Ole Miss Alumni Review - Summer 2024

ALUMNI REVIEW

SUMMER 2024

Presidential Path

ALUMNUS LEADS LE BONHEUR CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

New graduates highlighted in special series

Alumna catches her stride in career with Justin Brands

Dr. James ‘Trey’ Eubanks (BSPh 90, MD 94), recently named president of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, pictured with a surgical patient, Elizabeth Lasley, has served the

Ole Miss Alumni Review

PUBLISHER

Kirk Purdom (BA 93)

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Jim Urbanek II (BA 97) jim@olemissalumni.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Annie Rhoades (BBA 07, MBA 09) annie@olemissalumni.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Benita Whitehorn

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Kayden Breedlove

ART DIRECTOR

Amy Howell

CONTRIBUTORS

Kevin Bain (BA 98), Christian Boudreaux, Srijita Chattopadhyay, Bill Dabney (BA 89), Jay Ferchaud, Erin Garrett (BAJ 11, MS 20), Thomas Graning (BAJ 17), Tina H. Hahn, Marvis Herring, Hannah Hoang, Jian Huang, Brian Hudgins, Lisa Buser Photography, Joshua McCoy, Steve Mullen, Annie Oeth, Elizabeth Parker, MacKenzie Ross (13), Clara Turnage (BAJ 17)

OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Karen Moore (BS 82) president

Jeff Hubbard (BBA 80, JD 83) president-elect

Charles White (BBA 82) vice president

Todd Sandroni (BSPh 92, PhMD 97) athletics committee member

Bruce Ware (BBA 99) athletics committee member

ALUMNI AFFAIRS DIRECTORS

Kirk Purdom (BA 93), chief executive officer

Joseph Baumbaugh, assistant director for information services

Sunny Brown (BSFCS 09, MA 11), assistant director

Clay Cavett (BBA 86), associate director, campaigns and special projects

Michelle Coughlin (BAccy 93, MAccy 94), chief financial officer

Savannah Dye (BS 21, MS 23), assistant director

Jessica Lynch (BSES 05), assistant director

Steve Mullen (BA 92), assistant director for marketing

Annie Rhoades (BBA 07, MBA 09), assistant director for communications

Mary Kate Skelton (BS 18), alumni fundraising director

Scott Thompson (BA 97, MA 08), associate director, engagement

Jim Urbanek (BA 97), associate director, communications and marketing

Rusty Woods (BBA 01), associate director for information services

from the Chancellor

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Ole Miss is soaring, propelled by your unwavering support. Thanks to your generosity, we shattered the $1.5 billion goal for Now & Ever: The Campaign for Ole Miss a year ahead of schedule. This remarkable achievement speaks volumes about the strength and spirit of our community.

The success of Now & Ever is unprecedented. As the largest fundraising effort in Mississippi history, Now & Ever received over 471,000 contributions from nearly 80,000 donors. The impact is transformative — creating 374 new scholarships, supporting 57 endowed faculty positions, and empowering future students to build their legacies at Ole Miss guided by world-class faculty.

Additionally, the campaign funds cutting-edge facilities such as the Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation, enabling our state’s continued economic prosperity by educating tomorrow’s STEM leaders. We continue to seek support for projects that include a new home for the top-ranked Patterson School of Accountancy and the Institute for the Arts. The campaign continues through June 30, 2025.

Our growth extends beyond fundraising milestones. This fall, we anticipate welcoming our largest freshman class ever for the third consecutive year. Students are drawn to what our alumni have always known: Ole Miss offers a supportive community, academic excellence and an unparalleled student experience.

Our students continue to shine on the global stage. In the 2023-24 academic year, we celebrated two record-breaking achievements: 17 seniors in our Language Flagship programs were accepted into competitive Chinese and Arabic capstone year programs, and 10 Ole Miss students earned Boren scholarships to continue their studies in languages critical to national security. We applaud these students and the faculty who mentored them.

Our faculty continues to drive creative achievement and research that tackles issues crucial to our state, such as investigating the disappearance of oysters off the Mississippi Gulf Coast that affects economic vitality and ocean ecosystems. We’re also excited about progress in developing the Greenfield Farm Writers Residency that will nurture 50-60 talented writers annually on a 20-acre farm once owned by Nobel laureate William Faulkner.

In health care, we’re responding to pressing challenges in Mississippi and beyond. The UMMC School of Nursing in Oxford welcomed its inaugural class of the new traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in May, addressing a critical need for health care professionals in Mississippi. Additionally, UMMC became the state’s first hospital to offer chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR, T-cell therapy for certain persistent cancers by altering a patient’s T cells to better combat cancerous cells.

As you watch the 2024 Summer Olympics, give a “Hotty Toddy” for the Ole Miss track and field legends participating in the summer games: Sam Kendricks in the men’s pole vault, McKenzie Long in the women’s 200-meter dash and Raven Saunders in the women’s shot put. And the next time you’re on campus, check out our beautiful new Grove Plaza anchoring one of our most beloved campus spaces.

When I reflect on our university’s outstanding achievements, I am grateful for our alumni community that is so incredibly passionate about our institution. Thank you for all you do and for building a family we deeply value.

Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) Chancellor

from the President

Dear Alumni and Friends,

As I look back on this year as president, I cannot be prouder of this great American public university. Our campus, our students, the Honors College, the accountancy school and the Medical Center have landed us on a national stage. Our new state-of-the-art STEM building will open for classes this fall.

The $1.5 billion Now & Ever campaign has exceeded its goal early. Thank you to all who participated and continue to give. We also anticipate a successful 2024-25 athletics season. We have much to look forward to as our university continues to accelerate forward, and we will welcome a record-setting freshman class this fall. All the accomplishments mentioned would not be possible without the generosity of our incredible donors.

Speaking at the 2024 Convocation was particularly nostalgic. It reminded me of all the connections and friends I have made though my Ole Miss experience. I would not be where I am had it not been for my husband, Bruce, whom I met at Ole Miss, and all the family and friends I’ve made along the way. Being an Ole Miss Rebel is truly one of the greatest decisions I’ve ever made!

Seeing the sea of graduates, families and friends in the Grove was a sight I will always remember. It was a beautiful Saturday morning in Oxford. All the graduates celebrated a true accomplishment that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives … not only a diploma but the friends sitting next to them and the bonds they made during their time on campus. These connections are forever. After the ceremony, many graduates enjoyed a champagne toast on the Triplett Alumni Center lawn.

I had the opportunity to join this year’s Rebel Road Trip that included four towns in Mississippi and other clubs across the South. It was amazing to see the Rebel fan base’s support and excitement for the upcoming football and basketball seasons. I especially enjoyed seeing alumni and friends in each town.

As we look to the fall and the rapidly approaching football season, active members are invited to a party on the lawn of Triplett Alumni Center to watch the rush of the Grove before the Middle Tennessee State game on Sept. 6. If you have never witnessed the setup of the Grove, it is a true phenomenon. We will have food, drinks and live music. This promises to be a good time, so plan to join the fun!

We will celebrate our most outstanding alumni at the Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony as part of Homecoming week before we face Kentucky. We will honor five distinguished Hall of Fame recipients as well as an Outstanding Young Alumni Award and Alumni Service Award recipient.

I hope you were able to participate in the Alumni Association survey that was sent out in June. Your opinion matters, and this information will help us determine where we can improve on our services to our alumni population.

Hope to see you on campus this fall!

Hotty Toddy, Karen Moore (BS 82) President Ole Miss Alumni Association

f rom the Circle

THE LATEST ON OLE MISS STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS

Landmark Signage

UNIVERSITY DEDICATES GROVE PLAZA

Ason’s love for his mother and her great affection for the University of Mississippi and the iconic Grove were on display on May 14 during the dedication of the Grove Plaza.

This new campus landmark is the first major signage ever identifying the Grove, the 10-acre park enjoyed by thousands each year.

Donors Sunny and Mac (BBA 68) Haik, of Houston, Texas, were honored at a ceremony dedicating the Grove Plaza to his mother, the late Frances Haik Jordan, of Meridian and Decatur. The signage includes landscaping and a plaque that reads, “In memory of Frances Haik. She loved Ole Miss and the Grove.”

During the ceremony, Chancellor Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) thanked the Haiks for their $1.5 million gift, a portion of which was used to build the landmark.

“Behind the gift we celebrate today is the immeasurable love of a son for his mother,” Boyce says. “We are honored to celebrate the memory of Frances Haik Jordan, whose devotion to Ole Miss is the inspiration for this entire Grove Plaza.”

Mac Haik, alumnus and former standout Rebel football player, shared how his mother — a self-made successful businesswoman — came into her relationship with Ole Miss.

“She knew nothing about football, and I mean absolutely nothing,” he says. “She attended all my high school and Ole Miss games. She loved the atmosphere and meeting the players

and their families. The players called her the team mom.”

Jordan served for 20 years as vice president and business development officer of Peoples Bank of Mississippi. She also worked as manager for 18 years at Roth Department Store.

She was active in her church and community and was selected as Decatur’s “Citizen of the Year” in 2009. She died in September 2012.

Haik was named to the Ole Miss M-Club Hall of Fame and the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame. His pro career began in 1970, when he was the top draft choice of the Houston Oilers. Shortly after injuries hastened his retirement from football, he established Mac Haik Enterprises.

MHE has grown from a startup entity of two people to an organization with 11 affiliated companies that employs around 3,250 associates, generates revenue of more than $3 billion per year and owns land, commercial office buildings, retail space, medical facilities, restaurants, hotels and 1,200 billboards.

MHE also includes Mac Haik Automotive Group — the largest independent automotive group in Texas and the 15th largest independent group in the nation. Five of the 19 dealerships are in Jackson.

The gift also established two scholarships — the Sunny Sue Haik and the Frances Haik Jordan awards for entrepreneurship — honoring Haik’s wife and mother, respectively, and benefiting qualified freshman and sophomore business students.

Mac and Sunny Haik get a look at the new Grove Plaza at the corner of University Avenue and Grove Loop at the University of Mississippi. The Haiks made a gift to honor Mac’s late mother, Frances Haik Jordan, with the first major signage the Grove has had. | Photo by Amy Howell

Aim for Fame

UM GRADUATE STUDENT’S BOOK LANDS NETFLIX DEAL

Via Bleidner kept detailed journals after transferring from a Catholic school to a Los Angeles County high school full of wealthy, fame-seeking teenagers. Her coming-of-age accounts shared in If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous by Now have scored a Netflix series deal.

Bleidner, a student in the master’s program in creative writing at the University of Mississippi, shares her journey navigating the drama and culture shock of Calabasas, a California city known for its rich families, including the Kardashians.

“I knew lots of people whose goal when they grew up was to be famous,” Bleidner says. “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, I want to be a famous painter or a famous chemist’; it was, ‘Oh, I just want to be famous.’”

Kim Kardashian and Emma Roberts are part of the team producing “Calabasas,” a scripted Netflix series based on her book.

“I still can’t believe it,” Bleidner says regarding the deal. “I’m excited — and a little nervous, but I have confidence in the team working on the streaming series.”

politics, she aimed to write some thing humorous that resonated with her fellow Gen Z community.

“I especially wanted to reach young women,” she says. “I’ll get messages on Instagram from girls who read my book, and that is the coolest part of it for me.”

Via Bleidner

Bleidner’s book was published in 2021, when she was 19 and studying at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Discussing everything from social media to high school

Nearly 2,000 miles from Calabasas, Bleidner is working on a collection of short fiction stories for her thesis at Ole Miss.

“I still have a lot more to learn,” she says. “I want to be a better writer. The workshops that I’ve been in with other M.F.A. writers have been so challenging because everyone is so talented. Just being around all of these other talented writers has already helped me become a better writer.”

The California native says she would like to see more undergraduates pursue publishing.

“I encourage writers to just try,” Bleidner says. “When I was a freshman in college just sending my writing out blindly, it happened for me.”

UNIVERSITY’S 2024 COMMON READING BOOK TEACHES HAPPINESS

University of Mississippi campus leaders hope incoming students discover their passion, fuel their curiosity and, most of all, find happiness.

Happiness is the focus of the 2024 Common Reading Experience selection, Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier (Penguin, 2023), by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey.

“For more than a decade, our Common Reading Experience has enriched our classrooms, sparked lively conversations and strengthened our connections,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) says. “I’m excited to see how this year’s selection by Arthur C. Brooks and

Oprah Winfrey will inspire our campus community to reflect on their aspirations and goals for pursuing a life filled with meaning, joy and success.”

Brooks, a Harvard leadership professor, partnered with Winfrey, the lauded talk show host, philanthropist and producer from Kosciusko, to write this year’s selection, which explains the science behind happiness and how to cultivate it.

“ Build the Life You Want is an ideal book for our freshmen and incoming students and will provide foundational tools for them to build the life they want to have and to become the people they want to be,” says Natasha Jeter, assistant vice chancellor for

wellness and student success. “It’s a very unique approach because it uses a scientific slant to learning how to construct a life of happiness and fulfillment.”

Every freshman and transfer student gets a copy of the book over the summer, and many first-year experience and writing courses will use it in class. Jeter says she hopes the selection will introduce first-year students to a college experience predicated on literature that fosters a love of reading.

“Every year, we are challenged with how to participate in a process that accurately reflects our campus’s devotion to literature and to our students,” she says. “We want to make a selection that is relevant and provocative and that will help our students as they join the campus.

“The foundation we’re establishing here with our students will help them prepare for the rest of their lives.”

Graduation Day Arrives at Last

UM COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER WRIGHT THOMPSON CALLS FOR EMPATHY

Asea of blue caps and gowns flooded the historic Grove on May 11 for the University of Mississippi’s 171st Commencement. For many students, it was their first in-person graduation.

Much of the Class of 2024 entered higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic after having their high school graduation ceremonies canceled. On a crisp, sunny morning in the Grove, however, they got the full graduation experience, surrounded by family, friends and loved ones who supported them along the way.

“Today represents the culmination of years of hard work and persistence,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) says. “It’s a special time marked by love and support from families, friends, faculty and others.”

Acclaimed author, writer and reporter Wright Thompson gave the Commencement address to a crowd of nearly 10,000 graduates, friends and family members.

Thompson describes his speech as “completely unsolicited advice,” but his words were more a love letter to Ole Miss and the state that houses her, to the prospect of growth as the future comes knocking and to the kindness that he hopes to see in the world.

you. And it needs your best.”

Thompson’s message of empathy resonated with students. For the family of Sydni Davis (BA 24), a Tupelo native who earned her degree in African American studies and hopes to get her master’s at the University of Texas, graduation was overwhelming. Not only was her high school graduation interrupted by the pandemic, but her sister’s college graduation from Ole Miss was too.

“We have been waiting for today for so long,” says Carolyn Davis, who stood with her daughters Sydni and Leah and her husband, Willie. “We were robbed of both of their graduations four years ago, but we’re here today.”

Sydni followed her older sister, Leah Davis (BA 20), to Ole Miss, but her journey was her own. She became the Associated Student Body’s acting attorney general and vice president of Mortar Board. She created the only student-organized museum exhibit on campus, and she was the first Mississippian to win the Fannie Lou Hamer Scholarship.

Between quips about etiquette on the historic Oxford Square, Thompson urged students to value empathy, compassion and a willingness to serve others.

“Be competitive with yourself; be gracious with others,” he said. “There’s plenty of success to go around.”

The author also encouraged students who love Mississippi to stay here and help the state grow to be better and stronger.

“Find your own Mississippi, love it and teach other people how to love it,” he said. “Mississippi needs you; it needs all of

“I came here as her little sister,” she says, gesturing to Leah. “But I’m leaving as my own person, and I’ve accomplished things I would never have thought I would.”

Before Thompson left the stage Saturday, he indulged in one last moment with the students.

“I have only one question for you guys,” he said. “You’re all college grads, you have your future stretched out ahead of you. Are you ready?”

With a raucous “Hotty Toddy” that rattled the air of the Grove, the graduating Class of 2024 answered in a way only Ole Miss could.

by

Wright Thompson

Photo

Kevin Bain

DATA PRIVACY COULD BE IMPROVED, UM PROFESSOR SAYS

New research from the University of Mississippi calls into question the methods that online shopping services use to keep users’ data private.

Charles Walter, assistant professor of computer and information science, and recent Ole Miss graduate Thomas Cilloni (PhD 23) found that efforts to make data anonymous can sometimes be reversed. In a study published in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Xplore, they used machine learning to reveal personal data from an anonymous data set with up to 80% accuracy.

“Your data identifies you,” Walter says. “It’s incredibly important to recognize this as a problem in order to fix it. That’s why we conduct studies like this to identify problems we need to fix.”

Data privacy describes how well online entities handle, use and store personal data. Several states — including Colorado,

California and Virginia and the European Union have passed data privacy laws but do not always provide enough regulation to keep users safe, Walter says.

“These laws say data has to be anonymized, but they don’t describe how,” Walter says. “A lot of companies would just pull the names off of (data), but that’s not nearly enough.

“So, the question here is how do you anonymize data effectively? How do you define anonymization?”

In the study, the research ers were able to determine a person’s level of education, income level and whether they had children with high accuracy. Methods to keep data

private should ensure that no individual user can be identified from the available data, says Cilloni, who graduated with a doctoral degree in computer science in 2023. While nations and companies better define anonymization, it important for users to take precautions with their data, too, the researchers say. Choose which cookies you allow to track your data, read the terms of service, be careful with what information you share on social media, every time you put data on the internet, make sure it is information you would be comfortable sharing with a stranger, Walter says.

Expanding the Field

DATA SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM AIMS TO ADDRESS INDUSTRY DEMAND

Recognizing the increasing need for data-savvy professionals, the University of Mississippi School of Engineering is launching a new Bachelor of Science degree program in data science.

