Southern Miss Business at Work by Southern Miss Business

SOUTHERN MISS BUSINESS AT WORK ALUMNI OF THE YEAR Alfredo Rivera President of Coca-Cola North America Joseph Saoud Retired President of Bridgestone Latin America and Executive Vice President Bridgestone Americas

STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES Lacey Wallace: Leaving a Legacy The Story of Dwight Owens: Making an Impact

CINTAS BUSINESS STUDENT AMBASSADORS KAMRON MITCHELL International Business '22 Cintas Business Student Ambassador

2020-21 ANNUAL REPORT

The College of Business and Economic Development is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools and is recognized as a premier process. Less than 5% of the world’s 13,000 business programs have earned AACSB accreditation in accounting and business. Dean Joseph A. Greene led the school to membership with AACSB in 1967 and to its initial accreditation in 1976. The college then achieved accreditation in accounting in 1982. AACSB accreditation is a “gold standard” of quality that assures a focus on continuous improvements over time. The process of reaffirming accreditation every five years includes peer review, team visits and reviews, national committee reviews, and the development of distinctive programs that have an impact.

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS – Hanna Schloemer, Kat VanSkiver PROJECT LEAD AND EDITOR – Bailey Harris ADDITIONAL WRITERS – Bret Becton, Peyton Stubbs, Makenzie Crampton PHOTOGRAPHERS – Kelly Dunn, Paul Lijewski

DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF SOUTHERN MISS BUSINESS, As we are all aware, the past year has been one of the most challenging years ever in higher education and society. The pandemic disrupted virtually every aspect of our personal and professional lives, requiring unparalleled efforts to maintain operations and some semblance of normalcy. While there are numerous negative consequences of the pandemic, it is good to look for the silver lining in difficult situations. Southern Miss Business students, faculty, and staff demonstrated a tremendous spirit of responsiveness, flexibility, and tenacity during the past year. Will Rogers once said, “The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces,” and it would have been very easy for everyone to ease into a parking space until things returned to normal. However, as you will see from the pages within, that was not the path taken. We adapted to a new environment, embraced innovative techniques and technology, and focused on learning and working in new ways. The results cannot be classified as anything other than a resounding success, and the competencies we developed will serve us well for years to come. From students excelling in applied projects, research, internships and competitions, to faculty publishing impactful research, helping organizations address business challenges, and developing innovative teaching practices, the 2020-21 academic year offered so much to remember and celebrate. You will find more information about our achievements and programs on the following pages, and I hope you enjoy reading about the exciting things happening at Southern Miss Business. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to me at bret.becton@usm.edu or 601.266.5544. Kind Regards,

J. Bret Becton, Ph.D. Dean

SHARING A COKE WITH ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR, ALFREDO RIVERA

GOLDEN IDEA PITCH COMPETITION

BETA GAMMA SIGMA GIVES BACK

EXEMPLARY STUDENTS BECOMING OUTSTANDING LEADERS

LACEY WALLACE, LEAVING A LEGACY

THE STORY OF DWIGHT OWENS, MAKING AN IMPACT

ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR THE MODERN GRADUATE STUDENT

FINDING BRAND LOVE ACROSS OCEANS

VISION We will be a recognized leader in providing business educational experiences that inspire and empower business scholars and students to fearlessly lead on the national and international stage.

MISSION Our purpose is to develop leaders who leverage an entrepreneurial mindset to create value and innovative business solutions. We ensure that all students have applied experiences that build the knowledge and develop the skills needed to succeed and lead in the global marketplace. We support economic development by advancing knowledge through influential scholarship and collaboration with our communities.

VALUES Authenticity We stay true to who we are and always act with integrity.

Unity We respect others’ perspectives and work together to strengthen our community.

Resiliency We persevere by being relevant, tenacious, and adaptable.

Passion We nurture passion and inspire boldness.

Resourcefulness We foster curiosity, creative problem-solving, and forward-thinking to meet challenges head-on.

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BY THE NUMBERS

2,151 109 30 27%

Southern Miss Business students (Fall ‘20)

students completed internships for academic credit during 2020-21

Cintas Business Student Ambassadors

#39

BEST ONLINE BACHELOR’S IN BUSINESS PROGRAMS

#34

Best Online Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Study.com, 2021

#15

Best Online Sports Management Program, Intelligent.com, 2021

of Southern Miss student-athletes are business

students

307 287 FALL ‘20

Undergraduate Programs

• Accounting • Entrepreneurship • General Business • Finance

SPRING ‘21

Undergraduate Certificate Programs

• Certificate in Retail Merchandising • Certificate in Business Essentials for Non-Business Students

• Hospitality and Tourism

• Certificate in Professional Selling

• Management • Marketing • Merchandising • Sport Management

5TH YEAR IN A ROW

Miss Business students totaling

• Healthcare Marketing

• International Business

in the U.S. in the Sales Education Foundation Annual Magazine for the

scholarships available for Southern

• Certificate in Casino and Resort Management and Marketing

Management

TOP UNIVERSITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL SALES EDUCATION Listed as one of the

Southern Miss Business Students on Dean’s List

121

U.S. News and World Report, 2021

• Certificate in Apparel Construction Design • (New) Certificate in Personal Finance • (New) Certificate in Business Management • (New) Certificate in Supply Chain Management

$281,509 4

in funds (Fall ‘20,

Spring ‘21, Summer ’21)

Graduate Programs

• MBA (Master of Business Administration) Emphasis in Sport Event Security Management Available • MPA (Master of Professional Accountancy) • Master of Science in Economic Development • Master of Science in Sport Management

Graduate Certificate Programs

• Graduate Certificate in Business Foundations • Graduate Certificate in Sport Security Management • Graduate Certificate in Economic Development

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA) RANKED IN THE TOP 150

#23

Best No-GMAT Online MBA Programs, College Consensus, 2020

Best Business Schools for MBA, U.S. News & World Report, 2022

#56

Best Online MBA Programs

RANKED AMONG THE BEST

#94

Fortune, 2021

Part-time MBA Programs, U.S. News & World Report, 2022

Best Online MBA Programs

Our MBA program is in the

U.S. News & World Report, 2021

TOP 3 MASTER’S

DEGREES awarded at Southern Miss.

USM offers the only MBA with a SPORT EVENT SECURITY MANAGEMENT EMPHASIS in the nation. The MBA program can be completed in as little as 1 CALENDAR YEAR when enrolled full-time.

IN 1 YEAR, ENROLLMENT IN THE MBA PROGRAM SAW A

76% INCREASE FROM 115 TO 202 STUDENTS.

2020-21 GRADUATES 58

students completed the MBA program.

These graduates completed the degree in an average of 2 YEARS.

40% 57% 21-47 52% 50% 12% 50% 6

Age Range

CURRENT MBA STUDENTS 226 43% 73%

had non-business undergraduate degrees.

students are pursuing an MBA at Southern Miss.

are enrolled part-time as working professionals.

Age Range

are online students.

males

were international students from 7 different countries.

females

years of professional work experience, on average

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21-59 66% 46% 6% 7 54% males

females

have non-business undergraduate degrees. are enrolled part-time as working professionals. are online students. were international students from 12 different countries. years of professional work experience, on average

MASTER OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANCY (MPA) MPA students utilize analytics and accounting software, such as IDEA, SAGE, EXCEL, TABLEAU, MICROSOFT ACCESS, and more!

30-HOUR

graduate program

MPA students are taking an elective CPA EXAM PREP COURSE to prepare students to take and pass sections of the CPA exam while concurrently completing their graduate courses.

FLEXIBLE HYBRID CLASS FORMAT

100%

STUDENTS

are currently enrolled in the program.

100% PLACEMENT

of MPA graduates seeking employment

of MPA students enrolled in Audit Analytics and IT Auditing completed the MICROSOFT OFFICE SPECIALIST EXCEL ASSOCIATE CERTIFICATION, MICROSOFT OFFICE SPECIALIST EXCEL EXPERT CERTIFICATION, and the AICPA DATA ANALYSIS FUNDAMENTALS CERTIFICATION, as well as earned both the TABLEAU AUTHOR and TABLEAU ANALYST DIGITAL BADGES.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Southern Miss was the

FIRST IN THE NATION to offer a master’s-level program in economic development.

Graduates of the program are in high demand, working at many of the most successful economic development organizations across the country. The program emphasizes data-driven economic development. Courses offer hands-on experiences for students as they work with and add value to real communities.

students are currently enrolled in the program.

12-HOUR

graduate certificate in ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT is also available.

Students use professional leading data platforms, such as Gazelle.AI, IMPLAN, JobsEQ, EMSI, and GeoThinQ. The curriculum focuses on how communities can attract and retain business investment to

CREATE JOBS, WEALTH, AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE.

100% PLACEMENT

of MSED graduates seeking employment

Close to 400 students have earned their MSED since the program’s inception in 1980. PA G E 0 8 | G R A D U AT E P R O G R A M S AT A G L A N C E

Our graduate students are extensively engaged in community research projects through the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. Projects involving Economic Development students this year included the following:

• Waveland Boardwalk and Marina Economic Impact Study • Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority Innovation Center Feasibility Study • Stone County Pellet Mill Economic Impact Study • 2016-20 Grand Gulf Nuclear State Economic Impact Analysis, prepared for Entergy • Inland Port Feasibility Study for Grenada, Mississippi • Jones College Growth Occupations and Regional Economic Overview • Economic and Fiscal Impact Study of the Lake Troy Recreation Area, located in Pearl River County, Mississippi • USM Updated Economic Impact Study • Economic and Fiscal Impact Study of the Mid-Delta Airport Hangar Improvements, located in Greenville, Mississippi • Secondary Wood Products Manufacturing Industrial Sites Identification • Developing and implementing strategies to improve the management, health, and utilization of forests and the forest industry through market development

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SPORT MANAGEMENT

#11

Best Online Master’s in Sports Management Program, Intelligent.com, 2021

AVA I L A B L E

12-HOUR

graduate certificate in SPORT SECURITY MANAGEMENT is also available.

100% O N L I N E

OVER 110 STUDENTS

are currently enrolled in this program at Southern Miss.

“This is the second time we’ve worked with the Sport Management department at Southern Miss, and it’s a blessing for us every year. We have used several ideas from the projects in the past and had success using them at our ballpark and during our games.” Zach Evans, Director of Stadium Operations

COLLABORATING WITH MISSISSIPPI BRAVES Students in the Sport Marketing and Public Relations graduate class assisted the minor league baseball organization in future sports marketing planning. Dr. Chris Croft, assistant professor of sport management, coordinated the effort with Mississippi Braves executives Zach Evans and Jeff Olson. Evans and Olson conducted a training session for the online course that included the history of the organization, a recap of 2020 summer challenges and financial impact, and the need for increased opportunities to attract fans to Trustmark Park stadium. The students worked in a group project setting to create both in-season and out-of-season events to generate Mississippi Braves awareness and publicity, attract fans to the stadium, and increase additional non-baseball financial revenue for the organization. The students were tasked with creating mini-marketing plans for all events on methods of reaching their target market, including applicable ideas for their current social media platforms.

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SOUTHERN MISS BUSINESS

2021 BOARDMAN DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR

ALFREDO R I V E R A ’8 4

President of Coca-Cola North America

A L U M N I S P O T L I G H T | PA G E 1 1

SHARING A COKE WITH ALUMNUS ALFREDO RIVERA  The First Hispanic President of Coca-Cola North America

HONDURAS TO MISSISSIPPI

After taking a few business classes from Dr. Charles Dennis

Growing up, Rivera lived in a small town in Honduras, surrounded by Chiquita banana farms, and attended an American school

pursuit of his MBA at Southern Miss.

Company. After completing middle school, Rivera and his brothers were given the opportunity to move to Forrest County Agricultural High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Rivera described the boarding school as welcoming, offering him and his brothers a home away from home.

of Southern Mississippi to pursue an undergraduate degree in history with an emphasis in Latin American studies. Rivera was involved on campus through the intramural soccer club and

a Ph.D. to pursue a future in academia; however, he ended

For the first 13 years of his career, Rivera held positions within two independent Coca-Cola bottlers. Rivera was first hired

Became regional manager of sales for Cervecería Hondureña

1999

1992

Hired as a sales director for the Coca-Cola bottler in El Salvador

1997

1990

1987

Transitioned into a sales role as district sales manager for Cervecería Hondureña

Promoted to marketing brand manager within Cervecería Hondureña

EARLY CAREER  as a financial analyst for a brewery, Cervecería Hondureña,

became a resident assistant (RA) at Bond Hall.

1985

as a graduate assistant, Rivera even considered obtaining

for Coca-Cola.

continue his education and ultimately enrolled at The University

1984

Dennis and fell in love with the study of business. While working

brewery that also served as an independent bottling company

Upon graduating high school, Rivera knew he wanted to

1984

Rivera was awarded a graduate assistantship with Dr.

up returning to Honduras for a job as a financial analyst in a

SOUTHERN MISS TO THE TOP

Graduated with MBA from The University of Southern Mississippi

business skills before entering the workforce. In three short years, he earned his bachelor's degree and immediately began

for the children whose parents worked for the United Fruit

Hired as a financial analyst for Cervecería Hondureña, a subsidiary of the Dole Fresh Fruit Company

and Dr. Bill Sirmon, Rivera realized that he needed to obtain

Appointed Southeast region manager in the Brazil Division, based in Sao Paulo, and had the opportunity to learn Portuguese

Joined The Coca-Cola Company in the Central America and Caribbean Division as the district manager for Guatemala and El Salvador

choice but ultimately became what differentiated him from other

“What I suggest to the young people is to be

candidates for future positions. One of his examples included

more open to getting uncomfortable. It’s not

the position that moved him and his young family to El Salvador

only about the risk, it’s about doing things

at the end of a civil war. They only had power in their home for

that are not necessarily comfortable.”

