Ole Miss Alumni Review - Summer 2016

Ole Miss Alumni Review

summer 2016

ALUMNI REVIEW

UM grads build app in Silicon Valley Ole Miss boasts 9 at Rio Olympics

summer 2016 Vol. 65 No. 3

A Broadcaster with Impact Young alumna finds her niche in sports entertainment

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Features ALUMNI REVIEW

20 Dress Rental App Makes Cents UM grads build app in Silicon Valley

By Michael Newsom

26 A Broadcaster with Impact

Y oung alumna finds her niche in sports entertainment

By Annie Rhoades

32 Wasteland Wizard

E ngineering graduate’s technology transforming debris-removal industry

By Edwin Smith

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Contents Vol. 65 No. 3

Departments

2 Chancellor’s Letter

summer 2016

On the Cover

4 President’s Letter 5 From the Circle

18 Calendar

38 Ole Miss Sports

6 enter M-Club Hall of Fame 9 Rebels compete in Rio

46 Just Published

48 Rebel Traveler

52 Alumni News

26 McKenzie Mitchell (BA 16) gets her game face on as a broadcaster for Impact Wrestling, a pro wrestling TV show.

Cover photo by Joshua McCoy

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 Andrew Abernathy (08, 10), Kevin Bain (98), Ruth Cummins (82), Bill Dabney (89), Mitchell Diggs (82), Jay Ferchaud, Thomas Graning, Robert Jordan (83), Nathan Latil, Joshua McCoy, Michael Newsom (05), Annie Oeth, Sydney Slotkin, Edwin Smith (80, 93), Christina Steube (11), Phillip Waller (15) 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 beginning of the fall semester is an exciting time on college campuses across the country, full of promise and high expectations.

That is particularly true this year at the University of Mississippi, where we are welcoming another exceptional freshman class and celebrating 22 consecutive years of enrollment growth.

Such sustained progress has produced challenges, straining our infrastructure and creating the need for new residence halls and academic facilities. Our leadership team members have worked diligently for years to find new resources and expand our classrooms, laboratories and other spaces, and their efforts have transformed our campuses. It’s a process that continues all around us at Ole Miss.

Just a few weeks ago, for example, we opened two new residence halls on Rebel Drive, where Guess Hall once stood. These new facilities have greatly increased our housing capacity, but more importantly, they include the modern conveniences that students expect, such as in-room bathrooms, microwaves and refrigerators, study rooms on each floor, conference rooms and community kitchens. All these things enhance our students’ campus experience and help us with recruitment and retention efforts across all disciplines.

Just down the hill, a major expansion of the Student Union is rising above the construction fences. The first phase of this $50 million project will add some 60,000 square feet to the Union, including new dining areas, a ballroom, support kitchens and a transit center, all scheduled to be completed next summer. The final phase, expected to be done by the end of 2018, will involve renovating the existing space, including the student government offices, bookstore, lounge and box office. When it’s all ready, we will have a Student Union to serve our campus needs and offer a gathering place for alumni, families and friends for years to come.

Down in Jackson, we celebrated the “topping out” of our new School of Medicine building earlier this year. The first new facility for our medical school since 1955, this new building will provide a consolidated space for training the next generation of doctors in a technology-rich environment. More importantly, when it opens next summer, it will allow us to admit more students, helping to provide enough physicians to meet the state’s health care needs. This is a major step to improve the lives of all Mississippians and boost the state’s health care economy.

Meanwhile, many other projects are underway to expand and improve our learning environment. These include site work for our new STEM building and the South Campus Recreation Center at the old Whirlpool plant, a new parking garage, major improvements to the Gillom Sports Center and renovations to the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.

And of course, we’re anxiously awaiting Sept. 10, when the Rebels take the field against Wofford for the first home game in the expanded Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

We hope that you’ll visit us soon. I think you’ll agree that it’s a great time to be a Rebel!

Sincerely,

Jeffrey S. Vitter Chancellor P.S. You can always reach me at chancellor@olemiss.edu. And please follow me on Twitter @UMchancellor, and visit my blog at chancellor.olemiss.edu.

A Proud Family Business

Rebel Realty welcomes Calton Roberson As a business owner selling real estate, working with investors and THEN - 2012 being a mom are the most rewarding parts of my life. It is hard to explain the pride of working with buyers and sellers knowing the trust they put in me with the largest investment of their life.

Knowing their decisions to make a sound investment keeps me learning and researching information, so I can be of value to their decision. Through the National Association of Realtors, Mississippi Association of Realtors, North Central Mississippi Association of Realtors, Lafayette Oxford Chamber of Commerce, and the Economic DevelNOW - 2016 opment Foundation, I am provided knowledge, leadership skills, and an endless opportunity to share and give back to the people who trusted in me and my community. I must say my proudest moment was reading my 16 year old son’s essay for Junior Leadership, “I would love to follow in my mother’s footsteps and be a part of our community with a positive impact.”

Rebel Realty would also like to congratulate our latest Rebel graduate, Alexandra Burnham, office manager, and assistant. Congratulations and Hotty Toddy!

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President from the

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Alumni Review

This will be my last letter for the Alumni Review, and before I go into a few of the great things that have happened in the past year at Ole Miss, I have to thank my wife, Rhoda.

She has been right in the middle of all things Alumni and has done a great job of representing our university.

We have a great new team leading us in Jeff and Sharon Vitter. We have been blessed to have great leadership teams, and the Vitters will continue the legacy. If you see them on campus, go up and say hello, and thank them.