“Job demand is very high in data science, so it’s a high priority for our department,” says Yixin Chen, chair of the Department of Computer and Information Science. “About four years ago, we created a data science emphasis and a data science minor, which were both very successful.

program, which will welcome its inaugural class in fall 2024.

Data scientists use statistical methods, machine learning and advanced data analysis techniques to extract insights from complex data sets.

“We saw the potential for growth and increased industry need, so we began developing a bachelor’s degree program in response two years ago.”

The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning recently approved the

A bachelor’s degree in data science will give graduates flexibility to seek jobs in virtually any field, says Timothy Holston (MS 02, PhD 18), instructional assistant professor and assistant chair of computer and information science.

“The need is for people who have computational skills as well as training in a particular subject,” Holston says. “For instance, a data scientist trained in journalism could assist in fact-finding missions to determine what news is real and what’s false.”

Other applications include predicting patient outcomes in health care, personalizing customer experiences in retail and optimizing service quality in telecommunications, he says.

To that end, the curriculum will incorporate courses in a focus area of a student’s choosing.

“This will allow students to use the skills that they’ve learned in the data science intro courses and apply them to a specific area,” Holston says.

“The coursework also revolves around the application of mathematics. Data science can be heavily math-influenced.”

The department’s next step is to pursue accreditation through ABET, which is the accrediting body for all Ole Miss engineering programs, Chen says.

“Once the first students have graduated, we can begin the accreditation process,” he says. “We have a well-defined curriculum, and we are all excited about the first group of incoming students.”

Charles Walter

Yixin Chen

by iStock

Possible Risk Factor

HIGH LEVEL OF FAT-TRANSPORTING MOLECULE LINKED TO ALZHEIMER’S

Anew study by researchers at the University of Mississippi and Harvard University may have uncovered a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

Using genetic data from 21,982 Alzheimer’s disease patients and 41,944 controls, the authors found that higher levels of a particular lipoprotein — a molecule that carries fat throughout the body — found in LDL, or “bad” cholesterol — may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Their findings were published in Nature’s Communications Biology Every year, more than 10 million new cases of Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent form of dementia, are diagnosed. That equates to about one new diagnosis every three seconds. Despite its prevalence, the causes of the degenerative disease remain unclear.

The lipoprotein at the heart of the study — apolipoprotein B-100, often referred to as APOB — is a key player in metabolism and has been linked to cardiovascular disease.

Studying the possible association is difficult because researchers cannot easily modify the level of APOB in study participants, says Brian Boutwell, UM associate professor of population health science and co-author of the report.

Charleen Adams, a lead scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says. “Mendelian randomization uses genetics to make inferences stronger. It can take care of the problem of there being something else explaining the signal.”

The research is still a long way from being truly convincing that elevated levels of APOB can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, Boutwell says.

Brian Boutwell

“Instead, we used a technique called Mendelian randomization — a way to try to do what a traditional experiment does very elegantly.”

Mendelian randomization is a method of using genetic data to strengthen inferences when a traditional study is not an option.

“We know correlation is not necessarily causation,”

“One thing I think we should make as clear as we can is that our study should not be seen as fundamental, incontrovertible proof of APOB causing Alzheimer’s,” he says. “It’s so tempting when you have interesting findings like ours to latch on to them as more than they are, especially because Alzheimer’s is such a prevalent and devastating disease.”

Boutwell cautions against vilifying APOB, noting that, in general, lipids help to perform necessary functions in the body, such as transporting fats and cholesterol around the body, which is necessary to create new cells.

“An important point to make about lipoproteins in general is we’re often tempted to only think about them in a negative connotation, but cholesterol is vital to life, not only in our species but in many others as well,” he says. “Cholesterol is so essential in your body that it manufactures it — and that’s a good thing, because there would be very negative consequences otherwise.”

Much more work must be done before definitively saying high APOB levels cause Alzheimer’s disease, but Adams and Boutwell say they hope this study will spark other researchers’ interest in the topic.

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Tailored Prescriptions

PHARMACIES COULD CREATE CUSTOM DRUGS WITH 3D-PRINTED MEDICATION

More than 40% of older Americans take five or more prescription drugs a day, and nearly 20% take 10 or more. What if there was a way to combine those medications into one easy-to-track pill?

The use of 3D printing to create customized pills could do just that, say University of Mississippi pharmacy professor Michael Repka and two alumni of the School of Pharmacy. Repka worked with Sagar Narala (PhD 23) and Dinesh Nyavanandi (PhD 22), who recently completed doctoral degrees in pharmaceutical science, to outline the plan in a chapter from 3D Printing: Emerging Technologies and Functionality of Polymeric Excipients in Drug Product Development (Springer, Cham, 2024).

Using 3D printing, medications can be tailored by size, shape, dosage and content, customizing each tablet to the patient, says Repka, distinguished professor of pharmaceutics and drug delivery.

“Pharmaceutical companies have a one-size-fits-all approach to dosage, but that doesn’t work for everybody,” he says. “With this, we can tailor that dosage to what the patient needs.”

Being able to customize the size of medications could also benefit geriatric and pediatric patients, Nyavanandi says. In one study, 69% of geriatric patients admitted to skipping dosages because the pills were too difficult to swallow.

“There are many limitations with conventional medications, like the size of the tablet or capsule,” he says. “For pediatric and geriatric patients, the size of the tablet is a big challenge for them.

“Many of the pediatric and geriatric population will skip their medication because of the size of the tablet.”

With 3D printing, however, pharmacists can print not only smaller doses, but also customize the color or print the medication in the shape of a gummy bear or another familiar shape to help

encourage young children, Repka says.

The process could also eliminate some issues of medications expiring on the shelf, Narala says.

“For every medication, stability and storage are the most common challenges,” Narala says. “If we use 3D-printing medication, it is made when it is needed in a pharmacy setting, and we can avoid the associated stability or storage issues. 3D printing can avoid large-scale manufacturing, particularly beneficial for drugs with limited markets.”

If researchers can speed up the process of printing medication, printers could be installed in pharmacies, allowing local pharmacists to print medication on an as-needed basis, Repka says. This could streamline the process of getting medication to the patients who need it, he said.

“To me, it’s mind-blowing that this is going to be happening,” Repka says. “People have to know what they’re doing to print it, but the pharmacists working in the field right now can do this, and it actually makes it easier for them.”

Michael Repka, University of Mississippi distinguished professor of pharmaceutics and drug delivery, holds a copy of 3D Printing: Emerging Technologies and Functionality of Polymeric Excipients in Drug Product Development. | Submitted photo

Graduate Degree Goals

MCNAIR PROGRAM NEARS 30 YEARS OF MENTORING UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS

Nearly three decades after it was founded, a recruiting program honoring an astronaut killed in a space shuttle explosion has quietly helped more than 70 underrepresented students earn their doctoral degrees at the University of Mississippi.

Murrell Godfrey (PhD 03), assistant graduate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion in the UM Graduate School and director of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, wants to boost those numbers.

“Over 60% of McNair program bachelor’s degree recipients are accepted and enrolled in a graduate program of study by the fall term of the academic year immediately following the completion of the bachelor’s degree,” Godfrey says.

“The McNair Scholars Program’s goal is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society.”

The U.S. Department of Education established the program, named for Ronald McNair, the physicist and astronaut who died in the 1986 Challenger explosion, in 1995. It recruits first-generation, low-income students, as well as students from underrepresented groups in graduate studies, who demonstrate strong academic potential.

Achieving a doctoral degree is no small feat and

accomplishing that goal benefits not only the graduate but also their families and communities, says Barbara Howard (BA 92, MEd 94), the program’s associate director.

“Less than 2% of the American population have obtained a doctorate,” she says, adding that when that percentage is broken down based on first-generation and low-income students, the numbers shrink drastically.

Ole Miss administrators select about 30 students for the McNair program each year. Of that group, 16 are invited to attend an intense, six-week research internship at the university that includes a generous stipend.

Interacting with the diverse McNair cohort is a plus, says Kaleb Henry, a junior biochemistry major from Waynesboro.

“We have some people who are majoring in English and literature,” Henry says. “However, you get to see all the people who may be in a field related to you, such as nursing or biology. So just having those connections, which further your progression in your undergrad years, is very helpful.”

Last fall, Henry, with the help of Howard, formed the UM McNair Scholars Achievement Program, a registered student organization. Henry, who is president of the organization, says two key goals of the organization are to get McNair students to network and help them prepare for graduate school and their careers.

Mississippi students attend National Trio Day at the University of Mississippi. The university with the help of the McNair program hosted the event for the first time, gathering students from TRIO programs across the state and partnering with the NASA-funded Mississippi Space Grant Consortium to present career exploration sessions for the students. | Photo by Thomas Graning

Peer Recognition

UM CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR NAMED 2024 DISTINGUISHED RESEARCHER

The University of Mississippi recognized chemistry professor Nathan Hammer for his exceptional teaching, research, creativity and ser vice during the 2024 spring faculty meeting.

Hammer is the Margaret McLean Coulter Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and has authored more than 160 published research papers since he was hired at Ole Miss in 2007.

“This is a singular honor given to a faculty member with a demonstrated track record of research and creative achievement,” says Greg Easson, interim vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs. “He has been specially recognized for his mentoring of students, especially

undergraduates, and a number of his students have gone on to win prestigious awards like the Goldwater Scholarship.”

Nathan Hammer

Exposing students to research — both at the undergraduate and graduate levels — is important to increase the diversity of perspectives in science, Hammer says.

“Different people bring different perspectives and talents to studying problems,” he says.

“When you work with others that have experience in different areas, you can paint a different picture of what you’re studying.”

Hammer has previously received the College of Liberal Arts Award for Research, Scholarship and Creative Achievement for Senior Faculty and the

university’s Faculty Achievement Award in 2021. He also won the Alpha Omicron Pi Favorite Professor, Lambda Sigma Honors Society Excellence in Teaching and Student Members of the American Chemical Society Faculty awards.

The researcher has received more than $6 million in grants to fund his studies from institutions such as the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Justice and the American Chemical Society. He also received the prestigious NSF Career Award in 2010.

“To summarize, we can think of no better faculty member to receive the University of Mississippi’s 2024 Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement Award than Dr. Nathan Hammer,” say four Ole Miss chemistry and biochemistry professors in one of Hammer’s recommendation letters. “His scholarship, teaching, research and impact on the scientific community are outstanding.”

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROFESSOR RECEIVES NSF CAREER AWARD

AUniversity of Mississippi engineering professor has won the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious award for early career researchers for his upcoming work in 4D printing.

The National Science Foundation awarded Yiwei Han, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, with an NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program grant. The award allots more than $576,000 toward Han’s research into 4D printing technology and marks Han as a potential national leader and role model in his field.

Han’s research is focused on additive manufacturing the process of creating an object by building it one layer at a time. Four-dimensional printing builds on the concept of 3D printing with an additional component: the product can change after printing if given the right stimulus.

A 4D-printed product is designed to change shape, properties or functionality when it is exposed to certain temperature, humidity, light or other triggers. The technology has potential uses in the medical field, aerospace and automotive engineering and in construction and architecture, among other applications, Han says.

“With original 3D printing, what you print stay the same forever,” he says. “With 4D printing, if you give it heat or light or something else, it can change.”

work for five years and includes an education component in which he and his graduate students will provide hands-on research and demonstration opportunities to K-12 students.

“If I can bring this to high school, middle school students and even undergraduates, we can get more interest in this area, in additive manufacturing,” he says.

Yiwei Han

The CAREER grant will support Han’s

“The government said it needs people in this area, in manufacturing, and the more students who become interested in this work, the more, perhaps, pursue a degree. That’s how we get more developed and get new ideas.”

Hovering Future

DRONE SYMPOSIUM MULLS CHALLENGES, BENEFITS OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT

From war zones to grocery deliveries, autonomous and piloted drones are invading the public sphere, but legal concerns for uncrewed aircraft are still hovering overhead, industry experts said on April 30 at the inaugural Mississippi Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Symposium.

Industry and legal experts from across the country gathered at the University of Mississippi to discuss the legal, commercial and public opportunities in the world of drones. The symposium was hosted by the School of Law in collaboration with the Mississippi State University Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology.

“We chose the theme ‘What can that drone do for you?’ because we wanted to challenge people to think not just about how we use drones today, but also about all the possibilities and opportunities the platform offers,” says Michelle Hanlon, executive director of the Center for Air and Space Law and a moderator for the symposium.

The drone industry in the United States has grown exponentially since 2016, when the Federal Aviation Administration eased regulations regarding drone piloting and required potential drone pilots to acquire a pilot’s license. Alongside their commercial uses, drones are used for geological surveys, inspections of infrastructure and in assessing storm and natural disaster damage around the world.

As drones have grown more accessible, so has their capacity for destruction.

“You can see now, going to YouTube, drones that cost maybe $150 strapped with weapons being used in the battlefield,” says Craig Morris, instructional associate professor in

the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies at Ole Miss. “This spells the problem of the future. What about this tech is going to change and become more relevant and more available in the future?”

The laws and regulations surrounding unmanned aircraft must balance the utility of drones with the potential threat they pose both to safety and privacy, says Phillip Weissman, aviation authority for Advanced Air Mobility Professionals.

“While drones offer some amazing societal benefits, they also present some unique regulatory challenges,” he says. “Will there be people who demand that drones get off their lawn?”

While regulations catch up with drone technology, the use of unmanned aircraft will continue to spread across industries, says Grant Guillot, vice president of regulatory affairs for DroneUP, a drone delivery company.

“Anything we can do to introduce young girls and boys to this technology, anything we can do to broaden the workforce will be beneficial, because these things are coming at an astronomical rate,” he says. “We’re missing half of the workforce we need.”

Training that workforce is a goal of the Center for Air and Space Law, says Fred Slabach, dean of the Ole Miss law school.

“Our Center for Air and Space Law is tackling legal policy and regulatory aspects to help support the healthy growth of the drone industry, and we’re leading research efforts to take advantage of the many opportunities drones present,” he says.

“This isn’t just an afterthought for the University of Mississippi law school. The law school has been the leader for air and space law education since 1965.”

Panelists Phillip Weissman (left), aviation authority for Advanced Air Mobility Professionals; Sharon Rossmark, CEO and founder of Women and Drones; Grant Guillot, vice president of regulatory affairs for DroneUP; and Craig Morris, instructional associate professor in the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies, speak at the inaugural Mississippi Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Symposium at the University of Mississippi. | Photo by Thomas Graning

Too Much of a Good Thing

REST IS BEST PRESCRIPTION FOR YOUNG ATHLETES’ OVERUSE INJURIES

Sports offer plenty of benefits to young athletes, but injuries can result when children and teens don’t have enough downtime, University of Mississippi Medical Center and Children’s of Mississippi experts say.

Too much of a good thing — be it baseball, soccer, gymnastics or other sports — can result in overuse injuries, says Dr. Derrick Burgess, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery.

“We see overuse injuries a lot in young athletes between the ages of 9 and 15,” he says. “These happen when athletes use the same muscle groups repeatedly, such as in the shoulder, elbow, knee or ankle, especially when there is repeated stress on the growth plate.”

Growth in youth sports programs has resulted in children and teens playing the same sport all year long and possibly playing on multiple teams instead of changing sports with the seasons or taking a few months off. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, this increases the risk of overuse injuries.

“We see athletes who are playing on a team at school, a recreational team and also a travel team,” Burgess says. “They

have games or competitions with all, plus practices with those teams. With travel teams, they may have games on consecutive days. That’s a lot of baseball or soccer.”

Prevention is the best way to deal with overuse injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that young athletes play no more than one sport per day and have one day of rest away from sports each week.

Some overuse injuries are treated with rest, with more severe cases requiring physical therapy or even surgery.

“Kids have to be kids,” Burgess says. “School and multiple sports or teams can be a lot for a kid to balance. Children and teens also need down time for mental health and socialization.”

Jeff Martinez, director of operations for orthopaedic surgery at UMMC, recommends a three-month break from a young athlete’s main sport.

“That’s easier said than done,” he says. “Some sports practice all year long. It never ends.”

Scheduling downtime for athletes can, in the long run, result in fewer injuries and more enjoyment of a sport, he says.

“It’s normal for an athlete to want to play, but at some point, they’ve got to rest.”

Photo courtesy of UMMC

Special Message via Zoom

TRUMAN SCHOLAR TRAVELS GLOBE TO STUDY CONSERVATION

From across the world, University of Mississippi biology major Christian Boudreaux received a life-changing Zoom call from Chancellor Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96). Despite Zanzibar’s spotty internet service, the message was clear: Boudreaux had won a coveted Truman Scholarship.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, the nation’s official living memorial to the 33rd U.S. president, announced the junior from Oxford as the university’s 19th Truman Scholar on April 12. The foundation awards scholarships based on outstanding leadership potential and commitment to a career in public service.

“If you would have spoken to me about this in high school, I would have never believed the opportunities I have had and the things that I have been able to accomplish while in college,” Boudreaux says. “That is almost entirely as a result of the investment that the University of Mississippi has made in me and from the individuals that have helped to foster and direct the potential that they saw in me.”

During his call with Boyce and other university leaders, he was congratulated

and challenged to make a positive impact on his generation.

“We are so proud of Christian,” Boyce says. “More than anything else, the Truman Scholarship is about taking on the mantle of leadership for your generation. That’s something I hope Christian will accept — perhaps the ultimate challenge of his life; we are counting on him to take care of his generation.”

Boudreaux is an active leader in promot ing environmental sustain ability and conservation efforts on campus and beyond. He has held several leadership roles, including serving as the compost collective manager for the university’s Office of Sustainability, where he helped organize compost pickups and educate students.

university, he has contributed to her lab studying coral chimeras, which are a single coral colony made up of genetically distinct individuals.

Last summer, Boudreaux and Goulet traveled to Israel to conduct research on coral chimeras in the Red Sea. He was able to experience marine labs there while also getting to dive and observe the organisms firsthand, Goulet says.

