Ole Miss Alumni Review - Spring 2016 by Ole Miss Alumni Association

Ole Miss Alumni Review

spring 2016

ALUMNI REVIEW

spring 2016 Vol. 65 No. 2

Beyond the Big Top Alumnus markets the greatest shows on Earth

Chinese language program yields fluent, culturally aware alumni Alumni couple turns creative passions into successful businesses and TV series

Everything You Love About Oxford

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Features ALUMNI REVIEW

18 Flagship University Masters Flagship Program Chinese language program yields fluent, culturally aware alumni

By Edwin Smith

30 Made in Mississippi

Alumni couple turns creative passions into successful businesses and TV series By Annie Rhoades

Telling Stories through Songs 36

John Kennedy takes Mississippi inspiration to Nashville

By Rebecca Lauck Cleary

Contents Vol. 65 No. 2

Departments

2 Chancellorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Letter

spring 2016

On the Cover

4 Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Letter 6 From the Circle

16 Calendar

40 Ole Miss Sports

Updates on the way for O-U Stadium No. 38 jersey passes to Youngblood

46 Just Published

48 Rebel Traveler

52 Alumni News

24 Robert McHugh (BA 87) has seen monster success as senior vice president of international sales and business operations for Feld Entertainment. Cover photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment

O le M iss A lumni R ev iew Publisher Kirk Purdom (93) Editor Jim Urbanek II (97) jim@olemiss.edu

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Associate Editor and Advertising Director Annie Rhoades (07, 09) annie@olemiss.edu Contributing Editor Benita Whitehorn Art Director Amy Howell Contributors Kevin Bain (98), Rebecca Lauck Cleary (97), Ruth Cummins (82), Mitchell Diggs (82), Jay Ferchaud, Thomas Graning, Robert Jordan (83), Jenny Kate Luster (06), Joshua McCoy, Michael Newsom (05), Shelby Sansone, Jon Scott (82), Edwin Smith (80,93), Tom Speed (91,03), Christina Steube (11) Officers of the University of Mississippi Alumni Association Eddie Maloney (72) president Dr. Hal Moore (76) president-elect Bobby Bailess (73, 76) vice president Chip Crunk (87) athletics committee member Deano Orr (93) athletics committee member Alumni Affairs Staff, Oxford Kirk Purdom (93), executive director Joseph Baumbaugh, systems analyst III Allie Bush, Web developer Clay Cavett (86), associate director Anne Cofer (07, 08), accountant Martha Dollarhide, systems programmer II Sheila Dossett (75), senior associate director Port Kaigler (10, 15), assistant director Annette Kelly (79), accountant Steve Mullen (92), assistant director for marketing Annie Rhoades (07, 09), publications editor Anna Smith (05), alumni assistant and club coordinator Scott Thompson (97, 08), assistant director Jim Urbanek (97), assistant director for communications Torie Marion White (07), assistant director Rusty Woods (01), associate director for information services Warner Alford (60, 66), executive director emeritus The Ole Miss Alumni Review (USPS 561-870) is published quarterly by the University of Mississippi Alumni Association and the Office of Alumni Affairs. Alumni Association offices are located at Triplett Alumni Center, 651 Grove Loop, University, MS 38677. Telephone 662-915-7375.

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Alumni Review

C hancellor from the

The University of Mississippi is a remarkable place any time of the year, but you really must live here through a spring to fully appreciate the stunning beauty of our Oxford campus. Our Landscape Services team does an amazing job to keep everything weeded, trimmed and pruned just right so we can all enjoy the vibrant colors and majestic trees that make this campus one of the nation’s most beautiful. Sharon and I are so happy to be a part of the Ole Miss family. Since we arrived in Mississippi, we have been welcomed and made to feel right at home. We have enjoyed meeting so many of you around our campuses, in several of Oxford’s and Jackson’s wonderful restaurants, and at The Pavilion at Ole Miss and Oxford-University Stadium. I had a great time this spring as part of the Rebel Road Trip with Athletics Director Ross Bjork, Coach Hugh Freeze and Alumni Affairs Executive Director Kirk Purdom, making new acquaintances and sharing stories with them. I had a pretty good first day on the job — we won the Sugar Bowl! It was especially memorable for me, being in my hometown. Just a few days later, we celebrated another athletics milestone with the opening of the nation’s best basketball arena — the Pavilion — with Coolidge Ball, our first African-American student-athlete at Ole Miss, on hand for the festivities. These first few months have added several landmark moments to our university’s storied history. At the beginning of February, UM earned the long-sought “R1: Highest Research Activity” designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, putting us into the top 2.5 percent of universities nationwide. The next week, the National Science Foundation announced the groundbreaking discovery of gravitational waves, confirming a prediction made 100 years ago by Albert Einstein, and UM physics faculty, staff and students played an important role in it. Each day I am more impressed with our students, faculty, staff and alumni, the quality of our learning and health care environment, and our power to transform lives and serve society. Ours is truly a great flagship university. And one characteristic all great institutions share is a continual resolve to get ever better. That’s the point of the Flagship Forum we started in late January, which you can read about at flagship.OleMiss.edu. It included nearly 200 events in 100 days, producing several invaluable insights — about how we as a university can move from great to greater, about which distinctive elements define our essence, and about how we can improve life for all Mississippians and make a positive impact on our world. In the coming year, I look forward to stepping up those conversations and engaging the entire university community — our Oxford campus, the UM Medical Center, the regional campuses and our alumni — to shape a shared vision for our future. The University of Mississippi has an ever brighter future, and I encourage you to be an active participant as we boldly go forward to shape it. Sincerely,

Jeffrey S. Vitter Chancellor P.S. You can always reach me at chancllr@OleMiss.edu. And please follow me on Twitter @UMchancellor.

STAY ACTIVE. HELP OLE MISS.

Make your Alumni Association the strongest in the SEC and the nation by renewing your membership each year and encouraging classmates, neighbors and friends to remain active.

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President from the

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With all the good things going on at Ole Miss, my first six months as your president were very busy and rewarding. Most of the accomplishments during the last three months are highlighted in this issue, so I will focus on Rebel Road Trip 2016. I have to start my report by telling you about the outstanding job your Alumni Association staff did for RRT16. Two advance teams made sure everything was ready to roll. By the time we finish RRT16 in July, our message will reach more than 5,000 Rebel faithful. And that message is #Alumni30K — to reach 30,000 alumni memberships for fiscal year 2016. Our new executive director, Kirk Purdom, did a great job as the master of ceremonies. We have someone in place who I believe can get us up to 30,000 members. Get to know Kirk. He is Ole Miss through and through. Chancellor Jeff Vitter met a lot of Rebels on the trip, and he knows what Ole Miss is about. On his application for chancellor, he was the only applicant who stated he was a big sports fan. With Jeff and his wife, Sharon, we have the right team in place. It was a pleasure to hear Athletics Director Ross Bjork’s vision for Ole Miss. With a budget of over $100 million next year, sports facilities are going up all over campus. Ross oversees a budget that is about double from when he arrived four years ago, and we can all be proud of his stewardship of our money. We are very lucky to have Ross and his wife, Sonya, here at Ole Miss. Matt Insell, women’s basketball coach, was on a few stops, and I really enjoyed getting to know him and getting an insight into his program. Coach Mike Bianco made the final stop in Oxford and then went out and swept Auburn. Boy, I would love to go back to Omaha! Our head football coach, Hugh Freeze, talked about life and what he does to make himself and those around him better people. From these talks, you can truly understand why he has been so successful both on the field and on the recruiting trail. Hugh knows where he is going, so let’s join the ride. I also need to comment on Kyle Campbell with the athletics media and public relations department, who handled all of our travel arrangements. I have always thought highly of Kyle’s work at Ole Miss, but I now have a greater appreciation. As for me, I was just a greeter and a waver. I did have to help Kirk with his “Hotty Toddy,” but he got better as the trip went on. RRT16 was a major life experience for me. Traveling with this group for a week and getting to know everyone up close and personal is something I will always remember. It’s always good to be an Ole Miss Rebel. Sometimes it’s great! It’s an honor to be your president,

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Circle from the

The l ates t on Ole Miss s tudents, facult y, s taff and friends

‘R1’ Status

UM RANKED AMONG NATION’S ELITE IN DOCTORAL RESEARCH

he University of Mississippi is included on the definitive list of the top doctoral research universities in the United States produced by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. UM is among a distinguished group of 115 institutions, including Harvard, MIT and Johns Hopkins, in the “highest research” or R1 category. This group represents the top 2.5 percent of institutions of higher education.

Photo by Jay Ferchaud

and nonfaculty staff members with doctorates, and doctoral conferrals in humanities and social sciences fields, in STEM fields and in other areas such as business, education, public policy and social work. “Attaining the Carnegie ‘highest research activity’ classification is historic for our university,” says Alice Clark (MS 76, PhD 78), UM vice chancellor for university relations and former vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs. “It illustrates the value we place on scholarly inquiry and the application of our expertise to understanding and improving our world and educating future leaders. Our faculty, staff and students deserve this recognition of their efforts to create and innovate.” Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine at the UM Medical Center, is elated at the Carnegie distinction. “From internationally renowned basic science research in physiology to large population studies being conducted through Dr. Wael ElShamy, director of the UMMC Cancer Institute’s Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Program, has the MIND Center and the received a patent on a method to diagnose and treat several cancer types and subtypes. The method may Jackson Heart Study, UMMC lead to the first targeted therapy for triple negative breast cancer and add to therapies for other cancers. is leading the way in research The Carnegie Classification analyzes Integrated Postsec- on the diseases that impact Mississippians most,” she says. ondary Education Data System, or IPEDS, data from all U.S. The university received more than $117 million in postsecondary institutions and evaluates measures of research sponsored awards, with more than $105 million in research activity for doctoral universities in making its assessments, and development expenditures, during fiscal year 2015. Of which are released every five years. that total, more than $77 million was in federal grants, more The Carnegie Classification’s assignment to categories than $16 million was from foundations, about $11 million of highest, higher and moderate research activity is based came from the state of Mississippi, around $8 million was on research and development expenditures, science and from industry, and roughly $4 million came from other engineering research staff including postdoctoral candidates sources. 6

Alumni Review

from the Circle

Eclectic Collection

UM MUSEUM NAMED AMONG BEST COLLEGIATE ART MUSEUMS est College Reviews named the University of Mississippi Museum and its large collection of folk art, Greek and Roman antiquities and other artifacts as one of the nation’s best collegiate art museums. UM’s museum ranked No. 12 on a list of the top 35 collegiate art museums. Harvard University’s museum topped the list, which besides Ole Miss, included only one other Southeastern Conference school museum, the University of Florida’s, which came in at No. 31. David M. Robinson Greek and Roman Antiquities Collection Robert Saarnio, director of the UM Museum & Historic Houses, says he and his staff are opportunities, so it’s gratifying and humbling to have the national recognition we’ve received,” Saarnio says. “This is “exceptionally proud” of the recognition. “We work determinedly to provide our community with truly a tribute to the extraordinarily talented museum staff, very high-quality exhibitions, programs and educational the Office of the Provost, which supports us, the Friends of the Museum board, who sustain us, and all of our members and stakeholders, who inspire us daily.” The survey touts UM’s art museum as offering “something for everyone.” It notes that since the museum opened in 1939, it has offered the community a broad range of outreach programs, after-school programs, adult education and events, making it more than “just a collection of art.” “Visitors may tour two historic houses, including William Faulkner’s home, and then meander back to the Museum’s vast collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, folk art collection, or a display of over five-hundred 19th century scientific instruments,” the survey notes. “These include telescopes and models of large machines as well as a demonstration of the devices for teaching the sciences. Combined with their ever-changing exhibitions, the University of Mississippi Museum ranks high.” The recognition reflects that the museum is in a period of momentum and growing influence as it passes its 75th anniversary, which was in 2014. “Of all that growth, certainly that which we are proudest of are the educational impacts we have for both the university and general public communities,” Saarnio says. “One example, of many, being the more than 10,000 schoolchildren and youth we serve annually through a wide spectrum of creative and dynamic educational programs.” The recognition helps increase the museum’s visibility, which helps its reputation in the community of peer museums. Millington-Barnard Collection of Scientific Instruments s p r i n g 2 016

from the Circle

TREATING INSOMNIA MAY EASE MIGRAINES ven relatively brief sessions with a sleep therapist may prove useful in relieving the frequency of migraines for chronic sufferers, concludes a study conducted by researchers at the University of Mississippi. The study is reported in the February issue of Headache, the flagship journal of the American Headache Society. Todd Smitherman, UM associate professor of psychology and a licensed psychologist, is the lead author who conducted the trial in collaboration with Dr. Malcolm Roland (MD 02) of the Oxford Neurology Clinic and colleagues at Wake Forest University and Elliot Hospital in Manchester, N.H. Carrie Ambrose (MA 10, PhD 13), Brooke Walters (MA 11, PhD 15) and Rachel Davis (MA 13), all doctoral students in the UM clinical psychology program, served as project coordinators to help

run the study, which used a three-session cognitive-behavioral intervention, known as CBTi, to treat insomnia, which often accompanies frequent migraine attacks. “It was unique and different in that we used actigraphy (the use of motion sensors to monitor sleep patterns) in order to get objective data on sleep,” Walters says. Migraines affect 12 percent to 14 percent of Americans each year, and most migraine sufferers who have 15 or more days of headache per month also experience significant insomnia, Smitherman says. Thirty-one volunteers who suffer from chronic migraines and insomnia were assigned to two treatment groups and monitored throughout the two-year study. These people averaged 21.6 days per month with headache symptoms when the study began.

The CBTi treatment included training patients in skills designed to associate their bed with sleeping and eliminating other activities, such as reading and watching television while in bed. Participants were instructed to keep a consistent time of going to sleep and waking up, as well as getting out of bed when they were unable to sleep. Six weeks after the conclusion of the study, the odds of experiencing headache were 60 percent lower for those receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia than for those receiving a control treatment providing the same amount of contact with a therapist, Smitherman says. At follow-up, those receiving CBTi had a 48.9 percent reduction in the number of days with headache, compared to a 25 percent reduction for the control group.

‘Learn by Doing’

UM NAMED AMONG TOP 25 LAW SCHOOLS FOR PRACTICAL TRAINING

he University of Mississippi School of Law was named among the top 25 law schools nationally for practical training available to students by The National Jurist magazine. The publication crunched the numbers for all the schools’ statistics and issued a report card in its spring 2016 issue, awarding the Ole Miss law school an A- rating, placing it 19th in the nation. “Our multifaceted skills training program is one of the great strengths of the UM School of Law,” says Debbie Bell (JD 79), the school’s interim dean. “We offer students opportunities to ‘learn by doing’ through in-house clinics, externships, practicums, simulation courses, the Skill Session and advocacy programs. I am so glad that the scope of our

Alumni Review

program has been recognized nationally.” The School of Law has many in-house clinics, including Child Advocacy, Criminal Appeals, Elder Law, Housing Clinic, MacArthur Justice Clinic, the George C. Cochran Innocence Project, the “Street Law” Clinic, Transactional Law Clinic, the Clinical Externship Program and the Pro Bono Initiative. The Pro Bono Initiative was recently honored with the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project’s Beacon of Justice Award for public service. The magazine used data provided by the American Bar Association and individual schools to compile the rankings, which are based on five categories: clinical experience, externships, simulation courses, interschool competitions and other course offerings.

from the Circle

Great Communicator

LAW PROFESSOR RECEIVES 2016 ELSIE M. HOOD TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD

chancellor called and told me I was to receive the Elsie Hood award,” Czarnetzky says. “I am privileged to know a number of previous winners, from longtime colleagues at the law school through Bob Brown, last year’s winner.

Czarnetzky joined the law faculty in 1994, after practicing bankruptcy and commercial law in Chicago and in Richmond, Va. He has been honored as outstanding professor four times by the law student body and serves as an

“I am privileged to know a number of previous winners … I was humbled deeply, and still have trouble believing, that with this award I am being grouped with those outstanding professors and colleagues.” — John Czarnetzky I was humbled deeply, and still have trouble believing, that with this award I am being grouped with those outstanding professors and colleagues.”