12 hours a day and faced food shortages at their grocery stores

a subsidiary of the Dole Fresh Fruit Company. Among other

for the first year there. Although this was an uncomfortable living

projects, he had the opportunity to learn how to prepare the

situation, that position was a pivotal milestone in his career.

capital budget of a recently acquired business, in English, as

Rivera currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife of 30

he was fluent in English and Spanish. He held this position for approximately two years before being promoted to a marketing position. After two years in marketing, he was moved into

years. Together the couple has lived in eight countries and 15 different homes. The couple has four children, who were all born in different countries throughout his career. Rivera applauded

a sales role. By the age of 29, Rivera had become the sales

his wife for supporting him throughout his career and gracefully

manager for the northern part of Honduras. Shortly after, he

adapting with every move.

was hired to be the sales director for the Coca-Cola bottler in El Salvador, where he helped transform the company and boost sales as the country was entering a transition to peace after a long civil war.

RETURN TO SOUTHERN MISS  Alfredo Rivera returned to campus to be recognized as the Southern Miss Business Boardman Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for 2021. While on the Hattiesburg campus, Alfredo met with business students to share stories about the journey of his career, give advice, and answer questions. Rivera shared that he accepted positions that were not necessarily an easy

ADVICE

Served as general manager of the Ecuador business, leading the turnaround of the business under challenging circumstances

Appointed president of the company’s Latin America Group

2020

Moved to serve as sparkling beverages general manager for the Mexico business unit, where he was responsible for leading franchise, customer, and commercial leadership functions

2016

The Riveras maintain close relationships with their children and value spending time together. That is why they take a family vacation together each year. In this photo, the family is seen using crampons to walk on the Perito Moreno Glacier in the Argentine Patagonia, part of a trip they took in 2015.

2013

2004

2006

Never stop learning.   Take risks and explore.  Stay humble.  Be adaptable.

Appointed president of the Latin Center business unit; under his leadership, Coca-Cola’s Latin Center qualified for the company’s most prestigious global award — The Woodruff Cup — for three consecutive years and won the award in 2015.

Alfredo Rivera is named president of Coca-Cola North America, the company’s largest operating unit, becoming the first Hispanic to hold this prestigious position. Through his role, Rivera is helping to lead the company’s transformation to emerge stronger as a total beverage company.

2020 BOARDMAN DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR Joseph Saoud, Retired Officer and Executive Vice President, Bridgestone Americas and President, Bridgestone Latin America

Joseph Saoud grew up in Lebanon during the civil war and was constantly separated from his parents, who were in Ghana working to give their family a better life. His father always

“I am proud of the years I spent at The University of Southern Mississippi, studying at such a reputable university and living in such a diverse and vibrant atmosphere. My years at USM were some of the best years of my life. It is where I

stressed the importance

learned so much about and from others

of a good education, and

and the goodness of human beings,” said

in 1988, he sent Saoud to

Saoud during his acceptance speech.

the United States to go to college. Saoud chose Southern Miss. Saoud went on to say that this was the first time in his life that he and his brother were able to live together.

analysis, materials management, global purchasing, plant management, and general management in the U.S., Mexico, and United Arab Emirates. In his last seven years with Cummins, Joseph was a Cummins Inc. officer and

Fond memories were made while their mother, who

president of the global Cummins Filtration business.

eventually became a member of the English Language

In 2016, Joseph joined Bridgestone as president of the

Institute at USM, visited them on campus. Saoud graduated from USM during the summer of 1992 summa cum laude with a degree in banking and finance. His parents were glowing during their Commencement ceremony when both Saoud and his brother graduated with honors. After graduating from USM, Saoud enrolled in the MBA program at Vanderbilt University and was later hired by Cummins Inc. upon completion of his graduate degree in 1995. Joseph held numerous roles while at

truck and bus tire business, as well as the leader of the global retread business. Joseph ultimately became an officer and executive vice president of Bridgestone Americas and president of Bridgestone Latin America, where he led Bridgestone’s $2.5 billion business in Latin America. Recently, Joseph retired from Bridgestone to devote more time to his family and real estate development in Nashville, Tennessee. The College of Business and Economic Development is pleased to recognize Saoud for his impressive career achievements.

Cummins, including roles in financial planning and

A L U M N I S P O T L I G H T | PA G E 1 5

JARVIS WILBERT ’15 & ‘20 2021 Boardman Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year Jarvis Wilbert is from Brookhaven, Mississippi, and works as a pharmaceutical sales representative for Eli Lilly in the diabetes division.

He joined their team in 2016, after earning his undergraduate business degree from Southern Miss. In his role, he meets with healthcare providers, office staff, and pharmacies to ensure patients receive the proper medication and get off to a good start on therapy. Wilbert also serves as the diversity and inclusion champion on his team, illuminating and celebrating everyone’s differences in an effort to create a sense of belonging throughout the area and company. While holding a full-time job, Wilbert also enrolled in the part-time MBA program at Southern Miss and graduated with his second degree in December 2020. In his free time, Wilbert gives back to the university by recruiting new students, speaking to classes in person and virtually, offering professional advice to current students, and serving as a mentor to business students who are making the transition into the professional world. He also gives back to the local Hattiesburg community, recently coordinating a 5K to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention.

CHRISTOPHER SPENCE ‘07 2020 Boardman Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year Christopher Spence originally entered the workforce as a network engineer, where he designed and constructed large client network and server systems for a major defense contractor at NASA. Within a couple of years, he was promoted to managerial roles and decided to further his education in business. After completing the MBA program at Southern Miss, he co-founded two successful firms in the healthcare industry and then later solely founded a private consultancy, all over the course of a 10-year period. He later obtained a second graduate degree, this time from Harvard University, concentrating in finance. Spence performed contact-executive and investment work with his firm until he was retained by Spartan Mosquito, where he currently serves as the chief executive officer.

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RODNEY RICHARDSON 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year The Entrepreneur of the Year was created to recognize and celebrate successful entrepreneurs and emphasize our focus on entrepreneurship as an academic endeavor. The celebrated entrepreneur is selected based on several criteria, including entrepreneurial spirit, strategic direction, impact, innovation, and integrity.

Founder of Hattiesburg-based agency Rare Design, Rodney

marketing role for several years, Rodney opened Rare Design in

Richardson, was recognized as the 2020 Entrepreneur of the

Hattiesburg in 1999 and has helped organizations develop their

Year during the Golden Idea Pitch Competition, as a part of

branding and tell their stories ever since. The Rare Design team

Global Entrepreneurship Week. A video message was shown

has worked with brands like the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans

from friends, clients, business partners, and former colleagues

Pelicans, Houston Texans, Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings,

who could not be there. They all vouched for his exemplary

NASCAR, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Milwaukee Brewers.

character and determination, saying that he was well-deserving of the award.

Rodney and his team have also worked with several local brands, including Southern Miss Athletics, as well as community

Richardson is one of the country’s leading storytellers for

colleges and high schools in the area. Not only is Richardson

professional sports franchises. He is known for his creativity,

a great example of entrepreneurial success, but he is also an

determination, ingenuity, and integrity throughout the industry

exceptional person who gives of himself to the local community

and the community. After working for Nike in a sports

and even the world through his support of ministries in Uganda.

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TOTAL OF 26,310 LIVING SOUTHERN MISS BUSINESS ALUMNI

77 NORTH AMERICA

229

53 EUROPE

WASHINGTON

15 AFRICA

SOUTH AMERICA

OREGON

ASIA

IDAHO

NEVADA

AUSTRALIA

UTAH

293

CALIFORNIA

115

ARIZONA

ALASKA

442

INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI Albania 1 Australia 5 Bangladesh 3 Belarus 1 Bolivia 2 Botswana 2 Brazil 16 Bulgaria 1

Canada 22 Chile 1 China 19 Colombia 12 Cyprus 2 Denmark 1 Dominican Republic 1 Ecuador 10

El Salvador 11 Finland 1 France 3 Germany 14 Ghana 3 Grenada 1 Guam 1 Guatemala 2

GUAM

Guinea 1 Honduras 8 Hong Kong 8 India 28 Indonesia 1 Israel 1 Italy 2 Jamaica 3

HAWAII Japan 31 Jordan 1 Kenya 1 Republic of Korea 4 Kuwait 2 Kyrgyzstan 1 Lebanon 1

SOUTHERN MISS BUSINESS ALUMNI ARE LIVING IN 75 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD 6

MAINE

MONTANA

NORTH DAKOTA

MINNESOTA

WISCONSIN

SOUTH DAKOTA

WYOMING

IOWA

122

NEBRASKA

ILLINOIS

157

KANSAS

OKLAHOMA

NEW MEXICO

PENNSYLVANIA

OHIO

INDIANA

111

MASSACHUSETTS

RHODE ISLAND NEW JERSEY

238

VIRGINIA

MARYLAND

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

165

NORTH CAROLINA

TENNESSEE

SOUTH CAROLINA

ARKANSAS 1,629

37 35

DELAWARE

WEST VIRGINIA

660

166

KENTUCKY

MISSOURI

15,759

1,511

NEW YORK

MICHIGAN

COLORADO

MISSISSIPPI

1,396

ALABAMA

914

GEORGIA

LOUISIANA

TEXAS

VIRGIN ISLANDS

1,161

FLORIDA

Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic 1 Madagascar 1 Malaysia 54 Mexico 5 Morocco 1 Nepal 7 Netherlands 2

New Zealand 2 Nicaragua 5 Nigeria 3 Panama 7 Peru 5 Poland 1 Romania 1 Russian Federation 7

Saudi Arabia 6 Singapore 10 Slovakia 3 Slovenia 1 Spain 3 Sweden 6 Syrian Arab Republic 2 Taiwan 22

Thailand 12 Trinidad and Tobago 1 Turkey 1 United Kingdom 9 United Arab Emirates 2 Venezuela 25 Vietnam 4 Virgin Islands (U.S.) 1

Western Sahara 1 Yugoslavia 1 Zimbabwe 2

GOLDEN IDEA PITCH COMPETITION The competition was sponsored by the College of Business and Economic Development, the School of Management, and the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurship Education.

The Golden Idea

all grade levels a safer place to learn during the pandemic. The

Pitch Competition

shields were also pitched as an option for professional office

provides a platform

settings. In addition to bragging rights, the first-place winner

for budding

received a $1,000 cash prize.

entrepreneurs to pitch their innovative products and services to a panel of judges who consist of notable USM alumni, business counselors, established entrepreneurs, and equity investors from the community.

The Farmer’s Buggy, pitched by Kellie Jackson, took second place, Fan Favorite, and a $500 cash prize. Kellie is a senior public health policy and administration major minoring in business and Spanish from Slidell, Louisiana. The app-based concept directly addressed

The College of Business and Economic Development hosted this

current disconnects between farmers and local markets,

year’s competition during Global Entrepreneurship Week and

specifically focusing on making local produce more accessible.

invited students from all majors to participate. Initially, students

Third place and a $250

submitted business proposals that identified the problem they

cash prize was awarded

were trying to solve, along with their proposed solution, target

to BBG Insurance,

market, competition, and potential revenue. After working with

pitched by junior finance

entrepreneurship mentors, 10 pitches were chosen to move on

major Blake Gwin. BBG

to the next round in which they recorded two-minute pitches that

Insurance focused on a

were posted to the Southern Miss Business YouTube channel for public voting. The top five teams then moved onto the finals and presented their perfected pitches in person to a live audience. The panel of judges then had an opportunity to ask questions before they ultimately conferred to determine the top three contestants.

growing opportunity in cybersecurity insurance and proposed the creation of an insurance sales agency to partner and bundle consulting services with cybersecurity consultants.

The first-place concept, VisiShield

“Our students demonstrated real

Education and Professional

determination throughout this year’s process.

Solutions, was developed and presented by Samuel Sumrall, a marketing student from Laurel, Mississippi. VisiShield’s proposition included the

They refused to be intimidated by the many challenges and setbacks that 2020 has thrown their way. In fact, in true entrepreneurial fashion, it’s clear that they have only added

manufacturing and distribution

fuel to the fire.”

of polycarbonate desk shields to

James Wilcox, Director of the Southern Miss Center for Economic and Entrepreneurship Education

make educational institutions of

PROFESSORS RAISE AWARENESS FOR PITCH COMPETITION Weeks prior to the competition, a Professor Pitch was held to raise awareness for the Golden Idea Pitch Competition, set an example, and put those hesitant to participate at ease. Participating professors received four cards: a company name, a target user, an industry, and a hot trend. The professors then had a few minutes to create an impromptu pitch for a fictional company and present it to an audience. The audience, made up of students, judged the pitches, provided feedback, and ultimately chose the winners.

VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FORUM The annual Economic Outlook Forum was hosted virtually this year and welcomed two

Sponsored by The First, A National Banking Association

experts to explore and discuss research related to the economic trends for 2021. Over 160 participants tuned in to the livestream to hear speakers Paul Benda, senior vice president for risk and cybersecurity policy for the American Bankers Association, and Peter Ricchiuti,

senior professor of practice at Tulane University. The virtual nature of the event allowed participants from all over the Southeast to attend, including Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama.