We are also breaking in our new executive director, Kirk Purdom. It did take us over a year to find a replacement for Tim, but I think we found someone who can take us to the next level.

We have a goal of 30,000 dues-paying alumni, and with almost 130,000 living alumni, we think that is a reachable goal. Kirk and our great staff have many new ideas and programs in place to ensure our success.

We have the largest enrollment ever with the highest grade-point average in our history. We also had a record freshman class with an average ACT score of 25. Our athletics teams had a cumulative GPA of 3.0, our highest ever.

We have either recently finished, are in the process of finishing or are in the final planning stages of $1 billion in construction on our Oxford and Jackson campuses.

As far as construction goes, we are in the Golden Age of Ole Miss.

Fellow alumni, we are very fortunate to have Ross Bjork leading our Athletics Department. We are not only successful in the win/loss column but also in the very important financial column. When Ross took over, our budget was $57 million. This year, it will be over $100 million. Ross has also handled our NCAA challenge professionally and efficiently. I believe, when the dust settles, we will be a better institution for his efforts.

As for Hugh Freeze, I spent a week on the Rebel Road Trip bus with him, and he is exactly what most people think: faith, family, Ole Miss (and maybe a little golf).

I believe we are doing it the right way. If I were a rival, I, too, might question how we changed so fast. After my week with Jeff, Ross and Hugh, I am confident in our leaders.

I couldn’t end without thanking the staff both at the Alumni Association and our business. Everyone at the Association was a pleasure to work with, but I have to single out a few who were instrumental in our transition. Sheila Dossett and Clay Cavett made our change seamless, and Emily Briggs told me where to be, at what time and what to wear. I spent so much time in Oxford, my brothers decided to open a store there.

Finally, to Hal and Melanie Moore: I know y’all will do a great job this coming year. Just remember to enjoy the journey. Rhoda and I wish you both the best.

As I’ve said many times, it has been a pleasure to serve as your president. It has been the experience of a lifetime meeting so many new friends. Thank you very much.

It’s always good to be an Ole Miss Rebel. Sometimes it’s great!

Hotty Toddy!

Eddie Maloney (BBA 72)

Circle from the

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

UM Restaurants Going Green REBEL MARKET, CATERING FIRST IN STATE TO ACHIEVE GRA CERTIFICATION

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restaurant and a catering service at the University of Mississippi are the only Certified Green restaurants in the state of Mississippi.

Catering at UM and Rebel Market, both managed by Aramark, began the process last March and achieved Level 1 Certification from the Green Restaurant Association in mid-June.

“It has been a pleasure working together to help the University of Mississippi to this point,” says Kim Stama, GRA restaurant sustainability consultant. “Rebel Market completed 42 steps and 119.5 GreenPoints. Catering at the University of Mississippi completed 28 steps and 81.61 GreenPoints.”

An Aramark official described the criteria for certification.

“The Green Restaurant Association measures levels in environmental categories such as disposables, energy conservation, furnishing and building design, food and menu items, chemicals and pollution, waste and water conservation,” says Valerie Schultz, residential food service director for Aramark.

“The in-depth process consisted of communication with Ole Miss Dining vendors and an examination of menu options. Additionally, GRA conducted a comprehensive walkthrough of the building to determine water flow, automatic lighting and various types of light bulbs in use, energy efficiencies of all equipment, proximity to various modes of transportation and reusable takeout options.

“The biggest change will be the increase of vegetarian and vegan options on the menus at the Rebel Market,” Schultz says.

“The facilities will also undergo annual inspections to renew GRA certification and conduct education training to its staff.

“We will continue to research and implement various changes to move to a 2 Star Certified Green Restaurant,” she says. “Additionally, we will move toward reducing our chemical footprint by implementing eco-friendly cleaning products.

Our goal is to bring awareness of our sustainability efforts to our customers and the Oxford-University community.”

Photo by Kevin Bain

UM students sample the offerings in the Rebel Market restaurant on campus.

s u m m e r 2 016

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from the Circle

Dedicated STEM Champion

CMSE STAFFER RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR ROBOTICS WORK annie Lowe, a staff member at the University of Mississippi, is the 2016 recipient of the International Volunteer of the Year Award from FIRST, an organization that promotes an interest in STEM fields among students, with programs such as the FIRST Tech Challenge robotics competition for middle- and high-schoolers.

As this year’s honoree, Lowe, a program manager at UM’s Center for Mathematics & Science Education, was selected from more than 200,000 volunteers in 80 countries worldwide for his more than 12 years of service to the organization. He received an honorary certificate from FIRST at a surprise ceremony in July at Ole Miss.

“I’m touched by this award because I hold other people who have won this honor in such high admiration,” he says.

“People who have won this in the past have done some truly amazing work with FIRST and with students. I didn’t realize I was held in such high esteem.”

As the manager for FIRST Tech Challenge robotics, Lowe, who previously ran FTC programs as a volunteer in Georgia, has spent the past five years carving out an infrastructure to allow Mississippi middle and high school students, as well as

home-schooled children, the opportunity to design and build their own robots and compete in tournament-style competitions at the local, state, regional and even international level.

The competitions allow students to learn and apply knowledge in such disciplines as engineering, computer science, physics and mathematics. Many students participating in FTC programs go on to earn valuable scholarships to study STEM fields at colleges and universities around the world.

Under Lowe’s leadership, FTC programs in Mississippi have grown from just four robotics teams in 2012 to more than 40. Lowe spends about two days a week on the road, working with students and teachers to help FTC teams with their robot designs, a task that requires countless hours of travel and work after hours.

