Investing in Talent: Summer Boyd Joins IDS as Transition Specialist

What began as an internship has grown into a new chapter at IDS. We are excited to welcome Summer Boyd as our newest Transition Specialist in the Hattiesburg office.

Summer graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi in December 2025 with a Bachelor of Social Work degree, where she was also recognized as the BSW Field Student of the Year—an honor that reflects both her academic excellence and her commitment to the values of the social work profession.

During her undergraduate career, Summer served as an intern at IDS under the supervision of Scott Mullins, quickly becoming a trusted and integral part of our team. She confidently led group activities, facilitated one-on-one professional development sessions, and played a key role in coordinating inclusive programming across our Community Volunteer Club, STEP UP, SO College, and EPIC initiatives. Her creativity and initiative was on display through her work on social media content, program flyers, and event materials, where she often took the lead on design and messaging.

Summer brings compassion, dedication, and a strong ethical foundation to everything she does. She is dependable, eager to learn, and deeply committed to creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities to thrive—qualities that made her transition from intern to staff member a natural next step.

In her new role, Summer will lead Job Extravaganzas, our interactive job fair program for high school students with disabilities, made possible through our partnership with MDRS. We are thrilled to see her step into this role and continue making a meaningful impact for students and families across our community.

Please join us in congratulating Summer on being named BSW Field Student of the Year and welcoming her as IDS’s newest Transition Specialist. We’re so glad she’s continuing her journey with us!