MEET THE FIRMS The School of Accountancy hosted Meet the Firms virtually for the first time through Microsoft Teams this year. Given the challenges with COVID-19 and social distancing, this decision was made to protect the health and safety of all involved. Extensive research and preparations were done to shift the large-scale event from face-to-face to a virtual delivery model, including demo days and virtual training sessions. The goal was to creatively and effectively design a virtual event that was as close to the in-person experience as possible. The annual flagship recruiting event is a critical component in the professional recruiting process for USM accounting students and graduates.

31 FIRMS MORE THAN 200 PARTICIPANTS NEARLY 300 RÉSUMÉS SUBMITTED

“This year’s Meet the Firms event at Southern Miss was very well thought out and organized in a way that most closely resembled a live networking event. After attending events at several other universities, I would have to say that USM was the most successful in making their virtual event ‘feel’ like a live meeting.” John McCallum, GranthamPoole PLLC Ernst & Young participating in the virtual Meet the Firms event

EXPERIENCE BUSINESS VIRTUALLY Southern Miss Business hosts an annual event to bridge the gap between our business community partners and our students. Students are given the opportunity to interact with professionals in a casual, non-intimidating environment as they teach them how to sharpen essential skills. We were unable to host this event in person this year as normal; as an alternative, the college created Experience Business Virtually, a YouTube video series that tackled

DINING ETIQUETTE BASICS FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS Featuring Restauranteur, Chef and Author Robert St. John

5 FINANCIAL TIPS FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS Featuring Chase Blankenship, Market President at The First, A National Banking Association

important professional development topics, such as

HOW TO STAY PROFESSIONAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA

dining etiquette, professional travel, and social media

Featuring Southern Miss Business Student and Marketing Intern, Meredith Moseley

etiquette. Find these videos and more by visiting the Southern Miss Business YouTube channel

PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL ESSENTIALS Featuring J.T. Tisdale, Director of Outreach and Special Programs for Southern Miss Business

(youtube.com/southernmissbusiness). V I RT U A L E V E N T S | PA G E 2 1

CINTAS BUSINESS STUDENT AMBASSADORS During the fall, the Cintas Business Student Ambassadors Program was launched for the purpose of promoting excellence, unity, and service within the College of Business and Economic Development. The ambassadors play a critical role in recruiting prospective students, engaging current students, fostering alumni relations, and maintaining sound relationships with our corporate partners. Our inaugural class of 23 students quickly grew to 30 as students found out about the opportunity and applied to be a part of it. Made up of both undergraduate and graduate students representing every school in the college, the ambassadors participated in orientation, attended professional development workshops, gave tours, wrote postcards to prospective students, served as hosts for social events, and assisted with virtual recruitment efforts.

Cintas Business Student Ambassadors

prospective student tours given Attended workshops on topics, such as Social Media Etiquette and Emotional Intelligence as part of their professional development programming

Catching up with Kamron Mitchell Kamron Mitchell is an international business student and Cintas Business Student Ambassador from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She is an active member of Kappa Delta Sorority at The University of Southern Mississippi, where she served as diversity and inclusion chair and assistant to public relations. She is passionate about her sorority's philanthropies and assists in raising funds for Prevent Child Abuse America, as well as recruiting mentors for Girl Scouts of America. She shared that what she enjoys most about her on-campus job at the USM Image Center is connecting with so many students across campus. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, binge-watching Netflix, and experiencing new and exciting Hattiesburg activities. After graduation, she dreams of traveling internationally to gain professional experience that will benefit her in the coming years.

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EXECUTIVES IN RESIDENCE The College of Business and Economic Development launched an Executive in Residence Program to provide a life-changing career development resource for Southern Miss Business students. Individuals selected for the program have significant executive experience in the professional world and share their knowledge and advice with students and faculty members. The program is an excellent way for students to be exposed to the realities of the business world while making connections and developing needed professional skills. These executives contribute to bridging the gap between theory and practice by providing the following resources: Serving as guest lecturers and fulfilling other

•

Mentoring business students and faculty

speaking engagements

Working with students and faculty on new business ventures

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Leading workshops in specific areas of expertise

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Providing industry and functional expertise

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Participating in the membership of advisory boards

Aiding in faculty research

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Judging student competitions and presentations

Assisting with student career advising

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Sponsoring applied student projects or activities

•

MEET OUR EXECUTIVES IN RESIDENCE

EDWARD GROGG Retired CEO with over 15 years of experience working in physician practices, such as Neuroscience & Spine Associates, Crystal Lakes Orthopedics, Barrington Orthopedic Specialists, as well as

MARK KILLINGSWORTH Retired vice president and general merchandise manager for Dillard’s department stores (worked for Dillard’s for 42 years)

PHIL BRYANT

MARK PEACH

64th Governor of

Retired partner with

Mississippi, former

KPMG with 38 years of

Lieutenant Governor,

experience in

State Auditor, and State

public accounting

Representative with extensive experience in government, economic development, and auditing

being a business owner, entrepreneur, and investor

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EAGLE SCHOLARS PROGRAM Through this scholarship and leadership development program, EAGLE Scholars receive $8,000 per year, the possibility of a studyabroad scholarship, and the opportunity to participate in a series of professional development programs. Alexis Austin, Savannah Rheams, Bailey Bynum, Quinn Gordon, and Rachel Green were the five outstanding students selected. The scholars attended multiple workshops covering topics such as emotional intelligence and branding themselves on social media. They were given the opportunity to interact one-on-one with guests of the college, such as Alfredo Rivera, and speak to the Business Advisory Council.

ALEXIS N. AUSTIN

Ridgeland, Miss. | Entrepreneurship Alexis has been a resident assistant on campus for three years and has continued to stay involved on campus through the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Eta Sigma, and the Residence Hall Association. She graduated in May 2021 and plans to stay at Southern Miss to pursue her MBA. “Being an EAGLE Scholar has improved my personal and professional skills, and I would not be the person I am today without the help of the program. I have enjoyed interacting with leaders, alumni, and other influential people. It has helped me broaden my perspective about business and the corporate world.”

SAVANNAH RHEAMS

Norwood, La. | Healthcare Marketing Savannah stayed heavily involved on campus during her academic career, serving as the president of the Business Student Advisory Council, vice president of communications for the USM Students for Life, vice president for public relations for the College Panhellenic Council, a member of Eagle Connection, and an active member of Chi Omega sorority. Savannah was also selected as Mississippi’s first marketing intern for Eli Lilly. After graduating in May 2021, Savannah moved to Dallas, Texas, and is working as an EMT while completing prerequisites in preparation to apply for medical school. “Being an EAGLE Scholar not only eased the financial burden of attending a university, but it has also equipped me with many essential skills needed in a career, such as teamwork, time management, efficiency, and communication.”

BAILEY BYNUM

Clinton, Miss. | Accounting and Finance Bailey serves as the president of the Student Center for the Public Trust, vice president of professional development for Beta Alpha Psi, and secretary for the Business Student Advisory Council. Bailey is currently an intern at Carr, Riggs & Ingram in Jackson, Miss., in their tax department. “This has been an experience like no other, with enriching professional and academic opportunities surrounding. I have learned so much about the professional world and my desired field while in the EAGLE Scholars Program.”

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QUINN GORDON

Brandon, Miss. | Marketing Quinn is a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, American Marketing Association and the Cintas Business Student Ambassadors. During the pandemic, Quinn noticed a need for assistance in senior care communities and trained to be a nursing assistant. While serving her local elderly community, she fell in love with healthcare. During the 2020 summer, she ran a campaign to provide much-needed PPE and equipment to rural hospitals and collected over 1,000 donations. She now works as the regional operations manager to an in-home health provider and plans to pursue her Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in hospital administration once she finishes her undergraduate “I absolutely love the sense of community that is built within the program. I feel like I can be myself and build off other like-minded students. The EAGLE Scholars Program has helped my academic and professional career by providing me an outlet to pursue my interest in leadership.”

RACHEL GREEN

Sumrall, Miss. | Accounting Rachel is a junior accounting major and Spanish minor graduating in May 2022. Rachel is very involved on campus, holding membership or officer positions in organizations such as Beta Gamma Sigma, Cintas Business Student Ambassadors, Student Center for the Public Trust, Beta Alpha Psi, Business Student Advisory Council and more. She completed an internship with local accounting firm Topp, McWhorter, Harvey and was an intern with Ernst & Young in New Orleans during summer 2021. After graduation, Rachel plans to enter the MPA program at USM and prepare for the CPA exam. “I am extremely grateful to have been chosen to be an EAGLE Scholar and honored to represent the college through this prestigious program. I have made lifelong relationships through this program.”

INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF THIS PROGRAM? We have an endowment fund where you can contribute a gift, of any amount, to support the EAGLE Scholars. If you are interested in leaving a lasting legacy, consider changing lives by establishing an EAGLE Scholars Program Scholarship. For more information about contributing, contact J.T. Tisdale at 601.266.6824.

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BETA GAMMA SIGMA GIVES BACK The past year brought more uncertainty than many have ever

“Overall, our collective success in keeping Beta

experienced. However, the members and officers of Beta

Gamma Sigma’s mission and goals alive during

Gamma Sigma and their faculty advisors, Ms. Wanda Fennell and Dr. Melinda McLelland, worked diligently to continue to meet the goals they had set for the year amid the pandemic. Although there were many unknown challenges on the horizon, they overcame them with the same grit and determination that

the pandemic is built upon the unwavering caliber of our Southern Miss community, from our BGS student members, officers, and advisors, to the college and the university as a whole. Each of us

characterizes Southern Miss.

took on the responsibility of remaining connected

As an international business honors society, the goal of Beta

separated. We overcame the odds – together.”

Gamma Sigma (BGS) is to encourage and honor academic achievement in the study of business, to cultivate and celebrate

and supporting each other while staying physically

Lacey Wallace, MBA and Student President of Beta Gamma Sigma

leadership and professional excellence, to advance the values of the society, and to serve its lifelong members. During the summer months leading up to the fall semester, members of the organization jumped into action, spending countless hours planning and learning new ways to engage their current and potential members in a digital format. It wasn’t long before they were prepared to quickly shift all applicable in-person meetings and events to a virtual setting to comply with social distancing standards. Explanatory videos were prerecorded and disseminated to potential inductees, the fall 2020 Beta Gamma Sigma Induction Ceremony was facilitated 100% virtually, and officer and organization meetings were held through Microsoft Teams. In the spring, the organization was even able to hold its induction ceremony in person with university-mandated social distancing measures.

For the SIXTH YEAR IN A ROW, the Southern Miss Beta Gamma Sigma chapter has earned Highest Honors status! Beta Gamma Sigma is an exclusive, international honor society for AACSB-accredited business programs and is made up of the top business students from around the world. Highest Honors is the greatest of three levels of distinction and is awarded to universities that demonstrate commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and student success.

members were inducted into the USM chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma during the 2020-21 academic year, including one faculty member, Dr. Jamye Foster, professor and director of the School of Marketing.

The faculty advisors of the USM chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma are Ms. Wanda Fennell, instructor in the School of Finance, and Dr. Melinda McLelland, associate professor of marketing.

members of Beta Gamma Sigma completed the NASBA Center for the Public Trust’s Ethical Leadership Certification Program during the 2020-21 academic year.

Hunter Reed, Yolanda Linares, Margaret Rennie, Emma Warren, Ashlyn Lawler, and Celeste Tejada Manrique completed the online series, which included six self-guided modules. The modules featured CEOs of Fortune 500 companies presenting on topics such as ethical decision-making, organization support, and conflict management, and prevention.

Each year, Beta Gamma Sigma executes a service project, known as Beta Gamma Sigma Gives Back, in an effort to better the local community through leadership and service. While brainstorming possible projects to pursue, they began discussing the challenges faced by local healthcare workers and unanimously agreed that it was more important than ever to support those on the front lines. “The letters were very touching, but the effort was extraordinary.” Heather Keys, RN, ICU Patient Care Manager

They knew they wanted to let healthcare workers know that Southern Miss Business recognizes and appreciates their hard work and sacrifice and agreed that personalized, handwritten thank you notes had the potential to bolster the spirits of our critical care personnel. Word spread, and a table was set up in the Scianna Hall Lock Commons to collect the letters from Southern Miss Business students, faculty, and staff. More than 140 thank you packets were put together and dropped off to Heather Keys, ICU patient care manager for Forrest General Hospital, to distribute to healthcare workers in the Intensive Care Unit during National Nurses Week.

