awarded her Ph.D. in Education Administration. She taught home economics, English and drama at the high school level for 20 years and taught English at the University of Louisville. She was the 1992 Colorado Theatre Middle School Teacher of the Year.

For the past 10 years, she has been an administrator, in positions including principal, state department senior education specialist and director of curriculum. In her current position, she has successfully written and administered more than $2 million in state and federal grants as well as overseeing the expenditure of $3 million school district federal funds each year.

Dr. Tabereaux is also an adjunct professor in the educational leadership doctoral program at Mississippi State University and in the masters teaching degree program at Belhaven College. She co-authored a book, Learning to Read Through the Arts K-2 in 2003. She is a board member and president-elect of the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education as well as a field advisor for the Mississippi Arts Commission. The arts program she developed earned the Rankin County School District the 2004 Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts.

She is the president of the Mississippi Association of Federal Education Program Directors, and a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Theta Chi Collegiate Honor Society and the Junior Auxiliary of Rankin County. Charlotte's husband, Tom, is the president of Junior Achievement, Inc. of Mississippi. They have two sons: Jason, a graduate of the University of Mississippi, and Kevin, a senior at Mississippi State University.


			MAEC APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR March 31, 2004

	MERIDIAN, MS- The board of directors of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center (MAEC) today named Dr. Charlotte Tabereaux as the center's first-ever executive director. Dr. Tabereaux, currently director of federal programs for the Rankin County (MS) School District, will be responsible for guiding the MAEC toward development and operation of a $55 million project to celebrate Mississippi's rich history and create opportunities for fledgling artists. She will assume her new duties on May 3, 2004. As executive director, Dr. Tabereaux will be responsible for developing a fund-raising program targeting the private sector, writing and administering grants, developing an arts network in the state and region, working with design professionals on the various phases of development of the arts and entertainment center and marketing the center in the state and region.
	As envisioned, the center will include a hall of fame honoring Mississippi's many artists in numerous disciplines, an amphitheatre for concerts, a 500-seat concert hall, an artists-in-residence village and support facilities such as restaurants, shops and broadcasting studios. "We are delighted to be able to name someone of Charlotte's caliber to this important position," said Paul Ott, president of the MAEC board. "We had candidates from all over the country and, after careful review, Charlotte's credentials put her at the top. We can now move forward on a full-time basis to make this dream of an arts and entertainment center a reality." Dr. Tabereaux, who is also co-founder of the Rankin County Arts Alliance, is a graduate of Russellville (AL) High School. She received both her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of North Alabama and, in 2002, was awarded her Ph.D. in Education Administration. She taught home economics, English and drama at the high school level for 20 years and taught English at the University of Louisville. She was the 1992 Colorado Theatre Middle School Teacher of the Year. For the past 10 years, she has been an administrator, in positions including principal, state department senior education specialist and director of curriculum. In her current position, she has successfully written and administered more than $2 million in state and federal grants as well as overseeing the expenditure of $3 million school district federal funds each year. Dr. Tabereaux is also an adjunct professor in the educational leadership doctoral program at Mississippi State University and in the masters teaching degree program at Belhaven College. She co-authored a book, Learning to Read Through the Arts K-2 in 2003. She is a board member and president-elect of the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education as well as a field advisor for the Mississippi Arts Commission. The arts program she developed earned the Rankin County School District the 2004 Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts. She is the president of the Mississippi Association of Federal Education Program Directors, and a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Theta Chi Collegiate Honor Society and the Junior Auxiliary of Rankin County. Charlotte's husband, Tom, is the president of Junior Achievement, Inc. of Mississippi. They have two sons: Jason, a graduate of the University of Mississippi, and Kevin, a senior at Mississippi State University.