“One of the things that amazes me is that we will come up with an idea and say, ‘There’s no way the students will be able to do this,’” he says. “But every year they find a way to top our challenge. It really is amazing to see.”

Lowe says he hopes to help FTC robotics programs continue to grow across the state and to see the number of participating teams rise to 50 in 2017.

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Alumni Review

Photo by Thomas Graning

Mannie Lowe (left), pictured with CMSE director John O’Haver, is recognized as the FIRST Tech Challenge Volunteer of the Year.

from the Circle Photo by Robert Jordan

The J.D. Williams Library features a new exhibit available to the public in its Department of Archives and Special Collections.

‘Hot Off the Press’

J.D. WILLIAMS LIBRARY OFFERS NEW ARCHIVE EXHIBIT

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n untitled play by William Faulkner, a Civil War soldier’s diary and promotional materials for several famed blues artists are among dozens of artifacts in “Hot Off the Press: New and Newly Available Archive Collections” at the University of Mississippi’s Archives and Special Collections in the J.D. Williams Library.

The exhibit, which is open in the library’s Faulkner Room through Dec. 16, features items from the library’s literary, historical, blues and political collections, some of which have never before been displayed.

“This display is a new twist on the treasures exhibits done in previous years,” says Jennifer Ford (PhD 10), head of Archives and Special Collections. “The showcased items are from recent collection gifts to the department, as well as newly processed collections now available for use by researchers.”

One literary case boasts an untitled play written by Faulkner early in his life. It also contains a letter about Faulkner’s great grandfather Col. William Clark Falkner, written by attorney Thomas Spight regarding Falkner’s murder.

Other literary pieces featured include works by Mississippi author Eudora Welty and contemporary pieces by UM English professors Beth Ann Fennelly and Tom Franklin.

Several historical pieces are showcased. One antebellum piece documents a lawsuit filed by Native Americans against white men over land. The lawsuit was postponed 30 years before having its day in court. Another piece is a plantation ledger, with references to slaves from a plantation in Oxford.

Other historical pieces include a revealing diary from a soldier in the 15th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, as well as documents relating to the final days of the Civil War in Mississippi.

Blues archivist Greg Johnson has highlighted a number of music collections, including that of the Rosebud Agency, which represented artists such as Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Luther Allison and Trombone Shorty. The agency was in operation from 1976 to 2014, and founder and owner Mike Kappus donated materials to the library’s permanent collections.

Arthur Kreutz, a composer, conductor, violinist and professor of music composition at Ole Miss from 1951 to 1965, is the subject of another display that includes several of his compositions, including his opera “The University Greys.”

The Modern Political Archives has installed eight cases that explore the congressional collection of U.S. Sen. James O. Eastland, who represented Mississippi in 1941 and 19431978. Eastland also chaired the Judiciary Committee from 1956 to 1978.

In the exhibit are campaign materials, legislation and memorabilia, including presidential documents and letters from notable individuals such as Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi native Fred Haise, actor John Wayne and Mississippi artist Theora Hamblett.

“Although congressional collections such as Eastland’s might at first seem only useful to biographers and political historians, they actually have a much wider application,” says Leigh McWhite, political papers archivist and associate professor. “The papers are a great resource on local history and public works projects within the state, and researchers can examine correspondence for grassroots opinions on a wide array of national, state and local topics.”

Visitors can view the exhibit 8 a.m.-5 p.m. MondaysFridays. s u m m e r 2 016

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J

ulia Aubrey, new director of the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, brings experience and a focused vision to the University of Mississippi’s premier performance venue.

Aubrey served as interim director of the Ford Center since September 2015 and held numerous positions in the university’s Department of Music over the last 21 years, including director of opera theatre, assistant chair and associate professor of music. She will continue to serve as director of opera theatre.

She plans to collaborate with the university and surrounding community to expand the mission of the Ford Center and engage students, residents and their families. Aubrey says she believes the Ford Center can be a producer as well as a presenter, incubating projects that will establish it as a regional arts leader.

“Oxford is such an exceptional place, and there’s such a variety of interests,” she says. “We want to tap into that. We want more people to experience this wonderful venue.”

The St. Louis native is part of a musical Ole Miss family. Her husband, Robert, is an instructional assistant professor of music at UM, and her son, Michael, graduated with a double major in international studies and Spanish from the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and Croft Institute for International Studies.

Julia Aubrey hopes to establish the Ford Center as a regional arts leader.

Equipped for Success

UMMC AMONG ‘MOST WIRED’ HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

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he University of Mississippi Medical Center has been named to the 2016 “Most Wired” list for health care facilities by Hospitals & Health Networks.

In partnership with the American Hospital Association, H&HN conducts the survey each year to recognize organizations for excellence in IT services and technology deployment in patient care.

“This is the fourth consecutive year that we have been included on this list, and we are so honored to be listed among our country’s top hospitals,” says Ellen Swoger, the Medical Center’s associate chief information officer in the Division of Information Systems.

“A recognition such as this is the result of a lot of hard work from around 8

Alumni Review

the organization. From those who make decisions to incorporate these technologies to those who finance them,

and especially those who use them, this award recognizes everyone at UMMC.” Keeping health care data out of the hands of cybercriminals is a major component of being “Most Wired,” H&HN says.

Other matters growing in importance among the Most Wired hospitals, according to H&HN’s website, include “using data to make the transition from volume-based to value-based reimbursement; helping to connect hospitals in remote locations with specialists via video or audio; and continuing to work to make electronic health records more useful and shareable among different hospitals and health systems.”

