Base, USM partnership benefits 1st student Published Oct. 3, 2007 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- A recent University of Southern Mississippi graduate is the first student to benefit from a partnership between the Keesler Child Development Center and USM's Department of Child and Family Studies. Before graduating from USM Aug. 3 with a bachelor's degree in child development, Gwendolyn McKinney served a supervised hands-on course for two months this summer at Keesler. Although she's a recent college graduate, Ms. McKinney is no novice in the child care field. She served for 13 years in the Jackson County Civic Action Committee's Head Start program in Moss Point before her recent promotion to assistant center specialist at the Gautier Head Start Center. "I had a wonderful experience at Keesler," she said. "The facility was incredible and the trainers were excellent. "It's so nice to see concepts discussed in class so clearly demonstrated in practice," she continued. "The teachers at Keesler create a really safe environment for each child. The teaching is flexible and developmentally appropriate."