Photo by Kevin Bain

ohn Czarnetzky does more than teach the law; he infects students with his enthusiasm for it. The Mitchell, McNutt and Sams Lecturer at the University of Mississippi School of Law, Czarnetzky is known as a great communicator who earns praise for his ability to engage students in complicated subject matter and nuances of the law, UM Chancellor Jeff Vitter said upon awarding the honor in April. For this, his passion and dedication to teaching, Czarnetzky was awarded the 2016 Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award, presented by Vitter during the 73rd annual Honors Day Convocation. “I was in the car with my dear wife and became emotional when the

UM Chancellor Jeff Vitter (right) congratulates John Czarnetzky at the university’s annual Honors Day Convocation at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

adviser to several student organizations and to the Business Law Institute, an innovative collaboration between students and faculty that provides opportunities for students to develop skills in corporate, commercial, tax and business law. Czarnetzky holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was an offensive tackle on the football team. He served in the U.S. Army as a chemical officer and intelligence analyst before obtaining his law degree from the University of Virginia. He also served as executive editor of the Virginia Law Review and editor of the Virginia Journal of Environmental Law. He was the first law professor invited to teach in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and helped establish a partnership between the two schools. Each year since 1966, the university has recognized excellence in teaching by presenting the Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award. Based on nominations from both students and faculty, the award includes a personal plaque and a check from the chancellor. Recipients’ names are also engraved on a plaque listing previous winners, which is displayed in the university’s J.D. Williams Library. s p r i n g 2 016

from the Circle

Undersea Untangling

LAW CENTER HELPS WITH OCEAN DEBRIS LEGAL RESEARCH

Alumni Review

Photo courtesy of Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries Service

bandoned and lost fishing gear can cause tremen- debris programs are authorized. dous damage to marine life, but the laws and reguThe NSGLC will partner with the Rhode Island Sea Grant lations concerning the removal of derelict gear vary Legal Program at the Roger Williams University School widely. The National Sea Grant Law Center is helping to elim- of Law to perform research on vessel navigation laws and inate the confusion in one region of the country and expedite restrictions on the placement of commercial fishing gear cleanup efforts. within shipping and boating lanes. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Fishing for “This research is essential for the development of proacEnergy Partnership provided a $45,000 grant to the NSGLC tive programs in the region,” Otts says. “The two-year project at the University of Mississippi School of Law for the work. The NSGLC project, “Increasing Awareness of the Legal Framework Governing Removal of Marine Debris and Placement of Fishing Gear in the New England Region,” will help New England managers assess the feasibility of implementing innovative derelict fishing gear removal strategies in their states. “Our work is unique,” says Stephanie Showalter Otts, NSGLC director. “Rather than conducting re s e arc h t o bu i l d t h e strongest argument to achieve our client’s goal, we work with partners to solve challenging management problems Damage to marine life in New England may be lessened with the help of UM’s National Sea Grant Law Center. through the provision of nonadvocacy research and outreach services on (a) range of will provide marine debris managers with the information ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources.” they need to undertake desired legal reforms and implement The NSGLC is a leading resource for research on marine new control strategies.” aquaculture, aquatic invasive species and public access to The Fishing for Energy Partnership is supported by the beaches. Covanta Corp. and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Lost nets and other heavy fishing equipment can damage Administration Marine Debris Program. ecosystems as they are moved by tides and waves along the The partnership, launched in 2008, reduces the amount sea floor. They also can affect navigational safety, damage of abandoned fishing gear that accumulates in U.S. coastal active fishing equipment and boats, and cause economic waters by offering commercial fishermen a no-cost opporrepercussions for coastal industries and communities across tunity to dispose of old, lost or unusable fishing gear at the country. designated locations throughout the country. The laws and regulations governing the removal of Collected gear and debris is recycled and processed to abandoned fishing gear vary by fishery and state. The NSGLC generate electricity at Covanta Energy-from-Waste facilities. will provide information on the legal framework governing For more information on the NSGLC, go to http://nsglc. derelict fishing gear removal and how existing state marine olemiss.edu.

from the Circle

Rose Selected for Silver Em Honor AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST TEACHES DEPTH REPORTING AT UM ill Rose (BA 69), who for six years has led student reporting ventures for the Meek School of Journalism and New Media at the University of Mississippi, was selected as the Samuel S. Talbert Silver Em award recipient for 2015. The award dates to 1958. Recipients must be Mississippians with notable journalism careers or journalists with notable careers in Mississippi — or both, which is the case with Rose, who was born and grew up in Shelby. “Bill Rose is an exceptional talent who has spent much of his career writing with exceptional clarity and helping others write well,” says Will Norton Jr., dean of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. After graduating from Ole Miss in 1969, Rose returned to the Delta, working for the Bolivar Commercial in Cleveland and later as a reporter for the Delta Democrat-Times in Greenville. During this time, he was also a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves in Greenwood. In 1975, Rose moved to Florida,

where he worked for the next 34 years. As a Miami Herald reporter, he exposed a garbage scandal that led to a grand jury investigation of organized crime’s influence on Palm Beach County government. His next role was as chief of the Atlanta bureau. There, he won the Paul Hansell Award for the best work by Bill Rose a Florida journalist. For the next five years, he rose through the ranks before becoming editor of Tropic, the Herald’s Sunday magazine, which won two Pulitzers during his tenure. Rose moved to the positions of metro editor of The Palm Beach Post, then deputy managing editor and eventually managing editor of the 220-person staff from 2004 to 2009. His transition to the university was as a visiting professor in the Meek School as well as a fellow of the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics.

“Bill Rose has had so many dream jobs in journalism and did them superbly,” says Charles Overby (68, BA 14), for whom the center is named. “He is the master at blending excellence, high expectations and affability. I was privileged to work with him while we were students on the Daily Mississippian nearly 50 years ago, and I am blessed to work with him today at the Overby Center.” Since the school was founded in 2009, Rose has led six Depth Reporting classes, resulting in six publications on topics ranging from the declining population of Greenville to the effect of the Voting Rights Act in the Mississippi Delta. One of the magazines, The Roads of Broken Dreams, received the Robert F. Kennedy Award for college journalism. Student work in another received a Hearst Prize, which is the college equivalent of a Pulitzer.

UM WINS NINE TOP AWARDS AT JOURNALISM CONFERENCE niversity of Mississippi students won top awards at the annual Southeast Journalism Conference, including College Journalist of the Year and Grand Championship Team for on-site competitions, as well as seven other first-place honors. Sudu Upadhyay, a junior from Oxford in the UM Meek School of Journalism and New Media, received the top honor of Best of the South College Journalist of the Year. Upadhyay, who served as NewsWatch manager for the 2014-15 academic year, continues to work for NewsWatch and Rebel Radio. His entry into the contest included several examples of campus and international reporting as well as his extensive resumé and essay about his commitment and responsibility in journalism.

He is only the second Ole Miss student to receive this award, which includes a $1,000 prize. “It ’s definitely a good feeling,” Upadhyay says. “It’s validation for all the missed meals and times I got angry texts from friends for not going out with them. It was a lot of hard work and there were a lot of nights where I didn’t sleep, but it’s all worth it when you get recognized amongst some of the best journalism students in the Southeast.” Nancy Dupont, professor of journalism, worked with Upadhyay on an international assignment when he was a freshman. His work during his undergraduate career inspired her to submit a letter of recommendation for this award.

“Sudu impressed me from the first time I met him, so I was happy to ask him to shoot a documentary with me in Togo, West Africa,” Dupont says. “It was amazing to see how he threw himself into the project using his excellent videography and editing skills. I also found him to be an excellent interviewer. He has an extremely bright future.” The Student Media Center earned the award for Grand Championship Team for its performance in 16 on-site competitions at the conference, hosted by Austin Peay State University. That award is based on the number of wins by the Ole Miss contingent. Overall, Ole Miss had nine first-place awards, nine second-place awards and two third-place awards. s p r i n g 2 016

from the Circle

TEN LITTLE INDIANS PICKED FOR 2016 COMMON READING EXPERIENCE

, a collection of poignant and emotionally resonant stories of Native Americans at cultural and personal crossroads, has been chosen for the 2016 Common Reading Experience at the University of Mississippi. All incoming freshmen and transfer students will get copies of the Sherman Alexie book with instructions to read it before the fall semester begins. The text will be used during classes for discussion, and faculty and staff are also encouraged to read the book in an effort to enrich the sense of community. The committee made an excellent choice, says Kirk A. Johnson, associate professor of sociology and African-American studies and co-chair of the Common Reading Experience selection subcommittee. “I think students will enjoy the versatility of these very readable stories,” Johnson says. “Some aspects of are universal; others speak specifically to the Native American condition. Still others speak to many communities

of color. There are many points of access in this great collection.” Faculty, staff and students, as well as alumni and residents of the greater Oxford community, were invited to nominate a suggested title last fall. The committee chose from books that were ideally less than 400 pages, available in paperback, written by a living author and published within the last five years, all to ensure the book is accessible to students and readers in the community. This will be the sixth Common Reading Experience at UM. The 2015 Common Reading Experience selection was , a memoir by Robert Khayat (BAEd 61, JD 66), UM chancellor emeritus. Previous selections are by Rebecca Skloot (2011), by UM associate professor Tom Franklin (2012), by Craig Mullaney (2013) and by Denise Kiernan (2014).

Top of the Class

TEN SENIORS AWARDED HALL OF FAME HONORS

Alumni Review

Photo by Thomas Graning

en University of Mississippi seniors have earned membership in the school’s 2015-16 Hall of Fame, one of the university’s highest honors. The Hall of Fame inductees were honored in March in a ceremony at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Recipients are chosen by a committee in accordance with Associated Student Body policy, with selections based on a student’s academic achievement, community service and potential for future success. New Hall of Fame members are Brady Bramlett of Memphis, Rod Bridges of Madison, Jeremy Coleman of Jackson, Maia Cotelo of Oxford, Joe Curry of Stringer, Ann-Marie Herod of Abbeville, William Kneip of Mobile, Ala., Justavian Tillman of Bruce, Debra Whitley of Natchez and Elizabeth Wicks of Ocean Springs. “We commend these outstanding students for their impressive accomplishments both in and out of the classroom,” says Morris Stocks,

Hall of Fame 2016

provost and executive vice chancellor. “We anticipate great successes for these young men and women, both professionally and academically. We also know that our Hall of Famers will contribute to the betterment of society.”

The 10 students, along with 150 other Ole Miss seniors, were also recognized for inclusion in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. They will be listed in the national publication’s 2016 edition.

from the Circle

Another Reason to Work Out UM RESEARCHERS EXAMINE HOW EXERCISE COMBATS AGING

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wo University of Mississippi researchers have completed a study that sheds new light on how working out keeps human cells in good shape, which can stave off some of the physical problems associated with getting older. Paul Loprinzi and Jeremy Loenneke, both assistant professors of health and exercise science at UM, worked

mission is to improve lives and well-being through science and service venues.” The study, “Movement-Based Behaviors and Leukocyte Telomere Length Among U.S. Adults” was recently published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. The team examined data in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information from more than 6,000 people between the ages of 20 and 84 was split into four different groups. Respondents were separated based on how they responded to questions about their workout habits, such as whether they had at any time during the past month lifted weights, or done moderate exercise such as walking or biking to work or school, or also more intense forms of cardiovascular exercise. If they answered “yes” to questions, the researchers assigned them points. The researchers compared the points assigned to the respondents and then checked their telomere lengths using blood test results. They found a correlation between having answered “yes” to physical activity questionnaires and having longer telomeres. For each Two UM researchers have completed a study that sheds new light on how exercise keeps human cells in good shape and delays some of the problems associated with the aging process. point earned, their chances of having shorter telomeres declined. with Elizabeth Blackburn, a professor at the University of Shortened telomeres were 24 percent less likely in California at San Francisco, on the study. In 2009, Blackburn respondents who reported two types of exercise, 29 percent shared a Nobel Prize for discovering the molecular nature of less likely in those reporting three types of exercise and 59 telomeres, which are the caps on the ends of human chro- percent less likely in those who participated in all four modes mosomes. She also helped discover the ribonucleoprotein of working out examined in the study. enzyme known as telomerase. “It suggests employing multiple modalities of exercise is Telomeres protect cells from damage during replication the best option,” Loenneke says. “If you like to walk, maybe but can shorten over time. Harnessing the fairly new science you can add lifting weights. If you only lift weights, maybe around telomeres may hold the key to understanding how to you can add walking and cycling at different intensities.” slow the symptoms of aging. The rate at which exercise improves longevity was stron“Telomeres cap the end of chromosomes,” Loprinzi says. gest in the 40-to-64-year-old age group, researchers found. “As we age, these telomeres shorten with each replication of This means middle age may be a crucial time for individuals the cell. There is some indication that some healthy lifestyle to start their exercise regimen or keep up an existing one. behaviors, such as exercise, can attenuate the progression of It’s not clear what constitutes an ideal amount of exercise shortening of these telomeres.” to keep telomeres in good shape because the researchers The study has great potential to improve many people’s didn’t have access to information about how often those in health, said Teresa Carithers, UM associate dean of the the study actually worked out. It’s also not clear that exercise School of Applied Sciences and professor of nutrition and definitely lengthens telomeres, only that those who reported hospitality management. exercising were more likely to have longer telomeres. “The research study and findings by Dr. Loprinzi UM researchers are following up the study with others on and Dr. Loenneke are a perfect example of ‘applied science exercise and cognition, and the effect of a sedentary lifestyle research’ at its best,” Carithers says. “The applied science on telomere length, among other topics. s p r i n g 2 016

from the Circle

Two Hearts for One Family TRANSPLANTS GIVE FATHER, SON SECOND CHANCES ecky and Brad Fitzgerald have known each other since she was 15 and he was 18. But after 25 years of marriage, Becky no longer has Brad's heart that she cherished as a teen. The McComb resident instead has her husband’s new heart, a priceless and perfect organ that began beating in his 46-year-old chest on March 31, thanks to his transplant team at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The Fitzgeralds don’t know the donor’s family and might not get their wish to thank them personally. “But, they can rest assured that heart will be well taken care of,” Becky says. “We won’t do anything to disgrace this gift.” Brad’s father, Nick Fitzgerald, held sacred that same blessing. Nearly 20 years ago, a different set of UMMC surgeons performed a heart transplant on the elder Fitzgerald after his organ, battered by multiple heart attacks, gave out. “For these two ... that’s extremely rare,” says Dr. Matthew deShazo (MD 06), Brad’s Medical Center cardiologist. “It boggles my mind,” says Brad’s only sibling, UMMC registered nurse Jo Hubbard (BSN 88). “How can both a

Photo by Jay Ferchaud

“He wouldn’t be here now if not for Dr. Fyke,” deShazo says. As time passed, “I could hardly get up and walk through the house,” Brad says. He continued working in an administrative role at the family’s fifth-generation water well drilling business, but “it was a daily struggle to get enough energy.” On Fyke’s recommendation, a defibrillator was implanted in Brad’s chest. The device monitors heart rate and rhythm, and when it detects an abnormality, it delivers a battery-driven electric shock to the heart to restore its normal rhythm. “Otherwise, he would probably have died of cardiac arrest, maybe on his tractor or bulldozer. This is such incredible technology,” Fyke says. “People like Brad wouldn’t be here if not for us being able to put in their own personal paramedic.” In January 2015, Brad said Fyke encouraged him to begin a relationship with deShazo and the state’s only heart transplant team. “He says, ‘Brad, it’s time,’” Brad remembered. “I said, ‘I’ve known you for a long time, doc. Would you trust them?’ He said, ‘Absolutely.’” Brad’s Medical Center team includes deShazo and Drs. Craig Long (BSPh 97, PharmD 99, MD 05) and Charles Moore (cardiologists); and Drs. Anthony Panos, Jorge Salazar, Giorgio Aru and Larry Creswell (surgeons). The team put him on a transplant list in August 2015. Brad’s transplant coordinator, Brennett Brown, was the first to connect Brad and his new heart the afternoon of March 30. “The on-call nurse walked in and said, ‘We have a heart for Brad,’” Brown says. “I called him and said, ‘What about a heart? You still want one? We have a heart offer for you, and it’s a good one.’” Becky was in Perkinston in Stone County, The UMMC heart transplant team of Brad Fitzgerald includes (from left) watching her youngest daughter, Jordan, a Drs. Matt deShazo, Anthony Panos, Craig Long and Charles Moore. student at Southwest Mississippi Community father and a son end up needing a transplant, for two entirely College, play softball. Becky’s phone rang. She yelled to different reasons? We’d already had one miracle. How could Jordan on the field. God give us two miracles?” “Her team started cheering. Jordan went to pieces,” Becky Brad Fitzgerald’s miracle has been in the making since says. “Her coach could hardly coach, she was crying so hard.” he broke his neck in 1999 and later developed a viral infecThey were quick getting to UMMC. Brad’s new heart tion that weakened his heart. His cardiomyopathy, possibly wasn’t. Severe storms that night in Mississippi delayed the genetically related to his father’s heart disease, was confirmed arrival of Panos, who was in Oklahoma at a conference when while he was hospitalized for the broken neck. He began see- UMMC physicians reached him. Panos was tasked with ing Dr. Earl Fyke (BSEE 70, MS 73), a veteran cardiologist at traveling to the donor, inspecting and removing the heart, Baptist Hospital in Jackson. The Fitzgeralds, Fyke and Fyke’s and transporting it back to Jackson packed in an ice solution nurse, Kakie Magann, developed a close relationship as Fyke, that made it viable for just four hours. for 16 years, kept Brad’s heart failure in check. “We do this on purpose so that we can actually see the

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from the Circle organ. We want to make sure we get a good heart,” says Panos, the lead surgeon for Brad’s transplant. As Panos traveled to Jackson, Brad was wheeled to the OR and prepped for surgery at about 1:30 p.m. March 31 — knowing that if something went awry with the donated heart, he’d go right back to his room. “I trusted them to make the right decision,” he says, adding, when he woke up, “it took me a minute to realize where I was and that I had a pipe down my throat. But I knew I’d had the surgery. It gets real really quick.” Nick Fitzgerald is 75 and knows his son has a new heart, but he has trouble communicating because of health problems unrelated to his transplant. It was Brad who, at age 26, drove his dad to the hospital in McComb after Nick suffered his third heart attack, a year before his own transplant. “I’d drive, then stop and do CPR, then drive some more,” Brad remembers. After reaching the Brad Fitzgerald and his father, Nick, had heart transplants nearly 20 years apart. hospital, the nurses had to shock his father 17 times. As for Brad, his medical team isn't surprised he has “The girls have been able to experience their granddaddy done so well. because of UMMC,” Brad says. “The length of time I’m feel“He was the ideal candidate,” deShazo says. “He had no ing amazing is getting longer and longer. I’m going to keep medical problems, with the exception of his heart failure. myself healthy. The wells can wait. I’m just so blessed to have That’s why he’s bounced back so quickly.” this gift.”