The Most Wired hospitals and systems also use telehealth to varying degrees. It’s on the upswing, despite being hindered by reimbursement limitations. UMMC’s telehealth program, which began in 2003 and reaches more than half-a-million rural Mississippians annually, has been acclaimed as the nation’s trailblazer.

Photo by Robert Jordan

JULIA AUBREY NAMED FORD CENTER DIRECTOR

from the Circle

‘Z-Degree Mississippi’

UM FACULTY LEADS EFFORT TO REDUCE TEXTBOOK COSTS two community colleges, focusing on those schools with the most faculty champions and momentum. It also includes the development of new OER courses to achieve 50 percent completion of the general education/associate’s degree pathway.

Phase 3, July 2017 to June 2018, is to complete the OER general education/associate’s degree pathway at two Mississippi schools and continue expanding the pathway at others.

The goal is to achieve a four-year Z-degree pathway by 2020.

UM faculty members in the inaugural phase are Heather Allen, assistant professor of Spanish; Susan Grayzel, professor of history; Rachel Johnson, instructor of writing and rhetoric at the Tupelo regional campus; Rhona Justice-Malloy, professor of theatre arts; Maureen Meyers, assistant professor of anthropology; Jason Solinger, associate professor of English; Joseph Ward, chair and professor of history; Marc Watkins, instructor of composition and rhetoric; and Brooke White, associate professor of art.

An estimated one-third to two-thirds of students nationwide no longer purchase textbooks. Campus bookstores have difficulty supplying adequate numbers of textbooks, and instructors face challenges teaching effectively with traditional textbooks because students aren’t buying them.

Photo by Robert Jordan

niversity of Mississippi faculty is among the leaders of a new program designed to improve teaching and learning in the state’s higher education institutions by reducing textbook costs and enabling faculty customization of curricula.

“Z-Degree Mississippi” is a three-year plan to expand adoption of open educational resources, or OER, at the state’s eight public universities and four community colleges. The effort is funded by a $200,000 grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and $80,000 from the UM College of Liberal Arts.

“When faculty adopt OER for their courses, those courses are tagged as ‘Z-Degree’ on the course schedule, indicating that they have zero textbook cost,” says Robert Cummings (MA 99), chair of the Department of Writing and Rhetoric and associate professor of English. “Once enough courses are designated Z-Degree, it is possible for students to earn a degree with no textbook costs.”

Z-Degree Mississippi will unfold in three phases. Phase 1, which ran through June, entails establishing at least one OER course at each of the 12 colleges and universities.

Phase 2, which began in July and runs through June 2017, involves expanding OER adoptions at four universities and

Ross Whitwam (left), Jocelyn Tipton and Rachel Johnson work on Phase 1 of the Z-Degree program. s u m m e r 2 016

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Safety Net for Sharks

BIOLOGY PROFESSOR’S DEVICE COULD HELP FISHERMEN AVOID BYCATCH ishermen unintentionally catch millions of sharks each year, and many don’t survive the physical stress of being reeled in, but University of Mississippi biology professor Glenn Parsons is designing a device that could prevent them from ever being hooked.

Accidental catches, referred to as “bycatch,” are a nuisance for commercial and recreational fishermen who are usually after tuna, swordfish and other seafood instead. The problem

Atmospheric Administration, which is working on a National Bycatch Strategy for sharks and other species, and the National Marine Fisheries Service to award research funds to find solutions. Parsons received a $120,000 federal grant to develop his device and has an online crowdfunding campaign for his graduate students’ research.

The problem with bycatch isn’t that fish are simply hooked; rather it’s the physical stress of fighting the reel, or being on Photo by Nathan Latil

UM biology professor Glenn Parsons is researching ways to reduce shark deaths from accidental catches.

threatens to upset the ocean’s ecosystem, in which sharks play a major role but are dying in large numbers.

Parsons recently began testing a prototype and expects to make several trips to the Gulf of Mexico to fine-tune it. If his “entangling leader” device is successful, fishermen may not have to handle sharks, which have roamed the ocean mostly unchanged for some 400 million years.

“Commercial fishermen don’t want to catch these sharks,” Parsons says. “It’s dangerous to handle them. It takes time away from fishing, and they also damage their gear. They’d rather not hook them at all.”

Some experts estimate that as many as 100 million sharks are killed each year. Many of them are larger, open oceandwelling sharks such as hammerheads, makos, tigers and great whites.

The deaths prompted the National Oceanic and 10

Alumni Review

the line for as long as six hours and then being hauled into the boat, that can kill them. Even if they’re released after many hours on the line, the outcome usually still isn’t good.

“Mostly everyone agrees that a huge percentage of those sharks die,” Parsons says.

Parsons’ entangling leader has several loops of line near the hook. The design is based on the idea that the way sharks eat their food is much different from tuna or swordfish.

Sharks have larger, sharper teeth that they use for slicing prey into manageable pieces before swallowing them. Tuna, which have small teeth, and swordfish, which only have a rough gripping surface along the edges of their mouths, both hold their food only long enough to swallow it whole.

The theory is that the loop design allows tuna and swordfish to take the bait and be hooked, but sharks would be prevented from doing the same.

from the Circle “When a typical fish, one without sharp, cutting teeth, takes it, those loops will just spool out and hopefully the fish will be captured,” Parsons says. “When a shark takes it, the teeth entangle in the loops and that either breaks it immediately or it compromises the integrity of the line, so when they pull on it – and a big shark can pull like the dickens – it pops and they swim away.”

