Northwest Mississippi Community College

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Patti Gordon NWCC's Executive Director of Advancement Retires

Senatobia, MS (08/25/2026) — Northwest Mississippi Community College's Executive Director of Institutional Advancement is passing the torch as the Cleveland native, Patti Gordon, prepares for the next stage of her life. Gordon's last day is set to be Aug. 28.

Gordon began her Northwest journey in 2015, when she started as scholarship coordinator in the Foundation and Alumni Office with Northwest icon and then-Director of Development, Sybil Canon and Alumni Director, Dolores Wooten. She worked with them several years before transitioning higher in 2019 when she was named executive director of Institutional Advancement, a position she took with great honor and enthusiasm.

Gordon has led various initiatives at the college, including Northwest's first-ever comprehensive capital campaign, established the formal fundraising event - The Northwest Soiree, and introduced the customer service initiative - The Northwest W.A.Y. The "Investing Today, Impacting Tomorrow" Capital Campaign raised $9.8 million from 2020 to 2025, providing support for several projects across the college. During its first four years, The Northwest Soiree generated $750,566 in revenue and $568,039 in net proceeds for the college. Built around the message "We Appreciate You," The Northwest W.A.Y. customer service initiative establishes a culture of providing exceptional service to every guest who visits the Northwest campus.

"I loved meeting and getting to know so many people," Gordon said. "Whether alumni, donors, colleagues, or students, my life is richer because of the opportunity to connect with people who are part of the Northwest family."

Gordon always strived to work with positivity and hopes the initiatives she led will inspire others to have an attitude of going above and beyond.

Throughout her career at Northwest, Gordon has strengthened her leadership through completing the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy, Leadership DeSoto, and the Mississippi Community College Policy Fellows Program, while also serving her community as president of the Senatobia Rotary Club. She also served on the college's Executive Council and was a member of the Northwest Leadership Forum. Gordon's impact on the college has been indelible with her impact on everyone from students to staff to the community outside the college's walls.

President Emeritus of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors, Fred Carlisle, said the immense impact that Gordon had cannot be understated. Carlisle especially commended all her hard work establishing the Northwest Soiree which brought in new donors, new opportunities and showcased a great event. He said she has done her fair share to continue the foundation that Canon had built.

"She has just done a phenomenal job and grown it so much," Carlisle said.

Northwest alumnus Owen Hardin, who worked with Gordon while he was a student, said that he is so happy he got to work with her and always found Gordon's dedication inspiring.

"I always loved working with and for Miss Patti," said Hardin. "She was great at delegating people in roles while also making sure the job was always getting done. She is very kind and treats students with a loving, welcoming attitude."

Outside of work, Gordon has two daughters, Abbey and Lacey; her son-in-law Ryan; and her granddaughter, Avery Adair; and her fiance, Jon Brittingham, whom she is set to marry in October. She deeply loves her family, and they have always been supportive during her career at Northwest.

She looks forward to enjoying travel and time with family in retirement.

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Photo of Patti Gordon. Photo by Carly Fox

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