In honor of Black History Month, we proudly celebrate and highlight the remarkable contributions of Black students, faculty and alumni who are an integral part of the Millsaps College community. Today we turn the spotlight on Scott Colom, class of 2005. Two decades ago, he walked across the graduation stage, but Millsaps still looms large in his life.
“It’s a place that breeds success.” That’s one of the many reasons Scott Colom chose Millsaps College in 2001. Now the thrice-elected District Attorney for Mississippi’s 16th Circuit Court, he still connects his time at Millsaps to his successful legal career.
Initially drawn to Millsaps to play basketball, Colom recalls his parents encouraging him to become a Major for a different reason. “My parents were very impressed with the academic reputation and wanted me to get a good education that would prepare me for a career,” he said.
The Impact of Mentorship
It didn’t take long for Colom to feel at home on Millsaps’ campus. Even more, it was a place where he felt heard.
“I ended up in one of Dr. Anne MacMaster’s English classes as a freshman and she was one of the first people in my college experience who made me feel like she really believed in me,” he recalled. “She thought my opinions had value and that I had a lot of potential.”
With a nine-to-one student-to-teacher ratio, professors develop genuine relationships with their students, offering more than just academic instruction.
“What was important was, at a point in time when I was unsure if I could be a successful Millsaps student, I had a professor who really believed in me. That was key to my success at Millsaps and throughout my career.”
He credits Dr. MacMaster with inspiring his decision to double major in English and history.
“Scott was a wonderful student,” MacMaster said. Recalling a classroom exercise in the setting of a courtroom, she said, “I remember being surprised and delighted at how thoroughly Scott threw himself into his role as lead prosecutor and how his enthusiasm infected the whole class. It was clear from the gusto with which Scott prepared that he was destined for a career in the law.”
The skills, virtues and confidence Colom gained at Millsaps carried him far beyond graduation.
“A big part of law school is your ability to read and understand legal cases, to write and explain reasoning and take a position,” he said. “It was very helpful to me that I was a confident reader and writer, particularly of complicated texts.”
Colom’s Millsaps experience also led him to teach in Guyana for a year between undergrad and law school, an opportunity he discovered at a career event in the library during his senior year. “Teaching abroad impacted my view of education and the world around me. I wouldn’t have done that had I not gone to Millsaps.”
A Passion for Justice
After graduating from law school at the University of Wisconsin, Colom returned to Mississippi, the place he’s always called home. “I had opportunities to go to bigger cities and practice law there but for me, it’s an honor to come home and serve my community. I want to help Mississippi reach its potential and Millsaps played a part in instilling in me love and concern for my state.”
It didn’t take long for Colom to rise in the legal field. After stints at the Mississippi Center for Justice and his father’s law firm, his title switched from lawyer to judge. At just 28 years old, he was appointed as a Lowndes County interim justice court judge, making him the youngest and first Black man to hold the position.
A few years later, he made history again as the first Black city prosecutor in his hometown of Columbus.
Since 2015, Colom has served as the District Attorney for the 16th Circuit Court of Mississippi. With a conviction rate over 95%, he’s a stellar prosecutor.
His Vision for Mississippi
He’s also leading the charge on implementing innovative policies within the justice system, like rehab, counseling and anger management resources for first-time non-violent offenders.
Colom wants the justice system to do more for victims. “We have counseling every quarter for people who lose loved ones to gun violence,” he said. “I’m very invested in making sure my community is safe, and my justice system is fair.”
A profound desire to make Mississippi a better place; that’s Colom’s personal and professional charge.
It’s the vision of Millsaps that graduates lead lives dedicated to learning, service and meaning – a vision made flesh in Scott Colom.