Beta Gamma Sigma Student Officers delivering “Thank You” packets to Forrest General Hospital ICU Left to right: Laura Chatham, BGS Vice President of Alumni Relations; Heather Keys, Forrest General ICU Critical Care Manager; Kayla Jo Martin, BGS Vice President of Finance/Membership; Hunter Reed, BGS Vice President of Service Projects; and Lacey Wallace, BGS Student President

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT •

Business Student Advisory Council

•

Beta Gamma Sigma

•

Delta Sigma Pi

•

Student Center for the Public Trust

•

Women Eagles in Business

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Beta Alpha Psi

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Financial Management Association

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Investment Club

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Student Economic Development Association

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American Marketing Association

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Fashion Merchandising Organization

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Eta Sigma Delta

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Sport Management Club

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USM Entrepreneurship Club

•

Gulf Park Accounting Society

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HARD WORK PAYS OFF

MANAGEMENT FACULTY MEMBER ESTABLISHES TWO NEW SCHOLARSHIPS Russ Willis, assistant teaching professor of management, funded

two new scholarships for Southern Miss Business students, sharing

Keiyana Gaskin (Accounting, Vicksburg, Miss.) was

that his motivation to create these scholarships was to not only

awarded the AICPA Minority Scholarship for 2020-21.

attract great students to USM, but to also ensure that they have a

This scholarship is awarded to outstanding minority

great experience once they arrive. These scholarships are in addition

students across the country currently pursuing an

to the endowment Willis created for the British Studies Program.

undergraduate degree in accounting. Keiyana is a

Through these gifts, Willis continues to demonstrate his strong

student-athlete on the USM Women’s Track Team and

support for Southern Miss Business and his determination to move

a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Beta Alpha Psi, and

the university forward in meaningful ways! The Russ Willis College of Business and Economic Development Freshman Annual Scholarship will be awarded to an incoming freshman with an ACT score of 24 or higher and a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher, who has a declared major within the College of Business and Economic Development. Willis hopes that this

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP

Student-Athlete Leadership Academy.

scholarship makes Southern Miss more competitive in attracting

MISSISSIPPI SOCIETY OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS SCHOLARSHIP Kayla Jo Martin (MPA, Hattiesburg, Miss.) and Hunter Reed (Accounting, McComb, Miss.)

high-performing high school seniors.

were selected as the 2020 MSCPA Scholarship

The School of Management Pathway Experiences Annual

recipients. The Education Foundation of the

Scholarship will be awarded to a student in the School of

Mississippi Society of CPAs seeks to promote

Management seeking to enrich his or her educational experience

accounting education in Mississippi colleges and

through career preparation, professional internships or pathway

universities by helping students pursue a CPA

experiences. Willis is passionate about providing students

career. Kayla Jo was awarded the Gary Thornton

opportunities to be exposed to real-world industry experience. He

Graduate Scholarship while Hunter was selected

believes offering this type of scholarship will help offset education-

for the undergraduate scholarship, as well as the

related expenses, allowing students who might otherwise avoid

Hamp King Award, which is awarded to only one

opportunities like this be able to afford an internship experience.

student in the state of Mississippi.

“I strongly believe that completing an internship is an important professional step for students to take in today’s competitive business environment. I hope that this scholarship will help tear down some of the barriers preventing our students from applying for and completing these important internships. I want our students to have every professional experience possible to make them competitive for the job

CAMPUS BEING A DIFFERENCE AWARD Amber Hatten was named the "Campus Being a Difference" Award faculty recipient, while Yolanda Linares was the student "Campus Being a Difference" Award recipient, awarded by the NASBA Center for the Public Trust chapter at Southern Miss. Each year, the Student CPT honors one student and one faculty member on each chapter’s

market upon graduation.”

campus who positively impacts the school by

- Russ Willis

displaying strong, ethical leadership.

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HARD WORK PAYS OFF (CONT.)

PUBLIC COMPANY ACCOUNTING OVERSIGHT BOARD SCHOLARSHIP

Gregory Laney, MBA

Alexis Washington (Accounting, Jackson, Miss.) was

States Navy since 2000 and is currently stationed in Rota,

Greg is from Alexander, New York, and completed his MBA in May 2021. Greg has worked his way up in the United Spain, as a facilities and maintenance officer. Greg and his

awarded the $10,000 merit-based scholarship from the

wife have also owned a business on the Mississippi Gulf

Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) for

Coast since 2013.

2020-21. Only one student from more than 300 accredited U.S. colleges and universities nationwide is selected to receive the award. The recipient is chosen based on his or her demonstration of high ethical standards, as well as interest and aptitude in accounting and auditing. This marks the third year in a row that a Southern Miss Business student has been selected for the honor!

U.S. ARMY GENERAL GEORGE C. MARSHALL AWARD Student-veteran Cadet Ryan Dean (Management) was selected as a U.S. Army General George C. Marshall Award winner, recognizing him as the top USM Army ROTC

Reid Morris (Marketing) 2020-21 Southern Miss Hall of Fame Inductee Savannah Rheams (Healthcare Marketing) 2020-21 Southern Miss Who’s Who Inductee Yolanda Linares (Accounting) 2021 Newt D. Becker Scholarship Award Winner Hunter Reed (Accounting) Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants Hamp

cadet within the class of 2021. Dean is also a member of the

King Award Winner

Mississippi Army National Guard and was selected to serve

Nathaniel Moeller (Hospitality and Tourism Management)

as the USM Army ROTC Corps of Cadets Command Sergeant

2021 Outstanding Service-Learning Student Award from

Major. He maintains an overall 3.8 GPA while working as a

the USM Center for Community Engagement

VA work-study employee and caring for his family of four.

ADDITIONAL AWARDS

USM GRADUATE SCHOOL HALL OF FAME Two business students were selected to be inducted into the Graduate School Hall of Fame. Samantha Coblentz, MPA Samantha is a Hattiesburg native who just earned her MPA in May 2021. She served as the president of Beta Alpha Psi, as well as a graduate assistant for the School of Accountancy. She is described by her professors as hardworking and an excellent leader in the School of Accountancy. She also served as a campus ambassador for Becker CPA Review.

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EXEMPLARY STUDENTS BECOMING OUTSTANDING LEADERS

KPMG Tyler Pittman accepted an offer to be a risk advisory intern with KPMG Nashville for summer 2021. This is Tyler’s second internship with KPMG, the first being the Embark Scholar Virtual Internship completed last summer that exposed him to the areas of audit, tax, and advisory. After completing the virtual internship, Tyler discovered that advisory practice was one of his greatest interests and was offered the risk advisory internship, as a result. “I am very grateful for the experience I had as an Embark Scholar intern at KPMG Jackson this past summer. Being able to have a glimpse of audit, tax and advisory was very helpful and allowed me to learn and network with so many

Casey Cameron was selected as a federal audit intern for KPMG’s Washington, D.C., office for summer 2021. The internship was hybrid with both virtual and in-person activities. Casey is a double major in finance and accounting from Petal, Mississippi, and will be graduating in May 2022. Casey is a member of the Investment Club Financial Management Association, Business Student Advisory Council, and Beta Gamma Sigma. After graduation, Casey plans to sit for the CPA exam and begin a career in public accounting.

others. I am so excited for my future at KPMG!”

MICROSOFT EXCEL CERTIPORT CERTIFICATION Southern Miss Business students swept the top three spots

to complete the Excel 2019 certification at both the Associate

in both certifications for Microsoft Excel 2016 and Excel

and the Expert levels while enrolled in the Audit Analytics and

2019/365. All undergraduate business students are required

IT Auditing course, among other certifications. Both students

to take the certification as part of the course Introduction to

ranked first were invited to participate in the Microsoft Office

Business Analytics. Additionally, all MPA students are required

U.S. National Championship in Orlando, Florida, this summer.

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SOARING TO THE TOP Upon graduating in December 2020, Alese Jones was academically ranked

WILLIAM PATTERSON’S NATIONAL SALES BOOT CAMP Kendyl Derryberry (Healthcare

#1 for the undergraduate finance

Marketing, Hernando, Miss.) was

program, #1 in the College of Business

selected to participate in the five-

and Economic Development, and #1

week, expert-led Sales Education

among her graduating class of 820,

Program, which included four

university-wide.

components: National Sales Boot Camp Community, Sales

Alese is from Metairie, Louisiana, and

Career Assignments, Sales Career

earned her bachelor’s degree in finance

Fireside Chats, and Sales Career

with a minor in mathematics. During her time at Southern Miss, she completed internships with three organizations: Hancock Whitney Bank, Postlethwaite & Netterville, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Alese also remained active on campus. She was involved in the University Ensembles within the Music department, served as an ambassador for the Honors College Leadership Council, and held officer positions in both the Financial Management Association and the Investment Club. Alese was named a Presidential Scholar for the Honors College, the Dorothy Thomsen First Lady in Finance Scholar, an Orrin Swayze Scholar finalist, and received multiple awards from the College of Business and Economic Development and the Mississippi Young Bankers Association. As part of the Honors College, Alese completed her thesis, titled “Diversification Using International Exchange-Traded Funds,” with her advisor Dr. Srinidhi Kanuri. In March 2021, Alese relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, after accepting a position as a financial institution specialist for FDIC.

Coaching Sessions. Those in attendance heard from real-world professionals as they discussed their careers and gave advice. When reflecting on the experience, Kendyl said she felt prepared for the boot camp and for what’s to come in her future career due to the Healthcare Marketing program she has been a part of at Southern Miss. Kendyl graduated in May 2021 and is pursuing a career in medical device sales.

CERTIFICATION IN HOTEL INDUSTRY ANALYTICS (CHIA) Hospitality and tourism management students Shelby Gunsch, Willa Caitlin Sumrall, and Emily Toranto passed the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA). CHIA is the only hotel-related certification that recognizes the skill and knowledge of these professionals and is offered in partnership with Smith Travel Research, the global source for benchmarking and forecasting data. To achieve this certification, students must know how to analyze various types of hotel and market-level data in order to make data-driven decisions.

SOUTHERN MISS BUSINESS TAKES TOP 3 SPOTS IN MISSISSIPPI MICROSOFT EXCEL 2016

MICROSOFT EXCEL 2019/365

1st

Tamica Davis, General Business

1st

Jake Roseberry, MPA

2nd

River Howell, Accounting

2nd

Kenneth Wilson, MPA

3rd

Asa Haynes, General Business

3rd

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STUDENT RESEARCH STUDENT RESEARCH SHOWCASE The School of Marketing hosted its second annual Student Research Showcase, giving students a platform to present their research in person. The unique event invites both undergraduate and graduate student researchers to disseminate their knowledge as they present their research in five minutes, followed by a five-minute Q&A. Two of the 13 students who presented were selected to win cash prizes.

13 STUDENT RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS Luxury Retailing Versus Aspirational Shoppers Lauren Beverly | Dr. Jamye Foster The Impact of Athletic Success on College Admissions and Enrollment Robert Maxwell Greenough | Dr. Chris Croft

Margaret Rennie

How Consumer Behavior Is Affected by Market Place Shifts Margaret Rennie | Dr. Jamye Foster Collegiate Pandemic Protocol in Relation to Demographics David Chipper Baudry | Dr. Brandon Allen Examining Consumer Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Event Industry Strategies During Global Pandemic – A Mixed-Method Approach Sophie Unson | Dr. Wei Wang Diminishing Rates of Study Abroad and the Increased Barriers to Entry After COVID-19 Andrew Sheets | Dr. Gallayanee Yaoyuneyong The School of Coastal Business and Professional Development’s Brand Identity: A Qualitative Study

Matthew Yang

Delaney Corrick, Summer Irby, Cassidy Williams | Dr. Joanne Cao

2 nd

The Impact of Mental Health on State Murder Rates Matthew Yang | Dr. Mehdi Barati

The Attitude-Behavior Gap Toward Sustainable Consumption in K-Pop Nichada Satasuk | Dr. Gallayanee Yaoyuneyong, Dr. Kimberly Goodwin, and Dr. Joanne Cao

1st

People's Choice

Discussion Board 2.0: Utilizing TikTok to Increase Student Engagement During Challenging Times

Lacey Wallace | Dr. Joanne Cao and Dr. Gallayanee Yaoyuneyong The Influence of Athletic Success on the Student Experience at The University of Southern Mississippi Samuel Sumrall | Dr. John Miller Job Readiness: A Determination of the Southern Miss Student Body Bradley del Rio | Dr. Melinda McLelland

USM UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM Two Southern Miss Business students participated in USM's 2021 Undergraduate Research Symposium, held virtually with prerecorded presentations and live Q&A sessions. The Exacerbation of Gender Inequality: The Effects of Overwork on Work-Family Spillover Loribeth Fitzgerald Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jacob Breland Brand Perceptions of Gulf Park Reorganization: A Qualitative Study Estella Varn with co-presenters Shauana

Examining the Feasibility of Major League Soccer as an Open League

Brown, Charles Gray, and Haley Roberts

Johnathan Austin Busby | Dr. Chad Miller

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Joanne Cao

LACEY WALLACE Leaving a Legacy

Meet Lacey Wallace, a first-generation college student who is leaving an incomparable legacy at Southern Miss. Lacey notes that her parents, who own and operate a family business, firmly instilled in her and her sister the value of perseverance and a strong work ethic. With these important ideals in mind, Lacey developed a deep appreciation for education at a young age and has remained focused throughout her academic career. After completing high school, she was awarded a full scholarship to community college, where she earned her associate degree and graduated top of her class. From there, she decided to take a few years off from school to determine which career path she wished to pursue. During this time, she traveled to Europe, learned graphic design and photography, and taught high school chemistry and music theory.

became her thesis advisor, and Lacey instantly developed a passion for conducting and presenting marketing research. She also worked hands-on with digital marketing and social media through two internships in the School of Marketing. During this time, she realized that she enjoyed the intellectual challenge of researching and solving problems more than implementing solutions and working in industry, thus beginning her unwavering desire to study and research marketing. Her life experiences inspired her research interests. When describing her small, tight-knit community, she characterized it as saturated with Southern hospitality. Her neighbors cared for one other, often sharing meals and opening their homes without hesitation to many of their family and friends. During her time abroad, she discovered that sharing communities also exist in other areas of the world. This discovery inspired her undergraduate thesis topic, where she examined the role of cultural values in the sharing economy. She presented her research at several academic events, including the 2020

BECOMING A GOLDEN EAGLE Lacey later decided to continue her collegiate career and transferred to Southern Miss in 2017 to pursue marketing. She recounts that her first two semesters were difficult, as she commuted every weekday from her hometown of Jayess, Mississippi. Additionally, having been out of the classroom for several years, she felt she lacked the confidence and knowledge to participate actively in the class and on campus. However, that changed the day Dr. Joanne Cao, one of her marketing professors and future mentor, stopped her after class to say that she saw something unique in Lacey. Around the same time, Lacey was accepted into the Eagle Scholars Program. Looking back, Lacey states that these two events were pivotal for her and her academic career — Dr. Cao’s kind words gave her the confidence she needed to branch out, and the Eagle Scholar’s Program gave her the financial means to be more involved at Southern Miss. After this, Lacey remained

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Conference. Her research was also accepted to the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) before it was canceled for 2020. The University credited Lacey with being the first student in the College of Business and Economic Development to receive national recognition with NCUR.