Recently, Parsons and his graduate assistants left from Destin, Fla., and ventured into the Gulf of Mexico to test the leader. Using a GoPro camera submerged near the hook, the Ole Miss team observed that for every shark that took the bait, about 10 looked at it and swam away. The ones that actually took the bait also broke the leader, Parsons says.

“The initial tests were really good,” Parsons says. “We have caught the larger sport fish, but the sharks break off.”

Further testing could determine if the bait is still attractive to other fish with the loop device in place. Parsons’ team will make trips from the Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi coasts into the Gulf later to continue the research.

The team caught four different shark species on the recent trip to Destin, says Lauren Fuller, a biology graduate student from Cabot, Ark., who is helping with the research.

“We had many entangling leaders break as they were supposed to,” Fuller says. “After looking at the GoPro video, we’re pretty certain these were sharks, and we know one was for sure. The research looks promising but, of course, we’ll have to wait until we analyze all of the data to know more.”

Fuller’s graduate research focuses on finding ways to reduce the stress on caught sharks. She is examining whether using clove oil to sedate them could help.

“It is my hope that this will lead to higher chances of survival after release,” Fuller says.

Ehlana Stell (BS 15), a biology graduate student from Booneville, studies fish biology and has been working with silver carp, but is also helping with the shark project. She is optimistic that Parsons’ device can greatly reduce shark deaths.

“The preliminary data for the entangling leader is looking very promising, and hopefully this summer’s work will continue to allow Dr. Parsons to improve his design,” Stell says.

This project received funding from NOAA Fisheries Service, in cooperation with the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program. The statements, findings, conclusions and recommendations are those of the investigators and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA Fisheries.

UM NAMED ‘HEALTHIEST WORKPLACE’

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he University of Mississippi was named the state’s healthiest workplace among all Mississippi colleges and universities at an awards luncheon in July that honored both government and private-sector employers for their wellness efforts.

The , Mississippi Business Group on Health and Mississippi Department of Health honored employers at the annual “Mississippi’s Healthiest Workplaces” awards luncheon.

“We are excited about this honor because it acknowledges the efforts of many people — especially the RebelWell team — to improve the health of faculty, staff and students across our campuses,” UM Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter says. “It is our responsibility to take the lead in providing a healthy environment and to help set an example for our state. We are grateful for this recognition, and we pledge to continue to find ways to improve the well-being of the Ole Miss family.”

The university developed the RebelWell program, which provides a range of opportunities for employees to become educated about living a healthy lifestyle through group fitness classes, cooking demonstrations and nutrition counseling, among other services.

The wellness successes are due to hard work and dedication to health initiatives by many people, both on and off campus, who have used partnerships to create momentum toward a healthier Ole Miss, says Andrea M. Jekabsons, the university’s assistant director of employment, professional development and engagement, and a project manager with RebelWell.

“We are honored to receive the recognition as the healthiest

The University of Mississippi was recently named ‘Mississippi’s Healthiest Workplace’ among colleges and universities. RebelWell team members Kelley Pinion (left), Jessica Hughes, Mariana Anaya and Michael Newsom were on hand to receive the award at a luncheon in Jackson.

workplace,” Jekabsons says. “I would like to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude for the assistance provided by ActiveHealth, the Department of Health and, of course, for the continued support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation.” s u m m e r 2 016

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from the Circle

The university’s National Center for Natural Products Research hosted a working group assembled by the World Health Organization’s Traditional and Complementary Medicines Program to develop an update to guidance documents on the use of traditional and herbal medicines.

UM Hosts WHO Working Group ATTENDEES MEET TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES ON HERB-DRUG INTERACTIONS

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working group constituted by the World Health Organization’s Traditional and Complementary Medicines Program gathered recently at the University of Mississippi to develop another in a series of WHO guidance documents on the use of traditional and herbal medicines.

The increased use of herbal medicines and botanical supplements around the world raises concerns about their interactions with conventional prescription medicines. The goal of the July 12-14 meeting was to frame these issues and draft globally relevant guidelines on herb and drug interactions for health care professionals and regulatory or compliance organizations.

The university’s National Center for Natural Products Research served as local hosts for the three-day meeting,

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which included 35 representatives from around the world.

The National Center for Natural Products Research has a long-standing research program focused on the authenticity, quality and safety of botanical supplements in this country.

The program is led by Ikhlas Khan, NCNPR associate director, and supported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a Center of Excellence.

Several scientists from NCNPR also participated in the meeting as working group members or invited observers.

“We were very pleased to host such a distinguished group from WHO, with other scientists, health policymakers and regulators, and to participate in these deliberations,” says Larry Walker, NCNPR director and a UM professor of pharmacology.

from the Circle

Off to a Good Start

NEW NEONATAL SUITE, SIMULATION LAB HELP GIVE BEST CARE TO INFANTS IN NEED

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recent years, Savich says. Having beds that can accommodate the latest in medical equipment and ease babies’ transitions from birthing suite to NICU will allow UMMC to offer stateof-the-art care.

The simulation lab’s focus is a “newborn” that has a heartbeat, “breathes” and can go into all manner of distress.

The medical professionals who come to this high-tech mannequin’s aid get to prepare for neonatal medical emergencies before they happen by treating this little one.

“Pilots don’t prepare for emergencies in real jets,” Savich says. “They train on simulators. This allows us to do the same thing, so when an infant is in distress, we are prepared.”

Cameras are in place so video can be replayed and analyzed, she says.

“Giving to Batson Children’s Hospital is one of our favorite projects since the Madison Charitable Foundation was started in 2007,” says Joc Carpenter, one of the foundation’s four directors. “We want to help give children a healthy beginning in life.”