GRANGER WINS SEC FACULTY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ischemia and cardiovascular dysfunction in preeclampsia and identifying potential Photo by Jay Ferchaud

oey Granger (PhD 83), Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor in the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Department of Physiology and Biophysics, is the 2016 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award winner. “I am deeply honored to have received this recognition and am humbled to be in such a distinguished group of faculty scholars,” Granger says. “I also appreciate the SEC for their recognition of scholarly activity as an integral part of SEC universities.” A graduate of the UMMC School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences, Granger joined the faculty in 1990. His research, continuously funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute since 1985, focuses on preeclampsia, a dangerous but poorly understood complication of pregnancy. His interests include the mechanisms linking placental

Joey Granger

drug targets for preeclampsia treatments. Dean of the UM School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences and

director of the Cardiovascular-Renal Research Center, he served as the 2012 American Physiological Society president. “The University of Mississippi community joins me in congratulating Dr. Granger,” Chancellor Jeff Vitter says. “His pioneering work in understanding hypertension is paving the way for lifesaving technologies and new treatment approaches. Dr. Granger is a model teacher, mentor and scholar, and a great example of the value of our outstanding faculty and their research to our state and nation.” Selected by a committee of SEC provosts, the SEC Faculty Achievement Awards and the SEC Professor of the Year Award are part of SECU, the academic initiative of the Southeastern Conference, which sponsors, supports and promotes collaborative higher education programs and activities involving administrators, faculty and students at its 14 member universities. s p r i n g 2 016

Calendar Photo by Robert Jordan

LOU Ole Miss Club Golf Tournament June 25-26

hrough Aug. 20 Exhibit: Gods and Men: Iconography and Identity in the Ancient World. This exhibit takes a closer look at the image of ancient gods, kings and the common man. University of Mississippi Museum. Call 662-915-7073 or visit museum. olemiss.edu.

First Friday Free Sketch Day: Check out the University of Mississippi Museum’s new gallery sketching stools generously provided by a grant from the Lafayette Oxford Foundation for Tomorrow (LOFT), and explore the galleries in this informal, free sketch session for all skill levels. UM Museum, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (drop-in). Call 662-915-7073 or visit museum. olemiss.edu.

Ole Miss Club of New York Summer Social: Papillon Bistro & Bar, 6 p.m. Call 662-915-7375 or visit www.olemissalumni.com/events.

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Buie Babies: Museum Stroller Tour: Families with babies and toddlers, join the second Museum Stroller Tour, a new partnership with the LOU Excel by 5 Coalition. Meet other parents and kids while learning how to promote child brain development in easy, fun ways. UM Museum, 8-10 a.m. with 8:30 and 9:30 tour times. Call 662-915-7073 or visit museum.olemiss.edu.

Washington, D.C. Ole Miss Club Annual Reception: featuring Chancellor Jeff Vitter, hosted by the BGR Group. Kennedy Caucus Room 325, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Call 662-915-7375 or visit www.olemissalumni.com/events.

26th Annual Mississippi on the Mall: Washington, D.C. National Mall, 3-7 p.m. Call 662-915-7375 or visit www.olemissalumni.com/events.

Pharmacy Alumni and Friends Reception: The UM School of

Pharmacy will host a reception for alumni and friends in conjunction with the Mississippi Pharmacists Association Convention. Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla., 6:30 p.m. Call 662-915-1878.

-26 LOU Ole Miss Club Golf Tournament: Oxford University Bank two-man scramble benefiting the LOU Ole Miss Club Scholarship Endowment. Ole Miss Golf Course, time TBA. Call 662-915-7375 or visit www.olemissalumni.com/events.

JULY

Calendar

Photo by Robert Jordan

Lamar Order Dinner: Held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Mississippi Bar. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Destin, Fla., 7:45 p.m. Call 662-915-1878.

Law Luncheon: UM law alumni luncheon at the annual meeting of the Mississippi Bar. Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, 12:15 p.m. Call 662-915-1878.

BancorpSouth Rebel Road Trip 2016: Memphis Ole Miss Club. Time and location TBA. Visit www. olemissalumni.com/events or call 662915-7375.

BancorpSouth Rebel Road Trip 2016: Jackson Ole Miss Club. Time and location TBA. Visit www. olemissalumni.com/events or call 662915-7375.

Pharmacy Alumni and Friends Reception: The UM School of Pharmacy will host a reception for alumni and friends at the Mississippi Society of Health-System Pharmacists annual meeting. Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, 6 p.m. Call 662915-1878.

Photo by Robert Jordan

Northwest Arkansas Ole Miss Club: Preseason tailgate and

First Friday Free Sketch Day JUNE 3, JULY 1, AUG. 5

kickoff party at the home of Kathy Crouthers in Rogers, Ark., 1 p.m. Visit www.olemissalumni.com/events or call 662-915-7375.

AUGUST

sketch session for all skill levels. UM Museum, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (drop-in). Call 662-915-7073 or visit museum. olemiss.edu.

Reunion: M-Club ’54-’63 All Sports Reunion. The Inn at Ole Miss. Visit www.olemissalumni.com/ events or call 662-915-7375.

-13 M-Club Family Weekend: Various times and locations. Call 662-915-7375.

22 29

Fall classes begin.

Fall classes begin AUG. 22

Annual Denver SEC Picnic: Denver, Colo. Time and location TBA. Call 662-915-7375 or visit www. olemissalumni.com/events. For a complete and latest listing of Ole Miss sports schedules, visit www.olemisssports.com.

For more Oxford events, news and information, visit www.visitoxfordms.com or call 662-232-2477. s p r i n g 2 016

Flagship University Masters Flagship Program By Edwin Smith

Photo by iStock 18

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eing able to offer students the immersive experience of a Language Flagship program is a tremendous plus for any institution. Being the best program in the country is far better, and the Chinese Language Flagship Program (CLFP) at the University of Mississippi has achieved that status, say its faculty and students. The Language Flagship program began in 2002 and includes intensive programs at several U.S. colleges and universities in languages deemed critical for American government, business and military interests – including Arabic, Chinese, Korean and Russian. Ole Miss was among the first institutions to launch a Chinese Language Flagship Program. “The Language Flagship began as a small pilot project to challenge a few U.S. universities to build programs of advanced language education,” says Donald Dyer, UM chair and professor of modern languages. “Being one of the Language Flagship’s Chinese programs means this is a program designed to take students to the superior level of Chinese, a program on steroids.”

While on a four-day trip to Beijing, UM students pose for a photo before climbing the Great Wall.

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“People that are fluent in English yet can seamlessly blend into the Chinese environment are considered valuable for interaction with Chinese company clients.”

senior international studies major

With their Chinese roommates, UM students visit Confucius Temple in central Shanghai.

UM is among a dozen institutions offering the intensive program, and the university’s success in preparing students for careers involving Chinese language and culture attracts students from across the country. “Ole Miss has one of the most effective Chinese programs in the country, which is why I chose to come here in the first place,” says Liana Tai, a senior international studies major from Arlington, Va. Flagship programs are results driven. One factor used to determine the quality of a program involves examining how many students it can send to the Flagship Capstone Year in China. To participate, students must fulfill all required courses, apply, pass all qualifying tests and be accepted by the Flagship Chinese Council. From 2003 to 2013, Ole Miss sent only 12 CLFP students to the capstone, compared to 2014-16, when UM sent 20 students. “For the past two years, the University of Mississippi has had the largest group among the 12 Chinese flagship capstone programs,” says Henrietta Yang, Croft associate professor of Chinese and co-director of the program. “During the selection process, all students were ranked based on their application packages, which included a personal statement, a Chinese writing sample, a Chinese speech sample, transcripts, three recommendation letters and a Chinese resumé. Three of the top five selected and admitted were UM students, and eight of 13 were ranked above 30.”

The Ole Miss CLFP is the only Chinese flagship program that operates an intensive domestic summer program before the freshman year and a postfreshman summer program at Shanghai University in China. This program aims to raise students’ linguistic proficiency and cultural knowledge considerably within an eight-week period. “One of the challenges the program still faces is to significantly increase students’ Chinese cultural awareness,” Yang says. “When I arrived in 2013, the UM flagship students significantly lacked this understanding, though they were able to speak pretty fluent Chinese.” That was a serious problem that needed to be addressed, as native speakers of Chinese expect an equal amount of cultural understanding from someone who can speak fluent Chinese. “Eastern and Western cultures are just too different, and our current teaching team infuses culture insights into their daily teaching,” Yang says. “However, their cultural progress does not come as fast as their linguistic success.” The university’s CLFP Shanghai program is open to taking students from the other 11 flagship programs. “Establishing our Shanghai program, which is very well-respected and replete with high standards, is another huge success that is very rewarding to me,” Yang says. Since taking over the program in 2013, Yang has redesigned the curriculum, which has high standards, thematic courses, domain mentoring and, as mentioned, cultural preparation. Unlike some Chinese flagship programs around the country that offer only upper-level courses, the Ole Miss CLFP allows for entry at various skill levels. The university also boasts one of the finest language teaching teams in the nation. Joining Yang are assistant professors Zhini Zeng and Amy Hsieh. All three professors have strong backgrounds in language pedagogy, second-language acquisition and proficiency training. The program has three 20

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full-time instructors: Hui Zhu, Lin Zhu and Rongrong Hao. All have several years of experience teaching at both American institutions and with study abroad programs in China.

By immersing themselves in the curriculum and with support from seasoned faculty, around 100 alumni of the program have successful careers in international business, public policy leadership, medicine and politics to name a few fields. Instruction also extends beyond the borders of the Oxford campus. “We have seeded Chinese instruction at Oxford, Lafayette and Holly Springs high schools,” Dyer says. “More than 10 students from OHS have matriculated into our flagship program. Students come here from all over the country to study Chinese at a high level.” Students enrolled in the program are singing their praises of the professors’ instruction and the valuable learning opportunities received. Last year, Tai participated in the CLFP’s capstone year, which students typically complete as a final fifth year of their Chinese studies after graduation. She had the opportunity to participate in the program early. “I spent one semester taking both intensive Chinese classes and master’s classes in Chinese at Nanjing University for the fall semester, and one semester doing an internship at a digital marketing and branding agency in Shanghai,” Tai says. “The internship was a very fulfilling experience, as I was able to experience a modern Chinese work environment for five full months. Through the marketing work, I gained technical skills and cultural knowledge that have both been extremely helpful in my job search this year.” Tai plans to work in U.S.-China relations as a business consultant for PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a large international accounting and consulting firm with offices in Hong Kong. “My Chinese speaking, reading and writing skills gave me a distinct advantage in getting the job and will continue to be an asset to the company as we further develop business in the China region,” Tai says. “People that are fluent in English yet can seamlessly blend into the Chinese environment are considered valuable for interaction with Chinese company clients.” Other experiences that directly resulted from Tai’s participation in the program include attending the annual flagship program summit at the University of Maryland and joining the 100,000 Strong campaign to promote Chinese language learning. Prospective job opportunities in the international business arena are what drew Conner Clark, an international studies major, to the UM Chinese flagship program. The senior from Dallas also participated in the capstone year. “During the first semester, we were direct enrolled at Nanjing University,” Clark says. “For the second semester, we applied to whichever organizations that we were interested in and completed a full-time internship for a minimum of 16 consecutive weeks. This second semester was the most fulfilling for me.” Clark interned at a nonprofit Chinese nongovernmental organization called Yunnan Parallel, which aims to alleviate cultural misunderstanding of the LGBTQ community and educate the local population and students about safe sex. “One reason this was such an amazing experience is because of the people I was able to meet and the context in which I was able to do so,” he says. spring 2016

During a Chinese language study abroad trip, students check out the Bund, a waterfront area in central Shanghai.

“Hopefully I’ll be working in the Pentagon or at an embassy abroad, using my language skills and experience to foster better relationships with our foreign friends and adversaries.”

senior international studies major

“Because our organization was a safe place where all who came could feel free to be themselves, I was able to meet and begin to understand a hidden group in Chinese society that not many people even know exist. Meeting these people, hearing their stories, being on the front line in this fight for recognition and equal rights was an invaluable experience that I will have with me the rest of my life.” James DeMarshall, a junior Chinese and international studies double major with a minor in mathematics, says he knew the Ole Miss program would make him proficient in the language. “The culture of this program is infectious,” says the native of Glassboro, N.J. “Everyone is very supportive of each other, almost like a big family. When I visited campus and sat in on classes, I knew I wanted to be part of this special atmosphere the flagship program has cultivated here.” Having studied consecutive summers in Shanghai and Harbin, DeMarshall learned he was awarded a U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship to spend summer 2016 studying in the city of Xi’an in China’s Shaanxi province. He is the incoming president of the UM chapter of a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization called Global China Connection, of which the CLFP has been supportive. “I recently had the opportunity to travel to New York City to participate in a conference for GCC, and I was one of maybe 10 or 15 non-Chinese people in Photo by Nathan Latil

Henrietta Yang teaches students in the Chinese Language Flagship Program.

attendance,” he says. “As the event went on, I realized how far my Chinese had come in such a really short period of time spent here at Ole Miss. I was able to comfortably function in Chinese, which made it easier for me to network and connect with all the other young professionals in attendance. In essence, there was no language barrier. I can entirely thank the UM flagship program for that capability.”

The Domain Mentorship class, taught by Jizhe Zhang, is DeMarshall’s favorite course he’s taken so far. “The purpose of this class is to train you to speak competently and professionally in whatever ‘domain’ you have chosen to study. For me, that is the 22

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Chinese economy, its banking sector and international trade,” DeMarshall says. “There is something truly unique and special about studying the affairs of another country in its own native language. In a way, you garner a deeper understanding and appreciation for the complexities of the topic. It also encourages you to check any biases or preconceived notions at the door, and think more like a native speaker.” Both Tai and Clark have fond memories of their favorite Chinese courses and their professors as well. “My favorite course was our Chinese Media Studies class,” Tai says. “During the class, we covered a broad range of topics that exposed the changing dynamics within China’s modernizing society. I believe that my Chinese language skills, as well as my understanding of socioeconomic factors in China, expanded dramatically over the course of this class.” Classical Chinese was Clark’s favorite course. “Zhu Hui Laoshi is probably one of the sweetest teachers you’ll ever have. On top of that, she’s good at what she does: She makes learning Classical Chinese fun and relatively easy,” he says. “If you think conversational Chinese is hard, try studying a form of Chinese that uses, say, four characters to say what normal people today would use an entire sentence – or sometimes even a few sentences – to say.”

Tai and Clark are already planning ways to support the program after graduation. “I think my most valuable form of support would be as a connection for younger flagship students in their own internship or job searches, just as another older flagship student has been for me,” Tai says. “Our UM Chinese flagship community is growing in the China region, which will only benefit the younger students that seek to work there as well.” After graduation, Clark will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. “Hopefully I’ll be working in the Pentagon or at an embassy abroad, using my language skills and experience to foster better relationships with our foreign friends and adversaries,” he says. “The U.S. Air Force and military is tirelessly working to develop airmen who better understand other societies and cultures. I would like to be a part of this shift in U.S. foreign military policy. “I will always be willing to be a resource for future undergraduate students and will look into supporting some of these programs financially as well,” he adds. DeMarshall says he plans to live and work in China. “I believe my familiarity with China and the ability to speak the language will absolutely make me more competitive in an increasingly globalized labor force,” he says. “But more importantly, I hope to spend a portion of my life living and working in China, which I have fallen in love with through the study of its language.” As a result of the Chinese program’s success, the modern languages department applied for an Arabic flagship program in 2015. Although the request was not granted, the university’s Arabic program is good enough to achieve flagship status, Dyer says. “Our Arabic program is also exceptional, modeled after Chinese, and reaching the same level of productivity and success,” he says. Meanwhile, Yang is anticipating even greater levels of success for the Chinese program. “We are preparing for as many as 19 students for capstone next year,” she says. “Ours has dominated among the 12 Chinese flagship programs in the past two years. I would have to agree that UM has the best Chinese flagship program in the country.” spring 2016

“There is something truly unique and special about studying the affairs of another country in its own native language. In a way, you garner a deeper understanding and appreciation for the complexities of the topic. It also encourages you to check any biases or preconceived notions at the door, and think more like a native speaker.”

junior international studies and Chinese major

Alumnus markets the greatest shows on Earth

t tainmen r e t n E d l e F Photos courtesy of

By Tom Sp eed

Alumni Review

family of four takes in the scene — the Green Goblin leaps onto his hoverboard, blasting pumpkin bombs from a shroud of green smoke as the acrobatic SpiderMan swings into action, flying high above the ground, suspended by webbing. Captain America appears on a motorcycle and launches himself into the air from a ramp, pursuing the villain Loki. The family is immersed in the heart-pounding action. The bad guys are eventually vanquished, and the crowd erupts into cheers and applause. This is no ordinary day at the movies — not even a 3-D movie — these exploits are occurring right before the family’s eyes as part of Marvel Universe LIVE!, a new theatrical production by Feld Entertainment®, a company that also produces Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus®, Disney On Ice and many other worldwide, live-action events. It’s the latest production being brought to a global marketplace by Robert McHugh (BA 87), the company’s senior vice president of international sales and business operations.