“He is absolutely a go-getter, but that doesn’t even begin to encompass Christian,” she says. “The mere fact that he has stayed in multiple countries during his undergraduate years while completing coursework and maintaining an excellent GPA is telling. He seizes every opportunity to get the most out of every experience.”

Ole Miss biology professor Tamar Goulet initially met Boudreaux when he was a high school student who sought her advice on pursuing a career in marine biology. Since enrolling at the

Boudreaux says his next big step is to pursue a doctoral degree and conduct research at the “intersection of organism resilience, climate change, genetics and marine resource management.”

Christian Boudreaux

UM biology major Christian Boudreaux has a passion for nature photography, which is a pastime during his travels. This image is one of his favorites from his experience in Zanzibar. | Photo by Christian Boudreaux

Calendar

AUGUST

Through Aug. 10 Exhibit: “Magic Lanterns” is an immersive exhibit containing luminous prints and projections of astronomical and astrological imagery sourced from 1860s magic lantern slides from the Millington-Barnard Collection of Scientific Instruments. UM Museum, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit museum.olemiss.edu.

Through Dec. 13 Exhibit: “More Than Words: The Book as Object.” This exhibition celebrates the concept of the book for itself, not necessarily for its specific content. J.D. Williams Library, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit events.olemiss.edu.

6

Lecture: Brown Bag Summer Lecture Series with Blair Hobbs, visual artist and retired senior lecturer of writing at the University of Mississippi. UM Museum, noon-1 p.m. Visit museum. olemiss.edu.

10

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Jackson State. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

13

- Dec. 7 Exhibit: “American Art from the Graham D. Williford Collection.” The Williford Collection of American Art boasts 72 paintings depicting scenes from the Mediterranean. UM Museum, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.4 p.m. Visit museum.olemiss.edu.

15

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Southern University. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

19-23

School of Law Orientation: Times and location TBD. Visit law.olemiss.edu.

22

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Georgia State. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

24

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. North Alabama (Exhibition). Gillom Center, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

25

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Memphis. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

31

Football: Ole Miss vs. Furman. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 6 p.m. Visit olemissgameday.com/football.

SEPTEMBER

1

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. McNeese State. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

6

Ole Miss Alumni Land Rush: Free to active members. Triplett Alumni Center front lawn, 6-8 p.m. Email marykate@olemissalumni.com.

7

Football: Ole Miss vs. Middle Tennessee. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 3:15 p.m. Visit olemissgameday.com/football.

12

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Southern Miss. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

by

Photo

Joshua McCoy

RMI Fall Career Fair

OCT. 1

13

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Drake. Gillom Center, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

14

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Florida Gulf Coast University. Gillom Center, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

15

FAN: Future Alumni Network Build the M. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, time TBD. Email sunny@ olemissalumni.com.

15

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Lipscomb. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

15

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Little Rock. Gillom Center, 2 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

17Honors College Fall Convocation: Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m. Visit honors. olemiss.edu/events.

20-21Fall Family Weekend: Grove Pavilion. Visit events.olemiss.edu.

21Young Alumni Council Tailgate: Triplett Alumni Center front lawn, 3 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.

21

Football: Ole Miss vs. Georgia Southern. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 6:45 p.m. Visit olemissgameday. com/football.

26

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Texas. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

26 Distinguished Alumni Awards: The Inn at Ole Miss. Reception, 6-7 p.m.; dinner, 7 p.m. Ticket required. Call 662-915-2345 for more information.

27-28Navy ROTC Reunion: Various times and locations. Call 662-915-1869 or email clay@ olemissalumni.com.

28Alumni Association Annual Meeting: Triplett Alumni Center, 7:45 a.m. Call 662-915-7375.

28

Football: Ole Miss vs. Kentucky. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 11 a.m. Visit olemissgameday.com/ football.

OCTOBER

1RMI Fall Career Fair: Paul B. Johnson Commons, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Email kshoalmire@bus.olemiss.edu.

4

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

4

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. Gillom Center, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

6

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. LSU. Gillom Center, 2 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

9

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M. Gillom Center, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

13

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. South Carolina. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

18

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

24Business School Hall of Fame: Holman/Conner Courtyard, 3 p.m. Email savannah@olemissalumni.com.

24Panel: Student Alumni Council’s Bridging the Gap. The Inn at Ole Miss Ballroom, 4 p.m. Email sunny@ olemissalumni.com.

25

Young Alumni Council Happy Hour: Funky’s on the Square, 5:30 p.m. Email sunny@olemissalumni.com.

26

Football: Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemissgameday. com/football.

27

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Kentucky. Gillom Center, 2 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

27

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

For a complete and latest listing of Ole Miss sports schedules, visit olemisssports.com.

For more Oxford events, news and information, go to visitoxfordms.com or call 662-232-2477.

Photo by Amy Howell

Determination Inspiring

New graduates highlighted in special series

Regeana Peeler profile by Clara Turnage

Ya Xin Huang profile by Hannah Hoang

Jhalen Wells profile by MacKenzie Ross

Created in 2019, the Journey to Commencement series started as an effort by the University of Mississippi to celebrate the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting UM students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate. The series has shared more than 170 stories through a collaborative, award-winning campaign.

journey.olemiss.edu

Students who choose to pursue their education through the university are diverse and carry with them unique stories about their journeys throughout college. From Regeana Peeler, graduating veteran and mother, to Dylan Barker, who is focused on improving air quality in schools, the series aims to recognize students’ success, hard work and determination to overcome obstacles on the way to the graduation stage. The articles are housed on the Journey to Commencement website at journey.olemiss.edu.

Veteran Refuses to Give Up

Regeana Peeler ‘returned with a purpose’ to Ole

Miss

From her childhood in foster care and active duty in Afghanistan to the Chancellor’s Honor Roll at the University of Mississippi, Regeana Peeler (BA 24) has learned that perseverance earns success.

When she crossed the stage in May and received her bachelor’s degree in psychology, she did so as a Fulbright finalist, a mother, an honor roll student and a veteran. But most of all, it was as someone who refused to give up.

“I think that everything happens for a reason,” Peeler says. “Sometimes it takes a while to figure out what that reason is, but I wouldn’t change one thing on this journey. Because even when things were bad — and I mean, things got bad — I’m still here and I’m still pushing forward. I’m persevering.”

When you ask Peeler how she got to Ole Miss, she smiles and says, “Well,

that’s a long story.”

The story involves growing up in foster care, a childhood on the move, enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserves and a quick stint at Ole Miss in 2012-13 before having to leave school due to academic suspension. She moved to Texas and took up part-time and full-time work — often at the same time — to make ends meet.

In August 2016, she gave birth to her daughter, Kennedee, and less than a year later, she was training to deploy to Afghanistan. In February 2018, she left her home country for the first time and landed in the desert.

Regeana Peeler poses for a photo with her daughters, Kennedee (left) and Stormee Gracelynn. | Submitted photo

Regeana Peeler

Ya Xin Huang

Jhalen Wells

For the next six months, she served in the tactical operations center, drawing out routes for clearance and manning radios. She learned to sleep on edge, always wary of the warning bell that signaled an attack.

When she returned home, she took a job as a cashier at Dollar General, where she quickly moved up to assistant manager and then manager. A little more than a year later, however, she was ready for a change. She was ready to go back to school.

“Everyone told me I could go anywhere, but I wanted to finish what I started,” she says. “I wanted to finish it here, and that’s how I got to Ole Miss.”

In spring 2021, Peeler returned to school and on Christmas Day, she gave birth to her second daughter, Stormee Gracelynn.

On campus, Peeler approached her teachers and asked if she could bring Stormee to class until she could get day care.

“They were good about it, and I was lucky because she was such a good baby, so she started coming to class with me,” she says. “If you saw me at the bus stop, I had her strapped to the front in a little carrier, I had her diaper bag on my back and then I had my backpack.

“It was stressful, but I wouldn’t change it.”

would get work done.”

As she continued her education — where she maintained her position on the Dean’s List or the Chancellor’s Honor Roll each semester — Peeler also became a leader in the UM Gospel Choir and committed more than 300 hours to Jumpstart as a team leader, helping young students learn to read.

“She wants to give back to the community,” says Vivian Ibrahim, director of the Office of National Scholarship Advisement. “I think that speaks to who she is.”

This past spring, Peeler applied for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant

Peeler finished that first semester with all A’s while juggling a part-time job, saving money for a car and mentoring children for Jumpstart. Along the way, she met Stelenna Lloyd (BBA 04) and Andrew Newby at the Office of Veteran and Military Services and Lynn Wilkins (MA 96) in the Department of Human Resources, who helped arrange child care and connected her to academic resources.

“We saw there was a need, so I said, ‘Well, Stormee can stay with me,’” says Lloyd, operations coordinator at Veteran and Military Services. “So, Stormee would sit in my lap, and we

program, through which she hopes to bring her love for helping others to Uganda.

“For Regeana, it’s very much about the legacy she wants to leave for her family,” Ibrahim says. “She’s the kind of person who really listens, who understands people. She talks to everyone — regardless of age, whatever — the same way. I think that’s really special.”

When you ask Peeler about the future, she flashes a smile and says, “Well, that’s another story.”

But if her past achievements are any indication, it will be a story worth telling.

Regeana Peeler was an active member of the UM Gospel Choir and committed more than 300 hours to Jumpstart, where she helped children learn how to read. | Submitted photo

Regeana Peeler, (first from right, fourth row) poses for a photo with the UM Gospel Choir, where she served as business manager. | Submitted photo

The Secret Is in the Sauce

Business student Ya Xin Huang goes from immigrant to entrepreneur

When Ya Xin Huang (BBA 24) immigrated to the United States, she was in middle school. She had no idea at that time what kind of opportunities would be available to her for college.

She and her family arrived in Warrensburg, Missouri, from China in 2012, when she was 11. Huang not only had to learn how to adapt to a new stage of life at an awkward age, but also to a new country, culture and language.

“We were eager to create a life where we were not reliant on others, a stark contrast from our previous experiences,” says Huang, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s in entrepreneurship. “The opportunity to establish our own life and pursue our dreams without depending on anyone else was the driving force behind our move, ultimately leading us to settle in Mississippi.”

Huang has worked hard for her Ole Miss degree, and she has worked equally hard to develop and perfect her own hibachi sauce. The School of Business Administration has helped her through

her journey to obtain both.

In 2015, after a year in Tennessee, the Huang family moved to Mississippi, settling in Forest, a small community near Jackson. Here, Huang attended Hawkins Middle School and Forest High School, where she excelled academically, taking numerous AP classes and eventually graduating No. 6 in her class of 100 students.

During her freshman year of high school in 2016, Huang’s parents borrowed $50,000 to finance their own restaurant, Hibachi Express. The family wanted the flexibility and stability of running their own business. The restaurant proved successful in the small town of roughly 5,000, and the Huangs have paid back their loans.

Most hibachi restaurants have their own form of “yum yum sauce,” but Huang

had a vision for her own concoction.

“I knew I could make one that was better,” she says. Her Sing Sauce was born in the kitchen of her parents’ new restaurant.

In 2020, Huang enrolled at UM as a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and a general business major. She received financial support through various merit-based and leadership scholarships.

The following year, she declared her major in entrepreneurship, and in 2023, competed in the Servin’ the South Business Model Competition and the 2024 Gillespie Business Plan Competition, the two marquee competitions sponsored by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, housed in the business school.

In the Gillespie competition, she received $1,250 as a finalist and won the Stephen E. Rowell Entrepreneurship Award worth $5,000.

Huang plans to expand her sauce business after graduation. Her next

Huang shows off a large, fresh batch of Sing Sauce at her family’s restaurant, Hibachi Express. | Photo by Jian Huang

Huang (center) with Andrew Bradford, Julien Bourgeois, Maryn Sifrit and Madison Hanna. Bradford (University of New Orleans) and Bourgeois are co-founders of Automatic AI LLC. Sifrit and Hanna are co-founders of CollegeMate, second-place winner in the Gillespie competition and recipients of the Charles R. Doty Entrepreneur Award. | Photo by Elizabeth Parker

steps include improvements in bottling, labeling and distribution.

“My immediate plans for the distribution and sales of the sauce involve several crucial steps,” Huang says. “First, I aim to obtain all the necessary certifications and approvals required for packaging the sauce. This includes completing canning and Pathogen Reduction and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point classes at Mississippi State University this fall.”

Once these regulatory milestones are achieved, she plans to broaden her distribution strategy, selling the sauce to grocery stores while simultaneously setting up an online shop for nationwide shipping.

Unstoppable Drive

Jhalen Wells dedicates himself to entrepreneurship, service

As a high school senior, Jhalen Wells faced a tough decision. Would the Clarksdale student accept a football scholarship to Jones Community College or embrace the opportunities of a full academic scholarship to the University of Mississippi?

Passionate about entrepreneurship and drawn to service, his ultimate decision was informed by his family’s guidance and a drive to achieve big dreams — which he knew he could do at Ole Miss.

“I was a general business major and then maybe thought I wanted to be a doctor,” Wells says. “I ended up starting a clothing brand my sophomore year, got into debt, started another small business and started going into marketing and all the other stuff to promote it.

“Then I heard about IMC (integrated marketing communications), and I just felt like it all finally fit into place.”

Wells’ first small business was a clothing brand that promoted mental health awareness. He made hoodies and launched a diversity campaign to promote it.

“With mental health issues, it doesn’t matter what the color of your skin is, religion, background or anything,” he

says. “We all may deal with mental health issues.

“I had about 20 students meet me in the residential parking garage for a photo shoot, and I raised about $3,000 and donated it to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.”

A passionate volunteer and dedicated community member, Wells’ energy extends beyond his entrepreneurial activities. During his time at the university, he has been a part of the Grisham-McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and a Luckyday scholar.

Jhalen Wells volunteered as a student athletics trainer for the Ole Miss football team and got to play at running back in the 2021 Grove Bowl. | Submitted photo

Wells says he’s motivated to give back to the Oxford community and the next generation of Ole Miss students. He has volunteered with Doors of Hope and on campus. He has also worked with elementary and middle school students through the Office of Pre-College Programs’ Rebel Quest program and with incoming freshmen through JumpStart.

“When we were coming out of the major lockdowns of COVID, I reached out to Doors of Hope to see what they needed,” Wells says. “They told me they

Huang delivering her pitch at the Servin’ the South Business Model Competition in November 2023 at the Jackson Avenue Center. | Submitted photo

needed a lot of household sanitary items.

“So I went around town, I went by the mayor’s office, the chancellor’s office, different organizations around campus, even nonprofits outside in the community and had a drive outside of RC South one Saturday afternoon.”

The drive collected two truckloads of supplies for the organization. Next, Wells organized a backpack drive for the Tupelo School District, which collected some 100 backpacks for students there, and a coat drive that provided more than 90 winter coats for students at Oxford’s Bramlett Elementary School.

His hard work was later recognized during his junior year, when he was invited to present his projects to the university’s senior leadership at one of their meetings.

“My mom, professors and directors of organizations that I am a part of showed up while I presented,” Wells says. “It was cool to have that moment.”

Karrye Tynes (BA 10), assistant director for access and recruiting initiatives for the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, has seen firsthand how Wells has balanced his leadership roles.

“During the MOST Conference, Jhalen unquestionably embodied leadership skills; it comes naturally,” Tynes

says. “Over time, I’ve had the pleasure of watching his confidence and abilities mature even more. There is never a task that I have given Jhalen that he’s turned down or been (un)able to fulfill.

“His passion for working with students and capitalizing on each opportunity to establish great relationships with the students and peers during the conferences is commendable.”

Wells is scheduled to graduate in August. He has his sights on graduate school and plans to enroll in the higher

education program at Ole Miss this fall. In the long term, he plans to venture into real estate with a vision to revolutionize university housing development.

“I don’t have any regrets about my time here,” he says. “I had my ups and downs, but I feel like it prepared me to be ready for what’s to come in the next chapter.”

To read the full versions of the stories above along with more on other Class of 2024 graduates, visit journey. olemiss.edu.

Jhalen Wells (third from right) organized a coat drive, which collected more than 90 winter coats for students at Bramlett Elementary School in Oxford. | Submitted photo

Jhalen Wells was a Luckyday scholar at UM. | Submitted photo

Photos courtesy of Taylor Morton

Kicking Up Her

Alumna catches her stride in career with Justin Brands

By Annie Rhoades

Acareer in public relations isn’t always glamorous, but for University of Mississippi alumna Taylor Morton (BS 16), public relations manager for Justin Brands Inc., having the opportunity to work alongside country music legends is anything but mundane.

“Being [Justin’s] public relations manager means I handle all of our celebrity partnerships including George Strait and Reba McEntire, which is pretty dang cool,” Morton says.

“I also manage all corporate partnerships, media outreach, our influencer program, press releases and charitable giving.”

The Fort Worth, Texas, native didn’t have to look far from home to find her career calling. After receiving her diploma in May 2016, she moved back home and almost immediately began onboarding with Justin Brands.

“I started looking at some places in Texas, specifically Fort Worth,” she recalls. “I told my dad when I was interviewing at a few places that I want a fun job and he said, ‘Taylor that’s just not realistic. Not all jobs are going to be fun, especially your first job.’ But I wanted something I was excited about.

“I graduated on a Saturday, moved home on Sunday, interviewed and got my job offer at Justin on a Thursday, and started the following Monday. I’ve been here ever since.”

Friend and classmate Mary Landrum Pyron (BS 16), owner and custom hatter at ML Provisions, says Morton’s work ethic and dedication are evident in her career.

“Taylor and I met during undergraduate school at Ole Miss and have been friends ever since,” Pyron says. “It is great to have another female University of Mississippi [alumna] blazing the trail in the western industry.

“Taylor is constantly growing and creating new ideas. She has been with the same company since graduation. That speaks volumes, [because] typically people our age jump around from job to job every few years. Also, her networking doesn’t end after the sale of a boot. She is always looking ahead.”