STAYING A GOLDEN EAGLE In May 2020, Lacey graduated summa cum laude and immediately began graduate school after being accepted into the Southern Miss Master of Business Administration program. Lacey took on new roles at Southern Miss while in graduate school, remaining involved in Beta Gamma Sigma as their newly appointed student president, being selected as a Cintas Business Student Ambassador, and accepting a graduate assistantship in the School of Marketing. Nonetheless, research remained a top priority.

busy, becoming a part of countless extracurricular activities

Under the guidance of Dr. Cao, Lacey published and

and organizations around campus and within Southern Miss

presented her summer independent study, titled “A Side

Business, such as Beta Gamma Sigma, SGA Senate, USM’s Big

of Thrift or Luxury? Exploring Cultural Orientations and

Event, and more. She also decided to study abroad in both Italy

Value Perceptions in Airbnb,” at the 26th Annual Graduate

and London in the same summer and made numerous new

Education and Graduate Student Research Conference

friends along the way.

in Hospitality and Tourism, where she shared the virtual

Lacey was also a part of the Honors College and became especially interested in the student research aspect when she was selected for the Honors Keystone Program. Dr. Cao

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conference floor with 413 fellow graduate students across 21 countries. Additionally, her work, titled "The Sharing Economy: Why Culture Matters," earned her the title of Grand Champion for USM’s 2020 Three-Minute Thesis. In fact, she

is credited with being the first USM MBA student to compete regionally at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools during their 2021 virtual competition. As faculty research support lead, Lacey is also currently working with various marketing faculty members on several papers with topics centered around social influence and consumer behavior, focusing on consumer-brand interactions. In fact, in May 2021 she successfully published her first paper with marketing professors Dr. Jamye Foster and Dr. Melinda McLelland in the Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing. In April, Lacey presented her research in the second annual Student Research Showcase hosted by the School of Marketing and was awarded first place and People’s Choice. In May, she graduated from Southern Miss with her MBA.

LEAVING THE NEST Lacey seized opportunities while at Southern Miss that many may say were too difficult. Her hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm have opened numerous doors for her future. In fact, Lacey was accepted into four of the five Marketing Ph.D. programs she applied for. After careful deliberation, Lacey accepted the offer at the University of Alabama and entered their doctoral program in marketing in August 2021. True Golden Eagles embrace authenticity, act with integrity, and stay true to who they are. Lacey looks forward to her future and desires to “pay it forward” by helping other firstgeneration college students overcome their hesitancies and build their confidence. She also dreams of returning home to The University of Southern Mississippi as a professor and eventually retire as a Golden Eagle, leaving behind an incredible and unmatched legacy.

Lacey enjoys several hobbies that keep her busy during her limited free time. At the age of six, her grandmother began teaching her how to play piano, and she instantly fell in love with it. She would play for hours after school each day and went on to take professional lessons for seven years. Now, she continues to play on occasion for friends and family. Lacey can also often be seen with her adorable two-year-old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel named Charley. Lacey jumps at any opportunity to travel and has several creative outlets, including photography and graphic design, which she implements in her coffee-fueled blog. She possesses a passion for coffee and had the opportunity to learn how to make authentic Italian espresso drinks during her time abroad.

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THE ST O R Y O F DW I G HT OW E NS Making an Impact

Dwight Owens may come from a community that is small in size, but his spirit and resilience are larger than life. Growing up in a small community in rural Mississippi, Dwight’s childhood was filled with family, fishing, and a sense of kinship fostered through his local church. This sense of community helped him rise above the obstacles that he faced and shape him into the person he is today.

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Dwight is no stranger to adversity, but in true Golden Eagle

person, he could make an impact and potentially save lives. His

spirit, he has turned his hardships into triumphs. During

family, future wife Tamika, church members, and several others

his adolescence, he and his siblings were the target of much

provided him with unwavering love and support throughout his

teasing due to their hand-me-down clothing, but their love for

journey. His pastor even asked Dwight to speak in front of the

one another never let it dampen their spirit. At the age of 11,

church congregation at New Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church

Dwight and his siblings tragically lost their father, but prior

and share his story. This was the first of Dwight’s many public

to his passing, he had instilled in them the importance of

speaking engagements.

education and the determination to continually strive to be the best version of themselves. Dwight was steadfast in upholding these values into adulthood. In fact, Dwight was so motivated from a young age that he went on to make an impact at Collins High School as a star athlete and exemplary student.

Shortly after, he partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his first formal speech in Jackson, Mississippi. His story received positive attention from the media and led to his connection with Chinika Hughes, a USM alumnus and former writer for The Student Printz. Chinika later became his publicist

After graduating high school in 2000, Dwight started at

and organized his motivational speaking tour, “Before You

Southern Miss to earn his degree in business technology

Drink, Think Dwight.” After Dwight’s first tour, he had spoken

education. During his time on campus, he realized he had

to nearly 150 organizations and 40,000 people. Now, Dwight

a passion for knowledge and education, and he wanted to

continues to make an impact on the lives of individuals across

share that with others through teaching. He started student

the nation, having spoken to hundreds of thousands of people

teaching his senior year of college and went on to land a

around the U.S. and to countless groups, organizations,

position at Laurel High School as the discover technology

schools, businesses, and more. Over time, his passions

instructor. Dwight later accepted a position to teach special

have broadened to also include increasing awareness of the

education and math at Collins Middle School and secured his

importance of mental health and suicide prevention. This has

dream position as a high school football coach. Shortly

grown especially important to him during the pandemic.

after this milestone and right before the new position began, Dwight’s life changed forever.

When Dwight is not participating in a speaking engagement, he volunteers his time as a mentor to newly injured individuals

On the morning of August 5, 2005, while driving

with disabilities. He also serves as an ADA advocate and

to Hattiesburg to help his younger brother purchase a

partners with organizations that make a difference in the state

vehicle for college, Dwight was suddenly rear-ended by a drunk driver. The accident resulted in catastrophic damage to Dwight’s body, some of which included six broken ribs, punctured lungs, several fractures in his back, and a severed spinal cord. Against all odds, Dwight survived; however, difficult news was ahead. Only a week later, he was told he would be paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. During his stay at Forrest General Hospital and Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Dwight underwent several surgeries. Although there were many obstacles along his recovery journey and his emotions wavered from time to time, he stayed determined. He turned his setbacks into a monumental comeback story. While he was in the rehabilitation facility, he cultivated friendships, gained confidence in himself and his abilities, and developed a newfound sense of purpose

“It brings me great joy to see people

for his life. He yearned to help people in similar situations, both

overcome trauma or challenges and live life

disabled and non-disabled. He knew if he could reach just one

with an abundance of renewed hope.”

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“Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.”   of Mississippi. He previously worked with LIFE of Mississippi

2021 ceremony. This award is given to students who show

as an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) specialist for the

outstanding academic achievement, a strong work ethic, and

City of Hattiesburg and assisted companies in complying with

exceptional character.

ADA standards through his consulting practices. Because of Dwight’s continuous contributions to the community, many Mississippians can now live more active and productive lives. In 2010, he was chosen for the Spirit of Service Award given by the National Commission for Volunteer Service. This award was presented to him by Barbara Bush at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. In 2011, he published his inspirational memoir, titled Still Standing, and he continues to practice his love for empowering people through written content on his weekly blog. He has also received several awards and accolades throughout the years for his dedication to bringing awareness to alcohol and substance abuse and his servant leadership efforts. More recently, he received the Spirit of Business Award presented by the Southern Miss College of Business and Economic Development during the spring

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Inspired by Joe Paul, retired vice president of Student Affairs for USM, students are often encouraged to leave our campus, community, and world “better than we found it.” Dwight fully embodies that sentiment and then some. He has faced adversity head-on and used his story to create a positive, lasting impact and foster change in our community, state, and nation. He continues to soar as a Golden Eagle and graduated from his alma mater in the spring of 2021 with his Master of Business Administration, with his long-term goal to become an international motivational speaker and person of service. Dwight Owens is many things - a father, husband, author, advocate, mentor, consultant, award-winning motivational speaker, and now a Southern Miss Business alumnus – but above all, he is an inspiration to everyone.

FACULTY-LED PROJECTS IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY Completing projects for organizations is an important part of the college’s mission of supporting economic development by advancing knowledge through influential scholarship and collaboration with our communities.

HERNANDO SPORTS AND RECREATION FACILITIES STUDY Dr. Sungsoo Kim, Dr. Brandon Allen, and Dr. Chris Croft completed

After graduation, Devonte was promoted to second lieutenant in the U.S. Army National

a research study for the City of Hernando Department of Parks and

Guard and will be moving to Missouri to

Recreation in collaboration with Neel-Schaffer Inc. and the Trent

fulfill military training at Fort Leonard Wood.

Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and

After training, he plans to return to Southern

Entrepreneurship. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the current sports and recreation facilities in Hernando, Miss., through

Miss to pursue his master’s degree.

the collection of primary and secondary data, market analysis, and onsite evaluations. The final report identified key strengths and challenges, provided recommendations to enhance the facilities, and suggested improvements related to current and future activities, such as tournaments and sports events. This same group of faculty members completed a technical report, focusing on residents’ quality of life and the economic impact of the development of the Lamar County Sports Complex.

APPLIED PROJECT WITH WELL-KNOWN MANUFACTURING FIRM Dr. Chao Meng, assistant professor of marketing, and students in his supply chain management course worked with representatives from a large, local manufacturing firm, as well as faculty and students from the Computer Engineering program, on a project to develop a new inventory system, which was at the time being done manually. Their recommendations included the integration of a system that would support the use of scan guns that complemented their current system, MAPICS. Those working on the project were split into two teams, the Technology Team and Process Analysis Team, to tackle the logistics. Devonte Wells (Marketing, Brandon, Miss.), a student in Dr. Meng’s class and a part of the Technology Team, used the hands-on experience to create a presentation that was later accepted into the 2021 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Wells and his group members in the class also had their presentation accepted to the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers Annual Conference.

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COASTAL MISSISSIPPI Dr. Jacob Breland, associate professor of management, and Dr. Heather Annulis, professor of human capital development, recently completed a study for coastal Mississippi with the purpose of assessing coastal Mississippi residents’ perspectives of tourism on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as determining the public understanding of tourism as it impacts local communities. The report identified potential points of resistance to the growth and development of the visitor economy on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Breland and Annulis presented the results of the project to the Coastal Mississippi Board and submitted the final report documenting the findings.

MISSISSIPPI DEFENSE INITIATIVE The Mississippi Defense Initiative (MDI) is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) funded effort housed at USM, which works to make Mississippi’s defense sector more resilient, competitive, and diversified by improving job opportunities, the local tax base, wealth creation, and quality of life. MDI works closely with Southern Miss Business faculty and students on projects, such as evaluating the economic and fiscal impacts of joint military exercises, veteran workforce, foreign military sales, cybersecurity initiatives, and applied courses, such as Designing Solutions for Defense (DS4D). While working for MDI as a graduate research assistant, MBA student Bayley Peoples completed the research reports, "Mississippi Cybersecurity Labor Market and Business Analysis" and "Opportunities for Mississippi to Grow the Defense Maintenance Industry." MDI secured a third round of grant funding from the Office of Local Defense Community Coordination (OLDCC) and a second round of funding from the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to continue their mission to strengthen Mississippi’s defense and national security assets as an economic driver for the state.

SOME OF MDI’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE LAST YEAR INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: • Gaining approval from Governor Reeves for the formation of a Mississippi Office of Military Affairs under MDA • Publishing, disseminating, and posting the Military Spouse Licensure Report, which is now used as best practice from DoD. This report also helped the effort to secure military spousal licensure legislative reforms and ultimately led to the universal licensure legislation from the 2020 legislative session. • Completing economic impact reports for Arctic Anvil, Southern Strike ’20 • Securing funding for strategic planning efforts for Jackson County and the Mississippi State Port Authority at the Port of Gulfport PA G E 4 2 | FA C U LT Y- L E D P R O J E C T S

ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR THE MODERN GRADUATE STUDENT Students collaborate, lead discussion groups, and share ideas and contacts, emulating a format similar to an accelerator. Instead of merely learning about entrepreneurship, students become entrepreneurs themselves and grasp the concepts through practice. Over the course of the semester, students gain skills and knowledge while working to turn their ideas into hypothetical new businesses from the ground up. Additionally, the course is designed to provide ongoing learning and mentorship that spans far beyond the parameters of the semester. In fact, several students are using this course as an opportunity to develop realistic business models they plan to continue to pursue and launch after the course ends. Written by Makenzie Crampton, pictured. Crampton is an MBA student who utilized this graduate-level Entrepreneurship Seminar to build a business model canvas and solid foundation for her future creative marketing firm.

