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s We’d like to thank those who have already made donations to the Brooking Endowment for Economics Beyond the Classroom. The gift categories honor the signature clothing of Carl Brooking, emeritus professor of economics and quantitative management.
vary my classes to specifically fit my needs as I decide what I want to pursue in the future,” Vucovich said. Millsaps is the first institution of higher learning in the state to offer the major, which incorporates classes from various departments, including: biology, psychology, philosophy, and chemistry, in order to give students a broad range of perspectives. “This new degree offers students the opportunity to study and integrate a variety of disciplines, which will lead them to a greater understanding of how the brain and human behavior interact,” said Dr. Melissa Lea, assistant professor of psychology and director of the Neuroscience and Cognitive Studies Program. “Neuroscience is a growing field, and the study of neuroscience can enhance a student’s medical school application.” The major is a valuable option for students interested in pursuing a medical degree in neurology or a doctorate in neuroscience and/or cognitive science. Within the major, students must complete four courses in one of two specializations: physiology and biochemistry, or behavioral and theoretical. The physiology and biochemistry specialization includes courses such as neural anatomy and physiology, molecular cell biology, and biochemistry. The behavioral and theoretical specialization includes courses such as biomedical ethics, cognitive neuroscience, and behavioral medicine. A senior seminar also is required. Millsaps junior Ganesh Swamy is among those exploring a major in the field. “I’m excited about the new NCS program, because I’ve always wanted to learn more about the brain and the nervous system in general,” he said. “I believe a major in this program will allow me to pursue my interests and possibly a career in this field.”
—Kara Givens Paulk
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millsaps magazine
Endowment boosts opportunities for business students Sometimes, it’s the extra stuff that makes a difference. It’s the experiences that aren’t from a book or lecture, but come from suddenly finding yourself in the center of the place you’ve been reading about — and it’s just as you imagined it. That’s the kind of experience the Brooking Endowment for Economics Beyond the Classroom recently made possible for 18 Millsaps College students in the Else School of Management. Dean Howard McMillan, Millsaps Professor of Accounting Dr. Kim Burke, and Millsaps Associate Professors of Economics Dr. Pat Taylor and Dr. Blakely Fox Fender, B.A. 1992, accompanied the students on a trip to Washington, D.C. They met some of the country’s most influential decision-makers, visited the Federal Reserve Building, and learned more about banking. Longtime U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R.-Miss., spent almost an hour with the students, answering questions on topics ranging from congressional voting procedures to the economic outlook in Mississippi. The Millsaps group also met with Diane Casey-Landry, American Bankers Association chief operating officer; Jim Chessen, ABA chief economist; and Wayne Abernathy, ABA executive vice president for financial institutions policy and regulatory affairs. Millsaps graduates Stephen Crochet, B.A.1997, who works in the ABA regulatory affairs division, and Ryan Zagone, B.B.A. 2008, who works in the economic policy and research division, sat in on the discussion. The group had its own meeting with Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh. Warsh shared his concerns about the nation’s current economic crisis, how it started, what the Fed is doing to correct it, and how it affects the geopolitical landscape. The Brooking Endowment for Economics Beyond the Classroom was
Cowboy Boots Level $5,000 or more Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Ron and Blakely Fender Matt and Kelly Kaye John Pigott Dr. and Mrs. Billy Walker
White Button-down Level $2,500-$4,999 Ray and Monica Harrigill Mark and Lisa Ricketts
Straight-leg Jeans Level $1,000-$2,499 David and Anne Culpepper Doug and Gretchen Folk John and Marion Fox Seth R. Gouguet Jay Love Howard and Mary Eliza McMillan Cynthia and Hugh Parker Tate and Elee Reeves Kevin and Linda Kay Russell Heymoore and Kathleen Schettler Dek Terrell
These figures reflect gifts in named categories made by Sept. 24, 2010.
established in June 2009 to honor Dr. Carl Brooking, B.S. 1971, who retired after 28 years of teaching economics in the Else School. Some of Brooking’s former students took the lead in raising funds to establish the endowment, and more than $100,000 in gifts and pledges have been raised. The goal is to raise $400,000. The Brooking Endowment supports trips to business centers, helps provide lecturers in economics, supports student competitions, and makes possible workshops led by non-faculty experts. The Else School is known for combining a Millsaps liberal arts education with progressive business education. This unique combination educates a student for a meaningful business career. McMillan said trips to major business centers broaden students’ perspectives, make them more comfortable visiting