Love at First Sight

A member of Delta Gamma Fraternity, Morton set her sights on Ole Miss from her very first visit to campus.

“We grew up right by TCU, so I was dead set on TCU until I was a junior in high school,” she says. “I had the realization that I didn’t want to live in the same ZIP code my entire life, so I started looking at other schools in the South and toured Ole Miss with my dad.

“It’s a running joke in our family that he intentionally took me on a nongame weekend. I knew I wanted a small school with a big school spirit, so we went on a bye week because he didn’t want me to get completely swept away by the fun of the Grove and all of that. I fell in love with campus within the first 10 minutes.”

Morton began her freshman year majoring in general

business studies. But after taking her first business marketing class, she realized it wasn’t exactly the route she wanted to take.

“When I was [at Ole Miss], you had marketing through the business school and marketing through the journalism school,” she says. “I thought business seemed like a better fit, but I soon realized I liked the creative side of marketing more than numbers and analytics. I was happy with my decision to switch and go through the IMC (integrated marketing communications) program. I loved my professors and still keep in touch with a lot of them.”

Morton recalls School of Journalism and New Media senior lecturer Robin Street (BA 75, MA 85, MS 97) telling students that a job in public relations would easily entail about 90% writing.

“I have kept in touch with professor Street throughout my career, and I remember thinking at the time, OK sure,” Morton laughs. “But it is so true! I quote that now to college students that I go and talk to. It’s writing emails to key stakeholders in your company, people outside of the company, writing press releases, product descriptions and more.”

She also encourages new graduates entering the workforce to remember that “no task is too small” and to network as much as possible.

“The importance of networking is so true, because you never know what opportunities can come from a contact,” Morton says. “If you started a new job, be a sponge and listen and learn everything. Absorb as much as you possibly can. If somebody comes to you with a task, don’t ever say it isn’t your job. Just do it and continue to learn.”

Morton and the Justin Boots team with Reba McEntire at the grand opening of McEntire’s restaurant, Reba’s Place, in Atoka, Oklahoma

Making Her Mark

Morton began her now eight-year career with Justin Brands as social media coordinator in 2016. She quickly moved to a marketing specialist position and then marketing manager before taking on her current role as public relations manager in June 2022.

“I’ve gotten to work my way up the marketing ladder,” she says. “I realized the things I was most excited about doing was anything give-back or charitable related. I was able to sort of create my own position after telling our management team that this is what I’m excited about and this is the strategy that I see for my portion of our team.”

Founded in 1879, Justin Brands Inc. is celebrating 145 years.

“It’s fun to look back at everything we’ve done in the past — the people we’ve worked with, the things we’ve done, the money we’ve given for different charitable causes,” she says.

“We have an archive department on site [at our headquarters in Fort Worth], so you can go back and see boots from the late 1800s and early 1900s. You can also see boots we’ve made for a ton of celebrities over the years including several U.S. presidents, Michael Jackson and many more.”

Working for a boot company comes with its share of perks. From boots to celebrity encounters and countless events, Morton says there’s never a dull moment.

“I have a lot of boots! I’m a sample size, so it’s a problem,” she enthuses. “I probably have over 50 pairs in my closet, and I live in a one-bedroom apartment. It’s become comical to see the ways that I’m having to decorate with boots, because there’s no more room in my closet. I also get to travel quite a bit, so I’ve been to some neat places for photo shoots and events.”

The company hosts around a dozen events each year and is represented at over 150 rodeos, CMA Fest, conventions and the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas among others.

“I think the one thing I love most about my job is that every

day is so different,” she says. “We have a heavy summer event run, so I’m usually in the thick of event planning, getting out press releases from our most recent product launches as well as working with several of our external partners.

“One of the coolest things I’ve gotten to do in my career thus far is be part of launching our partnership with Reba,” Morton says. “I was only about a year in with Justin, and I got to attend a lot of the meetings very early on about products, what our marketing strategy was going to be, photo shoots, packaging — kind of truly launching a brand from start to finish.”

Friend and co-worker Shelbi Tidwell, product designer for Justin Brands, attributes Morton’s knack for “building and keeping relationships” as key to her accomplishments.

“Taylor and I both began our careers at Justin Brands Inc. in 2016 and quickly became close friends,” she says. “We work and collaborate seamlessly together. She’s a fantastic leader who always encourages those around her, which is one of the reasons she’s been so successful.

“I see a bright future for her. With her exceptional skills in building relationships and her natural leadership abilities, I believe she will continue to achieve great success and take on even more significant roles. She has the potential to make a big impact in her field and inspire many others along the way.”

Morton credits her success with Justin Brands to the love and support of her family, her studies at Ole Miss and the company’s executive team for allowing her to grow.

“Our company is very good and open about saying this is what you’re doing now, but what are you passionate about? Where do you want to grow, and if you could do any job in the company, what would it be?

“I’m so appreciative of that — for allowing me to have my current position and for trusting me with the opportunities I’ve been given. I love my job and plan to keep looking for opportunities to introduce our brand to new people.”

Morton alongside the welcoming committee, a longhorn in the Fort Worth Stockyards, at Justin presents ‘The Party in Fort Worth’ at Billy Bob’s Texas

Justin Brands celebrates 145 years of business with a birthday party in January of this year.

Alumnus leads Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital By Brian Hudgins Presidential Path

Long before he became president of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Dr. James “Trey” Eubanks (BSPh 90, MD 94) found his medical calling during a high school football game in Tunica.

Eubanks and his Tunica Academy Blue Devils teammates lined up to block an extra point to force overtime — with a state playoff berth at stake in 1982. The Blue Devils got that blocked kick; however, Eubanks hit the ground during the play and suffered a dislocated elbow.

“The doctor who was working on the sidelines — his son was also playing for our team — took care of me and ran me to the hospital,” Eubanks says. “He popped my elbow back into place. I decided right there I wanted to be a doctor and provide that care to patients and give them that kind of relief because I was hurting pretty bad.”

Eubanks has provided care to patients for over four decades. A pediatric surgeon, he earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Mississippi and a medical degree at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He completed his residency and research fellowship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and a pediatric surgery fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern in Children’s Medical Center of Dallas.

His work on behalf of pediatric patients and their families at Le Bonheur has included a stint as trauma medical director from 2004 to 2018.

Home Health Care

Although Eubanks was motivated to become a physician due to his dislocated elbow, he already knew firsthand about the medical needs of his friends and neighbors, thanks to his parents, Diane (BSPh 65) and the late Jimmy Eubanks (BSPh 65), both being pharmacists and Ole Miss alumni. Eubanks worked at his dad’s drugstore, and his mother worked at a local hospital as an in-house pharmacist.

Many Tunica residents relied on pharmacists for medical advice, Eubanks says. The discussions between his parents and

pharmacy customers made an impression on him.

“People would go to my dad or ask my mom how to treat illnesses with over-the-counter meds,” Eubanks recalls. “I did every job there was to do at the pharmacy, and I would also hear when someone was doing well (medically) or not too well.”

Eubanks’ two main activities during his high school years consisted of either going to team practice or doing pharmacy work shifts.

“I played a lot of sports, so I didn’t have to do as many shifts,” he says.

At Ole Miss, Eubanks’ attendance in pharmacokinetics classes had been less than great under the late Skip Jones. When Eubanks cobbled together his summer school schedule, none other than professor Jones was waiting for him.

“I see Dr. Jones and I said, ‘Oh, this is hopeless. I just don’t have a chance,’” Eubanks says. “I actually made the top grade (in class) that summer and then took another hard course.

“I knew what it was going to take to get back in the good graces of the pharmacy school faculty. It was a great learning experience. I learned a lot from my family and some of my colleagues. The education at Ole Miss is fantastic.”

The main lesson Eubanks says he learned during those undergraduate struggles was being given an opportunity to show he could do better.

“When I got to medical school, Dr. (J. Lincoln) Arceneaux, the director of admissions said, ‘Your GPA looks like a quality check mark … up, down and then back up again.’ I was grateful that he understood I had positive momentum at the time I was applying.”

Eubanks also obtained a real estate license and experienced that branch of business before he embarked on a medical career.

“I never took any business school classes, but I learned a lot about real estate,” he says. “I learned a lot of things in school,

Eubanks and his surgical patient, Elizabeth Lasley, take a break in Le Bonheur’s hallway.

Photo courtesy of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and Lisa Buser Photography

but I also grew a ton as a person. I became a Christian when I was there in pharmacy school at Ole Miss. That changed my perspective.”

Finding his footing in medicine required Eubanks to build upon his base knowledge while enrolled at UMMC. He worked with Dr. Fred Rushton in 1991-92, which gave him the general surgery bug.

“In medical school in Jackson, I got a summer job working for Dr. Rushton, who was originally from Tunica,” Eubanks says. “He was a general surgeon. So I got to help him in the summers, and that was when I kind of fell in love with general surgery.”

During his first rotation in his third year as a UMMC medical student, Eubanks worked with the late Dr. Richard Miller, the first Mississippi surgeon to specialize in pediatrics. Miller cared for infants and children and trained new physicians at UMMC for 43 years.

One of Miller’s cases was a 3-year-old who had Hirschsprung’s disease, a congenital condition that causes bowel problems. Miller successfully operated on the child, and the case stuck with Eubanks as a motivator.

Witnessing the complexities of pediatric surgery handled by his mentors and enjoying building things contributed to Eubanks’ love for pediatric procedures.

“I always have been a person who likes to build things with my hands,” Eubanks says. “I liked taking apart a TV and putting

it together. I leaned toward that, and surgery fit my personality. I had great teachers and clinicians, and I enjoyed all my (medical) rotations. I have pediatric surgery in my blood.”

When Eubanks arrived at Le Bonheur more than two decades ago, he worked under former CEO Meri Armour, who oversaw Le Bonheur from 2006 to 2019. Eubanks gradually took on various administrative tasks, including being part of the team that provided assistance in the aftermath of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010.

Local hospitals and electrical systems had been damaged or destroyed. Eubanks and his peers were one of a few groups assigned to provide aid.

“The Department of Homeland Security was trying to get a pediatric medical response team to Haiti,” Eubanks says. “They had reached out to three children’s hospitals throughout the country. We sent a team down there, and I was on that team. After that two weeks of seeing my colleagues putting in incredible and selfless work, when I came back, the CEO started putting me in more leadership positions where I had more administrative responsibilities.”

Growth Spurt

Eubanks became trauma medical director in 2004, which coincided with Le Bonheur’s plans for construction of a new hospital. Le Bonheur broke ground for the new hospital in 2008, and a grand opening followed in 2010. In addition, the Family Partners Council formed in 2007, allowing the children’s hospital to work with patient families as part of the care team.

As building demolitions, remodels and grand openings happened, Le Bonheur grew in stature. U.S. News & World Report named Le Bonheur a Best Children’s Hospital in 2011. The trauma program received Level 1 designation by the American College of Surgeons in the same year.

Going from pediatric surgery to trauma medical director put Eubanks in charge of multiple departments.

“As a trauma director, you are not just dealing with your own specialty, pediatric surgery,” Eubanks says. “I was helping organize — it was orthopedic injuries, it was neurological injuries, it was plastic surgery, EMT, nursing education and anesthesia education. You are coordinating the doctors and nursing personnel to provide trauma care in a manner which you think is the most efficient and safest way for the patients.”

Seeing so many different disciplines over the course of 14 years put Eubanks in a stronger position when it came time for him to handle the responsibilities as president.

“You are making sure that when a trauma patient hits the door, no matter how severely injured that patient is, you are working to get the best possible outcome for that patient,” Eubanks says.

Getting to that point sometimes required Eubanks to stress moving away from long-used practices that were not evidence based.

“We had some disagreements, but eventually, we got everybody moving in the right direction,” Eubanks says. “That clearly helped me become a better leader because to make the

Eubanks receives his white coat at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine’s White Coat Ceremony in 1994. | Photo courtesy of Trey Eubanks

operation move smoothly and safely for patients and families, I had to work with a lot of different personalities and people who thought differently than I did and had different concerns about patient care. I am thankful for that experience.”

Eubanks became surgeon-in-chief in 2015, adding to his administrative duties and exposure to that side of health care. He took on the interim president position in March 2023 before being named president in December.

“It’s like drinking from a fire hose now, but it’s similar to other jobs in taking a team you are leading,” Eubanks says. “You are just trying to take a team you are leading and keep that group focused on the mission … what are the goals and what are we trying to accomplish? You are setting the tactics to reach those goals and keeping the team focused. That’s really all leadership is about.”

Le Bonheur’s growth includes a $95.4 million, 128,000-square-foot critical care facility expansion project that broke ground in 2021 and opened in May. The addition of four floors encompasses a new cardiovascular intensive care unit, 14 new beds for the neonatal intensive care unit and eight new beds for the post-anesthesia care unit.

Considering patients come to Le Bonheur from Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, the Level IV NICU expansion from 60 to 74 beds is a welcome development, Eubanks says.

“We are one of two children’s hospitals to serve Mississippi,” he says. “One-third of our patients are from Mississippi, and

one-fourth are from Arkansas. Even though I am in Memphis, I feel like I am giving back to Mississippi as a north Mississippi and Delta person.”

Dr. Mark Meredith (BS 97, MD 02), director of quality improvement for the ER, also made his way to Le Bonheur from Ole Miss. Meredith, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biology before graduating from UMMC, stresses that a thoughtful approach is vital when caring for patients from three states.

“Dr. Eubanks is an excellent leader,” Meredith says. “He has contributed to the welfare of so many families and has made lifelong friends in doing so. He comes to the ER to see the patients and interact with the doctors and nurses. He also gets a lot of opinions before making decisions.”

Eubanks’ career trajectory, aimed at caregiving, started in Tunica on a high school football field and continued with important stops in Oxford and Jackson.

“Playing football, it’s not so much (learning) leadership, but you learn to be a good teammate,” Eubanks says. “There are experiences all along the way that prepare you for what is ahead.

“The reason I am president of Le Bonheur is not in small part due to my education at the University of Mississippi. All along the way, whether I was attending classes regularly or maybe not so much, the faculty inspired me to do better. That is appreciated!”

Eubanks and his clinical staff celebrate Le Bonheur’s verification as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons Children’s Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program last spring. Le Bonheur is the first hospital in Tennessee to achieve this designation. | Photo courtesy of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and Lisa Buser Photography

Ole Miss Sports

Headed to the Olympics

KENDRICKS, LONG, SAUNDERS PREPARE FOR PARIS

At the conclusion of 10 days at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Ole Miss stands with three Team USA members for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Paris: Sam Kendricks (BGS 15) in the men’s pole vault, McKenzie Long (MCJ 23) in the women’s 200-meter dash and Raven Saunders (18) in the women’s shot put.

Kendricks secured his third career Olympic qualifying berth, winning his 11th career national title in the pole vault to book passage to Paris at the third day of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Kendricks breezed through an arduous qualifying round on June 21,

alongside Bob Richards and Earl Bell, and in Ole Miss history, he now only ranks behind men’s tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi’s five Olympiads for India, and fellow track star Brittney Reese’s four trips for Team USA.

Kendricks is a two-time world champion, five-time world medalist and 11-time U.S. champion. In his Ole Miss career, Kendricks was a two-time NCAA champion, five-time All-American and two-time SEC champion.

Long finished third in the women’s 200-meter final at 21.91 (+0.6) to claim the last ticket to Paris, the second-fastest wind-legal 200-meter time of her career

and was equally as efficient in the final on June 23, maintaining a clean sheet all the way up to his eventual winning height of 5.92m/19-5 — which he hit on his second attempt for the victory. That mark breaks his own U.S. Olympic Trials record of 5.91m/19-04.75 set in 2016, and he was the lone competitor in the field to clear that height on June 23.

This is the third career Olympic bid for Kendricks, who was the bronze medalist in the pole vault in 2016. He is only the third athlete in U.S. history to qualify three times in the men’s pole vault

and the fastest ever by a third-place finisher at the trials. Long is the first woman in Ole Miss history to qualify for the Olympics in a running event, and joins only Brittney Reese and Raven Saunders as the lone women in track and field program history to become Olympians.

In the women’s shot put, reigning Olympic silver medalist Saunders only needed one throw to secure her spot on Team USA, but decided to notch a slight improvement in the final round anyway. Saunders took the lead on her first-round season-best of 19.88m/6502.75, and was eventually overtaken by eventual champion and two-time reigning World gold medalist Chase Jackson in the fourth round at 20.10m/65-11.50. That did little to dampen Saunders’ Olympic dreams though, as she held onto the second spot and even improved in the sixth round to 19.90m/65-03.50.

This is the third Olympic berth for Saunders, who finished fifth as a 20-year-old in Rio in 2016 before winning a silver medal in Tokyo in 2021. Saunders is now the eighth woman in the history of the United States to make three Olympic teams in the shot put.

McKenzie Long | Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

Photo illustration courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

Top Performance

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD WINS THREE NATIONAL TITLES

In the span of 90 minutes across the sun-strewn, hallowed grounds of Hayward Field on Saturday, June 1, Ole Miss track and field simultaneously pulled off a program-defining day of competition and captured the hearts and minds of the nation after winning an unbelievable three national titles, closing out the Rebels’ stay at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Earlier in the week, the Rebel women opened eyes around the nation after superb qualifying performances in the 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter hurdles and 4x100-meter relay. Ole Miss proved that earlier performance was no fluke, emerging as the victor in three of those four events for an amazing 32 meet points on Saturday alone.

First, the Rebel quartet of Akilah Lewis, McKenzie Long, Gabrielle Matthews and Jahniya Bowers brought home the first NCAA Outdoor relay title in Ole Miss history. What followed was a tourde-force performance by Long across the 100 and 200 that will go down as one of the single-best days of competition in the annals of collegiate track and field history and the history of Ole Miss Athletics.