True entrepreneurship requires true passion, and that is what fuels Dr. Curtis Matherne’s new graduate-level course, Seminar in Entrepreneurship. Southern Miss Business chose passion as one of

“It is crucial that they understand that the entrepreneurship community is not a zerosum game, where there is intense competition with each other. They learn that success is often accelerated when they share resources and help each other succeed.”

five organizational values during its most recent strategic planning

For example, graduate student Meada Maury-Dockery discovered

efforts, and Matherne’s push for meaningful work in the classroom

that the local Hattiesburg community was in desperate need of a

is fostering this value among his students.

women’s shelter that would provide the essential tools necessary

The graduate-level elective is designed to explore innovation, new venture opportunity evaluation, and venture creation. At the beginning of the semester, students are tasked with seeking the intersection of customer need and their own entrepreneurial passion while brainstorming ideas around solvable problems. They

to help them gain employment and confidence in themselves to live healthy, independent lives. Meada became increasingly passionate about the idea as the semester progressed and proudly pitched her polished business model to Matherne and her peers. She plans to move forward with establishing the non-profit.

are encouraged to think beyond the typical scalable business idea

Matherne works one-on-one with students like Meada who choose

and more toward social ventures and lifestyle businesses. The

to realistically implement their business models by providing

overarching goal of the semester is for each student to develop a

personalized assessments and recommendations, as well as

business model that is adaptable and has the flexibility to change

assisting with networking and mentorship opportunities. He is

over time, rather than creating a strict business plan that traditional

also in the planning stage of creating a competition-like event

entrepreneurship often pushes. The Business Model Canvas

associated with the course to promote the legitimate launch of

(BMC) they learn includes three areas of focus: Market Desirability,

these business models, including funding support.

Technical Feasibility, and Business Viability.

The class has created a supportive community that promotes true

In class, students gain hands-on experience by developing and

innovation and forward-thinking practices, generating graduate

pitching their business ideas to their course instructor and peers

students who create lasting change in the communities they are

before receiving honest, yet valuable, feedback. Each class session

a part of. We are proud to offer entrepreneurship for the modern

builds on the previous, and students use their meeting times to

graduate student right here in Scianna Hall.

assist one another as they adjust their business model canvases. E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P F O R T H E M O D E R N G R A D U AT E S T U D E N T | PA G E 4 3

AI IN OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Applications, Challenges, and Opportunities Based on research by Ali K. Dogru and Burcu B. Keskin We have witnessed unparalleled progress in artificial

almost every aspect of businesses and especially supply

intelligence (AI) in the last two decades. AI now predicts

chain operations. These advanced technologies increase

cancer a year in advance with 87% accuracy, manages

productivity, improve quality, and shorten lead times.

inventory systems in grocery stores, directs autonomous

However, there are also challenges to overcome.

robots to deliver food on college campuses, commands drones to transport medicines and vital commodities to victims in natural disasters, and manages sensors to predict machine breakdowns in assembly lines.

In this study, Dr. Dogru and Dr. Keskin review recent healthcare, retail, and manufacturing applications of AI in operations management (OM), since these three areas collectively represent a majority of the AI innovations in

Artificial intelligence is a broad scientific discipline at the

business, as well as growing problem areas. They discuss

intersection of computer sciences, statistics, operations

primary challenges and opportunities for utilizing AI in

management, mathematics, humanities, social sciences, and

those industries, as well as trending research topics with

philosophy that aims to develop non-biological systems to

significant value potential in these areas.

perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. The AI technologies have accelerated advancements in robotics and automation, which have significant implications on

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Dr. Dogru and Dr. Keskin's interview with Ozcan Cikmaz, the CEO of Migrane.AI, which was selected as the most

impactful healthcare startup of 2019 by Berkeley HAAS

often in the near future. In this regard, Dr. Dogru and Dr.

Business School, points to three major challenges regarding

Keskin note that colleges play a key role in educating the

working with AI: data security, creating efficient user

workforce, who are equipped with the necessary technical

interfaces for AI applications, and customizing products and

skills to be able to work side by side with AI and robots,

services while preventing bias. Aside from these challenges,

which the industry urgently needs.

there are also concerns about accountability. Who should be kept accountable, for instance, if an autonomous vehicle is involved in a car accident or a patient is misdiagnosed by an AI receiving unnecessary chemotherapy treatment? AI applications currently operate in the grey legal area that has not been regulated well, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) adopted by the EU Parliament in 2016 is the only comprehensive legal framework that aims to keep AI firms accountable. In their research, Dr. Dogru and Dr. Keskin argue that AI and robotics increasingly displace labor, and if governments

Ali K. Dogru is an assistant professor of management at

fail to create new tasks for the replaced labor, short-term

Southern Miss Business.

productivity gains via automation will not be sustainable, and balanced economic growth will not be achieved. They state that new job titles, such as “trainers” who train the AI algorithms, “explainers” who explain AI decisions to nontechnical professionals, and “sustainers” who sustain AI performance, are likely to be heard in the job market more

To read the full research article, see: Dogru, A. K, Keskin, B. B. (2020). AI in Operations Management: Applications, Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Data, Information and Management (JDIM).

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FINDING BRAND LOVE ACROSS OCEANS Based on research by Joanne T. Cao and her team As old as Ancient Greek philosophers defining the types

Their brand love framework is a higher-order construct

of love in this world, the adage “to love and be loved” is

consisting of multiple dimensions encapsulating these

perhaps the greatest success in life. This seems easy, but

items, including a consumer’s passion-driven behaviors,

as we all know, love can be complicated. This is certainly

long-term relationship, emotional connection, separation

the case when it comes to consumer brands fighting for

distress, sense of self-identity and giving life meaning,

your love and attention. But what really is love? And how

positive attitudes, and confidence of feelings (for details

is it measured? Indeed, it depends on who you ask, and

see Sajtos et al., 2020). However, the question that remains

perhaps, where you are from.

is do we need over 70 items to measure brand love? Can

Origins of interpersonal love range from altruistic to romantic love. In marketing, consumers’ feelings of love

there be a shorter scale to measure brand love that can be applied to other contexts?

for brands emerge from research on delight and consumer-

Seeking confirmation across cultures, Dr. Joanne T. Cao

brand relationships. As such, research on brand love is

and her research team sought out to validate Batra and

often equated to interpersonal love. However, this notion

his team’s findings across six time zones, five countries,

is explored without considering how well or poorly the two

and four continents. They aimed to closely follow the

types of love matched each other. In a seminal paper by

data collection in the original study and surveyed college

Rajeev Batra and his team, they argue that brand love does

students in Australia, China, France, the United Kingdom,

not require altruistic concern or reciprocation. Instead, they

and the United States, asking them to select a consumer

defined brand love as consumers’ passion and affection

electronics brand they loved and, subsequently, asked them

toward and their connection with their loved brands, so they

to complete the entire survey with that particular brand in

created a scale used in surveys and experiments to measure

mind. Interestingly, the majority of the respondents chose

brand love with over 70 items (questions, statements, etc.).

Apple as their loved brand.

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Photo by Jackie Tran Photography

After analyzing the measurement assessment and modeling

brand love. Hence, managers in these countries should

brand love for each country, the findings suggest that brand

consider tailoring their marketing efforts differently.

love looks different around the world. The U.K. and U.S. had a similar model fitting of brand love with the number of scale items (39 and 48 items retained out of the 76 original items, respectively), whereas China and France were similar (45 and 43 items, respectively). Australia retained most of the original brand love scale with 65 items. So, consumers perceived brand love conceptually different than Batra and his team once thought. Although further research is needed, the short answer is no – we do not need over 70 items to measure brand love – a shorter scale can be measured across the pond in all four continents, unlike the original brand love scale.

In the end, brand love is multi-dimensional, and it can be complex and messy. For example, the “Eastern” model of brand love significantly differs from the “Western” model in that the word choices to describe feelings and perceptions toward the brand are not the same. Thus, brand love is likely to be anchored in cultural artifacts. However, the findings from the current study reveal that brand love seems to be consistently driven by passion, emotional attachment, and life meaning across different cultures. If these dimensions were true across all contexts, then perhaps love isn’t so complicated after all.

What does this leave for brand managers then? Dr. Cao and her team suggest cultivating and leveraging brand love as

Joanne T. Cao is an assistant professor of marketing at

a competitive advantage over other brands. To elicit brand

The University of Southern Mississippi.

love, brand managers should support brand experiences that enhance desire and positive emotions toward the brand and ensure that consumers resonate with the brand’s positioning and align with their self-identity. In addition, their findings reveal that brand love consists of different dimensions in different cultures. Australia and the U.S. viewed brand love

To read the full research article, see: Sajtos, L., Cao, J. T., Espinosa, J. A., Phau, I., Rossi, P., Sung, B., Voyer, B. (2020). Brand Love: Corroborating Evidence Across Four Continents. Journal of Business Research.

with similar dimensions the most, so brand managers in these countries could use similar marketing strategies to evoke brand love in consumers. However, the U.K., France, and China showed the least similarity of dimensions in FA C U LT Y R E S E A R C H | PA G E 4 7

MAKING SENSE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENT A Look at Gender and Entrepreneurial Personal Theory Based on research by Curtis F. Matherne III and his team Even as Millennials & Generation Z have been lauded as the

Building upon this ancient example, Dr. Matherne and his

most entrepreneurial-minded generations, intention in starting

colleagues conducted research to investigate if and how

businesses has not grown equitably across genders. The

internalized definitions of entrepreneurship varied among

discrepancy in these trends could potentially be traced to how

people, specifically men and women, and how these

individuals define what entrepreneurship means to them, or

different personal theories of entrepreneurship impacted

simply, their Entrepreneurial Personal Theory (EPT).

their interest in starting their own businesses.

The allure of entrepreneurial endeavors has been enhanced in

To test the research questions, 236 undergraduate business

popular media through shows like Shark Tank, but this doesn’t

students enrolled in their final semester capstone strategic

fully encapsulate the entire umbrella of entrepreneurship. To

management course, as well as a sample of 400 working adults,

better understand the discrepancies in entrepreneurial intent,

were surveyed. The respondents were asked to what degree each

the most prudent approach is to investigate how individual

of the three forms of business startup endeavors embodied how

definitions of entrepreneurship are derived.

they personally define entrepreneurship. Furthermore, they were

A most appropriate analogy for this research is the story of the blind men and the elephant. Each man feels a different part of the elephant, but only one part. When describing the animal

asked to what degree they are interested and intend to start their own businesses. The three forms of business startups and their respective definitions are listed below.

back to each other in an effort to make sense of what they

Small Business Management - A business that stems

were touching, they disagree wildly as they only were exposed

directly from the individual’s own capital usually employs

to a singular part of the animal. The lesson from this story is

people in the local community and generates profit for the

rooted in the need to have respect for different perspectives.

owner that is reliable, but not necessarily abundant

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on these results, the disproportionate number of female entrepreneurs may be due to differences in how males and females define entrepreneurship. The results indicate that women have significantly higher entrepreneurial intent than their male counterparts when their EPTs lead them to conceptualize entrepreneurship in the form of social enterprise, as opposed to scalable business or small business management. Most significantly, the team found when individuals adopt a personal theory comprising all three entrepreneurial forms, there were no differences between men and women. This “holistic” view of entrepreneurship comprising all three forms represents a more in-depth reasoning process, as the individual recognizes opportunities for entrepreneurship across multiple avenues. All in all, the research results suggest Scalable Business - A business using venture capital with a large market as their target, involving great vision to generate high profit and often entails an exit strategy to sell off the business Social Enterprise - Organizations driven to create overarching social value, but not aimed at building personal wealth, and to create organizations that maintain selfsustainability while supporting the less privileged

entrepreneurship education should purposefully follow a gender-neutral approach. By embracing an entrepreneurial personal theory approach, entrepreneurship educators could help student entrepreneurs develop the skills needed for success and recognize opportunities according to their EPT. Entrepreneurial programming and curriculum can play prominent roles in the advancement of future entrepreneurs across both genders.

So, what does this mean? Why does the way someone defines entrepreneurship matter? In many walks of life, people appreciate autonomy in defining their environment and choices. Just as helicopter parenting and the micromanaging boss can serve as demotivating forces for generally desired behaviors, the manner in which individuals self-define entrepreneurship can impact their desire to engage in said behaviors. When respondents acknowledged each type of entrepreneurship as representative of their personal theory, the degree to which they intended to engage in entrepreneurship was positively

Curtis F. Matherne is an associate professor of

impacted. Most importantly, responses indicated that women

entrepreneurship at The University of Southern Mississippi.

are more likely to experience higher levels of entrepreneurial intent when their EPT is centered on social entrepreneurship and lower levels of intent when their EPT is centered on

To read the full research article, see: Matherne III, C. F., Bendickson, J. S., Santos, S. C., and

commercial ventures.

Taylor, E. C. (2020). Making sense of entrepreneurial

These findings are important to scholars and practitioners,

theory. International Journal of Entrepreneurial

as the field of entrepreneurship has drawn scrutiny for being historically represented as a masculine endeavor. Based

intent: A look at gender and entrepreneurial personal Behavior & Research.

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FACULTY INTELLECTUAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND IMPACT CBED Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles | July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 Adkins, N., Henderson, C. (in press). ARPA expands tax credits

Che, T., Peng, Z., Lai, F., Luo, R. (in press). Online Prejudice and

for families. The Tax Adviser.

Barriers to Digital Innovation: Empirical Investigations of Chinese

Arndt, A., Karande, K., Harrison, K. M., Khoshgadam, L. (2021). Goal-

Consumers. Information Systems Journal.

relevant versus incidental similarity when choosing between multiple

Chen, D., Li, X., Lai, F. (in press). Shill Bidding in Lenders’ Eyes? A

service providers. Journal of Business Research, 126: 556-564.

Cross-Country Study on the Influence of Large Bids in Online P2P

Bendickson, J., Madden, L., Matherne, C. F. III. (2020). Graduate

Lending. Electronic Commerce Research.

students mentoring undergraduate students' business innovation

Chu, Z., Lai, F., Wang, L. (2021). Leveraging inter-firm relationships

pitches. International Journal of Management Education, 18(2).

in China: Western relational governance or guanxi? Domestic vs.