Nurse practitioners Diane Dukes (left) and Melanie Ellis show the new neonatal resuscitation area, which includes state-of-the-art Giraffe beds and other life-saving equipment.

Photo by Jay Ferchaud

bout 2,500 babies are born at the University of Mississippi Medical Center each year, but approximately one-third of them will need intervention at birth due to low birth weight, congenital defects or distress.

To give them the best start in life, the Madison Charitable Foundation donated more than $250,000 to create a new neonatal suite and a simulation lab that helps future and current medical professionals hone their skills to be ready for newborns. The suite and lab both opened in May. The suite will provide a space where infants in need of intervention can be warmed and, if needed, resuscitated in the same bed they’ll be in at the neonatal intensive care unit nearby.

“This generous gift from the Madison Charitable Foundation has made sure the latest equipment to resuscitate babies is just steps away from them,” says Dr. Renate Savich, professor of pediatrics and chief of the Division of Newborn Medicine. “The infants never have to move from bed to bed, and they are not cold or stressed.”

Organization in the new space has been aided by new carts and shelving, and a blanket warmer helps infants stay warm in those first few minutes of life. A wider door makes sure medical professionals can access their young patients quickly.

Neonatal resuscitation has made significant advances in

s u m m e r 2 016

13

from the Circle

Novel Cancer Therapy Used at UMMC LOW-INTENSITY ELECTRIC FIELDS HARVESTED TO FIGHT GLIOBLASTOMA

T

14

Alumni Review

Photo by Jay Ferchaud

iny electrical fields that help cells Patients using the device receive the tumor from coming back. Once the communicate are being harvested standard therapy for the tumors that tumor grows back, it seems to develop a at the University of Mississippi may include surgery, radiation therapy resistance to chemotherapy.”

Medical Center to fight a type of brain and chemotherapy. Brain tumors often Glioblastoma is the most common cancer that primarily strikes adults. are hard to completely remove, so brain tumor in adults, affecting men Dr. Mark Anders on, assistant Optune comes into play after patients more often than women. professor of neurology specializing in have completed radiation therapy.

Whi le t he ne w t herapy of fers neuro-oncology, says the Optune device, Anderson says Optune originally improvement, it might not be right for designed and distributed by Novocure, was approved for use in people with everyone, Anderson says. Usually the delivers a steady stream of low-intensity recurring tumors and those who were device is prescribed after surgery and electric fields that seems to slow or stop glioblastoma cancer cells from multiplying and may cause them to die.

“This electrical field disrupts the cell’s ability to divide,” says Anderson, who works with adult patients and is the only physician in Mississippi certified to prescribe Optune.

So far it’s worked in multiple brain cancer patients nationwide, shrinking the tumor and destroying the cancer cells. At the same time, it avoids harming healthy cells that need to grow and divide to survive.

Ben Newman of Wesson has used the device since March 1, 2015.

“This tumor definitely has not grown, and the doctor is Ben Newman (right) discusses wine with a customer, Bob Lundy of Wesson, at his family’s store in saying a lot of what he’s looking Brookhaven. He wears the Optune device and carries a battery powering the arrays in a backpack at is scar tissue,” says Newman, during much of his working day. who was diagnosed in March 2014. “I think it has done some good.” not responding to other therapy. The radiation therapy and while a patient A n d e r s o n c a l l s t h e r e s u l t U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking chemotherapy. After surgery, encouraging. approved the system for recurrent each patient has an MRI to pinpoint the “ There has been no additional glioblastoma multiforme in 2011 and location and shape of any remaining growth,” he says, after Newman’s recent for newly diagnosed patients in 2015. glioblastoma tumor. checkup. “He has a complex mass. Newman was among the first patients Anderson says the therapy might last While part of it has shrunk, other parts for whom he prescribed it. as long as two years, with periodic imaghave remained unchanged.

For those with recurrent glioblas- ing to look for remaining malignancy “ The brain typically has fewer toma, the therapy seems to work as well and gauge effectiveness. The more closely dividing cells,” Anderson says. “They as chemotherapy, with fewer side effects. each patient can adhere to the guidelines, can calibrate the electric field to be “At two years, survival for newly the better the result, Anderson says. most disruptive for cells of a particular diagnosed patients went from 32 percent “This is such a horrible disease,” size. We know the general size of brain to 48 percent,” Anderson says. “That’s he says. “This is not a cure, but it does tumor cells, so we can target cells of that where it has its greatest benefit. Getting allow us to provide treatment for a lonsize, bypassing others.” started early in treatment seems to keep ger period with fewer side effects.”

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Calendar SEPTEMBER

5

Tailgate: Ole Miss Alumni Association pregame tailgate prior to the Camping World Kickoff game vs.

Florida State. Camping World Kickoff FanFest, Tinker Field, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Call 662-915-7375.

8

Alumni Association Scholarship Recipient Social: Triplett Alumni Center, 4 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

10

Football: Ole Miss vs. Wofford.

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 3 p.m. Visit www.olemissfb.com.

17

School of Pharmacy Tailgate: Front lawn of Faser Hall, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Email thompson@ olemiss.edu.

17

Football: Ole Miss vs. Alabama.

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 2:30 p.m. Visit www.olemissfb.com.

22

Networking Event: Rebel Networking online event, noon-1 p.m. Network with other professionals in groups including accounting and finance, business, journalism and marketing, education, engineering and health professions, and legal professions. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.

23

Banking and Finance Symposium: “Looking toward the Future in the Financial Industry.”