Joining the Circus In developing a worldwide marketing plan, the globetrotting McHugh may visit Feld company offices in Amsterdam, Singapore or Mexico City as he works to tailor shows. In addition to fine-tuning the creative side of the show, the marketing message must also be altered for each community and culture. The Marvel show, which will soon embark on its first European tour in 2016, is easier than most as it is bolstered by the worldwide box office success of the Marvel movie franchise. “We went on sale in the UK and sold 250,000 tickets in a week,” McHugh says. “That was for just six cities, so we had to add performances. I’ve never seen us do that.” That’s high praise for the man who essentially built

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the company’s global presence alongside a talented team. But before finding his career, McHugh was a journalism student at the University of Mississippi, whose first job after graduating was selling encyclopedias. “Selling encyclopedias was tough,” McHugh says. “But I learned a lot from the sales part.” As a broadcast journalism student, he hosted a local sports talk television show that included an interview with Archie Manning (BPA 71). By his senior year, he was head of the media center at Farley Hall, producing the campus newscasts and sports, while his classmate Shepard Smith (87) anchored the show as lead newscaster. “Shepard went off and became famous at Fox News, and I ran off and joined the circus,” quips McHugh. Growing up in a military family, McHugh moved around a lot and happened to be stationed in Gulfport when it was time for college. A girlfriend was attending Ole Miss, and he followed. His classmates teased him for being a “Yankee,” having no discernable Southern drawl. Four years later, that changed. “When I left Ole Miss, I sent out my resume tapes, and nobody was interested in me. I spoke to someone who critiqued my tape and said, ‘You’ve got to get rid of that Southern accent!’” The lack of job prospects led him to sell encyclopedias in the Nashville school system and ultimately to a 28-year career with Feld. “I went and interviewed with Ringling,” McHugh says. “I met with a guy [who asked me] when I could start [to which I asked], ‘You’re not going to interview me?’ He said if I could sell encyclopedias, then I could sell the circus.” For his first three years in the company, McHugh promoted the circus and ice shows to regional promoters in the U.S. But it wasn’t long until the higher-ups noted that his enthusiasm, skills and personality might work well with their burgeoning international ventures, and they sent him to Amsterdam.

Feld Entertainment has licensed Disney characters for its Disney On Ice performances for 36 years. Upon moving to Amsterdam, McHugh’s task was to spread that product to Europe. “The hardest thing was the cultural barrier,” he says. “When I promoted in the states, whenever I met with radio or TV stations to do promotions, I could talk sports. But overseas, they have a different kind of football. So you had to find ways for both of our cultures to combine.” For most of his eight years in Amsterdam, he worked alone and traveled a lot, only seeing his family sporadically. He would come home long enough to see his six children and ask their opinions of a poster or gauge how effective a particular ad might be. They were, after all, the target market. As the business grew, McHugh took on employees including Alana Feld, daughter of company CEO Kenneth Feld, and current executive vice president and producer of Feld Entertainment. “I worked in Europe with Robert in marketing and lived in Amsterdam for a year,” Feld says. “He taught me a lot about how to respect the different cultures and how to avoid the stereotype of the ‘ugly American’ who thinks they know everything. Robert’s daughter [Morgan McHugh] is working with us now, and it makes me so proud that someone like Robert, who has been working with us for so long, would bring her into the family too. It really speaks to the kind of company we are.”

throughout the world. In the U.S., two different circus units (named the “blue” and “red” units, colors that McHugh insists are entirely coincidental) travel by private rail. Feld Entertainment is the largest live entertainment company in the world, with more than 30 million people per year seeing its productions. The Feld family bought its flagship, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, in the 1960s and has owned it longer than either the Ringling or Barnum families. But in recent years, the company has been expanding its offerings, and that growth has come under the purview of McHugh. As a Disney licensee, the company is constantly creating new offshoots to feature Disney characters. In addition to Disney On Ice, recent productions have included Disney Presents High School Musical and Disney Presents Frozen. Seven years ago, Feld purchased Monster Jam®, the monster truck spectacular, and the motorcycle events Monster Energy AMA Supercross and AMSOIL Arenacross. While it may have seemed an odd fit at first, McHugh says it reaches a similar market. “It was the same DNA — family entertainment,” he says. “A lot of people might not believe it, but Monster Jam is family entertainment. Supercross is more of a sport, but Monste r Jam

Going Global The success of Disney On Ice in Europe eventually brought McHugh back to the U.S. to head up the entire international operation. Everything except for the circus travels

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definitely draws families, so that fit perfectly with our scheduling. We’re now into the stadium business, which we weren’t into before. For arenas, we’re either the No. 1 or second top client in the U.S. for shows because we bring Disney On Ice, the circus, Monster Jam, Marvel Universe LIVE!. … We keep a lot of these venues busy year-round.” Logistical considerations come along with that growth, and that’s where McHugh comes in too. “Any of our productions that go outside of North America

come to my team, and we decide on how logistically to get it to the regions,” he says. “Working with a multitude of internal departments, we put together the budgets, we do the sales and marketing and take our shows overseas.” Often, the show itself will be tweaked in some way. In many Middle Eastern countries, stories based on “The Three Little Pigs” have been omitted for cultural reasons. In other places, some characters are simply more popular than others. “Some Disney characters are more popular in certain countries, so we may change the production to focus on a certain character,” McHugh says. “We try to do our advance homework. The good thing with Disney is that we’re able to tell how well the movies do, or we get local information from the local Disney offices on which countries are popular and which movies did well. But we try to build productions that are worldwide. “When Kenneth Feld puts something together, he’s always thinking of not just focusing on the U.S. or whether this

Alumni Review

show can do well in Kuala Lumpur, but can this show do well in Australia? How will it work in Argentina? There’s always a global focus when we make any decisions to do a production.”

Retirement Home Back at home, the face of the company is changing too. In light of animal rights protests and various municipal codes that prohibit live animal performances, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is retiring all elephants from live performances effective May 2016. The animals will retire at the company’s preserve in Florida, the Center for Elephant Conservation, where they will be involved in cancer research. The company started the center 20 years ago when the Asian elephant was endangered. Two elephants have since been born there. “Two new elephants born doesn’t sound like a lot,” Feld says. “But elephants are pregnant for two years, so we’re really proud of what we’re doing there. We are also proud of the pediatric cancer research we are doing.” Elephants rarely develop cancer, and researchers at the center, led by Dr. Joshua Schiffman, a pediatric cancer specialist at the University of Utah, have identified specific genes that work to fight cancer cells when they occur. “Although the elephants won’t be performing, they’ll be enjoying a retirement home in Florida,” McHugh says. Meanwhile, McHugh continues to develop the business on a global scale. “There are lots of different countries where I want to build our business,” he says. “There are countries where we failed, and I’m still trying to make it work. It makes me get up every day and look at the business in a different way. But the greatest part about my job is, when my kids were young and they asked me what I did for a living, I said, ‘My job is to make kids smile and have happiness all around the world.’ That’s my job, to make kids smile.”

Mississippians like Elaine Adair are why we support UMMC. When Elaine Adair learned she had stage three uterine cancer in 2013, she turned to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for help. UMMC gynecologic oncologist Dr. Mildred Ridgway enrolled her in a clinical trial for radiation-free treatment, which helped Elaine get her health—and her life—back faster. Clinical trials like this one are part of UMMC’s mission as the state’s only academic medical center. It’s one of many ways UMMC is building a healthier state. Your donation to the Manning Family Fund helps bring new, effective treatment to more Mississippians, here at home.

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Olivia and Archie Manning with Elaine Adair

Alumni couple turns creative passions into successful businesses and TV series

By Annie Rhoades

Photos courtesy of Ben and Erin Napier Alumni Review

ississippi is known for its rich cultural history and quaint small towns that provide the perfect backdrop to hone budding artists’ skills. Soon the rest of the world will know just how unique small-town Mississippi is with the help of HGTV and a couple of Ole Miss alumni. Ben (BA 07) and Erin (BFA 07) Napier, co-owners of Lucky Luxe Heirloom Design, Lucky Luxe Dry Goods and Scotsman Co., can also add co-hosts of HGTV’s upcoming series “Home Town” to their list of accomplishments. The series begins filming in May and will air in early 2017. It will likely continue the theme of the pilot and focus on the Napiers’ love of their small hometown of Laurel and old historical homes. While keeping the homes’ original character, they’ll give them modern and affordable updates. “I did not pursue this,” Erin Napier says. “It just came to us. It just happened. We’ve absolutely never thought of [being on TV]. Ben and I aren’t home flippers. We’re just a woodworker and an artist who love our town and want to see it brought back to life the way it was in Laurel’s heyday.” While the Napiers are caught in the whirlwind of TV production and managing their burgeoning businesses, the path that eventually led them on such an unexpected ride started during their junior college days in Ellisville. A native of Laurel, Erin Napier proved to be a talented artist with a keen eye for design at a young age. By her sophomore year at Northeast Jones High School, she knew what her college major would be. “My c o u s i n Ke s l a , w h o w a s a natural-born artist, went to art school and taught me what graphic design was as a little child,” she says. “She really opened my world when I learned that was something that even existed. My mom was a big influence on me as well. I thought she was a professional artist my whole life because she painted, created and wrote.” With her heart set on attending Flagler College, a small, private school in St. Augustine, Fla., to pursue an art degree, she was devastated when she learned she was not immediately accepted. “It was my dream my whole life, and

I was top of my class,” she says. “I had been working on my portfolio for their art school, and then I got wait-listed. My parents [Phil (BS 75) and Karen Rasberry] went to Jones Junior College before [attending] Ole Miss, and Daddy said, ‘I wish you would just think about Jones.’ So I went, and it was wonderful. I had the time of my life, and while I was there I met Ben.” The other half of the “Home Town” success, Ben Napier, is an artist in his own right with a knack for woodworking and a reputation for being a talented handyman. “We didn’t have a lot growing up, but I never really knew that because my dad was very hard working,” he said. “We never hired anybody to fix anything because my dad knew how to fix it. That mindset stuck with me, and that’s actually the reason I got into woodworking. When Erin and I got married, we needed furniture and couldn’t afford it – so I made it.”

Oxford Bound

The pair spent two years at Jones County Junior College before enrolling at Ole Miss in fall 2005. While Erin spent her days tucked away in the art department, Ben decided to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. But he was never far from Erin. “B en was always around,” says Virginia Chavis, associate professor and chair of the Department of Art and Art History and close friend of the couple. “We jokingly say he deserves an honorary art degree because he was in the art building after hours with her. He’s a creative person as well.” Chavis served as academic adviser and professor to Erin during her two years in the university’s highly competitive Bachelor of Fine Arts program. “She was in several of my classes and was one of those students that you really

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Alumni Review

see something special in and always raised the bar in the classroom,” Chavis says. “She was accepted into the program with ease. The faculty and I knew that she was going to go and do great things, and she hasn’t let us down.” Trips to Taylor Grocery, Ole Miss baseball, plate lunches from Chevron and not to mention a marriage proposal on the balcony of Square Books are a just few of the pair’s favorite memories in Oxford. “One night in the fall after a football game, we snuck on the field with some friends,” Erin Napier recalls. “Somebody had a football with them in the truck, and we played on the field. It was 1 a.m. and pitch black. I took off my boots and had these really thick socks on because it was cold outside. I still wear those socks every winter, and there are little bits of the Ole Miss turf that just got woven into the fabric of the bottom of these socks and has never come out.” The two married at Paris-Yates Chapel on Nov. 22, 2008, and settled into Erin’s hometown of Laurel shortly after, where she began designing wedding invitations on the side.

“It’s one of those things where you reach a point that you’re no longer passionate about it, and it’s not the kind of job where you can keep doing it if you lose your passion,” he says. “Erin and I reached that point together, and we started talking about what we were going to do. I decided to help Erin with Lucky Luxe, our wedding invitation company, but also build furniture and sell it.” The letterpress business took off, and the pair became an overnight sensation with their custom handkerchief wedding

Luck & Faith

“I was working in the art department of a big company locally and working on invitations late at night,” Erin Napier says. “It reached a point where I needed to leave my day job if I was going to focus on that, and it was a huge leap of faith. Jan. 1, 2010, was the first day of self-employment for me, and I started my blog, which was at the time called ‘Make Something Good Today.’ “I was just so scared and apprehensive about what the future would be like as a self-employed artist. I needed something to focus on to make me feel positive every day, so I wrote about the best thing that happened every single day. I’ve never missed a day since.” The son of a Methodist preacher, Ben devoted his life to youth ministry before graduating from Ole Miss. He served at several Mississippi churches before deciding to partner with his wife on the newly formed Lucky Luxe letterpress company full time.

invitations. Magazines, blogs and websites were abuzz with excitement over this privately owned business located in a downtown loft in small-town Mississippi. “It was mind-boggling to people that we were doing these really high-end custom letterpress wedding invitations, plus the handkerchiefs,” Ben Napier says. “We were the first to do that and were doing it from south Mississippi.” Those handkerchiefs in particular caught the eye of a producer with HGTV.

#ILiveinLaurel

Having an artistic mind, Erin found she enjoyed sharing her love of the South and her hometown of Laurel through pictures. “I’ve always taken pictures, and there’s a perception problem about what Laurel is really like – people think that it’s boring or Podunk, and none of that is accurate,” she says. “It’s a lot of things but mostly charming. I wanted to take pictures of the charming and beautiful things I find every single day in Laurel, and that’s mostly what my pictures on Instagram are about.” The couple outgrew their downtown loft as Lucky Luxe boomed and took over the space. They purchased an older home, which they renovated, sharing the process on social media. “I posted pictures of the renovation, and somehow our house was featured in Southern Living Weddings with a blog about us ‘southern newlyweds,’” Erin Napier says. “They posted our house on Instagram, and then an executive with HGTV just happened to see it on the explorer page of Instagram and followed me on June 7, 2014. A friend told me, ‘Lindsey Weidhorn just followed you! She’s an executive from HGTV – this is a great connection to have.’ So I followed her back.” What ensued was something the Napiers never imagined. “This whole time we were thinking, OK, she’s going to order stationery, so we were really excited because you know she’s connected to a lot of important people,” Ben Napier laughs. “She still hasn’t ordered any stationery.” As it turns out, Weidhorn had much more in mind than custom letterpress. She soon reached out to see if the duo would consider being on TV. In November 2014, they filmed a sizzle, a promo reel that features montage, clip-based or segment footage that outlines the concept for a show. The network loved the sizzle and began filming a pilot in spring 2015 that aired to a captivated 2.2 million viewers on Jan. 24, 2016. “It’s a very difficult process to get through,” Erin Napier says. “They don’t pick up most sizzles or pilots, and they

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definitely don’t pick up most series. Somehow, here we are, about to make a TV series.” One viewer who is sure to tune in to the show is friend and former professor Chavis. “It’s not surprising to see that the show is coming out because she and Ben are such likable people,” Chavis says. “Things happened sort of organically for them. It’s not that they went out and tried to make a TV show — it happened naturally. They’re not influenced by things that are trends. They’re actually the ones setting trends. They’re unique individuals and independent thinkers who love what they do. I can’t think of better people this could have happened to.”

In addition to the show, the Napiers still successfully operate their invitation company, Lucky Luxe Heirloom Design, along with their home-goods line, Lucky Luxe Dry Goods, and Scotsman Co., Ben’s furniture and “manly” home goods and apparel. Brick-and-mortar stores are opening in Laurel in late 2016. “Designing somebody’s home, the furniture that goes into it or designing a wedding invitation — it’s all telling their story,” Ben Napier says. “That’s what we enjoy about it.” Their passion for what they do comes

Homegrown Success

The Napiers agree the entire experience still seems “surreal.” “[This process] is making us very flexible,” Erin Napier says. “We’re learning on the fly 24 hours a day. It’s one thing to own a small business and work at it every day as your full-time job, but it’s a totally different animal to have three businesses and not be able to be there for any of them because you’re making a TV show that’s an advertisement for those businesses. We’re constantly in the learning curve. But we enjoy doing whatever we can to shine a positive light on Laurel and Mississippi in general.”

Alumni Review

across not only on camera but also in their everyday lives. Erin’s more reticent demeanor is balanced by Ben’s outgoing, warm personality. “We make a good team because Erin is super talented and should be the center of attention,” he says. “I just run my mouth a lot and am the center of attention. Together we make the perfect team.”