Bendickson, J., Matherne, C. F. III, Credo, K., Sheats, L. (in

foreign firms. Journal of International Marketing, 28(4), 58-74.

press). Assessing Entrepreneurial Types and Goals with Diverse

Croft, C., Miller, J. J., Stokowski, S. (2021). Implementing Kolb’s

Student Groups. Entrepreneurship, Education and Pedagogy.

Experiential Learning Theory into Men’s Collegiate Basketball Sports

Bouillon, M. L., Ehoff, Jr., C., Smith, K. A. (2021). Allocating University Administration Costs in a Responsibility-Centered Management (RCM) Model. IMA Education Case Journal (IECJ). Che T., Lai, F., Yang, R. (in press). The Impacts of Production Linkages on Cross-Regional Collaborative Innovations: The Role of Interregional Network Capital. Technological Forecasting & Social Change.

Marketing. Sport Management Education Journal, 15(2), 1-3. https:// journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/smej/smej-overview.xml Croft, C., Wilson, T. (in press). Promoting Intercollegiate Beach Volleyball: The Rise of the NCAA’s Fastest Growing Sport. Journal of Managerial Issues. https://www.pittstate.edu/business/ journals/journal-of-managerial-issues.html

SUMMER RESEARCH GRANT RECIPIENTS •

Dr. Reginald Wilson

•

Associate Professor of Accountancy

•

Dr. Srinidhi Kanuri

Assistant Professor of Marketing

•

Associate Professor of Finance

•

Dr. Shinhua Liu

•

Dr. Brian Collins

•

Dr. Chao Meng Assistant Professor of Marketing

•

Dr. Wei Wang

Full Professor of Management

Associate Professor of Hospitality

Dr. Ali Dogru

and Tourism Management

Assistant Professor of Management

•

Dr. Chris Croft Assistant Professor of Sport Management

Associate Professor of Finance

•

Dr. Joanne Cao

•

Dr. Banu Bas Assistant Professor of Marketing

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Dr. Marco Wolf Associate Professor of Marketing

Davis, M., Miller, J. J. (2021). Major League Baseball’s War on Time: An Analysis of Game Times’ Impact on Attendance Using the Theory of Leisure Constraints. Journal of Sport Behavior. Dowis, W. B., Anderson, M. H. M., Englebrecht, T. D. (2020). Real

DR. KIMBERLY GOODWIN APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS FOR THE AMERICAN REAL ESTATE SOCIETY

Estate Professional Treatment: Easier Said Than Done. Real

The American Real

Estate Taxation.

Estate Society (ARES)

Duan, C.-W., Hung, K., Liu, S. (2021). Forecasting volatility with

has appointed Dr.

spot index and index futures: Evidence from Taiwan. Journal of

Kimberly Goodwin,

Accounting and Finance, 21(2), 41-68.

professor and director of the School of Finance,

Feng, B., Jiang, Z., Lai, F., (2020). Robust approach for air cargo

to a five-year term as

freight forwarder selection under disruption. Annals of Operations

director of publications.

Research, 291, 339-360. Foster, J. K., McLelland, M. A., Wallace, L. (2021). Brand Avatars: Impact of Social Interaction on Consumer-Brand Relationships.

In this role, Goodwin oversees six scholarly journals published by the society, including the Journal

Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing (forthcoming).

of Real Estate Research, Journal of Housing Research,

Gordon, K., Czekanski, W. A., Hall, S. A., McAfee, K. E. (2020).

of Real Estate Literature, Journal of Real Estate

Understanding the interface between security and customer

Practice and Education, and the Journal of Sustainable

service at NCAA Division I FCS football venues. Journal of

Real Estate. ARES is the largest association of real

Contemporary Athletics, 14(1), 37-55.

estate academics, industry researchers, and thought

Harrison, K. M., Huang, L. (2020). Not all corporate social responsibility (CSR) is created equal: A study of consumer

Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management, Journal

leaders with more than 1,400 faculty, industry, and student members.

perceptions of CSR on firms post fraud. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 1-18. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/

“I am excited for the opportunity to

10.1080/10696679.2020.1828928

influence thought leadership in such

Hu, B., Liu, L., Meng, C. (2020). Information Sharing in an Online Game Supply Chain. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.

a meaningful way. As publications director, I want to ensure that ARES continues to publish high-quality

Hu, B., Meng, C. (2020). The Effect of Risk Tolerance in Mobile

research and that our authors attain

Game Supply Chain Pricing and Effort Decisions. Journal of the

the greatest reach and impact possible

Operational Research Society, 1-16.

for their work.”

Idemen, E., Elmadag Bas, A. B., Okan, M. (2021). A Qualitative Approach to Designer as a Product Cue: Proposed Conceptual Model of Consumers Perceptions and Attitude. Review of Managerial Science. I N T E L L E C T U A L C O N T R I B U T I O N S A N D I M PA C T | PA G E 5 1

James, K., Parker, J., Kemp, A., Hong, J. H., Cao, J. T. (in press).

Miller, J. J., Bronson, R., Barr, M., Kilcrease, C. (2021). University

Satisfaction in Clinics and Hospitals: Does Context Matter?

of Maryland offensive lineman dies from heatstroke after team

Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice.

workout. The Physical Educator, 78, 109-116.

Keel, A., Wolf, M. (2020). Towards a Classification of Marine

Okan, M., Elmadag Bas, A. B., Idemen, E. (2021). Frontline

Wildlife Crime: Marketing Strategies to Curtail Illegal Fishing,

Employee Age and Customer Mistreatment: A Meta-Analysis.

Malicious Acts, and Waterway Pollution. Psychology & Marketing.

Journal of Services Marketing, 35(1), 98-115. https://doi.

Kim, S. (in press). Market feasibility study: The Hotel Case of the city of Poplarville, MS. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Cases. Kim, S. (2021). Assessing economic and fiscal impacts of sports complex in a small U.S. county. Tourism Economics, 27(3), 455-465. Li, X., Lai, F., Yuan, Y., Yao. D., Yang, B. (2020). Understanding

org/10.1108/JSM-06-2019-0246. Parker, P. D., Swanson, N. J. (in press). Black and Green Vehicle Dealership, LLP - Part II. Southeast Case Research Journal. Parker, P. D., Swanson, N. J. (in press). Black and Green Vehicle Dealership, LLP Part III. Southeast Case Research Journal.

Adoption and Continuance of Online Direct Sales Channel.

Qu, J., Hu, B., Meng, C. (2021). Joint Innovation Investment and

Journal of Computer Information Systems, 60(5), 409-417.

Pricing Decisions in Retail Supply Chains with Customer Value.

Liu, S., Duan, C., Hung, K. (2021). Forecasting Volatility in Taiwan

Sustainability, 13(3).

with Encompassing Regression Models. International Journal of

Siefried, C., Martinez, M., Miller, J. J., Croft, C. (in press). Fighting

Economics, Finance and Management Sciences, 9(2), 62-76.

for Legitimacy: The Impact of Football and Stadia at The University

Manning, R.D., Croft, C., Hall, S., Allen, B., Casper, G. (in press). Birds of a Feather Don’t Flock Together: Institutional Athletics

of Southern Mississippi. Journal of Mississippi History. http:// www.mississippihistory.org/journal-mississippi-history

Rebranding at The University of Southern Mississippi. Journal of

Smith, W. R., Fay, E. M. (2020). Permanent establishments and

Managerial Issues. https://www.pittstate.edu/business/journals/

pandemics. Strategic Finance.

journal-of-managerial-issues.html

Van Mullem, P., Croft, C. (2020). Coach Development: Practical

Matherne, C. F. I., Bendickson, J. S., Santos, S. C., Taylor, E. C.

Recommendations for Collegiate Sport. International Sport

(2020). Making sense of entrepreneurial intent: A look at gender

Coaching Journal, 7(3), 370-379. https://journals.humankinetics.

and entrepreneurial personal theory. International Journal of

com/view/journals/iscj/7/3/article-p370.xml

Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research.

BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL RESEARCH AWARD RECIPIENTS •

Dr. Paula Parker

•

Associate Professor of Accountancy

•

Dr. Sungsoo Kim

Assistant Professor of Marketing

•

Associate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management

• •

Dr. Chao Meng Assistant Professor of Marketing

•

Dr. Fujun Lai Professor of Management

Dr. Katie Howie

Dr. Marco Wolf Associate Professor of Marketing

•

Dr. Curtis Matherne Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship

PA G E 5 20 | I N T E L L E C T U A L C O N T R I B U T I O N S A N D I M PA C T

Dr. Chris Croft Assistant Professor of Sport Management

Wiita, N. E., Meyer, R. D., Collins, B. J. (2020). Not aggressive

Yuan, Y., Chu, Z., Lai, F., Wu, H. (2020). The impact of transaction

or just faking it? Examining faking and faking detection on

attributes on logistics outsourcing success: A moderated mediation

the Conditional Reasoning Test of Aggression. Organizational

model. International Journal of Production Economics, 219(1), 54-65.

Research Methods, 23(1), 96-123.

Zhang, M., Xiong, G., Bao, S., Meng, C. (2021). A Time-Division

Willis, R. H., Melear, K. B. (2020). The Fair Labor Standards

Distribution Strategy for Two-Echelon Vehicle Routing Problem with

Act and Higher Education 2020: An Overview of Recent

Demand Blowout. Journal of Industrial & Management Optimization.

Developments. West's Education Law Reporter, 378(2), 590-597. Wilson, R., Jackson, S. R., Hatten, A. B. (2021). The Effects of Intrinsic Cognitive Load on Student Learning in Managerial Accounting. Journal of Business, Industry and Economics, 25(Spring), 172-179. Wolverton, C. C., Credo, K., Matherne, C. F. I. (2021). Development of an organizational coolness concept from an examination of millennial perceptions of cool and uncool employer organizations. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 34(3), 672-687. Woodroof, P. J., Howie, K. M., Peasley, M. C. (2020). Nonprofit quality: What is it and why should nonprofits care? International

ACUE CREDENTIALED EDUCATORS

Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing.

•

Woodroof, P. J., Howie, K. M., VanMeter, R., Syrdal, H. A. (2020). What’s done in the dark will be brought to the light: Effects

Assistant Professor of Marketing

• •

Wolf, M., Ritz, W., McQuitty, S. (2020). Prosumers Who Home Brew: A Study of Motivations and Outcomes. Journal of

Dr. John Miller Professor of Sport Management

of influencer transparency on product efficacy and purchase intentions. Journal of Product & Brand Management.

Dr. Banu Bas

Dr. Wei Wang Assistant Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management

Marketing Theory and Practice, 28(4), 541-552.

Southern Miss is classified as

“R1: DOCTORAL UNIVERSITIES – VERY HIGH RESEARCH ACTIVITY”

status in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. ONLY 131 INSTITUTIONS NATIONWIDE are in this classification.

I N T E L L E C T U A L C O N T R I B U T I O N S A N D I M PA C T | PA G E 5 31

BUSINESS FACULTY AND STAFF AWARDS DR. LOUIS K. BRANDT PUBLICATION AWARD

experience, including managing shipping and global distribution for

Dr. Marco Wolf, Associate Professor of Marketing

Army officer stationed in the Pacific Rim.

Dr. Wolf, who joined the college in 2008, has presented his work at both national

American companies based in China and Vietnam, and was also an

Russ Willis, Assistant Teaching Professor of Management

and international conferences. His

Mr. Willis is in his 30th year at The University

research interests include do-it-yourself

of Southern Mississippi. He teaches a range

(DIY) consumption, co-production, and

of management courses, with particular

prosumption. Dr. Wolf has published

emphasis on human resources management

research articles in refereed journals,

courses, and has been engaged in online

such as the Academy of Marketing Science Review, Psychology &

teaching since 2013. Additionally, he holds

Marketing, Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, Journal of

the Association of College and University

Consumer Behavior, Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing,

Educators (ACUE) Distinguished Teaching Scholar designation.

Journal of African Business, International Journal of Marketing

Prior to his academic career, Mr. Willis worked as an administrator

Studies, and Educational Leadership Journal.

at The University of Southern Mississippi, primarily as the director of Human Resources. He has presented at various conferences

JOSEPH A. GREENE EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD

and workshops on a range of human resource management

Mike Morgan, Professor of Practice in the School of Finance

plans, and employee engagement. He is a member of the Academy

Morgan is a CPA with nearly 20 years of executive experience at various technology firms. Before joining the college seven years ago, he was the chief financial officer and later became the president of

topics, including recruitment and selection, immigration law, anti-discrimination law, affirmative action, employee assistance of Management, the Southern Management Association, the Educational Law Association, and the Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, he holds the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Certified Professional designation.

Bomgar Corporation. He actively advises

OUTSTANDING STAFF MEMBER AWARD

technology startups on financial-related

James Wilcox, Director of the Center for Economic and

issues and participates in an angel investing network based in the Southeast. Additionally, he serves as a mentor in a startup program sponsored by Innovate Mississippi.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICE AWARDS Dr. Chad Miller, Professor of Economic Development

Entrepreneurship Education James Wilcox is a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and has served as the director of The University of Southern Mississippi's Center for Economic and Entrepreneurship Education since 2011. Through his efforts to equip and support Mississippi educators in the subject areas of entrepreneurship,

Dr. Miller serves as the director of the

economics, and financial literacy, he impacts more than 30,000

Master of Science in Economic Development

K-12 students each year. Additionally, Wilcox co-teaches Designing

program and teaches various economic

Solutions for Defense (DS4D) at USM and is recognized nationally

development courses. He is also the interim

for his leadership of the Southern Entrepreneurship Program

director of the Trent Lott National Center

(SEP)–a grassroots statewide youth program that engages an

and coordinates the International Economic

additional 700+ high school students per year in lean startup

Development (IEDC) accredited True South

methodologies and real-world business development experiences.