Oxford Conference Center, 8:30 a.m.1 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

23

M-Club Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony: The Inn at Ole Miss, 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner. Call 662-915-7375.

24

School of Law Tailgate: Lawn of Triplett Alumni Center. Time TBA. Call 662-915-1878.

Sept. 17 & 24, Oct. 1

18

Alumni Review

School of Pharmacy Tailgate: Front lawn of Faser Hall. Three hours prior to kickoff. Email thompson@ olemiss.edu.

24

Football: Ole Miss vs. Georgia.

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Time TBA. Visit www.olemissfb.com.

29

Performance: “Fame, the Musical” national tour. A full-throttle journey traversing the struggles, fears and triumphs of young artists navigating the worlds of dance, music and theatre. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Call 662-915-7411 or visit www.fordcenter.org.

30

Alumni Hall of Fame Awards Reception: The Inn at Ole Miss, 6 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

Photo by Kevin Bain

School of Pharmacy Tailgate

24

Calendar October

1

Ole Miss Alumni Association Annual Meeting: The Inn at Ole Miss. Time TBA. Call 662-915-7375 or visit www.olemissalumni.com/events.

1

School of Applied Sciences Tailgate: Lawn of the Triplett Alumni Center. Three hours prior to kickoff.

Call 662-915-7375.

1

School of Pharmacy Tailgate: Front lawn of Faser Hall. Three hours prior to kickoff. Email thompson@olemiss.edu.

1

Football: Ole Miss vs. Memphis, Homecoming. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Time TBA. Visit www. olemissfb.com.

7

Performance: Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. The Grammy-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet is world renowned for its stunning precision, rich palette of tone colors and joyous music making. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Call 662-915-7411 or visit www.fordcenter.org.

8

Performance: “The Princess and the Pea,” Virginia Rep on Tour. This beloved Hans Christian Andersen tale comes to life in this fun and funny musical retelling. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 3 p.m. Call 662-915-7411 or visit www.fordcenter.org.

15

Fall Visit Day: Designed to give visitors a chance to learn about the University of Mississippi directly from faculty and currently enrolled students. Oxford campus, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Visit http://admissions.olemiss.edu.

20

Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College Fall Convocation: New York Times columnist David Brooks will address the SMBHC student body. Ford Center, 7-9 p.m. Ticket required. Email pleeton@olemiss.edu.

Performance: ‘Carmina Burana’ Nov. 14

28

Bridging the Gap: A student/ alumni networking forum. The Inn at Ole Miss Ballroom, 3-5 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

orchestra. Based on medieval Latin poems, Carl Orff ’s “Carmina Burana” is one of the best-known cantatas of the 20th century. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Call 662-915-7411 or visit www.fordcenter.org.

29

Student Alumni Council and Young Alumni Tailgate: Lawn of the Triplett Alumni Center.

Three hours prior to kickoff. Call 662-915-7375.

26

Football: Ole Miss vs. Auburn.

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Time TBA. Visit www.olemissfb.com.

29

26

Football: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Time TBA. Visit www. olemissfb.com.

November

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

10

Investiture of Jeffrey S. Vitter: Gertrude C. Ford Center, 3-5 p.m. Open to the public. For assistance related to a disability, contact the Office of the Provost at 662-915-1198 or provost@olemiss.edu.

14

Performance: Carl Orff ’s “Carmina Burana,” University of Mississippi choirs with professional

University of Mississippi Medical Center Tailgate: Lawn of Triplett Alumni Center. Time TBA. Call 1-800-844-5800.

For more Oxford events, news and information, visit www.visitoxfordms.com or call 662-232-2477. s u m m e r 2 0 16

19

20

Alumni Review

Dress Rental App Makes Cents UM grads build app in Silicon Valley

By Michael Newsom n spring 2015, University of Mississippi student Sara Kiparizoska (BA 16) needed a dress for a formal event but was frustrated about having to spend hundreds of dollars on one, knowing she would probably only wear it once.

She imagined being able to look in every woman’s closet on campus and in Oxford to find the right attire.

“I just thought to myself, I wish I could see what’s in everyone’s closet in Oxford because I know there are some fashionable people around who would let me rent their dress from them instead of having to buy one,” she says.

A native of L aurel, Kiparizoska first came up with an idea for a Facebook page. She talked it over with her friend William Ault (BSCS 15), of Charlotte, N.C. From that conversation came the idea that an app would be better. The app, called Curtsy, launched in January with thousands of women in the Oxford area signing up for it. Now it is attracting a major investment.

Kiparizoska, Ault and a team of young Ole Miss alumni spent the summer fine-tuning Curtsy at the prestigious Y Combinator in Silicon Valley, California, where they worked with

tech startup experts to make it the best it can be.

They’ve received a $120,000 investment from Y Combinator, which, in turn, receives 7 percent equity from each company that completes the program.

The Y Combinator is a business incubator that started in 2005. Fortune magazine called it a “spawning ground for emerging tech giants” and describes it as “a quasi startup factory, university and venture capital fund rolled into one.”

Household names such a s R e d d it , A i r bn b a n d Dropbox went through the Y Combinator. The program boasts results, including a total valuation of all Y Combinator companies that tops $65 billion. More than 40 of those companies are worth over $100 million each. Its rapid growth is undeniable, graduating 42 startups in 2009 and more than 220 in 2015.

“They’re considered the most successful and prestigious,” Ault says. “If you have a business and you want to sell it, you generally want to get into the Y Combinator. This past spring, 7,000 companies applied, and they accepted about 90. That’s harder to get into than Harvard and Yale. The acceptance rate is about 1 percent, so we were super excited to get to be a part of this.”

curtsy

Ole Miss students Abby Cummings (left) and Mary Margaret Hyer exchange a dress after using the Curtsy app.

