Missy Haughery
Executive Director, Down Syndrome Alabama
Melissa “Missy” Haughery was named executive director of Down Syndrome Alabama (DSA) in March of 2023, after a twenty-six-year career in education as a 12th grade English teacher. Down Syndrome Alabama is a state-wide organization dedicated to supporting individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and their communities by advancing advocacy, providing connections, and promoting education. DSA was named the Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action’s Affiliate of the Year in 2024, for being a professional, innovative example to other organizations, for strong commitment to its mission, and for outstanding engagement in the whole community. Through Missy’s personal philosophy of See Us, Know Us, Love Us, Down Syndrome Alabama is helping to educate communities through programs and events, where people with Down syndrome shine bright for everyone to see.
A native Mobilian, Missy graduated from St. Paul’s Episcopal School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Language Arts/Secondary Education from Birmingham-Southern College, where she was vice-president of the Student Government Association and a member of Chi Omega. She received a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she was a recipient of the School Superintendents of Alabama Scholarship for outstanding leadership and educational contributions. Missy serves on The Bell Center for Early Intervention’s Programming Committee, is a member of PEO, and recently completed the Nancy Walton Laurie Leadership Institute of Chi Omega’s Resilient Leader Flagship, which builds strengths-based awareness for community leadership. A natural-born cheerleader, Missy enjoys cheering on others to the finish line and celebrating their successes. Her contagious spirit brings that same ideology to Down Syndrome Alabama.
Missy and her husband Mark make their home in Vestavia Hills with their three children, daughter, Annmarie, and twin sons, Chapman and John. John has Down syndrome.