Those performances helped push Ole Miss to 38 total points by the meet’s end, placing the Rebels at an overall program record fifth-place finish. That ties the record set this season indoors, giving ninth-year head coach Connie Price-Smith another accolade in a very long list of accomplishments during her tenure with the Rebels.

“It’s been a wonderful season, totally, truly incredible, and I’m honored to be a part of what these young ladies and gentlemen have done,” Price-Smith says. “To come out here and get fifth in this arena with the people they were competing against has just been amazing. The whole year building up to this has been nothing but fun to be a part of, and exciting to watch unfold.”

This marks the first relay title outdoors in Ole Miss men’s or women’s

history, and it joins the 2017 men’s distance medley relay team as the lone national champion relays in program history. Ole Miss is the first school to win its first title in the women’s 4x1 since 2002 (South Carolina), and it is the first school not named LSU, Texas or USC to win since 2017 (Kentucky).

Just 50 minutes after the relay, Long was back in the blocks in the final of the women’s 100-meter dash. Long was the top time qualifier in Thursday’s semifinal, an impressive feat considering she sees this as her second-best event. But a serendipitous stroke of luck in the starting blocks should have been a sign of good things to come: Her blocks were already set to her preferred settings.

“I literally went out on the blocks, and my blocks setting was already set,” Long says. “You usually have to fix your blocks before you get into your lane. But, the 100 is the event where I’m less comfortable in compared to the 200. When I went out there and the block was already in my settings, I was shook. I was like, Mom, this is instantly you. That’s never happened to me before.”

What Long is alluding to is the untimely passing of her mother, Tara Jones, this past indoor season.

In those blocks, Long found her

signature second gear, chasing down the field and crossing the line in a slightly windy 10.82 (+2.2) for her first career NCAA individual title — and the first for Ole Miss men’s or women’s track and field outdoors in an event shorter than the 800 meter.

Barely 40 minutes later, Long’s grand finale was at hand in the 200 meter. Long exploded off the curve and into the cheering homestretch for the final time as a Rebel, and did so in stunning fashion, clocking in at a world-leading, wind-legal 21.83 (+1.0) to win her third and final NCAA title in just 90 minutes.

“I talk to my mom every day. Everything that I do is for her,” Long told ESPN’s John Anderson. “And in those blocks right there, I said, ‘Mom, this is my last race, just push me through,’ and she did.”

That time makes Long the second-best collegian of all time in the women’s 200-meter dash with the second-fastest time, just barely missing Abby Steiner’s 2022 collegiate record 21.80 (+1.3) run on this very same track. It also already puts Long into a tie for No. 10 in the history of the United States and No. 24 in the history of the world, and all before she has run a race as a professional sprinter.

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

Ole Miss Sports Game Time

FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES KICK TIMES, WINDOWS FOR REST OF 2024 SEASON

Approximate start times and TV assignments for Ole Miss’ remaining eight games of the 2024 season have been set, the Southeastern Conference and ESPN announced in June.

New this upcoming season, the Southeastern Conference and ESPN designated TV windows for all games after week three as a new benefit of the new conference rights agreement.

Television start time windows for weeks 4-14 are defined as follows:

• Early: 11 a.m.-noon CT start

• Afternoon: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CT start

• Night: 5-7 p.m. CT start

• Flex: Games flexed between the afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.) and night (5-7 p.m.) windows

Ole Miss’ home game vs. Georgia Southern (Sept. 21) will kick off on SEC Network at 6:45 p.m. This will mark the second all-time meeting between the Rebels and Eagles.

The Rebels’ SEC opener vs. Kentucky (Sept. 28) is slated for an 11 a.m. CT kick on either ABC or ESPN. Ole Miss holds a 29-14-1 series advantage against the Wildcats.

The month of October will begin with a road game at South

Carolina (Oct. 5). The matchup between Rebels and Gamecocks has been selected within the flex window and will occur either in the afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.) or night (5-7 p.m.).

The annual Magnolia Bowl vs. LSU (Oct. 12) will take place during the night window (5-7 p.m.) and the TV network is TBA. LSU is Ole Miss’ second-most-played opponent behind only Mississippi State.

After the Rebels’ first bye week of the 2024 season, Ole Miss squares off at home vs. Oklahoma (Oct. 26) and then in Fayetteville vs. Arkansas (Nov. 2). Both games have been designated an early window kick (11 a.m.-noon).

Ole Miss’ home game vs. Georgia (Nov. 9) has been assigned to the flex window (2:30-3:30 p.m. or 5-7 p.m.). It will be the Bulldogs’ first visit to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium since 2016.

The Rebels and Florida Gators (Nov. 23) will square off for just the fourth time in the last 20 years. The matchup will kick off at 11 a.m. CT and will be televised on either ABC or ESPN.

For all listed windows (early, afternoon, night, flex), the exact start time within such window(s) will be confirmed no later than six days prior unless otherwise noted.

Photo illustration courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

New Pitching Coach

JOEL MANGRUM JOINS BASEBALL STAFF AS NEWEST ASSISTANT COACH

Ole Miss Baseball and head coach Mike Bianco announced the hiring of Joel Mangrum as the Rebels’ newest assistant coach June 12. Mangrum will serve as the team’s pitching coach and handle the day-to-day management of the pitching staff.

“We are super excited to bring Joel to Oxford and Ole Miss Baseball,” Bianco says. “He has a unique and dynamic way of developing pitchers and has proven his success at both the professional and collegiate levels.”

A native of Brandon, Mangrum comes to Oxford after professional and college coaching stints with the Cleveland Guardians, University of Louisiana at Monroe, New Mexico State, Austin Peay, Milligan College and Hinds Community College.

to making Oxford home and helping continue the tradition of Ole Miss Baseball being a national power in college baseball.” Mangrum has spent the last six seasons with the Guardians, four of them as minor league pitching coordinator. He was promoted to pitching coordinator in 2020 after serving as a minor league pitching coach in 2018 and 2019.

Before ULM, Mangrum served as the recruiting coordinator and pitching coach for three seasons at New Mexico State (2015-17). During his time in Las Cruces, Mangrum helped guide the Aggies to back-to-back 30-plus win seasons for the first time in five years (2016 and 2017).

Joel Mangrum

“I’m really excited to be joining the Ole Miss Baseball family,” Mangrum says. “I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity that Coach Bianco has provided me and my family. This is a dream come true. We look forward

Mangrum graduated from Mississippi College in 2005, where he was an All-American Southwest Conference honorable mention selection in 2005 as a designated hitter after batting .351. Before that he was a pitcher and infielder at Hinds Community College in Raymond, where he was an All-Region 23 selection.

Oxford Commons

Tim Noss

Makena Gobbell Director

Just Published

in the Sound by Candace Cox Wheeler (JD 1981), 336 pages (hardback), Dogwood Press, ISBN: 979-8986280370

In 1951, wide-open gambling is both a way of life for fun-loving Biloxi residents and a way of enticing tourists with postwar money to burn. However, that’s not the only thing burning, as one nightclub after another is erupting in flames. Mac Simpson, a fresh-faced 18-year-old from Savannah, Georgia, is studying electronics at Keesler Air Force Base as part of his four-year commitment to the country he loves. When Mac meets Vickie Burns, a gorgeous musician with a beautiful voice who dreams of sharing the stage one day with Hank Williams, he thinks he’s found the girl of his dreams. But trouble looms in paradise. When Mac and Vickie recognize a young man who seems to turn up at nearly every fire scene and question him, are they now in danger? A fascinating work of historical fiction with riveting, real-life testimony from the U.S. Senate committee hearing about the damaging effects of gambling on Keesler personnel, Sunset in the Sound is a satisfying coda to Candace Cox Wheeler’s Biloxi-based trilogy.

A fourth-generation Biloxi native, Wheeler is a partner in the law firm of Wheeler and Wheeler PLLC, where

The Switcher: Jim Herring and Two-Party Politics in Mississippi by James H. Herring (BA 60, LLB 63), 560 pages (hardcover), LifeStory Publishing, ISBN: 978-0971100480

The Switcher is Jim Herring’s vivid, bird’s-eye account of the politicians, parties and principles that competed for voters’ allegiances from the 1960s through 2008 in Mississippi. Readers witness unfurling political events, power plays and personalities as the state’s upstart Republicans battled to achieve a viable two-party system against the state Democratic machine that was set on preserving its good-old-boy, powerful vice grip on state politics.

Herring is a former senior statesman of the GOP and chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party, positions that offered him a unique perspective in the realm of the Mississippi state party system.

The Biblical Case for Gold: In the 21st Century by Judd F. Allen (BBA 67), 220 pages (paperback, also available in Kindle), WestBow Press, ISBN: 979-8385008223

For over 1,400 years in ancient Israel, the sanctuary tax was unchanged. God had created a sound monetary system that experienced no inflation, despite wars, royal intrigue, foreign invaders and 70 years spent in Babylonian captivity. Furthermore, the prophet Ezekiel described a third temple to be built in five, 50 or 500 years. In this future temple, the sanctuary tax is the same as it was in the days of Moses. So, what’s the answer? A partial answer is discovered in the Hebrew word “shekel.” The definition of shekel is “weight.” As recently as the 18th century, the British Empire had two centuries of no inflation. During this period, bank clerks’ salaries were unchanged for a century, all because of no inflation. With paper currencies, the world’s monies have lost their weight. Consequently, this book offers alternatives for 21st-century citizens to help protect their finances — and have more control over their assets, regardless of the evening news.

Judd F. Allen spent nearly half a century helping families with their investments and financial and estate planning. He co-founded the financial planning firm Allen Wealth Management. He and his wife, Pat, live in Boone, North Carolina.

Sunset

she has worked alongside her husband, David, since 1981.

As an Ameriprise private wealth advisory practice, we have the qualifications and experience to help navigate your complex financial needs. Whether it’s investment management, tax strategies or legacy planning, we can work with you to grow and preserve what you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Call us today and discover the personal service you deserve.

Forrest Johnson Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

30 Sgt Prentiss Dr Natchez, MS 39120

601.442.6292

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. does not offer tax or legal advice. Consult with a tax advisor or attorney. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2024 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

Are you ready to have your spirit thrive and your social calendar filled? Our community is

of

and true Ole Miss spirit. Through our lifestyle activities, amazing amenities, and caring team members we ensure your needs are met as you live the good life that you deserve. Step into your new home and embrace true community with us. We look forward to meeting you!

Rebel Traveler

The alumni travel program is a service the Ole Miss Alumni Association offers as part of its mission to unite its alumni and keep them connected to Ole Miss and one another. OMAA has partnered with several tour operators that specialize in alumni travel to offer a broad selection of educational tours. Alumni and friends obtain group rates and discounts. Listed prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and pricing and dates are subject to change until booking.

Airfare is not included unless noted. Visit olemissalumni.com/travel for a complete listing and the most up-to-date information.

Offerings and itineraries are subject to change or cancellation. OMAA strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance. For a brochure or more information on a trip, contact the Alumni office at 662-9157375 or email travel@olemissalumni.com.

ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FIESTA

OCT. 9-15, 2024

Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery

Travel with us to the Land of Enchantment where you will enjoy New Mexico’s beautiful landscapes, history and architecture. A highlight will be a visit to the world-famous Albuquerque Balloon Festival — the world’s largest hot air ballooning event. You’ll have an opportunity to learn about Native American history and culture with visits to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring ancient Pueblo homes that have been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. Enjoy three nights in Santa Fe, founded in 1607, making it America’s oldest state capital city and third-oldest continuously inhabited city in the U.S. Enjoy this UNESCO Creative City, which is renowned for its beauty, Pueblo-style architecture and for being

one of the most important art markets in the U.S. You’ll also visit the Los Alamos Bradbury Museum, which tells the story of this isolated town and its role in the Manhattan Project, and Loretto Chapel, where you’ll learn of its unique and mysterious past. — From $3,775, including airfare

NEW ENGLAND RAILS AND TRAILS

OCT. 9-16, 2024

Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery Immerse yourself in the vibrant fall colors of New England. Ride the rails from Massachusetts to Maine and back on this seven-night journey. Beginning in Boston, see the Old North Church where Paul Revere got the signal to start his famous ride, tour the restored Boston Tea Party ships, and wander historic Beacon Hill. Enjoy breathtaking vistas aboard the Cog Railway as you summit Mount Washington — the highest

Albuquerque Balloon Festival

peak in the Northeast. Return to North Conway, New Hampshire, and board the Conway Scenic Railroad for a nostalgic ride through the Mount Washington Valley countryside. Next, travel from North Conway to Burlington, Vermont, along the Kancamagus Highway. This drive offers unparalleled views of the Quechee Gorge, “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon,” and the opportunity to participate in hands-on demonstrations at the Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock. Just outside Burlington, view the impressive collection of American art at the Shelburne Museum and watch apples turn to cider at the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Lastly, pay a visit to the home of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, founded in 1978 in a renovated gas station. In Portland, Maine, take a scenic cruise around Casco Bay before snapping an obligatory photo in front of the famed Portland Head Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth. Before concluding your trip back in Boston, get a taste of Maine with a farewell lobster dinner. — From $4,395, including airfare

GRAND DANUBE PASSAGE

OCT. 15-30, 2024

Tour Operator: AHI

Experience the timeless heritage and cultures of eight distinct countries while sailing the Danube River. Plus, bookend your cruise with stays in Prague, Czech Republic, and Sofia, Bulgaria. This handcrafted itinerary awards fascinating landmarks, celebrated cities and local experiences to immerse you in each destination. Witness cathedrals, mosques and fortresses that spring from the pages of storybooks, and stroll through medieval towns brimming with hallowed history. Visit Vienna, Bratislava and Belgrade, and feast your eyes on an illuminated Budapest on an evening cruise. During your eight-night river adventure, discover beauty around every bend, from the picturesque Wachau Valley to Melk Abbey and the Iron Gate Gorge to idyllic villages perched above. Taste delicacies in Croatia’s Slavonia region, and enjoy a folk show and Viennese waltz performance. Along the way, get a deeper look at select

destinations with our special Personalize Your Journey excursions that focus on cuisine, architecture and local life. You’ll enjoy first-class ship accommodations, deluxe hotels and a generous meal plan featuring wine and beer with lunch and dinner. No single supplement for solo travelers. — From $5,895

CHRISTMAS MARKETS ALONG THE DANUBE

DEC. 6-14, 2024

Tour Operator: Gohagan

Celebrate the enduring magic of the Yuletide season on an enchanting seven-night river cruise to Europe’s most beloved Christmas markets. Discover magnificent settings where cobblestone streets strung with colorful lights meet festive market stalls of handcrafted ornaments, fine wooden toys and irresistible holiday treats. This unique itinerary brings the old-world charm of the holidays to life in a vivid celebration of history and culture. Be inspired by some of Europe’s most noteworthy landmarks — Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg, the 900-year-old Abbey of Melk in the legendary Wachau Valley and the Habsburgs’ glamorous summer residence in Vienna. Enhance your expedition with the Vienna pre-program and Munich post-program options. — From $2,995

MONTREAL AND QUEBEC CITY CHRISTMAS MARKETS

DEC. 11-16, 2024

Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery

Embrace the holiday spirit and the wonderland of the Christmas season with a unique and warm atmosphere, beautiful decorations, a great selection of succulent treats and exquisite Christmas gifts. This tour features world-famous hotels, sightseeing, wonderful meals and provides ample time to explore Montreal and Quebec City during this festive season. In Montreal, check in for two nights at the historic Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Enjoy this bustling modern city by seeing Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Joseph’s Oratory, Jacques Cartier Square, McGill University and a panoramic view from atop Mount Royal. Explore the Montreal Christmas Market, visiting

Belogradchik Rocks, Bulgaria

Rebel Traveler

the shops, sipping mulled wine and enjoying the sights and sounds. Board the Via Rail train for the scenic journey to the “Paris of North America,” Quebec City. This UNESCO World Heritage city is one of the best-preserved cities in North America. A highlight of the trip is a three-night stay at the world-famous Château Frontenac. While in Quebec City, enjoy visits to St. Anne de Beaupre Shrine, Albert Gilles Copper Museum and Montmorency Falls, the highest falls in Eastern Canada. Enjoy leisure time at the German Christmas Market in the heart of Old Quebec, designed to recreate the atmosphere of the big European Christmas markets. Embrace this magical city with illuminated pedestrian streets, decorated shops and bistros, all offering a festive atmosphere during the holiday season. — From $3,849, including airfare

BATTLE OF THE BULGE

DEC. 11-19, 2024

Tour Operator: National WWII Museum Prepare to walk in the footsteps of those brave Americans who faced the German onslaught in December 1944. This comprehensive tour includes the principal battle sites in Belgium and Luxembourg. Visit Bastogne, where Gen. Anthony McAuliffe of the 101st Airborne Division replied to a German demand for

surrender with a single, pithy word: “Nuts!” Pay solemn tribute to the men massacred near Malmedy by the SS troopers of Kampfgruppe Peiper. Travel the “Bulge” from its north shoulder at Elsenborn Ridge to Diekirch, Luxembourg, in the south, while listening to the heroic stories of American soldiers who fought through bitter cold and snow to prevail against a hardened and desperate enemy. — From $6,495

WONDERS OF THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS

FEB. 2-12, 2025

Tour Operator: Gohagan

The Galápagos Islands represent a truly unique environment. Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the archipelago’s isolation combined with its nutrient-rich waters created one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems. Immerse yourself in the coastal landscapes that inspired Charles Darwin on this unequaled 10-day Galápagos journey, an unforgettable experience with a bounty of extraordinary wildlife. Begin your journey exploring the UNESCO treasures, rich indigenous traditions and contemporary verve of Quito, Ecuador’s beguiling capital city. Then travel to the Galápagos and discover the natural splendor of six Galápagos islands. These legendary islands, each with its own ecosystem,

teem with endemic flora and fauna. The wildlife is uniquely receptive to up-close human interaction — encounter birds, marine and land animals on included excursions. Walk with giant tortoises in San Cristóbal and swim with playful sea lions in Santa Fé. — From $7,495