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John Kennedy takes Mississippi inspiration to Nashville By Rebecca Lauck Cleary

Photo by iStock Alumni Review

love of music and writing sent John Kennedy (BA 95) to Nashville, but his roots are firmly in Mississippi. The Meridian native is responsible for some of the most recognized songs on the radio, including LeAnn Rimes’ hit “Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way,” a story of thankfulness despite loss, and Jack Ingram’s smash “Maybe She’ll Get Lonely.” Faith Hill, Emerson Hart, Julianne Hough and Billy Ray Cyrus also credit Kennedy for their hits. Kennedy says he vividly remembers that inspiration for “Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way” struck while he was in the shower. Then he collaborated with songwriter Tammi Kidd. “My co-writer Tammi and I wanted to write a reflective song — something serious and meaningful,” Kennedy says. “We just started with the title and melody, and we wrote what we knew. My mother was really having problems getting someone to cut her lawn, and my sister-in-law is named Susan, so I think there was a level of authenticity to it. We knew we had a good one, but it wasn’t exactly like everything else out there.” That song went on to be No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, No. 8 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary, and it won BMI’s Millionaire Award for an excess of 1 million radio plays.

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lthough Kennedy says he didn’t set out to be a songHis hometown also provided many musical influences, writer, a workshop with Grammy-nominated and including Jimmie Rodgers, Paul Davis, David Ruffin, Steve Dove Award-winning songwriter Steven Dale Jones Forbert and Peavey Electronics. (Bonnie Raitt, Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers) “I know so many phenomenal players from Meridian,” provided encouragement. Kennedy says. “I don’t know what it is about Mississippi in “He took me aside and really made me believe I general, but there’s so much talent. Maybe it’s our desire to could actually do it,” says Kennedy, who moved to Nashville prove the stereotypes wrong, or maybe it’s rebellion against the in 1996 and resides there with his wife, Kris, and daughter conservative nature, or maybe it’s just the heat.” Emerson. “I loved his music — his economy of style. His ability After graduation from Ole Miss, Kennedy decided to see if he to set the scene, break your heart and give you hope, all in two could make a career in Nashville, and after a job at the Country lines. That’s the kind of songwriting I love — those songs that Music Association, as well as various night shifts while writing slap you in the face and tell you a truth that you can’t deny.” during the day, he signed his first deal with Universal Music Before that boost, renowned author and Oxford legend Group in 2003. After stints with Sony/ATV Tree and others, in Barry Hannah, who helped develop writing talents in many October 2015, he signed with Vices Verses Music, an independent students throughout the years, music publishing and artist offered words of wisdom. As an development company with undergraduate English major offices in Nashville and Los in Hannah’s creative writing Angeles. Its team of songwritclass, Kennedy was on the list of ers and record producers has people who understood what a written and produced songs feacompliment from him meant. tured in popular TV shows such “Barry stopped me one day as ABC’s hit show “Nashville,” outside of Bondurant Hall and HBO’s “True Blood,” Bravo’s gave me some praise for a short “Real Housewives” series, “The story I had written for the class,” Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Dr. Kennedy says. “That meant Phil,” as well as major motion so much to me — and really pictures. kindled a creative fire. I think Vices Verses founder and just being in a place that harLittle Rock, Ark., native Steve Kris and John Kennedy with daughter Emerson bored so many original thinkers Freeman sought out Kennedy — Faulkner, (Larry) Brown, Hannah, Willie Morris — it just set after several people recommended him. the bar. Not that writing modern country music has much to do “I had made a few phone calls when I was starting the new with that level of literary work, but it is certainly inspiring. I’m publishing company, and the first name that kept coming back not sure you have that kind of example other places.” was John Kennedy,” Freeman says. “And of course the first Kennedy also found a musical outlet at Ole Miss — he time I heard ‘Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way’ on the radio, I played trumpet in the Pride of the South marching band for remember thinking, ‘God, I wish I had written that song,’ so two years. Band, he says, is an important program for schools I was very familiar with John’s work and what he was doing. because students learn to play music as well as work with oth“But it was also the music John has been writing lately, not ers and accomplish something they couldn’t do by themselves. the hits from four or five years ago, but the quality of what he’s “We should really be grateful to the kids in our Ole Miss currently writing — that’s really what sold me. I knew if I signed bands — they work their butts off for little to no scholarships him, that’s what we would be getting with our company too.” and do it all on a shoestring budget,” says Kennedy, who was After their initial meeting, Freeman realized Kennedy also in the Meridian High School band. “If you’re going to was producing and helping with artist development, which is be one of those guys that counts tubas at football games, you something he wanted for Vices Verses. should open up your wallet and write a check. They need it.” “I’m also a record producer and when you’re launching a

Alumni Review

small company, since today’s music industry has completely changed, it’s about finding vessels for your songs,” Freeman says. “So when I met with John and saw he knows how to produce and he’s good at it, pair that with his relationships with artists and production skills, songwriting skills, I just knew that it would be a perfect fit for my vision of what I wanted Vices Verses music to be.” Freeman’s goal in starting the company was to have control over the destination of the music and what would happen with those creations. “The winners in today’s music business and the entertainment industry overall are the people who create and control the content, and that’s what music publishing and artist development is about, and that’s what producing albums is about,” Freeman says. “[John] has a complete vision for everything that we are trying to do,” he says. “You know they always say when great quarterbacks get the ball they can scan the field very quickly, and that’s what I like most about working with John — he sees the complete field. He’s not narrowly focused on just songwriting, he sees the complete picture.” Besides Kennedy’s work in the office at Vices Verses, he also has a home studio, which he refers to as a “blessing and a curse” because he is never truly done with work. “I’m usually either tracking a song, mixing a song, writing a song or singing one,” Kennedy says. “With the current state of the music industry, there has been a lot of belt tightening. The days of booking a million dollar studio, A-list players and having the ‘it guy’ mix it are long gone. If it’s a demo or a smaller project, I’m basically doing it all myself. But that has turned into an absolute passion, although my wife would say it’s a sickness.” So much so, that he has also started his own pro audio/recording forum called www.realgearonline.com, which has had over 6 million page views in two years. He does as much solo writing as he can, which he says is inherently harder than a co-write. “There’s no one there to push you, or bail you out, or pat you on the back when you say something they like, but that’s also what’s so rewarding about (it): it’s all you,” Kennedy says. “Co-writing can be fantastic, if you’re on the same page as the person you’re writing with, and you can get to places that are greater than the sum of its parts. Sometimes things just drop out of thin air — like it’s from the muse — and you end up with something much smarter than you ever intended.”

After just finishing production on an album for “The Voice” alumna Tawnya Reynolds, he is scheduled to start production on a new project with Holley McCreary — his second album with the Alabama native. He is also demoing new songs and mixing two projects that let him spread his wings — one jazz and the other indie rock. Last fall, a song he co-wrote, “No More,” for McCreary reached Billboard’s Top 40 pop charts. Additionally, he is working with “American Idol” and “The Voice” contestants and younger artists who are just starting in the business, such as Nora Collins, Bryson Jennings and Abby Kasch. “I love being in on the ground floor with someone I really believe in, and I’m always looking for talented people to work with,” Kennedy says. “I can show them where the potholes are and help them authentically become the best they can be. It has been really rewarding. Being from Mississippi, integrity is really important to me. That’s not always what you run into in this business, so if I can do something to help change that perception and continue to create — man, that’s the dream.”

Some of Kennedy’s “Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way” LeAnn Rimes “Maybe She’ll Get Lonely” Jack Ingram “You Stay with Me” Faith Hill “All Is Well” Emerson Hart “We Fought Hard” Billy Ray Cyrus “No One to Share the Blame” Josh Gracin “I Would Look Good with You” Josh Gracin “Sugar” JaneDear Girls “I’d Just Be with You” Julianne Hough “Baby Run” Bucky Covington “Change Me” Chris Cagle “Choosing to Believe” Glen Templeton “Counting the Days” Jimmy Wayne “Wish You Could’ve Been There” Oak Ridge Boys s p r i n g 2 016

Sports Ole Miss

Rendering courtesy of CDFL Sports

The $13 million renovation project will include a new clubhouse on the first base side of Oxford-University Stadium.

Best Home Base

UPDATES ON THE WAY FOR O-U STADIUM le Miss Athletics announced plans in February for a $13 million baseball project that will enhance the student-athlete experience as well as the game-day atmosphere for Rebel fans. Renovations are planned in multiple phases with the goal for the entire project to be completed by the start of the 2018 season. The project will include the construction of a team performance center, dugout club and rooftop plaza on the first base side of the stadium. C o oke D oug lass Far r L emons Architects (CDFL Sports) was chosen as the architect for the project. CDFL also worked on the expansion of VaughtHemingway Stadium, the lighting of the football practice field as well as the design of the Olivia and Archie Manning Athletics Performance Center. “CDFL has done tremendous work at Ole Miss and has helped make our 40

Alumni Review

athletic facilities among the best in the country,” says Ole Miss Athletics Director Ross Bjork. “We are excited with the plans they have in place for the new baseball performance center and upgrades to Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.” Ole Miss continues to upgrade facilities to fulfill the needs of its student-athletes. Members of the Ole Miss baseball team will see this firsthand with the construction of a new performance center at O-U Stadium. The baseball performance center will feature a new clubhouse, training room, weight room and players’ lounge. The O-U Stadium addition will be built on the first base side of the facility, meaning the Rebels will switch dugouts after the completion of the project. Similar to the field club going in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and the courtside club in The Pavilion at Ole Miss, a dugout club will be a new feature

for O-U Stadium. The exclusive club will have 330 seats and give fans a look at the Rebels as they leave the clubhouse and head to the field. As part of the dugout club, four rows of box seats will be added behind home plate, improving the best seats in the stadium and allowing fans closer access to the action. As part of the $1.5 million donation by the M-Club toward the Forward Together campaign, a rooftop plaza will be built above the performance center exclusive to baseball letterwinners, M-Club members and season ticket holders with seats in the newly created area. Other parts of the project include the extension of the box seats down the third base line, the relocation of the children’s playground with improvements to it as well as the left field terrace. The additional seating throughout the stadium will increase stadium capacity from 10,323 to 10,715.

Ole Miss Sports

No. 38 Jersey Passes to Youngblood DEFENSIVE END EARNS 2016 CHUCKY MULLINS COURAGE AWARD Rebel coaching staff selected Youngblood from among several veteran defensive players. The award is presented annually to an Ole Miss upperclassman defensive player who embodies the spirit of Mullins — courage, leadership, perseverance and determination. “Credit Coach (Billy) Brewer for being a driving force for this award and to Brad Gaines for his relationship with Chucky,” Freeze says. “Chucky had toughness and a sacrificial heart. That’s what we think of as we prepare our young men for life because that’s the biggest battle we’ll ever face.” Youngblood was a key contributor on each of the last three Rebel squads that advanced to the Music City Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and Sugar Bowl. As his role on the defensive line increased each year, so did his production, including 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

le Miss handed out its annual spring football awards on April 9, headlined by senior defensive end John Youngblood being named the 2016 Chucky Mullins Courage Award winner. A native of Trussville, Ala., Youngblood became the 26th recipient in the 27-year history of the award, when it was revealed at the breakfast ceremony presented by the M-Club. Youngblood will wear Mullins’ No. 38 jersey throughout the 2016 season. The award, sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, honors the late Chucky Mullins, who had his Ole Miss career come to an end during the 1989 Homecoming game against Vanderbilt, when he was paralyzed after making a tackle. After returning to his studies at Ole Miss, Mullins passed away on May 6, 1991. Head Coach Hugh Freeze and the

Head Coach Hugh Freeze and John Youngblood

for loss and a pass-defended last season. He is known as a locker room leader and a standout in the classroom as well. “This is a great honor,” Youngblood says. “I’m a little numb right now, and I know my teammates were also worthy of this honor. I’m humbled and honored to be wearing Chucky’s number.”

FOOTBALL PROGRAM CONTINGENT SERVES VILLAGE IN HAITI

“It was amazing,” Kelly says. “You have elect members of the Ole Miss football program and support staff gave the opportunity to kind of take a step back up their spring break for the third year and realize how thankful you really are to in a row to serve others by doing mission work in Camp Marie, Haiti. A 28-person group representing Ole Miss made the return trip to Camp Marie to help provide valuable irrigation to the crops of Haitian farmers. In previous trips, the Rebels helped dig a well to provide clean water for the same village. Head Coach Hugh Freeze emphasizes Talbot Buys (left), Armani Linton and Chad Kelly the value this trip has not only for those he’s with children in Camp Marie serving but also the Ole Miss players and staff. “That trip never disappoints in the be here in the United States and have the realm of making you grateful and thankful opportunity to play at a great university. for what we have here,” Freeze says. “It is a A lot of those kids grow up in a certain difficult trip for me the older I get, but it’s situation, and they can’t really get out of it. For us, to be able to go over there and worth it to a lot of families and kids.” The Rebels’ senior quarterback Chad put smiles on kids’ faces, that’s what it’s Kelly was on the trip for the second straight all about. We’re thankful we are able to go year, bringing along teammates Talbot there and help them.” Buys, Armani Linton and Sean Rawlings. Ole Miss partnered with the 410 Bridge

Alumni Review

organization, which provides continued support for the Haitians that call Camp Marie home. With the help of 410 Bridge and the Rebels, Camp Marie is closer to being able to take higher steps and see economic growth as a village. Stephen Ponder, senior executive associate athletics director, and his family joined the trip this year, along with several other members of the Ole Miss Athletics family and support staff including coaches Corey Batoon and Maurice Harris and their families. “I know that for my family and the others on the trip from Ole Miss, seeing the need for basic things like water, food, shelter and clothing was overwhelming at times,” Ponder says. “We can take things for granted so easily at home, so seeing this up close and personal made a lasting impact.” The Freeze Foundation has committed continued assistance to Camp Marie’s irrigation growth in the future.

OLE MISS NEEDS YOU! Do you have children or grandchildren whom you would like to attend Ole Miss?

If so, help us get them here! Students may sign up to join our mailing list by visiting

olemiss.edu/vip Select “high school student,” “transfer student,” or “international student,” and complete the interest page. We will add you to our mailing list, and you will begin receiving correspondence from Ole Miss. After completing the form, you will be redirected to a webpage designed specifically for prospective students! The University of Mississippi is committed to the core principles of a great American university: accessibility, excellence and leadership, and service. Admissions Alumni Review Ad 2016.indd 1

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Ole Miss Sports

Winning Streak

MOODY PRESENTED HOWELL TROPHY FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT YEAR and Quinndary Weatherspoon to receive the honor. The fifth-fastest player to reach 1,000 career points in Ole Miss history, Moody leads the SEC and ranks ninth nationally in scoring at 23.1 points per game. His 43-point performance against MSU on S enior Night is tied for the highest single-game total in the SEC this year, the 11th highest in the nation and the 13th highest in school history. It also marked the most points Stefan Moody scored by a Rebel since Gerald Glass dropped 53 on LSU in 1989, since Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks scored 45 and was the most in a league game against Arkansas in 2009.

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Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

he Mississippi Sports Hall of Fam e n am e d s e n i or St e f an Moody the 2016 C Spire Howell Trophy winner. It is the second-straight year for Moody to receive the honor. The Howell Trophy, named for the legendary Bailey Howell, goes to the most outstanding men’s collegiate basketball player in Mississippi. Moody, a native of Kissimmee, Fla., joins Jarvis Varnado as the only two players in the award’s history to win the trophy in back-to-back years. This is the fourth-straight year a Rebel was named the state’s top player after Jarvis Summers took home the award in 2014, and Marshall Henderson won the honor in 2013. Moody edged Mississippi State’s Gavin Ware

Published JUST

Study of Southern Culture. He is an editor of the 24-volume New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture along with the Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Series, and his work has appeared in Ethnic Heritage in Mississippi: The Twentieth Century, Southern Cultures, Southern Quarterly, Delta Magazine and Living Blues.

Bogue Chitto Flats: Short Stories from a Southern Town by

Conversations with Barry Hannah e dited by James G. Thomas Jr., 240 pages, $25 (Paperback), University Press of Mississippi, ISBN: 9781496804358 Between 1972 and 2001, Barr y Hannah (1942–2010) published eight novels and four collections of short stories. A master of short fiction, Hannah is considered by many to be one of the most important writers of modern American literature. Conversations with Barry Hannah is a collection of interviews published between 1980 and 2010. Within them, Hannah engages interviewers in discussions on war and violence, masculinity, religious faith, abandoned writing projects, the modern South, the South’s obsession with defeat, the value of teaching writing and post-Faulknerian literature. Despite his rejection of the label “Southern writer,” Hannah’s work has often been compared to that of fellow Mississippian William Faulkner, particularly for his use of dark humor and the Southern Gothic tradition in his work. Yet Hannah’s voice is distinctly and undeniably his own — a linguistic tour de force. James G. Thomas Jr. (BA 94, MA 07) is associate director for publications at the University of Mississippi’s Center for the 46

Alumni Review

John Case, 266 pages, $22.95 (Paperback), Magnolia Bend Press LLC, ISBN: 9780692516461 Bogue Chitto Flats is the first book published by John Case (BA 72). In this collection of short stories, Case invites the reader into his tales of the people he knew and t h e s t or i e s h e h e a rd while growing up in his hometown in rural Mississippi. The stories come from insights he inherited living in a rural Mississippi community where storytelling was an art and often the main source of entertainment. Case was raised in the small crossroads village of Bogue C h i t t o b u t at t e n d e d school in the larger town of Brookhaven. He is an independent insurance agent and married to Brenda Lowry. He has two sons, Chris and Alan.