Basic Economic Development course. He has extensive work

PA G E 5 4 | H O N O R S A N D A W A R D S

RECOGNIZING EXTRAORDINARY EXCELLENCE BUSINESS ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY AWARDS

BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP AWARD

BKD AWARD

Matthew Yang

Katie Niemeyer

2020 ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

SPIRIT OF BUSINESS AWARD (UNDERGRADUATE)

STUDENT CENTER FOR THE PUBLIC TRUST OUTSTANDING MEMBER AWARD

Verkilya Hogan

Kayla Jo Martin

Rodney Richardson Founder, Rare Design

2020 BOARDMAN DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR Joseph Saoud ('92) Retired Officer and Executive Vice President Bridgestone Americas & President Bridgestone Latin America

2020 BOARDMAN DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR Christopher Spence ('07) Chief Executive Officer, Spartan Mosquito

Hunter Graham

Lainey Aenchbacher

Samuel Martin Sumrall

FEDERATION OF SCHOOLS OF ACCOUNTANCY AWARD

SPIRIT OF BUSINESS AWARD (GRADUATE)

Kayla Jo Martin

Nichada Satasuk Jarvis Wilbert Dwight Owens

CITIZEN SCHOLAR AWARD Savannah Rheams

OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN ACCOUNTING (HATTIESBURG) Hunter Reed Hanna Hinohara Aso

DELTA SIGMA PI SCHOLARSHIP KEY AWARD

OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN ACCOUNTING (GULF PARK)

Thanhmai Huynh

Marie Hankins

Ethan Bryce Surrett

Tabitha Bridges

SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY AWARDS

BETA ALPHA PSI OUTSTANDING MEMBER AWARD

Jarvis Wilbert ('15 & '20)

POSEY-MUNN BOOK AWARD

Sales Representative, Eli Lilly

Haley Milstead

SCHOOL OF FINANCE AWARDS

2021 BOARDMAN DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR Alfredo Rivera ('84) President, Coca-Cola North America

2021 BOARDMAN DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR

COLLEGE AWARDS OUTSTANDING GULF PARK BUSINESS STUDENT AWARD

Ashlyn R. Lawler Millen Ford Shelley Noworyta

Samantha Coblentz

FINANCE FACULTY AWARD Chance Walker

JARVIS MAXEY AWARD

Rachel Farmer

Loribeth Fitzgerald

River Howell

Jessica Hernandez

OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (UNDERGRADUATE)

CHARLES JORDAN AWARD

CFA SOCIETY OF MISSISSIPPI AWARD

Michael Ross Broome

Charles Nash

MISSISSIPPI SOCIETY OF CPAs AWARD

OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN FINANCE

Thanhmai Huynh

Alese Jones

Alese Jones Thanhmai Huynh Ethan Bryce Surrett

OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (GRADUATE) Sarah Always Lacey Wallace Ian Vowell

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTING CONSTITUENT SCHOLARSHIP Hunter Graham

HADDOX REID EUBANK BETTS AWARD Destiny Raae Chafin Joseph Neill Kirkland

Renan Sabillon Cardena

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AWARDS MOST ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AWARD Nico Jackson

H O N O R S A N D A W A R D S | PA G E 5 5

Alexis Austin

Matthew Yang

OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Joseph Ingram Brett Benigno

SCHOOL OF MARKETING AWARDS

OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN HEALTHCARE MARKETING

OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN SALES

SPIRIT OF HOSPITALITY AWARD

Meredith McCullough

OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Anna Christina Simmons

Sophie Unson

Ben Bowen

DOLLY LOYD SPIRIT OF MARKETING AWARD Landon McFarland

OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT

Dakota Sabino

OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN MANAGEMENT Tiffany Chambliss Thanhmai Huynh

OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Cameron Hardy Maggie Monroe Martin Stegenga

ACADEMIC AWARD IN MANAGEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Ethan Bryce Surrett

STANLEY A. BROOKING MEMORIAL AWARD Jamie Powell

PA G E 5 6 | H O N O R S A N D A W A R D S

OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN MARKETING Hailey White

Willa (Caitlin) Sumrall

Shelby Gunsch

Samuel Martin Sumrall

Gretchen McDermid

Estella Marisa Varn

LEADERSHIP IN SPORT MANAGEMENT AWARD

DAVID E. FORD MARKETING LEADERSHIP AWARD

Ryan Kavanaugh

William Patrick McGillis

Jack Kulpa

HEALTHCARE MARKETING INNOVATION AWARD

OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN SPORT MANAGEMENT

Savannah Rheams

HEALTHCARE MARKETING LEADERSHIP AWARD Keione Mellon

Emilee Hoang Lauren Gross

MOST PROMISING PROFESSIONAL IN MERCHANDISING Anderika Levy

Savannah Rheams

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION AWARD Keegan Zane Strickland

GRADUATE AWARDS OUTSTANDING MASTER OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANCY AWARD Meredith Goff Keiyana Gaskin Ian Vowell

OUTSTANDING MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SPORT MANAGEMENT AWARD Nichada Satasuk Teddy Feracho

GRADUATE SPORT MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP AWARD

Lauren Gross

OUTSTANDING MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AWARD Haley Kerstetter Lacey Wallace

GULF PARK AWARDS DAY CEREMONY STUDENT CHOICE AWARD Jacob Breland Associate Vice Provost (Gulf Park) and Associate Professor of Management

2021 OUTSTANDING STUDENT ORGANIZATION Gulf Park Accounting Society

Catherine Repsher Tyler Jacobs

OUTSTANDING MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARD Sarah Always Chuck Whipple

H O N O R S A N D A W A R D S | PA G E 5 7

CENTER FOR ECONOMIC AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION James Wilcox, the director of the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurship Education, was sought after as a guest presenter for virtual conferences and webinars hosted by various organizations, including Youth Entrepreneurs, Economics Arkansas, Certiport, and SCORE. Topics ranged from teaching entrepreneurship in a special needs classroom to financial literacy for small business owners.

SOUTHERN ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM (SEP)

During the spring semester, Alondra turned $10 into $542, reselling hair scrunchies and steadily scaling up her operations by assembling a portfolio of fashion and beauty products. MASTER TEACHER OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP (MTENT) PROGRAM Forty middle and high school teachers from across the state participated in the MTEnt training course, designed to give teachers the tools to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset within their students. The MTEnt program is delivered by the USM Center for Economic and Entrepreneurship Education in collaboration with the Mississippi Council on Economic Education and the Mississippi Department of Education.

ADVANCED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP (AEDL) PROGRAM Working jointly with USM's Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, the College of

The USM Center for Economic

Business and Economic Development helped transition USM into

and Entrepreneurship

the lead role for the Advanced Economic Development Leadership

Education continued to

(AEDL) executive education program. AEDL is an experiential two-

advance youth entrepreneurship across Mississippi through

week course offered through a partnership with Clemson University,

its annual SEP high school education series and K-12 teacher

Texas Christian University, and the University of New Mexico. Fifty

support initiatives. The annual SEP kickoff event, SEP Arrive, was

mid-level and senior-level economic developers from across the

held virtually and attracted more than 300 high school students

nation participated in the 2020-21 virtual course to benefit from the

and educators from across Mississippi to tune in and participate.

program's esteemed faculty of economic development educators,

This 14th annual event was held during Global Entrepreneurship

consultants, visionaries, and practitioners.

Week and featured Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson and Casey Combest, entrepreneur and host of the Made in Mississippi podcast. SEP Arrive uses interactive discussions and an annual Innovation Challenge to focus on promoting opportunity recognition and activating an entrepreneurial mindset within its high school participants. As this year’s challenge, student teams were provided market data for their counties and inspired to identify local business opportunities.

DESIGNING SOLUTIONS FOR DEFENSE (DS4D) The DS4D course, commonly titled Hacking for Defense (H4D), was piloted at Stanford University in 2016 and has expanded to 47 universities, including The University of Chicago, Columbia, UC Berkeley, Duke, and Southern Miss. The Southern Miss course is led by a team of instructors from business (James Wilcox), computer science (Henry Jones, Ph.D.), criminal justice (Josh Hill, Ph.D.), and communication (Katie Anthony, Ph.D.).

Since its establishment in 2007, the SEP has engaged more than 6,500

Students in the spring class worked in interdisciplinary teams to

students and teachers from 66 high schools across 38 counties.

develop innovative solutions to address real-life critical problems

SEP $10 CHALLENGE For the 11th year in a row, the SEP hosted the Making Money Now! challenge, recognizing one high school student each spring for best demonstrating the entrepreneurial spirit through his or her development and growth of a $10 micro-venture. Submissions are evaluated on a combination of ROI, creativity, sustainability, and storytelling. Alondra Jackson (Covington County Career and Technical Education Complex) was awarded the 2021 recognition.

PA G E 5 8 | A F F I L I AT E D C E N T E R S

sponsored by Camp Shelby (MS), Fort Campbell (KY), and Joint Base Lewis McChord (WA). Using an adaptation of the lean startup methodology as a framework for discovery, these student teams rapidly created and tested their own business model hypotheses through market research and weekly stakeholder interviews. During the semester, all DS4D teams traveled to visit their sponsors in Mississippi, Kentucky, and Washington. Following their completion of the course, two teams continued to work with their sponsors on refining and implementing their solutions.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC) Transforming Mississippi One Small Business at a Time FY 2021 ( July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021) The USM Small Business Development Center has been dedicated to assisting small businesses in the Pine Belt amid the extreme challenges over the last year. In the wake of the global pandemic, the USM SBDC worked vigorously to continue assisting its clients while maintaining social distancing guidelines. The SBDC converted most of their workshops into “on-demand” virtual formats, allowing struggling businesses to get the help they needed while staying safe. Additionally, the SBDC offered a multitude of resources to assist their clients with the many new challenges they were facing. These resources included information about the SBA EIDL Advance and EIDL Disaster Loans, the PPP loans, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, the American Rescue Plan Act, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, the Retail Revitalization Act, and more. The USM SBDC welcomed its newest Certified Business Counselor, Alumnus Don Calcote (‘78), to the team this year. Calcote spent 15 years as CFO of several banks in Mississippi and Tennessee before

“Being a business counselor for the

moving into commercial lending and ultimately opening his own

Mississippi Small Business Development

community bank built around a philosophy of operating with grace,

Center is the most rewarding job I’ve ever

respect, and compassion. After selling the bank in 2010, he spent a

had! It is a pure joy to spend my days

few years as a bank consultant. Calcote’s entrepreneurial background and unique banking industry insight has significantly increased the professional services being offered at the USM SBDC.

helping people in Mississippi with their business ideas and dreams.”

OVER 600 $12.9 MILLION 2,500+ clients served within the reporting year

in capital formation

Currently serving 258 MINORITY-OWNED, 324 WOMEN-OWNED, and 54 VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES

counseling hours

18 new businesses started 38 jobs created 1,307 jobs retained

161

businesses counseled during their startup efforts

28 finalists and 10 winners of the 2021

FestivalSouth Best of the Pine Belt are USM SBDC clients

IN MEMORIAM

PATRICK DAVIS

Sport Management Graduate Assistant and Student

1998 – 2020

MACHELL HAYNES

Former College of Business Staff Member

1965 – 2021

PA G E 6 0 | I N M E M O R I U M

GIVING BACK STARTS WITH YOU COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE FUND (2283) First impressions are critical, and sometimes students don't have the financial resources to purchase the professional attire needed to put their best foot forward. This fund helps the College of Business and Economic Development aid students who have financial need purchase attire such

OTHER WAYS TO GIVE BACK

as suits, button-down shirts, blazers, dress pants, blouses, ties, dress shirts, socks, and shoes required for internships, interviews, professional conferences, or recruitment events. Give now and help ensure our students look their best!

CENTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES DEVELOPMENT FUND (1122)

Become a member of the Business Advisory Council

The financial services industry is one of the economy's most important and influential sectors. Exposing students to tools, technologies, trends, and practices of financial firms, such as banks, investment houses, lenders, finance companies, real estate brokers, and insurance companies can place our students in a sound position to positively impact the economy and have successful careers in the financial services sector.

Participate in Experience Business Casually

This fund provides discretionary dollars to support the programming in the Center for Financial Services in the College of Business and Economic Development that provides students with hands-on experience, exposure to industry-standard technology and tools, and career opportunities in the financial services industry. Give now and help the College of Business and Economic Development provide the best financial services educational

Serve as a guest speaker

program in the Gulf South region!

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND (0015) The world of work changes quickly and requires the College of Business and Economic Development to implement innovative ideas, meet new demands, respond to emerging opportunities, and invest in areas

Join the Executive in Residence Program

with the greatest potential to develop the leaders and managers of tomorrow. This fund provides discretionary dollars to help the College of Business and Economic Development meet any need and seize any opportunity consistent with the mission of Southern Miss Business. Give now and help us prepare our students for the future of work!

For more information, contact J.T. Tisdale at james.tisdale@usm.edu or 601.266.6824. Visit usmfoundation.com/supportCOBED or scan the QR code to give to Southern Miss Business.

STAY CONNECTED WITH SOUTHERN MISS BUSINESS Southern Miss College of Business and Economic Development Southern Miss College of Business and Economic Development Southern Miss Business @southernmissbiz

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