GREAT SOUTHERN LANDS OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

FEB. 9-24, 2025

Tour Operator: Go Next

Hear “g’day” and “kia ora” as local Australians and New Zealanders greet you on this 14-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Regatta . Embark in Sydney and set sail for Melbourne. Wander through the many laneways lined with impressive street art or stroll the bustling Queen Victoria Market, an all-encompassing food hub since 1878. In Burnie, let local cheese makers dazzle your taste buds, and in Hobart, journey to the summit of Mount Wellington for panoramic views of the city. As you make your way to New Zealand, take in the sensational sights and sounds along the Tasman Sea and the fjords of Milford Sound. In Timaru, enjoy a leisurely walk along the picturesque Carolina Bay. Then, watch a sheep-shearing display in Christchurch or see movie-making history in Wellington, where “The Lord of the Rings” was filmed. Bask in the sun on a beach in Napier. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at a boutique winery in Gisborne, and before arriving in Auckland, immerse yourself in the Maori culture with a traditional hangi feast and performance. — From $7,699

CLASSIC PANAMA CANAL

FEB. 18 – MARCH 1, 2025

Tour Operator: Go Next Embark on an extraordinary 12-night cruise along the Panama Canal and the Caribbean Sea, where enchanting tales of the past merge seamlessly with breathtaking coastlines and vibrant local cultures. Set foot in Panama City, a mesmerizing fusion of tradition and modernity that links two worlds. Then, marvel at the Panama Canal before strolling down the narrow stone walkways of historic Cartagena. Feel

Wellington, New Zealand

the gentle embrace of the sun-drenched Sierra Nevada mountains, and rest in the sand of the forest-fringed beaches of Santa Marta. In Oranjestad, observe the colorful colonial buildings and traverse the floating bridge in Willemstad. Escape to the serenity of Port Antonio, a hidden gem of natural beauty. Before journey’s end in Miami, discover the vibrant markets in Nassau and immerse yourself in the rhythm of island life. — From $3,899

TANZANIA SAFARI DURING THE GREAT MIGRATION

FEB. 21 – MARCH 3, 2025

Tour Operator: Gohagan

Journey to the majestic grasslands of Africa’s premier safari destination to observe one of Earth’s greatest spectacles — the annual Great Migration of vast herds of wildebeest followed by zebra, gazelle and Cape buffalo. This incredible

Mary Leakey discovered remains of a prehistoric hominid skull — revealing some of the oldest evidence of human evolution. Other one-of-a-kind experiences include a safari picnic lunch in the Serengeti and a picnic served on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater amid prides of lions, black rhinos and elephants. — From $8,095

GREAT TRAINS AND GRAND CANYONS

MARCH 9-14, 2025

Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery

The Grand Canyon is “the one great sight which every American should see,” said President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, when he first laid eyes on one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights. Every traveler should explore the beautiful American West, and that is exactly what you will do on this exciting program to Arizona. This travel

10-night land program features immersive game drives in three of Tanzania’s most prestigious game parks — Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park and Serengeti National Park — as well as the UNESCOinscribed Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Enjoy lunch at the historic Gibb’s Farm, an organic farm and coffee plantation on the outer slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater, and visit the UNESCO-designated Olduvai Gorge in the Great Rift Valley to see where

experience features a combination of American West highlights with the scenery of Grand Canyon National Park, the Native American history at the Montezuma Castle National Monument, the Old West nostalgia of two train rides and five nights at a picturesque property in Sedona. Just north of Phoenix, Sedona is known for its upscale resorts, artist galleries and breathtaking red rock scenery, and is the perfect “home base” for this six-day adventure. — From $3,795

HAWAIIAN THREE-ISLAND ADVENTURE

MARCH 11-19, 2025

Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery Aloha! From the moment you arrive in this incredible destination you will be greeted with sheer beauty and a cultural experience like no other. You will quickly realize why Hawaii is known as the “Paradise of the Pacific.” With many exotic beaches, flowers, mountainous landscapes, breathtaking views and magnificent waterfalls, you will be amazed everywhere you travel within this incredible island state. We welcome you to experience three Hawaiian islands on this incredible tour that features a perfect combination of sightseeing and leisure time in this island paradise. Please review the itinerary details and count the extras. — From $5,995, including airfare

DUTCH WATERWAYS

APRIL 16-24, 2025

Tour Operator: AHI

Embark on a carefree, seven-night cruise along the intimate waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium, brimming with centuries of history and Old World splendor. Delight in Amsterdam’s charming canals and stroll amid the glorious tulips at Keukenhof Gardens. Revel in Bruges’ wonderfully preserved Gothic gems and Antwerp’s impressive medieval old town. Other ports of call introduce you to Enkhuizen, a beautiful Dutch Golden Age city, and Veere, a laid-back harbor town. Enjoy enriching lectures and a choice of included excursions. Admire Enkhuizen’s stately landmarks on foot and by boat; tour the picturesque, 17th-century port town of Hoorn; or bike through the pastoral West Frisian countryside. See The Hague and the Mauritshuis’ celebrated masterpieces, watch artisans at the Royal Delft porcelain factory or sample farmfresh cheeses in Gouda. In Bruges, visit a chocolaterie, discover the beer culture or take in renowned Belgian art. Unpack once aboard your exclusively chartered, first-class ship, and savor generous meals with wine and beer at lunch and dinner. No single supplement. — From $3,595

Kauai Island, Hawaii

A lumni News

SPRING MEETING

Class Notes

’60s BARBARA BECKMANN (BSChE 61), of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was honored by the University of Mississippi School of Engineering with the announcement that the Department of Chemical Engineering will be named after her due to her generous support.

CURTIS WILKIE (BSJ 63), of Oxford, received the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters’ Noel Polk Lifetime Achievement Award for his body of work over a decades-long career at the institute’s 2024 annual awards gala.

’70s JOHN BULLARD (BA 75), of Alexandria, Virginia, received a national Emmy and an Edward R. Murrow Award for NBC News coverage of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

DAVE NELSON (BBA 77), of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, received the 2024 Presidential Award of Excellence in the category of Humanitarian Services during celebrations held at the American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

E. SCOTT PALMER (BBA 78), of Forest, was elected to the board of directors for Community Bank of Mississippi.

’80s CHERYN NETZ (BA 88), of Austin, Texas, was appointed general counsel of the Texas State Securities Board in Austin.

CHARLES W. NICHOLSON (BBA 81), of Brandon, was elected to serve as chairman of the board for Community Bank of Mississippi.

’90s KRISTEN HAZEN (BAccy 97), of Atlanta, has joined the board of directors for the Atlanta-based nonprofit organization CURE Childhood Cancer.

JEFFERY JOHNSON (BBA 96), of Flowood, was named one of Mississippi’s Top CEOs of 2024 by the Mississippi Business Journal.

BETH TACKETT (BBA 94), of Greenwood, was named a vice president of Viking Range LLC.

J. RHEA TANNEHILL (BPA 91, MEd 92, JD 96), of Oxford, was elected to serve as president-elect designee of the Mississippi Bar.

’00s DAVID BLACKBURN (BAccy 00, MAccy 01), of Oxford, was named one of Mississippi’s Top CEOs of 2024 by the Mississippi Business Journal.

BLAKE HODGE (BBA 08), of Oxford, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League event at Grenada Lake.

JOSEPH KILGORE (BBA 00, JD 03), of Philadelphia, has announced that he will be leaving the bench as a chancellor. He has accepted a position as counsel for the law firm of Watkins & Eager PLLC, in its Jackson office.

JESSICA BANAHAN MCNEEL (BA 04, JD 07), of Pascagoula, was named 2024 Parent of the Year by the Mississippi Department of Education.

KATIE NARON (BAEd 04, MEd 05), of Oxford, received the University of Mississippi’s School of Education Outstanding

The board of directors of the Ole Miss Alumni Association met for its annual spring meeting on April 28 at the Triplett Alumni Center.

Photo by Steve Mullen

Teacher of the Year Award for the 2023-24 academic school year.

ELIZABETH RANDALL (BBA 03, MBA 05), of Oxford, was named one of Mississippi’s Top CEOs of 2024 by the Mississippi Business Journal.

JEREMY ROBERTS (BA 07, BS 10, EdD 23), of Terry, obtained his Doctor of Education in higher education from the University of Mississippi in May 2023.

ROBERT SAVOIE (BBA 07), of Solon, Ohio, was elected to the executive Policy Committee of the McGlinchey Stafford law firm.

RYAN UPSHAW (BA 02, MA 08, EdD 23), of Jackson, was named Volunteer of the Year for the state of Mississippi by Volunteer Mississippi and the Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence.

RICHARD WOOD (BBA 09), of Cleveland, has accepted the position as general manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Baton Rouge Downtown, managed by Hospitality America.

’10sKALLEN ALDERMAN (BS 17), of Oxford, was named to the 2024 Top 40 Under 40 class by the Mississippi Business Journal.

HANNAH GADD ARDREY (BM 13, MM 15), of Oxford, received her Doctorate of Education from William Carey University in February.

ZACHARY ATWOOD (JD 13), of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, was promoted to associate senior counsel for the Stewart Title Guaranty Co. He was also awarded the National Title Professional designation by the American Land Title Association in May.

JASMINE BARNES (BAccy 15), of Jackson, was named to the 2024 Top 40 Under 40 class by the Mississippi Business Journal.

ZACH BRANSON (BA 12), of Atlanta, has returned to the law firm Jones Walker as a tax partner in its Atlanta office.

ASHLEY GLOVER (BSW 11), of Austin, Texas, was recognized as a finalist for the prestigious Austin Under 40 Awards.

SHELBY-RAE HAMEL (BA 14), of Gulfport, received a promotion to uniform sales consultant at Cintas in Gulfport.

WILLIAM KNEIP (BA 16), of Oxford, was named to the 2024 Top 40 Under 40 class by the Mississippi Business Journal.

REGAN MCINTOSH (BSPSC 16, PhMD 19), of Madison, was named to the 2024 Top 40 Under 40 class by the Mississippi Business Journal.

KENNEDY MILLER (BBA 10), of Jackson, was named to the 2024 Top 40 Under 40 class by the Mississippi Business Journal.

JEFF DAVIS PACE III (BA 10), of Gulfport, was named one of Mississippi’s Top CEOs of 2024 by the Mississippi Business Journal.

BRITTANY VARNEY (BA 10), of Gulfport, was named to the 2024 Top 40 Under 40 class by the Mississippi Business Journal.

BIRTHS

Benjamin Anders, son of Mary Atwood (BSN 18, TPT 12) and Zachary Anders Atwood (JD 13), April 30, 2024.

Grover William, son of Lindsey Morgan Coughlin Johnston (BS 20) and Nelson Johnston, April 6, 2024.

John Callum, son of Kelly McKenzie and James Andrew McKenzie (BBA 11), June 4, 2024.

WEDDINGS

Natalia Kumar and Joshua Shane Horton (BA 15, JD 17), May 19, 2024.

Brooke Lashae Swinney and Jackson Duncan, June 1, 2024.

MISSISSIPPI ON THE MALL

he Mississippi Society of Washington, D.C., hosted the 33rd annual Mississippi on the Mall on Saturday, June 8. Held at Henry Bacon Ball Field, the event drew over 600 attendees. Participants enjoyed catfish, sweet tea and Southern hospitality.

Photo courtesy of the Mississippi Society of D.C.

MISSISSIPPI IN NEW YORK

Ole Miss alumni and friends in New York celebrated the 37th Mississippi in the Park on Saturday, June 15, in Hudson River Park. The picnic, attended by Chancellor Glenn Boyce and most of his cabinet, featured music and tables sponsored by various Mississippi universities.

Sustaining Life Membership Program

The Sustaining Life Membership Program is a voluntary way for current Life Members to provide additional annual support to the Ole Miss Alumni Association at one

Platinum: $1,000+

Mr. and Mrs. Holmes S. Adams

Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Bailess

Mr. and Mrs. John L. Barker

Mr. and Mrs. Lucien L. Bourgeois

Mr. and Mrs. David E. Brevard

Mr. and Mrs. Lampkin Butts

Mr. J. Truman Channell

Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Clark

Drs. Ann D. and Frank A. Critz IV

Mr. William M. Dalehite Jr.

Mr. Fred de Roode

Mr. and Mrs. Vance P. Derryberry

of several tax-deductible levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Blue and Red. These contributions are used to support necessary programs to engage Ole Miss alumni and friends and to help create

FY 2024 MEMBERS

Dr. Michael Ederer

Mr. Mac Elliott

Mrs. Diane B. Eubanks

Mrs. Carolynne K. Fooshee

Mrs. Martha Ann Franco

Lt. Col. Howard L. Gerlach

Mr. and Mrs. James W. Granbery

Mr. Roy Butler Granger

Mr. and Mrs. William W. Gresham III

Dr. Bruce R. Guerdan

Mr. Robert Andrew Harder

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel B. Haskell III

Dr. James S. Hicks

future alumni leaders through student involvement, scholarship and leadership programs. Thank you for your generous support of Ole Miss and the Alumni Association.

Mr. and Mrs. D.B. Holstein

W. Robert Hudgins, M.D.

Mrs. Dinah Dedmon Huthnance

Mr. Jerome R. Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Lusco

Mr. Michael J. Maslanka

Mr. and Mrs. David O. McCormick

Mr. Jeffery M. Michael

Mr. and Mrs. A. Bruce Moore Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Paul H. Moore Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Steven T. Mullen

Mr. and Mrs. John R. Pittman

Mr. and Mrs. John K. Purdom

Mrs. Barbara L. Purdon

Mr. and Mrs. William N. Reed

Mr. John H. Rice

Mr. John Douglas Self Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Sneed

Mr. Michael R. Sweet

Mr. and Mrs. William F. Tait

Mr. and Mrs. John H. Thames Jr.

Dr. Valmadge TeErino Towner

Mrs. Elizabeth Gresham Veazey

Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey J. White

Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Whitley

Dr. and Mrs. Lynn K. Whittington

Gold: $500-$999

Mr. and Mrs. Olen S. Akers

Mr. and Mrs. Bill H. Benson

Mr. and Mrs. Bradley J. Blalock

Mr. and Mrs. Louis K. Brandt

Mr. Larry H. Bryan

Mr. Phillip C. Burnett

Dr. Taylor D. Caffey

Ms. Angela D. Carney

Mr. B. Craig Clemmer

Mrs. Natalie F. Cofield

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Couch Sr.

Mr. and Mrs. Carl D. Deweese

Ms. Margaret A. Dixon

Mr. and Mrs. Nicky Drake

Mr. and Mrs. S. Lawrence Farrington

Mr. Brooke Ferris

Mr. Paul M. Franke Jr.

Dr. William B. French Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. William N. Fry IV

Dr. Jane T. Gaede

Dr. and Mrs. Yancey Gillespie

Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey R. Godwin Jr.

Mr. Thomas Alsop Griesedieck

Dr. Nancy M. and Mr. Joel C. Hale

Mr. Thomas H. Hamilton IV

Mrs. Margaret Heard Hays

Dr. and Mrs. George J. Heard Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth W. Hill

Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Holmes IV

Mr. David A. Huey

Mrs. Trentice G. Imbler

Mr. and Mrs. William M. James

The Hon. E. Grady Jolly

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon R. Kelley III

Mr. Robert L. Koestler

Hon. and Mrs. William Lewis Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. John A. Maloney

Dr. Fred J. McDonnell

Mr. and Mrs. Guy W. Mitchell III

Mr. Terrence B. Mohr

Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Nance III

Mr. and Mrs. G.R. Neblett Jr.

Mr. Claude Nixon Jr.

Mrs. Jennifer R. O’Barr

Mr. Robert Raymond Palmer

Mr. and Mrs. Crymes G. Pittman

Mr. and Mrs. Lee W. Randall

Mr. and Mrs. David G. Roach

Ms. Donna Ruth Roberts

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Roberts III

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Rocconi Jr.

Dr. K. Scott Segars Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald S. Smith

Mr. and Mrs. W. Marion Smith

Mr. Hubert A. Staley

Mrs. Margaret J. Varshock

Mr. Kenneth W. Williams

Alumni News

Mr. and Mrs. Sandy Williams

Mr. Jun Yan

Silver: $250-$499

Mr. Hirschel T. Abbott Jr.

Mr. Jesse R. Adams III

Dr. John J. Arnold

Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Ayers

Dr. Antrece Lynette Baggett

Ms. Carol Jo Barnes

*Mr. Fred Allen Bell Jr. and Mrs. Julia S. Bell

Mr. and Mrs. Gene W. Bennett

Ms. Kathryn Brewer Black

Mr. and Mrs. David B. Blackburn

Dr. Otis J. Bouwsma and Ms. Lucilla Perez

Mr. and Mrs. R.R. Brashier

Mr. Charles E. Brown

Mr. James E. Carr

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Carroll Jr.

Dr. David K. Carter

The Hon. and Ms. Mark J. Chaney Jr.

Mr. Jason J. Cobb

Mr. Michael P. Cohan

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) and Mrs. Augustus L. Collins

Mr. Henry D. Colotta

Mr. L. Pepper Cossar

Mr. Shelby B. Drummond Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. David N. Duddleston

Mr. Eric T. Duncan Jr.

Mr. Robert E. Duncan

Mr. John A. Dupps

Mr. Stephen Scott Emerson

Mr. Joe M. Enoch

Mr. Alan J. Ferguson

Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Flenorl

Mr. and Mrs. Russell H. Folk

Dr. and Mrs. Don L. Fruge’

Mr. Tommy R. Funk Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Garraway

Mr. Bruce J. Gray

Mr. and Mrs. Heyward Carter Green

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Gresham Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Griffith

Mr. and Mrs. G.O. Griffith Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Haley III

Michael and Tracey Hall

Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Heidelberg III

Mr. H. Richard Hemmings

Dr. and Mrs. Frank S. Hill Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Hardy M. Hill

Mr. Harold E. Hill Jr.