T h e Pe t e r B a y b y Randy Pierce, 318 pages, $24.95 (Hardcover), D o g w o o d Pre ss , I S B N : 9780983538684 Three years after returning to his hometown of Leakesville, Miss., to speak at the funeral of childhood friend Brandon Smallwood, Grant Hicks is again asked home, this time by a retiring judge who says that a man accused of capital murder might be innocent.

Hicks, now married and a managing partner of his law firm in Atlanta, insists he is a civil litigator and would not know how to handle a criminal case. But he gets involved when the accused turns out to be his childhood friend Ben Petty. The evidence against Petty, though circumstantial, is convincing, and Hicks and his legal team concede they would do well to spare their client from execution. They catch a break when Hicks learns that the only witness to the murder, t he nie ce of the victim, was never interviewed by local law enforcement. But what changes everything is a seemingly unrelated string of murders that the defense investigator is still examining when the jury announces the verdict in the Petty case. And when Hick’s wife, Jade, disappears, Hicks realizes too late that a serial killer was in their midst all along and may have struck again. Randy Pierce (JD 97) grew up and still resides in Greene County, Miss. He previously served in the state Legislature and on the Mississippi Supreme Court. He is now the director of the Judicial College at Ole Miss. The Peter Bay is his third novel. Information presented in this section is compiled from material provided by the publisher and/or author and does not necessarily represent the view of the Alumni Review or the Ole Miss Alumni Association. To present a recently published book or CD for consideration, please mail a copy with any descriptions and publishing information to: Ole Miss Alumni Review, Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677.

Have a Question?

President Sandra Guest, Vice (662) 915-5208 u sguest@olemiss.ed leg my acy.org umfoundation.plan

Your Life Insurance Can Change Their Lives A Tax-Wise Way to Support Ole Miss The life insurance policy you own may have less value to you over time; however, you can turn it into a valuable gift to the University of Mississippi Foundation and secure important tax savings for you and your family at the same time. Changing your policy’s beneficiary to UMF can change students’ lives by funding scholarships, supporting the recruitment and retention of excellent faculty, and enhancing the Ole Miss experience through better programs and facilities. Quick Fact

Gifts of life insurance are usually deductible up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income. If necessary, you may carry over any unused deduction for an additional five years.

As a member or friend of the Ole Miss Alumni Association, you could receive exclusive savings on auto and home insurance 1 from Liberty Mutual. Along with valuable savings, you’ll enjoy access to benefits like 24-Hour Claims Assistance.

For a free quote, call 1-800-524-9400 or visit www.libertymutual.com/olemiss.

Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify. Auto coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty County Mutual Insurance Company, 2100 Walnut Hill Lane, Irving, TX. Home coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Insurance Corporation, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116. ©2015 Liberty Mutual Insurance

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Traveler 2016 REBEL

Monte Carlo, Monaco

he Ole Miss Alumni Association is offering a number of spectacular trips for 2016. Alumni and friends obtain group rates and discounts. All prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change until booking. Airfare is not included unless noted. For a brochure or more information, contact the Alumni office at 662-915-7375. You also can find the most current and complete listing of trips and prices on the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s website at www. olemissalumni.com/travel.

NATIONAL PARKS AND LODGES OF THE OLD WEST JUNE 22-JULY 1, 2016

Inspiration, a connection to the past and nature’s beauty are the gifts of this 10-day American expedition. Tracing the historic paths and natural splendors of the Old West and joined by an 48

Alumni Review

expert Orbridge expedition leader, see and learn about the storied sights and monuments of Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, Spearfish Canyon, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. Witness bison herds, savor a chuck wagon cookout, see Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial, visit a wooly mammoth dig site and, at the volcanically active caldera of Yellowstone, see otherworldly geothermal sites. Wonderfully atmospheric hotels and lodges are a highlight of this program, including landmark lodging within the parks themselves. Traveling comfortably in a private motor coach, there is no better way to see our national parks. — From $3,995

MEDITERRANEAN CROSSROADS JUNE 25-JULY 3, 2016

From glamorous resorts edged by sparkling blue seas to historic cities studded with fascinating ancient

monuments, experience the allure of the Mediterranean as you cruise from Monaco to France, Italy and Spain aboard Oceania Cruises’ exquisite Riviera. Depart Monte Carlo for Bandol, a charming French resort town known for its elegant designer shops and photogenic marina. Stroll the ancient streets of Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica, an island of lush pine forests and scenic gorges. Visit Cagliari, Sardinia, offering an alluring mix of Roman ruins, Byzantine churches and lovely botanical gardens, before marveling at Palma’s massive Gothic cathedral. Then stop at sun-kissed Ibiza, a holiday hotspot and home of the 16th-century Castle of Ibiza and the Museum of Contemporar y Art. Absorb more Spanish culture in Valencia, renowned for its visually impressive City of Arts and Sciences, before concluding your voyage in Barcelona. — From $2,799, including airfare

2016 rebel Traveler GRAND DANUBE PASSAGE JULY 1-16, 2016

Experience Eastern European culture, marvelous old-world capitals, ornate cathedrals and picturesque villages as you cruise the celebrated Grand Danube Passage for eight nights aboard the exclusively chartered MS Amadeus Silver. Along the way, discover enthralling scenery in eight countries and 13 cities and towns. See ancient capitals, Roman ruins, magnificent churches, ornate palaces and medieval castles in Vidin, Belgrade, Budapest and Vienna. Sail through the Iron Gate Gorge, the Carpathian Mountains’ dramatic cliffs, the twisting Danube Bend and the breathtaking Wachau Valley. New for 2016, enjoy a customizable journey with a choice of included excursions in many ports of call. Begin with a three-night stay in Prague, and after your cruise, spend two nights in the fashionable Oborishte district of Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, and admire the city whose name means “wisdom.” This program features flexible excursions, lectures by local experts to enhance your insight into the region, accommodations, an extensive meal plan, wine with lunch and dinner, and time for independent exploration. — From $4,695

GREAT JOURNEY THROUGH EUROPE JULY 15-25, 2016

This extraordinary 11-day “Grand Tour” of Europe features an incredible combination of river, rail, lake and mountains including five nights aboard the deluxe Amadeus Silver III. Travel through Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands, cruising the most scenic sections of the Rhine River. Spend two nights each in Zermatt and Lucerne, ride aboard three legendary railways — the Gornergrat Bahn, for breathtaking views of the Matterhorn; the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Lucerne; and the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway — and enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Lucerne. This is the trip of a lifetime at an exceptional value! — From $4,295

ALASKA PASSAGES JULY 25-AUG. 4, 2016

Immerse yourself in the unspoiled glory of Alaska, America’s last frontier, as you cruise its coastline aboard Oceania Cruises’ graceful Regatta. Depart from Seattle, and sail the Inside Passage along Canada’s coast to Alaska and the small wilderness outpost of Ketchikan, once known as the “Salmon Capital of the World.” Then visit Wrangell, a quaint timber and fishing community renowned for its Petroglyph Beach and intriguing gold rush history. Continue to Alaska’s capital, Juneau, where an exhilarating blend of nature and modern culture awaits. Take in the spectacular sight of Alaska’s longest tidewater glacier, Hubbard Glacier; stop at Skagway, a gateway to the famed Klondike gold fields; and explore Sitka, home to the Sitka National Historical Park. Before returning to Seattle, journey to Canada’s lovely city of Victoria, a former British colony distinguished by its charming houses, picturesque gardens and colonial heritage. — From $3,499

OXFORD AND THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE AUG. 19-27, 2016

Enjoy this extraordinary opportunity to travel in a small group to the historic university town of Oxford and through the picturesque Cotswold

villages, discovering the true character of England’s town and country life. Spend four nights in the landmark Macdonald R andolph Hotel near Oxford University and three nights in the charming Cotswolds. Meet Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill, cousin to Sir Winston Churchill, at Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site; tour Victorian Highclere Castle, also known as “Downton Abbey”; visit Stratford-upon-Avon; and hear about contemporary life from the locals during the exclusive Town & Country Life Forum. Cambridge pre-program and London post-program options are available. — From $3,995

COASTAL LIFE: ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS ALONG THE ADRIATIC AND AEGEAN SEAS SEPT. 19-27, 2016

Cruise from Venice along the stunning Dalmatian coast through the Corinth Canal to Athens on this seven-night it inerar y ab o ard t he exclusively chartered, five-star small ship M.S. Le Lyrial. Visit five countries and up to eight UNESCO World Heritage sites exploring the influence of the Roman, Greek, Byzantine, Venetian and Slavic civilizations. Tour Split’s Diocletian’s Palace, Dubrovnik’s 15th-centur y walled city, Kotor’s medieval fortifications, the remarkable archaeological

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2016 rebel Traveler CAPTIVATING MEDITERRANEAN OCT. 8-16, 2016

Korcula Town, Croatia

site of Butrint, Corfu’s Old Town and ancient Delphi. Enjoy a Coastal Life Forum with local residents, a folk music performance and a lecture on the restoration of Dubrovnik. Pre-cruise and post-cruise options are offered. — From $4,195

ISLAND LIFE IN ANCIENT GREECE: AN AEGEAN ODYSSEY SEPT. 26-OCT. 4, 2016

Join us for this unparalleled nine-day Aegean odyssey cruising round trip Athens, Greece, aboard the exclusively chartered, five-star small ship M.S. Le Lyrial. Call on Crete, Santorini, Delos, Mykonos, Pátmos and medieval Rhodes islands steeped in myth and history. Visit extraordinary Meteora, where 14th- and 15th-century monasteries stand high atop natural sandstone pinnacles, and walk through one of the most legendary sites in all of antiquity — the Palace of Minos at Knossos. Meet local residents during the specially arranged Island Life Forum for a personal perspective on the true character of the Aegean Sea’s maritime culture. Athens pre-cruise and Peloponnese post-cruise options are available. — From $4,495 50

Alumni Review

CANADA AND NEW ENGLAND FALL MEDLEY SEPT. 30-OCT. 12, 2016

Invigorate your autumn with a lively splash of color as you sail North America’s East Coast aboard Oceania Cruises’ regal Regatta. Begin in the “Paris of the North,” Montreal, a captivating city bursting with European charisma, and set sail for Quebec City, where the iconic Château Frontenac awaits. Head to northern Quebec to take in the awe-inspiring beauty of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region and the unique heritage of HavreSaint-Pierre. Visit the forested town of Corner Brook, Newfoundland; stroll the historic waterfront in Halifax, a modern port city with attractive parks and shops; and see the Carleton Martello Tower in Saint John, New Brunswick. Explore Maine’s beautiful resort of Bar Harbor, admire the 19th-century architecture of Portland, Maine, and discover the elegance and intriguing history of Boston. Before concluding your autumn sojourn in New York, behold romantic Gilded Age mansions in Newport, R.I.’s oldest resort town. — From $4,599

History comes to life on this impressive voyage that reflects the heart and soul of the Mediterranean. Uncover cultural and historical treasures as you sail from Greece to Italy, Monaco, France and Spain aboard Oceania Cruises’ luxurious Riviera. Depart Athens for the delightful seaside resort of Sorrento, followed by the Eternal City of Rome, abounding with marvelous ancient structures. Take in the magnificent art and architecture of legendary Florence, stand before Pisa’s famous Leaning Tower, or admire the splendid rolling hills of Tuscany. Stop at glamorous Monte Carlo, a small, affluent enclave famous for its casino and stunning locale on the Riviera’s winding Grand Corniche. Explore Marseille’s lively markets and charming old quarter, or experience the rich Provençal countryside dotted with picturesque medieval towns before your odyssey concludes in Barcelona. — From $2,499

SORRENTO, ITALY Oct. 26-Nov. 3, 2016

Discover the natural wonders and wealth of antiquities in Italy’s famed region of Campania, home to writers, artists and emperors for more than 2,000 years. Stroll through sweet lemon groves and experience the beauty of Sorrento, an idyllic seaside town and your home for the duration of your stay. Travel along the Amalfi Coast, one of the most amazing Mediterranean shores, and delight in the colorful architecture of the cliff-hugging town of Positano. Explore Amalfi, once the home of a powerful medieval maritime republic but today a popular resort town. Travel back in time with a visit to Naples’ historic center and renowned Museo Archeologico Nazionale. Explore the well-preserved historic ruins in Herculaneum and Pompeii. Spend a day on the storied Isle of Capri. During this seven-night stay, sample local delicacies and talk with local residents. This Alumni Campus Abroad program includes excursions, first-class accommodations, an extensive meal plan and wine with dinner. There is no single supplement for solo travelers. — From $3,240

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News ALUMNI

Welcome Aboard

2016 Alumni Association Board Members he new members of the Alumni Association board of directors are involved in a wide range of careers and community organizations. One-third of the board is appointed each year by the Ole Miss Alumni Association president and serves a three-year term. Gwen O. Anderson

(BA 71) is secretary/treasurer for the Jackson-based company Jimmie Lyles Flooring. She is past treasurer of the Parent and Teacher Association board of Jackson Prep and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Jackson. She continues to support and volunteer at Mission First, an inner-city ministry, and is an active supporter of the University of Mississippi’s School of Applied Sciences. While at Ole Miss, she served as treasurer of the Associated Women Students and Mortar Board. Alon Bee (BA 79)

is city president of Regions Financial C orp. for the Me t r o Ja c k s o n area. Bee joined Regions in 1978. He is on the board of directors of the B ap t i s t He a lt h Systems Foundation, the Madison County Foundation and the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce. Bee is past president of the board of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi and now ser ves on the School of Business Administration’s advisory board. 52

Alumni Review

Erika Berry (BA 0 8 ) s e r ve s as a policy adviser in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi. She began her career teaching middle school m a t h i n C h a rlotte, N.C., then earned a Master of Public Policy in 2012 from Vanderbilt University. While at Ole Miss, Berry served as vice president of the Associated Student Body and was elected to the Hall of Fame. She serves as president of the Jackson area Kappa Delta Alumnae Association. Rebecca Bertrand

(06, MEd 08) works at Insperity as a channel program manager and devotes her free time to a number of nonprofits. She serves as a vice chairman of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Souvenir Program Committee; Texas Children’s Hospital chairman for the Junior League of Houston; and on the board of the Houston Rebel Club. She volunteers with the Mission of Yahweh and attends Holy Rosar y Catholic Church.

David Blackburn

(BAccy 00, MAcc y 01) of Oxford is president of The Blackb u r n G r o u p, a commercial and residential real estate development company. He also serves as president of R.J. Allen & Associates, a commercial general construction company. He serves on the boards of governors for the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, North Mississippi. He has served on the boards of directors for United Way and Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce. Bob Box (BBA 80,

JD 88) is a partner in the law firm of Jones Walker LLP in Jackson. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau. Box served a two-year term as president of the Central Mississippi Ole Miss Club and a three-year term as president of the Rebel Club of Jackson. He and his wife, Cathy (BA 81), reside at Lake Caroline in Madison County.

ALUMNI News Lampkin Butts

(BBA 73) has served as presid e nt a n d c h i e f operating officer of Sanderson Farms Inc. in Laurel since 2004, and has been with the company for 41 years. Butts is a member of the boards of directors of the New Orleans branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the National Chicken Council. He and his wife, Susie, live in Laurel. Major Gen. Leon Collins (BBA 82)

i s t h e a djut ant general of Mississippi and serves as the commanding general of both the Mississippi Army and Air National Guard.

He commands more than 12,275 citizen soldiers and airmen. Collins was promoted to brigadier general in 2005 while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, making him the first African-American to attain the rank of general officer in the history of the Mississippi National Guard. He was promoted to the rank of major general in 2012. Lillie Flenorl (BA 0 8 ) s e r ve s as a communications specialist for Fe d E x Fre i g ht . She has served as a communications and public relations associate in the office of Mayor A.C. Wharton, associate manager of public relations and advertising with the Mississippi Development Authority, communications assistant in the Office of Gov. Haley Barbour and office manager for U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran. While

at Ole Miss, she was named to the Student Hall of Fame and selected by Order of Omega as Greek Woman of the Year. George Goza

(BSCvE 72) is vice president of Clark Construction Inc. of McComb. He is a registered professional engineer and member of the Mississippi Engineering Society and former chapter president. While at Ole Miss, he was lieutenant commander of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He has served as president of the South Mississippi Rebel Club and is a former member of the School of Engineering alumni board and Woods Society.

Keith Carter

• Former All-American Ole Miss student athlete • Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development • NAACC Fundraiser of the Year in 2016

• Online MBA Student

One prestigious MBA. Now available online. olemissbusiness.com/mba

ajones@bus.olemiss.edu | 662-915-5483 s p r i n g 2 016

ALUMNI News Gayle Henry

(BA 73) received h e r m a s t e r ’s degree in speech pathology from Tulane University and worked at the New Orleans Veterans Hospital. She later worked as a speech pathologist in the public schools in Natchito ches, L a. She and her husband, Michael, have resided in Oxford since 2012. Henry serves on the board of the Friends of the University of Mississippi Museum. She is a past president of Tri Delta House Corp. and serves as a member of the board of directors. Gene Henson Jr.

