(Clarksdale, Mississippi) – Coahoma Community College (CCC) is proud to announce Geoffrey
M. Latham as the recipient of the 2025 Humanities Teacher of the Year award. Latham,
the Art Program Coordinator and Fine Arts instructor at CCC, presented his humanities
lecture titled “Stone Tools to Social Media: The Ubiquity and Relevance of the Visual Arts from Prehistory
to the Foreseeable Future.”
A native of Cleveland, Mississippi, Latham is an accomplished artist whose work continues
to evolve. Primarily focused on painting, his creative journey is a deep exploration
of the artist’s soul and its place in the world. His artwork frequently delves into
themes of nostalgia and beauty in everyday experiences, aiming to evoke uplifting
reminders of the world’s wonders.
His preferred medium is watercolor, though he often experiments with other materials,
maintaining a signature style marked by saturated color and visual truth. Balancing
convention with surrealism, Latham’s work is a reflection of his perceptual explorations
of life, the universe, and everything.
Latham is a two-time graduate of Delta State University, holding a B.A. in Art Education
and an M.Ed. He began his teaching career in 2004 and has instructed students across
various subjects and age groups, from Pre-K to college, in both Mississippi and Tennessee.
His commitment to arts education is reflected in his affiliations with organizations
such as Delta Arts Alliance, Mississippi Professional Educators, the College Art Association,
and The Mississippi Art Education Association. Notably, he has served on the state
board of directors for the Mississippi Art Education Association and was recently
honored as the 2024 Higher Education Art Educator of the Year.
Latham’s artistic contributions extend beyond the classroom. His work has been showcased
in the Annual Juried Student Exhibition at the Fielding Wright Gallery at Delta State
University and has been featured in charitable auctions supporting Delta Arts Alliance
and the Junior Auxiliary of Cleveland, Mississippi. Some of his notable pieces include On the Half Shell (2022, 8.5×9” watercolor), Legendary (2023, 15×22” watercolor), and Golden Landmass (2024, 20×16” mixed media).
Coahoma Community College congratulates Geoffrey M. Latham on this well-deserved honor
and invites the community to attend his upcoming humanities presentation, which promises
to be an insightful exploration of the visual arts’ enduring impact on society.
About Mississippi Humanities Council:
Founded in March 1972 with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities,
the Mississippi Humanities Council has been a catalyst for grassroots public humanities
programs. Originally named the Mississippi Committee for the Humanities, the organization
later evolved into the Mississippi Humanities Council, playing a crucial role in promoting
social change in the state.