‘Purpose That Prevails’ was created to inspire its listeners, primarily of the Christian faith, to understand and embrace the power that comes with taking steps forward to achieve a greater global society through the sharing of ideas and personal involvement in events that will help to shape the social, economic and religious landscapes in the American South over the next half-century. 

Through conversations with prominent historians, religious scholars and college educators, “Purpose That Prevails with Otis Pickett” strives to provide listeners with greater insight into the history of the Southern Christian movement and how it has shaped the last half-century in American politics, education and social justice.

Host Background:

Otis W. Pickett is the E Pluribus Unum Eminent Scholar and the University Historian at Clemson University, serving as only the 4th university historian in the school’s 134-year history. He serves in the Libraries as University Historian, Chair of the Department of Historic Properties and is also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning at Clemson University. Dr. Pickett is passionate about higher education in prisons and is the co-founder and co-director of the Prison to College Pipeline Program, which is the first program in the state of Mississippi to offer tuition free, credit bearing college courses to incarcerated students Prison-to-College Pipeline Program | University of Mississippi (olemiss.edu)