(BBA 76) is president of the Memphis region o f Tr u s t m a r k National Bank and resides in Germantown, Tenn. His most re c e nt profe s s i on a l an d c om mu n it y a c t iv it i e s include the Tennessee Bankers Association board of directors; American Bankers Association Government

Alumni Review

Relations C ouncil administrative committee; Barret School of Banking board of regents; Greater Memphis Chamber board of governors; Memphis Museums Inc. board of trustees; E conomic C lub of Memphis; and United Way of the Mid-South campaign cabinet. Armintie Price Herrington (BA

07) is a TV color analyst for Ole M i s s w o m e n’s basketball and radio personality. After a successful basketball career at Ole Miss, where she earned numerous honors, she was a first-round draft pick in the 2007 WNBA draft, and was named WNBA Rookie of the Year. Herrington ser ved as an assistant coach at Ole Miss for the women’s basketball team from 2009 to 2012. She was inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame in 2014 and named an SEC Legend in 2015.

Hu Meena (BSPhE

80) serves as president and chief executive officer of C Spire, which provides wireless and other communications services to all of Mississippi and parts of four southeastern states. He is responsible for the strategic direction of the brand and setting the vision for the company. He serves as a member of the boards of directors of Telapex Inc., Reformed Theological Seminary and the University of Mississippi Foundation. Rush O’Keefe

(BBA 75, JD 79) is senior vice president and general counsel of FedEx Express. O’Keefe joined the Federal Express Legal D e p ar t me nt i n 1986, serving as both a staff attorney and managing director of the Labor and Employment Group. In 1998, he was named vice president of Regulatory and Industry Affairs. He assumed his current position in 2002 and is a three-time recipient of Federal

ALUMNI News Express’ Five Star Award, its highest award for employee excellence. Deano Orr (BBA

93) of Bar tlett, Tenn., serves as executive director of t he Inter national Paper Foundation, where he is responsible for oversight, development and strategic alignment of all International Paper giving programs. His career includes more than 21 years of diverse public affairs experience with a primary emphasis on community relations, corporate contributions, media relations and state and federal government affairs. He was an inaugural recipient of the International Paper Diversity and Inclusion Impact Award. Rhonda Reed (BA 98, MA 99, EdD 08) is an academic intervention coordinator for t h e Ox ford School District. Sh e pre v i ou s ly taught kindergarten for 11 years at Bramlett Elementary School and was selected Teacher of the Year in 2003. She

serves on the boards of directors for the Mississippi Association of Educators and the Lafayette County Literacy Council. She is a past board member of the Oxford Endowment for Public Education and is a past president of the Oxford Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Peter Ross (BSPh 02, PhMD 04) of Oxford is a clinical pharmacist and adult medicine preceptor at Baptist Memor ial Hospit alNo r t h M i s s i s sippi and owner of Ross Pharmacy Consulting LLC and Pharmacy Solutions of Mississippi LLC. He serves the UM School of Pharmacy as a part-time clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice. He is a board member and past president of both the Ole Miss Quarterback Club and the LOU Ole Miss Club. He serves on the 21 United board, 100 Men service club and is a deacon at North Oxford Baptist Church.

Class Notes ’40s

HENRY BREVARD (BSCvE 43), CEO of B&B Concrete in Tupelo, and his family received the Red Rasberry Humanitarian Award for their community work.

’50s

GEORGE WARDLAW (MFA 55) of Amherst, Mass., was featured in a segment of Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s “Mississippi Roads” and on the website visionandartproject.org, which chronicles the boundaries between vision, sight, drawing and painting.

’70s

NORMA CANIZARO CLIPPARD (BBA 76) is director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Vanderbilt University, which was awarded a second million dollar gift from the Bernard Osher Foundation.

JOHNNIE PERRIN COOMBS JR. (BBA 71) of Blue Mountain was selected for inclusion in the prestigious FAA Airmen Certification Database by the Federal Aviation Administration. EDWARD J. CURRIE (BA 73, JD 76) of Currie Johnson & Myers P.A. in Jackson, was elected to membership in the American Law Institute. JIM M. GREENLEE (BE 74, JD 81), former U.S. attorney in Oxford, was appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant (79) to the Mississippi Court of Appeals. STEVEN G. ROGERS (BA 76) was elected to the board of directors of Cedar Realty Trust, a New York-based, publicly traded real estate investment trust.

Grownup Getaway Greenwood has earned a well-deserved reputation as Mississippi’s most accessible getaway spot. From rejuvenation at the Alluvian Spa to an overnight stay in a luxurious Alluvian suite, the beauty of Greenwood’s downtown district is its walkability, with shopping and upscale dining choices that will have you begging for more.

visitgreenwood.com 662-453-9197 • #travelgreenwood

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ALUMNI News KARL STEINBERGER (BA 73, JD 76), shareholder at Heidelberg, Steinberger, Comer & Burrow P.A. in Pascagoula, was nominated for president of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.

’80s

DAWN HENDERSON BEAM (BBA 86, JD 89) of Sumrall was appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant (79) to the Mississippi Supreme Court. ALLISON BUCHANAN (BA 82) was named chief executive officer of New Media Lab in Oxford, the parent company of HottyToddy.com. PHILIP GUNN (JD 89) of Clinton was unanimously re-elected to serve as speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives for the 2016-20 term. MARJORIE T. MATLOCK (BA 82, JD 85) joined the Oxford law firm of Holcomb Dunbar Attorneys, leading the firm’s Workers’ Compensation Defense Group. KEN MCKAY (BAccy 85) joined the Business Litigation and Energy Group of Baker Donelson in Houston. KEN MONROE (BA 87), warranty management professional with Ingersoll Rand Transp or t S olut ions Nor t h Amer ica/ Thermo King North America in Minneapolis, was an inventor for and granted Patent No. 9,184,984 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. MIKE MORGAN (BAccy 88), finance professor for the University of Southern Mississippi, was

elected Hinds County supervisor after retiring as president of Bomgar Corp., a Ridgelandbased software company. JEROME SHEFFIELD (BBA 86) accepted the position of counselor at Lee Memorial Funeral Home & Cemetery in Verona. VIRGINIA LUKE WALLACE (BSPh 80, PhMD 08) of Olive Branch is serving as clinical pharmacist with Methodist Hospital. RICHARD WHITE (BBA 86, MBA 87) presented “The Economic, Legal and Other Considerations of Reaching the Retail Customer for Craft Brewers in Alabama (2009-15)” at the 2015 Beeronomics Conference hosted by Washington State University in Seattle.

’90s

DAVID W. BARIA (JD 90), partner in the Bay St. Louis office of Baria-Jones PLLC, was selected to serve as leader of the minority party in the Mississippi House of Representatives. TONYA KENNEDY CAMMON (JD 92), attorney with Chattanooga firm Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison P.C., was named a fellow of the Federal Bar Foundation. RIP HANEY (BA 93), affiliate broker with Mar x-B ensdorf Realtors, was elected incoming president for the Multi Million Dollar Club of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors. WILLIAM LEE HON (JD 90), Polk County criminal district attorney in Livingston, Texas, was

elected chairman of the board of directors of the Texas Special Prosecution Unit. JAY HOPSON (BBA 92) accepted the position of head football coach for the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. CHARLIE HUSSEY (BBA 99), associate commissioner with the SEC Network in Birmingham, Ala., was named “Top 40 Under 40” by Sports Business Journal. FRED WARREN (BBA 92) was promoted to director of asset optimization technologies for Houston-based GE Healthcare. R. QUENTIN WHITWELL JR. (BA 95, JD 98) announced the formation of Whitwell & Associates PLLC in Oxford.

’00s

JENNIFER ADDY (BBA 02), pharmaceutical sales representative, was named Parent of the Year by Oxford School District. J. SCOTT DAY (MBA 01) of Delaware was promoted to vice president of U.S. sales and marketing, extremity fixation, with Orthofix Inc. R. GREGG MAYER (JD 06) was promoted to counsel in the Litigation Practice Group of Phelps Dunbar LLP in Jackson. TAMIKA MONTGOMERY-REEVES (BA 03) of Wilmington, Del., is the first African-American and the second woman to serve as a judge on Delaware’s Court of Chancery.

Call me today at (601) 442.6292 319 Main Street Natchez, MS 39120 601.442.6292 • Phone 601.442.6365 • Fax

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Financial Planning | Retirement | Investments| Insurance Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future ﬁnancial results. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2014 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. 56

Alumni Review

ALUMNI News LANA PARRISH (BAEd 08, MEd 15) of Oxford was named 2016 Della Davidson Elementary School Teacher of the Year. JOHN R. TODD (BAccy 00) was appointed president and chief executive officer of Columbia Lloyds Insurance Co. in Houston. STEPHEN P. WILSON (JD 03) of Meridian started the Law Office of Stephen Wilson, a solo practice primarily in the areas of personal injury and family and criminal law.

’10s

DOMINA COX (BAccy 12, MAccy 13), certified public accountant, joined the audit division of Haddox Reid Eubank Betts in Jackson. DAVID MISENHELTER (BSCJ 10, MCJ 15) of Oxford was named SWAT Officer of the Year.

Faculty, Staff and Friends

Jo Von Reed, who serves as president of the Philadelphia MBC and the TallahatchieOxford MB Association District Women’s Auxiliary, was recognized along with her organizations for 10 years of volunteer service at the North Mississippi Regional Center.

NICHOLE WILLIAMS (BSChE 13) of Saltillo was named a Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award recipient by Cooper Tire.

Club Winners

he Lafayette-OxfordUniversity Ole Miss Alumni Club and Wayne County Rebel Club won the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s annual club competition. Each club was awarded a $500 donation to its scholarship endowment. Pictured are Gant Boone (left), LOU club president; Mike Boyles, Wayne County club president; Kirk Purdom, Alumni Association executive director; and Eddie M a l o n e y, O l e M i ss A l u m n i Association president.

Melangelo Fine Art

Melanie Dame Withrow Class ’86 314.740.4700 MelangeloFineArt@gmail.com

MelangeloFineArt.com s p r i n g 2 016

ALUMNI News Weddings

J.S. “Sebe” Dale Jr. (LLB 48) of Columbia, April 5, 2016

Ann Jolley Agnew (BBA 11) and Mark Calvin Woods, April 2, 2016.

Ann Elizabeth Miller (BSPh 11, PharmD 14) and Brent Adam Sutherland (BSPh 11, PharmD 14), March 19, 2016. Neal Ann Parker (BAJ 11) and Tommy Vincent Chamblee (BA 10, BAccy 10), July 11, 2015. Amy Lynn Purser (BA 90) and McWillie M. Robinson III (BBA 87), Oct. 8, 2015.

John Smith Featherston (BS 44, MCert 44) of Spartanburg, S.C., Oct. 25, 2015

Charles Drewry Galey (BSHPE 48) of Hattiesburg, Feb. 5, 2016

John Nicholas Holman Jr. (BBA 48) of Minden, La., April 3, 2016 June Gilles Hunt (BA 44) of Gulfport, March 13, 2016

Seymour Bennett Johnson (49) of Indianola, Feb. 10, 2016

Julius Wade King (BSC 43) of Fort Worth, Texas, March 1, 2016 Joseph Eli Lauderdale (BSCvE 40) of Hernando, Feb. 29, 2016 Robert A. Lefeve (47) of Gulfport, Jan. 16, 2016

Births

Elizabeth Harvey Leslie (BA 46) of Oxford, Feb. 7, 2016

Parker Graves, son of Laura Kettig Beasley (BAEd 03) and Kenneth Taylor Beasley, Jan. 26, 2015.

Maxine Weeks McAlpin (BAEd 47) of Booneville, Feb. 17, 2016

Siena Grace, daughter of Hope Heath Cox and Art J. Cox III (BA 88), Jan. 8, 2016.

George Alonzo McLean (BS 48, BSGE 48) of Orlando, Fla., March 24, 2016 Frances Mize Olson (BA 41) of Rome, Ga., March 6, 2016

Lucy Russell, daughter of Lindsay Pryor Jenkins (BA 02) and Marc R. Jenkins (BA 99), Aug. 11, 2015.

Charles Newton Payne Jr. (BA 49, MS 50) of Dunwoody, Ga., Feb. 11, 2016 Margaret Rust Pharr (BAEd 48) of Clarksdale, Feb. 24, 2016

Isaac Douglas, son of Dana Dale Jones (MD 01) and Henry Lee Jones (BSME 95), Oct. 1, 2015.

William Jacob Propst Jr. (42) of Crawford, Aug. 14, 2015

William Abraham, son of Laura Blackledge Kidder (BS 09) and Raymond Abraham Kidder (BSCvE 09), Aug. 29, 2015.

Sidney Atkinson Robinson Jr. (BSC 43, LLB 48) of Ridgeland, Feb. 13, 2016

Anabel Coots Reif (BA 46) of Issaquah, Wash., March 14, 2016

Harold Gustave Sodergren (LLB 49) of Elk Grove, Calif., March 19, 2016

Catharine Smallwood Spragens (BA 40) of Columbia, S.C., March 26, 2016

In Memoriam

Kirk Graves Taylor (BBA 49) of Jackson, Feb. 7, 2016

John Riley Walls Sr. (BA 49) of Germantown, Tenn., Feb. 9, 2016

1930s

Edward Buchanan Warren (BS 48) of Senatobia, Jan. 14, 2016

Cornelius Henry Block (37) of Tunica, March 27, 2016

Martha Lyles Wilson (BA 43) of Madison, Feb. 20, 2016

1940s

William Hinton Andrews (BSPh 49) of Miramar Beach, Fla., April 13, 2016

1950s

William Hardy Bizzell (LLB 47) of Cleveland, March 12, 2016

Henry Leigh Adkins (MedCert 52) of Germantown, Tenn., March 25, 2016

Mary Helen Sage Ayers (BM 45) of Winston-Salem, N.C., Sept. 2, 2015

Bettie Kavanaugh Adams (BAEd 52) of Venice, Fla., March 27, 2016

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Alumni Review

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Window of Opportunity The Ole Miss Alumni Association’s Past Presidents’ Spouses Club has embarked on an exciting campaign to purchase a new stained glass transom window for The Inn at Ole Miss. The new transom, depicting Tad Smith Coliseum, will join depictions of the Grove, the Lyceum, Ventress Hall, Barnard Observatory and Triplett Alumni Center, which now grace the Inn’s elegant lobby. The club needs your help! $18,000 is needed to design, craft and install the new window. Donations may be made to: Ole Miss Alumni Association Window Fund, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677. Donations are tax-deductible. Help us add to the beauty of our beloved Ole Miss! Hotty Toddy!

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ALUMNI News Harry Roger Allen (BBA 55, LLB 59) of Gulfport, Jan. 25, 2016

William Bruner Ford (BSCvE 52) of Dover, Fla., Feb. 15, 2016

Ben Gray Barringer Jr. (BA 51) of Marks, Feb. 26, 2016

Jo Bogard Gunn (BA 53) of Bartlett, Tenn., March 14, 2016

J.D. Barksdale (BBA 51) of Colleyville, Texas, April 19, 2016

Alcyone Bivins Bass (MEd 56) of Huntington Beach, Calif., Jan. 13, 2015 Edwin Augustus Batte (BBA 51) of Jackson, Feb. 20, 2016

Jerry Goodwine (BA 54) of Triangle, Va., March 25, 2016

Allan Heard (BSCvE 59) of Lexington, Ky., March 20, 2016

Willie Wayne Hickerson (58) of Dresden, Tenn., Feb. 9, 2016

James Allen Baxter (BSPh 58) of Augusta, Ga., March 7, 2016

Emma Hollingsworth Howell (BAEd 54) of Jackson, Feb. 7, 2016

William Harold Beck Jr. (LLB 54) of Charlottesville, Va., Feb. 4, 2016

Donald Eugene Keen (BSPh 52) of Fort Worth, Texas, March 24, 2016

Nathaniel Owings Beasley (BSME 56) of Matthews, N.C., March 29, 2016 John Moncrief Bee (BBA 53, LLB 57) of Jackson, March 11, 2016

Harry H. Beil Jr. (BSHPE 50, MBA 52) of Summerfield, Fla., May 13, 2015 Rebecca Truax Belknap (MS 53) of Richardson, Texas, April 4, 2016 Charles Elbert Bell (MD 58) of Brandon, March 18, 2016

Whitman Benedict Johnson Jr. (BA 51, MedCert 53) of Clarksdale, March 4, 2016 James Patrick Larkin (56) of Huntington Beach, Calif., Feb. 18, 2016 Henry Ellis Mattox (MA 55) of Chapel Hill, N.C., Feb. 24, 2016 Max Harold McDaniel (MA 59) of Jackson, April 19, 2016 Donald Albert McGraw (BBA 57) of Benton, Jan. 29, 2016

Joanne Cox Bellenger (BA 51) of Jackson, Feb. 5, 2016

Christine Coates Miller (BA 57) of Belton, S.C., Feb. 18, 2016

Dorothy Russell Carter (BAEd 50, MBEd 65) of New Albany, April 5, 2016

Harry Everett Moore (BSPh 55) of Union, April 13, 2016

Horace Emerson Buzhardt (BA 59, MD 64) of Nashville, Tenn., June 13, 2015 Kay Fort Child (52) of Terry, April 4, 2016

Charles William Crawford (MEd 59) of Huntersville, N.C., Oct. 12, 2015 Augusta Wilson Day (BA 57) of Hazlehurst, Feb. 28, 2016