Mr. R. Scott Hines

Hon. and Mrs. David W. Houston III

Mrs. Rita S. Howard

Dr. William S. Howard

*Mr. Stanley Michael Hughes

Mr. James H. Ivy

Mr. and Mrs. Larry L. Johnson

*Dr. Carol Buchanan Jones

Dr. Harriet L. and Mr. Joel R. Jones

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry L. Lee

Dr. and Mrs. George H. Leggett III

Mr. James A. Lesemann Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Linginfelter

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Y. Love Jr.

Mr. Leonard Lurie

Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. Magarian

Dr. Gregory E. Maksi

Mrs. Rhoda N. Maloney

Hon. John N. Martin

Mr. and Mrs. Scott T. Matlock

Mr. and Mrs. James A. McCullough II

Mr. and Mrs. John S. McIntyre Jr.

Mrs. Catherine P. Miller

Mrs. Vivian LeFlore Mora

Mrs. Elizabeth L. Morgan

*Mr. Sidney Gerald Morgan

Dr. and Mrs. Lee D. Morris

Mrs. Ruth T. Murdock

Mrs. Phyllis H. Nuckolls

Mr. and Mrs. Rush O’Keefe

Mr. and Mrs. Steven R. Osso

Mr. Tommy C. Pannell

Mr. Charles G. Perkins

Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Peters

Ms. Janet Jones Pilko

Dr. and Mrs. James W. Rayner

Mrs. Mary Jane Ridgway

Dr. Jeff W. Rish III

Mr. Marc Rosen

Mr. Ronald L. Samuels

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Seibels III

Dr. S.L. Sethi

Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Sloan

Mr. and Mrs. Briggs Smith Jr.

Mr. Michael R. Smith

Dr. and Mrs. Gordon L. Stanfield

Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Stringer

Dr. and Mrs. John H. Sumners

Mr. Dennis James Troy

Mr. James S. Verplanck

Dr. James E. Warrington

Dr. Benjamin O. Weeks Jr.

Mr. James B. Wolf

Mr. and Mrs. David A. Wright

Mr. Michael W. Wright and Mrs. Vickie M. Cook

Mr. and Mrs. Rick R. Zeiher

Blue: $100-$249

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Abernethy III

Dr. Richard S. Abney

Dr. and Mrs. George E. Abraham II

Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Adams III

Mr. Jeffrey D. Aldridge

Mrs. Marian Sykes Alexander

Mr. and Mrs. Weldon Aultman

Mr. Gary A. Avery

Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Bailey

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Beecroft

Mr. Roeland T. Bell

Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Boland

Mrs. Gayle S. Bourland

Mr. Cole Brabham

Ms. Sherrye Polk Brame

Mr. and Mrs. R.S. Brennan

The Hon. Cynthia Lee Brewer

Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Broun III

Mr. Ernie H. Brown

Mr. and Mrs. James L. Brown

Mrs. Holly H. Buchanan

Mr. David Wayne Callicutt

Mr. and Mrs. John S. Case

Mrs. Hilda Louise Casin

Mr. Darren Riley Chapman

Mr. David H. Chapman

Mr. and Mrs. Gary S. Childers

Eric and Karan Clark

Dr. Neal G. Clement

Mr. Benjamin Augustus Collins

Dr. Jeff R. Comer

Drs. Charles L. and Rosemary M. Conlon

Dr. Ann Homer Cook

Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Cook

Mr. Giles A. Coors III

Mr. and Mrs. R. Steven Cox

Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Crongeyer Jr.

Dr. James M. Cross

Maj. Bryan A. Culipher

Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Cunningham

Dr. James W. Davis

Ms. Mary Leslie Davis

Mrs. Tis N. Dean

Ms. Schantell Y. Dearing

Mr. William Joseph Dennis

Mr. Ted Denstel

Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. DeSantis

Mrs. Demetria Barnes Dobbs

Mr. Richard M. Edmonson Sr.

Mr. Xavier Omar Edwards

Alumni News

Hon. and Mrs. Robert W. Elliott Sr.

Mr. Robert E. Ellis

Mr. Larry E. Eubank

Mr. and Mrs. Bryan P. Farmer

Mr. Harold L. Ferguson Jr.

Mrs. Weba Coward Ferguson

Ms. Mary Elizabeth Ford

The Hon. and Mrs. Webb Franklin

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Frierson

Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Gates

Mrs. Judy A. Gauthier

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Gex II

Dr. and Mrs. Randel C. Gibson

Mr. Karl D. Gottschalk

Mr. and Mrs. George R. Goza

Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Grant

Mrs. Mary Ann W. Griesbeck

Mr. and Mrs. Lowell E. Grisham Jr.

Chief Warrant Officer William Gray Hairston Jr.

Mr. Bradley G. Hall

Ms. Alice L. Hammond

Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Hancock Jr.

Mr. William L. Harrington Jr.

Dr. John F. Hassell

Mrs. Catherine Anderson Hawkins

Mr. and Mrs. Van Elliott Hedges

Mr. T. David Hedrick

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Henry

Mr. and Mrs. James C. Herbert Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy N. Herndon

Dr. Hartwell C. Herring III

Ms. Monica M. Hewes

Mr. Joseph M. Hinshaw III

Ms. Carol A. Hobby

Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Holland

Dr. Jerry Holmes

Mrs. Dana Dallosta Horner

Mrs. Ann Phillips Hough

Mr. and Mrs. Carson M. Hughes

Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Hutchins Jr.

Dr. William A. Ivy

Mrs. Rebecca K. Jabour

Mrs. Alice D. Jackson

Mr. and Mrs. Ted D. Jackson

Mr. Marcus C. Jennings III

Mrs. Deborah T. Johnson

Mrs. Melissa Windham Johnston

Mr. and Mrs. Augustus R. Jones

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jones

Mrs. Michelle W. Jones

Mr. Ted Jones

Mrs. Joyce D. Jurik

Mrs. Delia H. Kaigler

Dr. Gloria Kellum

Mr. and Mrs. Bobby J. Kidder

Ms. Leone D. King

Mrs. Joy F. Kirchhoff

Mr. Roosevelt Kitchens

Dr. Alan G. Landvay

Mr. and Mrs. John B. Laney Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lauderdale

Mr. and Mrs. David L. Lawrence

Mr. Charles P. Leonard

Mrs. Barbera Hollowell Liddon

Mr. Hubert S. Lipscomb Jr.

Dr. Charles D. Llano

Mr. Joe Macione Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen D. Maness

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper A. Manning

Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Maples

Mrs. Mary Ellen B. Marchand

Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Martin

Dr. Olin B. Mauldin Jr.

Mr. Wallace G. McAlpin

Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. McCormick

Mrs. Daisye R. McGee

Mr. William A. McGinnis Jr.

Dr. William T. McLarty

Mr. Todd McLeod

Mr. and Mrs. Floyd M. Melton III

Mr. and Mrs. Floyd M. Melton Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Meredith

Dr. Vernon Miller and Ms. Sheral Cade

Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey C. Mitchell

Dr. James B. Moore Jr. and Mrs. Caren K. Madden

Dr. Catherine Woodyard Moring

Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Morlino

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Morris Jr.

Dr. Karl F. Morrison

Dr. William R. Mott

Mr. Christian S. Mueller

Mr. Thomas Munoz Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Muths Jr.

Mrs. Linda M. Newell

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Christopher Norwood

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Orange

Mrs. Rebecca G. Pace

Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Peacock III

Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Pointer

Mrs. Anne Biles Ponder

Mr. and Mrs. Ray S. Poole Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. John W. Prados

Mrs. Camille S. Puckett

Mr. and Mrs. William M. Renovich

Mr. Mack W. Riley

Mr. William Robert Roberts

Dr. and Mrs. Gerald M. Robertson

Dr. Tommie L. Robinson Jr.

Mrs. Merrell Rogers

Dr. Walter H. Rose

Mr. and Mrs. William J. Ross III

Mr. Bernard L. Royce

Mr. and Mrs. Scott A. Samuels

Mr. and Mrs. Lenny Sawyer

Dr. Mark E. Schandorff

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene R. Schnierle

Mr. John Richard Schwalje

Mr. Frank Seid Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Shaw

Mrs. Lisa Puckett Sinders

Dr. Patsy S. Sledge

Dr. and Mrs. John A. Smith Jr.

Mr. William K. Smith

Capt. Jack F. Speed Jr.

The Hon. and Mrs. S.R. Steckler

Dr. Kate Stewart

Mr. Stanley M. Swentkowski

Mr. and Mrs. Barrett B. Teller

Mr. and Mrs. Denny Terrell

Mrs. Lucy M. Thompson

Mrs. Rebecca Allen Thompson

Ms. Julia H. Thornton

Dr. Ancel C. Tipton Jr. and *Mrs. Senith Ann Tipton

Mr. Vincent M. Tsin

Mr. and Mrs. James E. Vance

Lt. Col. and Mrs. Ronald J. Vaughan

Mrs. Jeanine Ogletree Walker

Mr. William L. Wallace III

Dr. Juliet H. Walton

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory P. Ware

Mr. Charles E. Warren

Mr. Cecil L. Watkins

Dr. and Mrs. Donald Q. Weaver

Mr. Larry D. Weeden Sr.

Mr. James H. Wheeler Jr.

Mrs. Anne J. Wilbourne

Mr. Dan S. Wilford

Mr. A. Thomas Williams

Mr. Henry L. Wilson

Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Witty

Dr. and Mrs. Travis W. Yates

Red: $1-$99

Mr. J. Michael Blackburn

Mr. and Mrs. William R. Bouchillon

Mr. and Mrs. Bub Brannan

Mr. Samuel Welman Braswell Jr.

Mr. William E. Brent Jr.

Mr. Richard Malcolm Caldwell

Mr. Keith M. Canfield

Mrs. Susan A. Cantrell

Mrs. Desiree P. Casey

Mr. George L. Chamberlain Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. William C. Cushman

Dr. William D. Davenport Jr.

Dr. Thomas C. Evans Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Farris III

Mrs. Sandra K. Finley

Mr. John W. Glenn

Mr. Frank Bentley Hampton

Mr. J. Rush Hicks Jr.

Dr. Lisa and Mr. Timothy W. Huddleston

Dr. and Mrs. Albert C. Laws

Ms. Carmen E. Lewis

Mr. and Mrs. Eddie K. Lindsey

Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Lucas

Mr. and Mrs. Silas W. McCharen

Dr. Teresa Rowley McDaniel

Mr. Dale H. McDavitt

Mrs. Tiffany Jacquelyn Mensi

Mrs. Cathie M. Moore

Mr. and Mrs. Glen A. Murphy

Mrs. Priscilla P. Musgrave

Mr. and Mrs. William J. Nunley

Mrs. Rebecca G. Pace

Mrs. Dorothy J. Pennington

Ms. Deborah A. Pierce

Mr. Jimmie Gerald Purvis

*Mr. Donald Gordon Shipp Sr.

Ms. Hannah Grace Steele

Mr. and Mrs. Ketric T. Tyson

Mr. and Mrs. L.K. Watt Jr.

Dr. William E. Wheeler

Mr. and Mrs. Jerome W. Wilson Jr.

Mr. Kenneth W. Yerby

*Deceased

Alumni News

IN MEMORIAM

1930s

Hubert Larry Barnett (BSCvE 39), of Louisville, Tenn., Dec. 2, 2023

1940s

Thomas Moore Barnett (BBA 48), of Tupelo, June 17, 2024

Rozelle Hahn (MedCert 48), of Santa Fe, N.M., April 1, 2024

Bettie Boyce Hollingsworth (48), of Hernando, April 30, 2024

Sara Simmons Morgan (BSC 45), of Greenwood, May 29, 2024

Alma Eugenie Hopkins Parkerson (BA 42), of Madison, April 20, 2024

1950s

Ellis Nick Abdo III (BA 57, MD 62), of Fort Worth, Texas, April 11, 2024

Lawrence Atwell Ashley Jr. (BSCvE 56), of Liberty Lake, Wash., March 26, 2024

Dorrance Aultman (LLB 56), of Hattiesburg, June 17, 2024

Rayburn Holmes Bates (54), of Ocean Springs, Aug. 24, 2023

James Marvin Beck (BBA 59), of Baton Rouge, La., April 7, 2024

Jimmy Carl Beck Sr. (54), of Memphis, Tenn., April 22, 2024

Ann McPherson Bryan (BAEd 59), of Huntington Beach, Calif., June 23, 2023

Florice Bailey Cardwell (BSC 54, MBEd 58), of Oxford, May 14, 2024

Robert Lee Chiles Jr. (BSME 59), of Villa Rica, Ga., March 6, 2024

John Shannon Clark (LLB 58), of Waynesboro, April 4, 2024

Richard Forrest Collins (BA 52, MS 56), of Glendale, Calif., March 18, 2024

John Thomas Copeland Jr. (MD 58), of Starkville, July 7, 2023

Edward Duncan Eidt (BBA 51), of Natchez, May 13, 2024

Harvey Young Fiser (BA 50), of Clarksdale, March 24, 2024

Rose Wilson Fleming (BAEd 59, MLS 76), of Marietta, Ga., Aug. 8, 2023

Eleanor Green Gerrard (BAEd 51), of Hattiesburg, April 23, 2024

Dorcas Ferguson Gregory (MA 57), of Senatobia, May 23, 2023

Jo Ann Thomas Griffin (BA 55), of Arlington, Va., Jan. 16, 2024

Dorse Harland Hagler (BA 59), of Denton, Texas, Dec. 1, 2023

Bernice Mazurek Harmon (MA 50), of Clinton, Tenn., March 22, 2024

Joan Kinard Hood (BAEd 57), of Shannon, May 12, 2024

Iva Nell Harris Huff (BSC 51), of Meridian, June 7, 2024

Margaret Eugenia Krutz Lamar (BSC 59), of Austin, Texas, June 3, 2024

Edward McLean Loggins (52), of Beaumont, Texas, May 24, 2024

Joseph Tillman Lyle (BA 52, BSPh 55), of Ridgeland, May 17, 2024

Mary Harwell Marable (BAEd 58), of Richmond, Va., April 29, 2024

Martha Jane Marcum Matthews (BSHPE 54), of Palm Coast, Fla., July 2, 2023

Bill Sanders McLaughlin (BBA 56), of Burlison, Tenn., Jan. 7, 2024

Martha Dulaney McLeod (BSC 55), of Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 5, 2023

Martha Davis McManus (59), of Houston, Texas, March 30, 2024

Linda Lee Miles Meyer (BS 59), of Denver, Colo., July 2, 2023

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Alumni News

Edward Lile Murphree Jr. (BSCvE 54, MA 62), of Oakton, Va., Dec. 26, 2023

Elizabeth Carolyn Pylant Nesbitt (BAEd 52), of Scottsboro, Ala., May 30, 2024

Jack Parsons (LLB 56), of Wiggins, April 10, 2024

Ursula Byrd Patch (BAEd 51), of Tarpon Springs, Fla., July 27, 2023

Gerald Calhoun Phillips (59), of Denver, Colo., April 25, 2024

Bettie Rutherford Pittman (BA 52), of Athens, Ga., March 11, 2024

Sylvia Elias Prewitt (BAEd 58), of Osceola, Ark., April 10, 2024

Ronald Duane Ragland (BSChE 55), of Casper, Wyo., Jan. 30, 2024

William Robert Reynolds (BBA 51), of Pompton Plains, N.J., April 1, 2024

Eone Chatham Riales (BSC 57), of Nesbit, Sept. 26, 2023

J.W. Richardson (BBA 54), of Flora, Aug. 8, 2023

Lloyd William Rose (54), of Starkville, April 17, 2024

Donald Phillip Smith (BSHPE 50), of Williamsburg, Va., May 23, 2024

Mary Evelyn Nabors Spencer (BAEd 54), of Paducah, Ky., April 23, 2024

Charlene Dansby Trexler (BA 58), of Lakeland, Tenn., Aug. 10, 2023

Bobby Hoyt Tyler (BSHPE 59, MEd 64), of Water Valley, April 28, 2024

Robert Preston Wailes Jr. (BBA 57), of New Orleans, La., June 6, 2024

Rubye Myers Williams (BAEd 53, MEd 65), of Nixa, Mo., July 19, 2023

1960s

Wilson Otis Allen (BSPh 67), of Southaven, April 4, 2024

Milton John Arras Jr. (MD 64), of Walterboro, S.C., March 28, 2024

Robert Baringer (MD 60), of St. Augustine, Fla., March 26, 2024

Sarah Flowers Boling (BSC 63), of East Lansing, Mich., March 11, 2024

Emma Marie Braddock (MEd 67), of Ripley, July 15, 2023

William Doyle Brewer (BBA 69), of Saltillo, April 12, 2024

Robert Emery Carrington III (62), of Byhalia, June 11, 2024

Donald Merritt Clanton (BSHPE 65, MEd 71), of Senatobia, May 20, 2024

W h i l e s e r v i n g a s f o r m e r

G e n e r a l M a n a g e r o f t h e I n n

a t O l e M i s s f o r 3 0 y e a r s , i t

w a s a j o y t o w o r k w i t h t h e

O l e M i s s A l u m n i a n d t h o s e

t h a t v i s i t e d O x f o

s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a

W i t h 1 8 y e a r s i

E s t a t e , m y c o n t i n

i s t o g u i d e a n d h e p

William Hopson Compton (BA 63), of Notasulga, Ala., May 13, 2023

Irvin Howard Cronin (MD 60), of Brandon, March 26, 2024

Bill Crook (60), of Raleigh, N.C., March 21, 2024

Rufus Noble Dillard (BAEd 60), of Apex, N.C., June 1, 2023

Donald Ray Downs (LLB 63), of Corinth, April 15, 2024

Harold Eugene Dunn (BA 68), of Lambertville, N.J., April 13, 2024

Peggy Emerson (EdD 68), of Heflin, Ala., May 5, 2024

Mary Catherine Stephens Estes (BA 66), of Oxford, June 18, 2024

John Murray Estess (MD 63), of Tupelo, April 3, 2024

William Franklin Ferguson (EdD 69), of Hernando, March 24, 2024

Robert Dennis Findley (BA 64), of Gallatin, Tenn., July 3, 2023

Lula Mae Goode (MBEd 62), of San Angelo, Texas, Dec. 5, 2023

Gayle Goodin (MA 66, PhD 78), of Griffin, Ga., Aug. 31, 2023

Leslie David Hervey Jr. (BBA 63), of Jackson, April 4, 2024

Judith Inez Craft Hester (BA 62), of DeSoto, Texas, Nov. 27, 2023

Betty Jane Smith Hoar (MA 60), of Oxford, April 11, 2024

Cliff Hodge (BBA 64, JD 67), of Baton Rouge, La., May 8, 2024

Wallace Earl Hoffman (PhD 68), of Leesburg, Fla., March 23, 2024

Herman Sarkis Hovagimyan (MS 61), of Newport Beach, Calif., Feb. 20, 2023

Jamie Whitten Howell (BSHPE 61, MEd 62), of Pope, May 7, 2024

Charlene Chiles Imholz (BA 69), of Mountain Home, Ark., March 31, 2024

Sylvia Murphy Jacobs (BSC 62), of Niceville, Fla., Feb. 1, 2024

Anita Dossett Jones (66), of Pottstown, Pa., June 6, 2024

Daniel Porter Jordan Jr. (BA 60, MA 62), of Charlottesville, Va., March 21, 2024

Faye Holland King (BA 64), of Madison, May 22, 2024

Anne White Koethcke (BAEd 64), of Clifton Forge, Va., May 10, 2024

Billye Jo Pettis Landis (BSN 61), of Kingwood, Texas, May 20, 2024

John Mallory Lewis (BSCvE 63), of Water Valley, April 19, 2024

Lee McDonald Lipscomb Jr. (BSEE 61), of Freeport, Fla., April 15, 2024

i n d i v i d u a l s i n t h e p u r c h a s e o r

s a l e o f p r o p e r t y !

