Dr. Imogene (Mathison) Mixson spent her career as an educator in the Wiregrass area, much of it in leadership of health programs at Wallace Community College - Dothan. When she needed recovery after a recent surgery, she found herself at The Rehab Inn at Wesley Place on Honeysuckle under the care of many of the very men and women who benefited from the health programs she had overseen.
“Here across the Wiregrass I have just found numbers and numbers of employees who are graduates of those programs at Wallace Community College. As you can imagine, I have just been absolutely amazed and rewarded to be the beneficiary of their outstanding services,” Dr. Mixson said. “I mean, the number of people that I have met that have served me so well, particularly on the nursing staff, and the therapists here, have just added so, so much to the progress that I have been able to make as a resident in the rehab section.”
Being a teacher was always part of Dr. Mixson’s plan, even from an early age. She formally pursued those dreams after graduating from Ozark High School (now Carroll High School). She earned a bachelor’s degree in English Education from Troy University, a master’s in English Education from Auburn University, and then a PhD in English Education from Florida State University. She began her career as an English teacher at Dothan High School in 1959. In 1966, she joined the newly-formed Alabama 2-year college system at Enterprise State Junior College (now Enterprise State Community College), and stayed there for 15 years before joining Wallace Community College. As Academic Dean, Dr. Mixson had responsibility for the academic transfer programs and the academic health programs whose graduates have assisted her with both competence and compassion. She counts it a blessing to experience firsthand this remarkable care.
As a lifelong active member of the Methodist church, Dr. Mixson has followed its ministry affiliates, including Wesley Place on Honeysuckle, all of her life. She believes that it was God’s providence that led the hospital discharge planners to choose Wesley Place for her rehabilitative care. “It is just the perfect place for me. I enjoy the pleasant, positive atmosphere.”
Dr. Mixson is proud that Wallace Community College is well known for its outstanding health programs. She said that she spent much of her time with department chairs, ensuring the best staff and curriculum in all of those programs, and ensuring that all programs remained accredited by their related health and education agencies. This diligence helped her make sure that students would do well not only on testing, but that they were well qualified with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform well in the workforce.
As a beneficiary of their work, Dr. Mixson is humbly grateful for the tremendous service they have provided to so many people for so many years. Most notably, she appreciates the dedicated care provided by the entire staff at Wesley Place, including housekeeping and dining services.
“In addition to getting the rehab I need, what a joy that it all connects with my calling to be an educator,” Dr. Mixson said. She hopes that her story is an inspiration to other educators and health personnel as they enter their careers. “Educators and health professionals have unique and wonderful opportunities to help other people.”
Among many recognitions of her career achievements, in 2021 Wallace Community College - Dothan honored her with the naming of the campus writing center as the Dr. Imogene Mathison Mixson Writing Center because of her contributions to the college and her background in English.