Yick Chong Dong (BSPh 59) of Augusta, Ga., Jan. 12, 2016

James Allen Elliott (BSCvE 59) of Ridgeland, Jan. 19, 2016

Rebecca Turner Flinn (BAEd 58, MS 60) of Woodstock, Ga., Feb. 20, 2016

Mary Land Mitchell (BSN 59) of De Kalb, March 13, 2016

Alfred Elliott Moreton III (BA 59, LLB 61) of Oxford, Jan. 18, 2016

Bethany Rebecca Larche Moreton (BA 58, MA 60, MA 62) of Oxford, Jan. 18, 2016 Robert William Mustin (BSHPE 50) of Oxford, April 11, 2016

Isaac Alton Newton Jr. (BS 53, MedCert 54) of Greenville, March 8, 2016 Richard Frederick Odle Jr. (BBA 59) of Lexington, Tenn., Jan. 25, 2016 Betty Panzica Peavey (BAEd 54) of Metairie, La., Feb. 12, 2016

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Alumni Review

ALUMNI News Jesse Pittman Phillips (BSJ 54, MA 55) of Oxford, Feb. 28, 2016

Bert F. Case (BBA 63) of Brandon, Jan. 28, 2016

Bobby Joe Rowlett (BSChE 59) of Bedford, Texas, April 1, 2016

Dewitt Grey Crawford (MD 60) of Louisville, Jan. 17, 2016

Nettie Sue Fuller Rogers (BA 56, MLS 71) of Water Valley, March 30, 2016 Anne Bush Winton Scott (BAEd 56) of Poway, Calif., Jan. 25, 2016 Harold Lloyd Storment (BA 52) of Louisville, Ky., Feb. 3, 2016 Bon Clayton White Jr. (BA 51) of Hammond, La., Jan. 4, 2016

Harold Grey Williams Sr. (BBA 52) of Water Valley, March 23, 2016

Howard Dale Williamson (BSCvE 53) of Amarillo, Texas, March 10, 2016

Sue Gamble Woodward (BAEd 55, MEd 62) of Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 25, 2016

1960s

Walter Pillow Aldridge (BBA 65) of Roanoke, Va., March 2, 2016

Nelson Lewis Barksdale Jr. (BA 69) of Dayton, Ohio, Jan. 16, 2016 Ernie Nelson Barriffe (Cert 65) of Ocean Springs, Jan. 4, 2016

Dorothy Haag Bogue (MEd 64) of Sikeston, Mo., Feb. 25, 2016 Paul Hull Bowdre Jr. (MA 61) of Carrollton, Ga., Feb. 3, 2016

Andrew Gainey Branscome (BA 65) of Olive Branch, Sept. 11, 2015

Eugene Joseph Calvasina (BA 65, MBA 68, PhD 74) of Baton Rouge, La., March 27, 2016 Douglas S. Canning USAF (Ret.) (LLB 63) of Maitland, Fla., Feb. 20, 2016 Bessie Gay McVey Carothers (MEd 61) of Taylor, Feb. 23, 2016

Christine Vianna Covington (MBEd 61) of Goodman, March 24, 2016 Elizabeth Geraldine Dowdy (PhD 69) of Atlanta, Ga., May 20, 2015

Joseph William Duckworth Jr. (BSPh 65) of Booneville, April 11, 2016 Paul Quinton Gardner (MEd 66) of Monticello, Ark., Sept. 15, 2015 Mary Walker Gatewood (BA 66) of Holly Springs, Feb. 29, 2016

Sumpter Hiram Henderson Sr. (MCS 63) of Vero Beach, Fla., April 18, 2016 Emile Dominic Hotard Jr. (MEd 63) of Reserve, La., April 1, 2016

Martha Peacock Howorth (BA 69, MA 76) of Oxford, April 18, 2016 Sunny Callaway Kelly (BSC 62) of Sheridan, Ark., March 10, 2016

Daney Daniel Kepple (BAEd 67, MA 72) of Memphis, Tenn., March 5, 2016 James Earl Lance (MEd 64) of Miami, Fla., Feb. 25, 2016 John Richard Laws (BBA 61) of Jackson, March 6, 2016

James Baxter Linder (BSHPE 69, MEd 74) of Charlotte, N.C., May 24, 2015 John Cromer Mabus (66) of Indianola, Jan. 24, 2016

Robert Vernon Magee (MCS 62) of Bay St. Louis, April 12, 2016 Richard Leo Mahnke (MCS 69) of Arcola, Ill., May 9, 2015

Karen Kipp McCann (BA 66) of Dallas, Texas, March 17, 2015

John McGavack Jr. (MCS 63) of Hilton Head Island, S.C., April 13, 2016 Albert Gordon McKee Jr. (MS 60) of Ruston, La., Feb. 24, 2016

s p r i n g 2 016

ALUMNI News Charles Roy McMillan (BS 66) of Jackson, Jan. 21, 2016

Mark Edward Clasen (MS 74, PhD 76, MD 79) of Springboro, Ohio, Feb. 3, 2016

Dorothy Shipp Mulhearn (BAEd 60) of Port Allen, La., Feb. 19, 2016

Janis Parker Collins (70) of Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 1, 2016

Conley Mitchell Miller Jr. (BSME 62) of Chattanooga, Tenn., Feb. 21, 2016 Nancy Shaw Norton (BAEd 68) of Eufaula, Ala., March 4, 2016

William Chester Patton (BSPh 66) of Saraland, Ala., Feb. 11, 2016

Barbara Mauldin Clements (MEd 78) of Starkville, Jan. 22, 2016

Charles Morris Cooper (MS 73, PhD 76) of Oxford, April 17, 2016

Nancy Coombs Cooper (BAEd 74) of Blue Mountain, Jan. 19, 2016

John David Pennebaker (JD 68) of New Albany, March 9, 2016

Lila Goolsby Crane (BAEd 74, MEd 75) of Oxford, April 14, 2016

Leonard Forrest Powell Jr. (MA 66) of Lakeland, Fla., Jan. 17, 2016

Louis P. Crenshaw (BA 77) of Newton, Feb. 17, 2016

Thomas Roy Sheffield (BAEd 67) of Pontotoc, Jan. 30, 2016

Catherine Blackman Davis (MBEd 71) of Holly Springs, Feb. 14, 2016

Aldo Albert Simmons (MEd 60) of Clermont, Fla., Oct. 8, 2015

James Harry Gabriel (BS 70) of Madison, Feb. 4, 2016

Rosella Kolodey Pevey (BSN 66) of Jackson, March 5, 2016

Jack May Reynolds (MSS 64) of Lake City, Fla., April 4, 2016

Bobby Joe Shewmake (BA 62, MD 66) of Sarasota, Fla., Jan. 9, 2016 Constance Elaine Vinci Sullivan (BAEd 62) of St. Francisville, La., Feb. 12, 2016 Landman J. Teller Jr. (BA 63, JD 65) of Vicksburg, April 15, 2016

Kenneth Richard Wallace USN (Ret.) (BA 60) of Pensacola, Fla., Feb. 28, 2016 Toby Mack Wallace (BA 67, JD 75) of Dallas, Texas, Jan. 18, 2016

1970s

Shirley Kendall Barnett (MEd 78) of Olive Branch, Feb. 17, 2016

Rebecca Richardson Clark (BAEd 76) of Bowling Green, Ky., June 28, 2015

Frank Wesley Crawford (MS 73) of Tupelo, March 11, 2016

Kenneth Ray Crosswhite (BBA 77) of Prairie, Jan. 15, 2016

Gregg Dennis Dempsey (BA 78) of Las Vegas, Nev., Dec. 31, 2015 Ned Gathwright (MEd 70) of Marks, April 12, 2016

David Nelson George (MD 78) of Montgomery, Ala., March 26, 2015 David Wayne Gray (BBA 72) of Byhalia, Feb. 21, 2016

John Jason Harry IV (BBA 74) of Jackson, Jan. 21, 2016

George Donald Henderson (BSPh 71) of Petal, April 6, 2016 Shirley Temple Johnson (MEd 72) of Oxford, Jan. 14, 2016

Charles Eugene Lewis (BSPh 72) of Sevierville, Tenn., Feb. 28, 2016 John Liberto (BSPh 77) of Grenada, Feb. 4, 2016

HERE’S YOUR LICENSE TO BRAG! Now you can sport the official University of Mississippi license plate! For an additional $50 a year — $32.50 of which returns to Ole Miss for educational enhancement — you can purchase this “license to brag” about your alma mater. When it’s time to renew your license plate, simply tell your local tax collector you want the Ole Miss affinity license plate. It’s an easy way to help your University. This particular tag is available to Mississippi drivers only. Some other states, however, offer an Ole Miss affinity license plate. Check with your local tax collector for availability. 62

Alumni Review

ALUMNI News Donna Seay Magee (BAEd 72) of Batesville, Jan. 26, 2016

Juanita Tennant King (BS 83) of Ackerman, Feb. 16, 2016

Robert Conner McAllister (JD 72) of Jackson, April 5, 2016

Mistie Carter Robinson (BAEd 89, MEd 00) of Oxford, Jan. 27, 2016

Paul Rayden Matthews (MCS 72) of Clanton, Ala., Oct. 15, 2015

James Charles Ratcliff Jr. (BA 80) of Collierville, Tenn., March 9, 2016

Lanny Lee Monroe Sr. (BBA 72, MBA 73) of Corinth, Feb. 19, 2016

Robin Davis Spruill (BS 80) of Wiggins, Feb. 25, 2016

Billy Lake Rieves (70) of Tupelo, Feb. 27, 2016

Nancy Gabrielle Waggoner Yates (BBA 83) of Olive Branch, March 3, 2016

Rebecca Ann Reap (BBA 76) of Little Rock, Ark., April 12, 2016 Mike G. Skaroulis (MEd 72) of Clearwater, Fla., Oct. 27, 2015

William Carl Thompson Jr. (BPA 80) of Olive Branch, Feb. 1, 2016

Mary Hester Stringer (BA 72, MSS 75) of Thibodaux, La., March 13, 2016

1990s

Nancy Ann Waldrop (BSHPE 75, MEd 76, SpecEd 85) of Aiken, S.C., Feb. 12, 2016

Kimberly Gamblin Mars (BA 90) of Philadelphia, Feb. 29, 2016

Victoria Page Sweeney (BA 78) of Pensacola, Fla., May 13, 2015

Rosemary Butler Ward (MEd 77) of Blue Mountain, April 18, 2016

1980s

Laura Rigby Duke (BSN 97, MSN 98) of Greenwood, June 9, 2015 Maria Tilly Meyers (BA 92) of Cordova, Tenn., Jan. 18, 2016

Pamela Dean Stevenson (MEd 98) of Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 15, 2016

Abdullah Ghaleb Al-Amari (BSCvE 85) of Greenacres, Fla., Jan. 10, 2016

2000s

Tammie Prevost Donald (BBA 80) of Fort Worth, Texas, March 12, 2016

Sara Natalie Cooper (08) of Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 29, 2016

Donna Jameson Garvey (PhD 83) of Hattiesburg, March 24, 2016

Deana Milstead Mears (MEd 06) of Baldwyn, March 25, 2016

Margie Johnson Hobbs (PhD 86) of Oxford, March 16, 2016

William Ross Smith (BA 04) of Blytheville, Ark., Feb. 3, 2016

John Ingram DeLashmet Jr. (BPA 80) of Sagaponack, N.Y., Jan. 31, 2016

James Mack Barron (PhD 08) of Raymond, March 12, 2016

Walker Eugene Fesmire (PhD 82) of Flushing, Mich., March 14, 2016

Kevin Blair Garrison (JD 09) of Athens, Ga., Feb. 19, 2016

William Kirk Hannon (BPA 87) of Ridgeland, March 22, 2016

Stephen Christopher Peller (08) of New Orleans, La., Feb. 14, 2016

Winston Edward Jones Sr. (BSN 81) of Bentonia, Jan. 26, 2016

Christopher Boyce Stallings (BA 01) of Okolona, Feb. 4, 2016

Ole Miss Alumni Association

Rebel Network

234-8648

Meet alumni in your area    Catch up with old friends    Share photos    Network with alumni around the world

Alumni Owned And OperAted

http://rebelnetwork. olemissalumni.com s p r i n g 2 016

ALUMNI News Edward Joseph Wikle (BBA 02, DMD 08) of Tupelo, March 17, 2016

Harold N. Kesler of Abbeville, March 1, 2016

2010s

Norman Crooks Nelson Sr. of Brandon, April 21, 2016

Craig Deshaun Jones (13) of Shannon, Feb. 16, 2016

Michael Stratton Jones (BBA 15) of Nashville, Tenn., April 10, 2016 Taina Mondesir Laporte (16) of West Columbia, S.C., Feb. 12, 2016 Michael Thomas Mann (14) of Dallas, Texas, Jan. 12, 2016 Hubert Maikhail Miller (15) of Fulton, Jan. 30, 2016

Carli Elizabeth Sears (16) of Charleston, W.Va., Jan. 17, 2016

Eugene Owen Mitchell Sr. of Greenville, March 9, 2016 Donald Harvey O’Dell of Oxford, Feb. 14, 2016

George William Pope of Brandon, Feb. 12, 2016 Mary Tarrant Ray of Evans, Ga., Nov. 16, 2015

Jack Raymond Reed Sr. of Tupelo, Jan. 27, 2016 Nathaniel S. Rogers of Madison, Feb. 22, 2016

Antonin Gregory Scalia of McLean, Va., Feb. 13, 2016

James Edward Shollenberger of Oxford, Jan. 30, 2016 Benny L. Spencer of Sardis, Jan. 16, 2016

Faculty and Friends Richard Sidney Abbey of Ludlow, Mo., Jan. 31, 2016 Glen Scott Archibald of Tupelo, March 7, 2016

William David Atchison of Destin, Fla., Jan. 29, 2016 John Carl Axtell of Canton, Feb. 24, 2016

Helen Raber Stasiak of Coronado, Calif., March 23, 2016

Nancy Wright Taylor of Como, Jan. 10, 2016

John Richard Thames of Madison, Feb. 16, 2016

Phillip Henry Thornton III of Eureka Springs, Ark., March 29, 2016 Mary Leslie Farrell Threadgill of Columbus, Feb. 14, 2016

Ward Charles Barnes of Oxford, Jan. 22, 2016

Paxton Webb Broome of Hattiesburg, Oct. 23, 2015

James Patrick Chambers of Oxford, March 13, 2016 Kathryn M. Chaney of Vicksburg, Jan. 20, 2016

Patricia Pack Woodall of Boca Raton, Fla., April 13, 2016

Henry Wylie Yarbrough Jr. of Shreveport, La., April 1, 2016 Betty Louise Mercer Young of Decatur, Ala., Jan. 20, 2016

James Jerome Cooke of Oxford, March 6, 2016 Edward C. Epperson of Starkville, Jan. 12, 2016 June Erwin Franks of Tupelo, March 1, 2016

Mary Steinreide Grower of Madison, March 11, 2016 George W. Hall of Braxton, Feb. 12, 2016

Stanton Allen Hall of Madison, Jan. 16, 2016

Jessie Eugene Huckaby of Caledonia, Jan. 16, 2019 Michael Clifford Kemp of Ocala, Fla., Jan. 15, 2016

Due to space limitations, class notes are only published in the Alumni Review from active, dues-paying members of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. To submit a class note, send it to records@ olemiss.edu or Alumni Records Dept., Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677-1848. Class notes also may be submitted through the Association’s website at www.olemissalumni. com. The Association relies on numerous sources for class notes and is unable to verify all notes with individual alumni.

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•2 Car Attached Garage •Wood Floors •Walk to Ole Miss Campus •Walk-in Closets

The Belmont at 1769 East Jackson

Large screened-in porches overlooking Pat Lamar Park. Designer finishes, brick mantles, ceiling beams and real pine floors. All on one level!

A charming Old-English style development located in the heart of the medical community and just minutes from Oxford’s downtown square!

1755 East Jackson #5 at A Southern Place

1413 South Lamar $1,910,000

• 4 Bed 3 Bath • 2549 Sq ft •Community Pool •4 Acre common area/park

Estimated Restoration Completion Summer 2016

$350,000

3802 Majestic Oaks

•4 BR/3.5 Bath w/a Bonus room and wet bar •Outdoor kitchen/entertaining area •Surround sound throughout the house •Custom cabinets

$549,000

$499,000

244 CR 303 (Old Taylor Rd.) •4 BR/2.5 Bath •Almost 16 acres of rolling hills •Gunite pool •Large custom workshop

$949,000

Historic Downtown Oxford Restoration. 4 BR /4.5 Bath

1583 Buchanon

7005 Bluff Lane:

•Luxury condo •4 BR/4 Baths/2 Half baths •Private Balcony

• 4 Bed 4 Bath • 4 BR/4 Bath • Located in Historic Downtown Oxford • Located in popular Wellsgate •Spacious open listing room & kitchen • 3 covered porches • top-notch finishes •Multi-level outside deck

$750,000

•Near Oxford square •2 car attached garage

1300 Beanland

•4BR/3.5 Baths •Located in Downtown Oxford •Top of the Line finishes •Open Kitchen & Living Room

$675,000

662.234.5621•1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655•Each office independently owned and operated. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.

$750,000