I w o u l d l o v e t o h e l p y o u !

l m c c a y 6 7 @ g m a i l . c o m 6 6 2 . 8 1 6 . 1 6 6 7 L A R R Y M C C A Y

Richard Snow Lybarger (MA 69), of Madison, July 30, 2023

George M. Mann (MCS 65), of Jacksonville, Ill., April 7, 2024

Leonard Wayne Martinec (BSPh 60, MD 64), of Owens Cross Roads, Ala., June 8, 2024

Joseph Leray McNamara (BA 69, JD 75), of Jackson, March 23, 2024

John Charles McPhail (MCS 63), of Madison, Sept. 21, 2023

John Gordon McWilliams (69), of Hattiesburg, April 11, 2024

Alan Emil Michel (BA 60, JD 71), of Daphne, Ala., Jan. 7, 2024

Hazel Carr Michel (MEd 68, AMEd 70), of Daphne, Ala., Dec. 6, 2023

James Newell Miller (BSME 60), of Galveston, Texas, March 25, 2024

Wilmer Riddle Mills (64), of Zachary, La., May 11, 2024

Benjamin Edward Mulligan (MA 61, PhD 64), of Clover, S.C., Jan. 9, 2024

Robert Hitt Neill Jr. (BBA 64), of Stoneville, April 21, 2024

George Allen Page (MCS 65), of Southington, Conn., March 23, 2024

Roger Lee Paulus (MEd 68), of Perryville, Mo., May 27, 2024

Georgia Parnell Pearce (MALT 64), of Fayetteville, Ark., April 18, 2024

Ann Roberson Powell (BAEd 60, MA 61), of Athens, Ga., May 3, 2024

Joyce Murphy Redmond (64), of Clarksdale, May 21, 2024

Gary Sewell Roberson (BBA 65), of Columbia, S.C., April 29, 2024

Rebecca Taylor Robertson (BS 61), of Oxford, May 23, 2024

Jimmy Ray Rose (MS 64), of Birmingham, Ala., Oct. 13, 2023

Vernon Frank Ross (MD 65), of Seattle, Wash., Feb. 19, 2024

Michael Evans Ryan (BBA 65), of Hattiesburg, Jan. 14, 2024

Konrad Wolfgang Scheel (PhD 69), of Deming, N.M., April 2, 2024

Frank Joseph Schlosser (BBA 65), of Cade, La., Dec. 5, 2023

John William Seale (63), of Livingston, Texas, March 24, 2024

Thomas Pettus Shelburne III (BSME 64), of Mercer, Pa., Aug. 30, 2023

Dolores Thomas Smith (MBEd 60), of Poplarville, Dec. 3, 2023

Sydney Allen Smith III (BA 63), of Flowood, April 26, 2024

Agnes Taylor King Thomas (BSC 69), of Memphis, Tenn., April 9, 2024

Louise Hendrix Thomas (MBEd 66), of Memphis, Tenn., June 29, 2023

Ronald Alton Thornton (BSPh 67), of Brandon, Nov. 8, 2023

Horacio Luis Tisera-Lopez (64), of Pittsburgh, Pa., June 5, 2024

Ronald Linwood Toulouse (BAEd 61, MBEd 65), of Kennesaw, Ga., April 14, 2024

Carwell Willis Traylor Jr. (BSPh 68), of McComb, April 29, 2024

Sharon Hoopingarner Uhl (MEd 69), of Satsuma, Fla., June 9, 2024

William Hutcherson Vaughan Jr. (BS 64, MD 67), of St. Pete Beach, Fla., April 19, 2024

Robert Broughton Wade Jr. (BAEd 60), of Oxford, April 19, 2024

Sandra Kay Houston Walden (BS 66, MA 78), of Atlanta, Ga., May 16, 2024

Nancy Sue White (BS 67, MA 74, MLS 82), of Pontotoc, May 25, 2024

Jerry Michael Wilson (BSPh 69), of Hermann, Mo., May 31, 2024

1970s

Noell Bush Bailey (BA 73), of Cape Girardeau, Mo., June 7, 2024

Brenda New Bauch (BPA 74, MCJ 76), of College Grove, Tenn., June 13, 2024

Ramona Pryor Beardain (BA 76), of Batesville, May 29, 2024

Bobby Lewis Broach (MEd 70), of Conway, Ark., July 29, 2023

Jerry Wayne Bullock (BBA 72), of Boyle, March 29, 2024

Janis Worthen Champion (BAEd 72), of Oxford, June 3, 2024

Hilda Brasher Cline (BM 72, MM 77), of Amory, June 14, 2024

Regina Tolar Coleman (BA 74), of Memphis, Tenn., May 23, 2024

Robert Kerry Coleman (BAEd 73), of Cabot, Ark., March 24, 2024

JoAnne Avent Collins (72), of Water Valley, May 24, 2024

Alvis Kenneth Cooper (MSS 79), of Myrtle, March 27, 2024

Malcolm Charles Cullen (BA 72), of Panama City Beach, Fla., April 2, 2024

Rosie Lee Daniel (MBEd 75), of Bruce, Dec. 18, 2023

Betty Brown Duffee (MCS 70), of Marianna, Fla., April 21, 2024

William Franklin Edwards (BSPh 72), of Ridgeland, June 8, 2024

Mary Baptist Farrar (MEd 78), of Tupelo, March 26, 2024

Deborah Black Franklin (BPA 78, MCJ 79), of Hernando, April 29, 2024

Ray Albert Furr Jr. (BA 71, MA 96), of Oxford, March 26, 2024

Alumni News

Nellie Bennett Gault (BAEd 76, MEd 86), of Saltillo, March 15, 2024

Rebecca Rainey Graeber (BBA 75, JD 86), of Marks, April 27, 2024

Selma Jordan Green (MEd 78), of Sardis, May 12, 2023

Johnny Michael Grisham (BBA 70), of Prattville, Ala., April 14, 2024

William Gatlin Hardin Sr. (MD 78), of Memphis, Tenn., May 22, 2024

Charles Hill Hawkins Jr. (BBA 73), of Kosciusko, May 28, 2024

Bobby Joe Hibbard (MEd 74), of Monticello, Ark., March 24, 2024

Audrey Cannon Hill (BAEd 74), of Memphis, Tenn., May 25, 2024

Shelia Jackson Hill (BSB 75), of Baton Rouge, La., May 15, 2024

Barbara Jones House (MN 78, PhD 87), of Madison, April 14, 2024

James Michael Ingram (BPA 78), of Madison, April 15, 2024

Charlie Sam Iupe Jr. (BBA 76), of Houston, Texas, April 11, 2024

Carol Buchanan Jones (BAEd 72, MEd 76, PhD 80), of Gulfport, May 9, 2024

Norman Ray Kaylor Sr. (PhD 71), of Leland, N.C., March 18, 2024

Floyd Ellis King Jr. (BSN 75), of Brandon, May 17, 2024

John Howard King (MA 79), of Paris, Ky., Jan. 22, 2024

Bettie Dixon Knight (MD 72), of Jackson, May 3, 2024

Richard Lynn Lantrip (BPA 73), of Water Valley, April 14, 2024

Kathy Oakley McCall (BA 75), of Hartsville, Tenn., May 15, 2024

Henry James McFarland Jr. (BBA 72), of Fernandina Beach, Fla., March 30, 2024

Jimmy Arnold Meeks (MD 73), of Tiplersville, April 26, 2024

Danny Davis Moore (BA 75, MD 79), of Fulton, March 22, 2024

Alton Fredric Morgan Jr. (BBA 73), of Brentwood, Tenn., May 12, 2024

Martha Webb Nicholson (BAEd 74), of Hattiesburg, June 6, 2024

Joann Bready Potts (BAEd 73), of Oxford, Jan. 16, 2024

Priscilla Jean Keck Rampy (75), of Roswell, Ga., March 18, 2024

David Lee Ray (BA 76), of Ridgeland, May 23, 2024

Erly Robinson (MCS 75), of Marks, Feb. 12, 2024

Tommy Lee Rowland (BBA 72), of Miramar Beach, Fla., May 17, 2024

Linda Hudson Segrest (BM 71), of Birmingham, Ala., May 14, 2024

Thomas Louis Segrest (JD 72), of Birmingham, Ala., May 31, 2024

Kathleen Saffold Shackelford (BA 79, MS 87), of Coila, May 22, 2024

Forrest Hugh Shoemaker (MCS 70, PhD 74), of Arvada, Colo., May 5, 2024

Sarah Dixon Shutt (MA 71), of Hamptonville, N.C., Dec. 17, 2023

Ferr Smith (JD 73), of Jackson, Nov. 5, 2023

Rachel Hudson Smith (MLS 78), of Austin, Texas, Nov. 29, 2023

Robert Clifton Strong (MD 76), of Ridgeland, June 9, 2024

John Emerson Terrell (MEd 70), of Wauchula, Fla., May 3, 2024

Grady Franklin Tollison Jr. (JD 71), of Oxford, May 31, 2024

William Francis Tracy (EdD 79), of Chattanooga, Tenn., May 30, 2024

Jack Dennis Wamble (MEd 78), of Milton, Fla., Oct. 22, 2023

Patricia Kelley Wells (BSN 74, MN 79), of Jackson, Jan. 24, 2024

Billy Don West (BSPh 70), of Biloxi, April 24, 2024

Robert Lee Williamson (BSHPE 76, MEd 78), of Texarkana, Texas, May 21, 2024

Darilynn Wade Wilson (BA 73, MD 84), of Pensacola, Fla., April 19, 2024

Wanda Lee Wright (AMEd 73), of Cape Girardeau, Mo., March 28, 2024

1980s

Abraham Abraham (MS 85), of Kerala, India, May 7, 2024

Chester Anderson (BSEE 89), of Blue Springs, May 27, 2024

Mary Jean Parkinson Blackston (MEd 80), of Oxford, April 1, 2024

Deidre Krecker Childers (BA 86), of Marion, Ill., April 30, 2024

Doyle Lee Coats (JD 82), of Gulfport, April 26, 2024

Maurice Joseph Duplantis III (BS 82), of Covington, La., March 23, 2024

Chris Nicolaos Fox (BBA 87), of Gunter, Texas, April 18, 2024

Jeffrey Glenn Harden (BBA 86), of Brandon, April 23, 2024

Thomasine Hill (BA 80), of Waverly, Tenn., March 29, 2024

Detra Swafford Holloway (BAEd 85), of Jackson, Tenn., June 5, 2024

Stanley Michael Hughes (BBA 89), of Denver, N.C., May 11, 2024

Peggy Ruth Jolly (MAud 82, MEd 03), of Tupelo, April 9, 2024

Lee Ann McKell Kantor (BSN 86), of Canton, April 7, 2024

Regan Adonis Mason (BAccy 83), of Biloxi, April 4, 2024

Samuel Eric Storm (BS 85), of Madison, April 21, 2024

Roy Anthony West (BSN 85), of Jackson, April 13, 2024

Paul Jeffrey Wright (BBA 80), of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., April 16, 2024

1990s

Adron Dale Blaylock Jr. (BBA 99), of Fulton, May 12, 2024

Martha-Carol Whitehead Carpenter (BAEd 91), of Collierville, Tenn., April 5, 2024

Scott Dunnam (90), of New Albany, June 10, 2024

Helen Adamchik Hancock (JD 90), of Ocean Springs, April 18, 2024

James Strong Henderson III (DMD 95), of Hattiesburg, May 5, 2024

Jennifer Smith McGee (BA 92, MS 94), of De Witt, Ark., April 15, 2024

Julie Howard Stark (BSHEc 92), of Memphis, Tenn., April 5, 2024

Mark Stevenson Taylor (MS 95), of Brandon, Feb. 25, 2024

Robert Mansfield Wayne (92), of Corinth, May 10, 2024

2000s

Charles Bradley Harris (09), of New Albany, March 27, 2024

Linda Pratt Johnson (BA 04), of Hernando, Aug. 17, 2023

Brian O’Neal Noble (BA 04), of Hoover, Ala., May 28, 2024

Joy Brewer Riley (BBA 03), of Senatobia, Dec. 5, 2023

Andrew Keith Ryals (BA 08, DPT 11), of Winona, June 10, 2024

2010s

Elliot Cole Christian (13), of Oxford, June 11, 2024

Tracy Allen Dye (BAccy 14), of Shannon, April 19, 2024

Michael Joiner Halford (BA 13), of Madison, May 19, 2024

Mary Grace Hunter (11), of Oxford, May 30, 2024

Robert Goy Miller (11), of Oxford, April 15, 2024

Sherrita Campbell Murray (15), of Oxford, March 20, 2024

Jacob William Nabors (17), of Germantown, Tenn., March 19, 2024

Christopher Kevin Newman II (BGS 15), of Shuqualak, April 22, 2024

Catherine Zita Walsh (12), of Oxford, Sept. 9, 2023

2020s

Marcus Leon Daniels Jr. (23), of Lucedale, June 11, 2024

Fraquan Gaines (BMDS 20), of Oxford, May 18, 2024

Kaylea Ann Kemper (BSCJ 24), of Oxford, June 1, 2024

STUDENT

Kylee Alissa Googe, of Hernando, April 9, 2024

FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS

Mark M. Anthony, of Water Valley, May 16, 2024

Joseph Lincoln Arceneaux, of Madison, March 31, 2024

Michael William Bruner, of Oxford, June 6, 2024

Jerry Ned Clanton, of Birmingham, Ala., March 24, 2024

Betty Gregory Dickson, of Parsons, Tenn., Jan. 5, 2024

Jerry Michael Estes, of Madison, April 10, 2024

Daniel Gilchrist IV, of Carthage, June 9, 2024

Patrick William Haley, of Oxford, April 25, 2024

Charles Virgil Imbler Sr., of Tupelo, May 26, 2024

Peggy Eskridge Inman, of Oxford, May 3, 2024

Howard Lee Jones Jr., of Natchez, May 28, 2024

Ron Knapp, of Oxford, June 9, 2024

John Augustus Manning III, of Baton Rouge, La., May 4, 2024

Elmer Julian Maples, of Oxford, June 17, 2024

Jimmy Lamar McCoy Jr., of Pontotoc, April 15, 2024

Gilbert Ronald Merritt, of Dawsonville, Ga., June 9, 2024

Margaret Anne Murphey, of Tupelo, June 1, 2024

James Clinton Nix Sr., of Meadville, May 26, 2024

Mary Profilet, of Grenada, May 6, 2024

Harry Gene Rayburn, of Tupelo, May 14, 2024

Robert Sandler Rhodes, of Norristown, Pa., Feb. 28, 2024

Robert Lee Richardson Jr., of Memphis, Tenn., June 8, 2024

Sontero Dewayne Rooks, of Oxford, May 8, 2024

Sam Lee Scheffsky, of Oxford, April 21, 2024

William Donald Seagrove, of Madison, April 5, 2024

Stephen Charles Sloan, of Orlando, Fla., April 14, 2024

Frances Watts Smith, of Oxford, April 4, 2024

James Gregory Thames, of Youngsville, La., March 30, 2024

Brenda Musgrove Tillman, of Roswell, Ga., March 24, 2024

Senith Couillard Tipton, of Jackson, April 13, 2024

Christine Smith White, of Coldwater, April 28, 2024

Millicent Whitson Workman, of Plano, Texas, Jan. 29, 2024

Due to space limitations, class notes are only published in the Alumni Review from active, dues-paying members of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. To submit a class note, send it to records@olemiss.edu or Alumni Records Dept., Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1374, Oxford, MS 38655. Class notes also may be submitted through the Association’s website at olemissalumni.com. The Association relies on numerous sources for class notes and is unable to verify all notes with individual alumni.

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