Photo by Kevin Bain

s u m m e r 2 016

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For three months, the team members lived in Silicon Valley to hone their product and pitch. They spent each day working, meeting and shepherding Curtsy along. They received advice from the experts with Y Combinator, which is made up of successful tech entrepreneurial mentors who are mostly in their late 20s and early 30s.

There’s also a fitness component to Y Combinator for the Ole Miss group. One of their mentors told them “fitness is the first step to greatness,” so the team hit the gym every day before starting work at 8 a.m.

At the end of the three-month period, Y Combinator culminates with “Demo Day,” which puts the funded companies in one room with many investors. This is a hugely important day for a startup.

“A lot of times companies go from one investor to the next,” Ault says. “They would go talk to 20 investors, and a few would be interested, and then they’d sit down with them.

It usually takes months and a whole lot of time. For every minute you are distracted from your business, competitors are gaining ground.”

The lessons in Silicon Valley have been many. They’ve learned about everything from how to build a successful product to how to build and motivate a team and how to raise capital.

“There’s something really powerful about being surrounded by 100 other companies that are doing the same thing you are,” Ault says. “That’s extremely powerful, and there’s also a very valuable alumni network. It’s been a phenomenal experience. I would recommend it to any company.”

A dose of realism is also there, though, because just getting to Y Combinator doesn’t guarantee success in the unpredictable tech startup world. Being an entrepreneur also isn’t as glamorous as it sounds, and the idea that people become rich quickly with tech startups is a myth. Ault is two years into working on the app, and says it still hasn’t made him, its team or its investors rich.

“Tons of people pour their lives into businesses that end up never going anywhere,” he says. “The ones you hear about are only the ones that make it far. Many, many businesses have been taken down by lawsuits and founders breaking up.

There’s just a whole lot that goes into it.”

Eli Allen (BSCS 15), lead developer for Curtsy, is building the product. The Collinsville native says it’s been interesting to be the first company from Mississippi to be funded by Y Combinator.

“We get to learn from some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the last five to 10 years,” Allen says. “It’s pretty incredible coming from Mississippi to a place that is so well connected like Silicon Valley.”

The upshot of the lesson there is that the product is the most important. Though the concept sounds simple and predictable, there’s a very important nuance to it.

“They really focus on helping you build something people really love as opposed to something people just like,” Allen says. “Their philosophy is they would rather have a product that 100 people love than a product that 1 million people just like. If 100 people love a product, then you can grow it. You 22

Alumni Review

The full Curtsy team (left to right, back row): Sara Kiparizoska, Manuel Cubillo, William Ault, Eli Allen, Jake Johnson, Mary Margaret Tardy; (front row) Clara Agnes Ault, Haley Vassios, Allie Seay

build your product for that customer with the assumption that other people will love and appreciate it.”

Allen believes the product the team has built can be one that people love.

“We think we’ve built an app that is perfect for college women,” he says. “We have no doubt that it will be popular in colleges across the South and across the country.”

The app has its roots at Ole Miss. Curtsy began at Insight Park, the university’s research park. The 19-acre facility located beside campus has a mission “to provide a dynamic research park where businesses can take full advantage of opportunities for collaborative research, academic resources and more.”

Companies seeking to commercialize UM research are welcome to work there with the university to maximize their business by using both the human and physical resources available through such a partnership.

The team worked on its idea through the university’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship student competitions and received Rebel Venture Capital Fund seed money. Clay Dibrell, CIE executive director and professor of management, says the app is a shining example of what can come from the CIE’s student entrepreneurship competitions.

“Our students come from all across the wide range of majors offered at Ole Miss,” Dibrell says. “Sara was a pre-med honors student and has since entered into medical school at UMMC, while William graduated from computer science.

From these different backgrounds, they created Curtsy, an

app which helps women answer the age-old question of ‘what should I wear’ by allowing them to browse the closets of other Curtsy members.

“It has been a pleasure to see them refine their ideas into Curtsy, as they competed in and eventually won different student entrepreneurship competitions during their time at Ole Miss,” Dibrell says.

The app is now widely used in Oxford with more than 3,000 users signing up.

Ault says the name Curtsy originated while thinking of words to describe the essence of what the founders were trying achieve.

“Curtsy is empowering any woman to have a great look and have a special experience without needing to spend hundreds of dollars,” he says.

When Curtsy was created, women from across the Southeast were downloading the app only to realize the postings were all in Oxford. This gave Curtsy’s developers the confidence to expand to other markets.

“That’s when we knew we were onto something pretty cool,” Ault says. “We had no idea who these people were. They didn’t know the founders. They just found a post on a website or Facebook. That was really a moment where we had a lot of confidence in the business.”

Expansion has already begun to the Southeastern Conference towns of Starkville; Athens, Ga.; Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and Columbia, S.C. Curtsy is poised to expand from just being used

s u m m e r 2 016

23

Eli Allen, David Oates and William Ault at the Y Combinator summer program

in Oxford to 25 college towns in the fall.

Currently, Kiparizoska is working on marketing for Curtsy with Ault’s sister, Clara Agnes Ault (BS 16), her Tri Delta Fraternity sister at Ole Miss. The team is hitting towns with targeted marketing to prepare for local launches of the app.

“This summer we’re focused on the idea of introducing people to the idea of Curtsy and how Curtsy works so when they come back to their college campus in the fall, they can start borrowing each other’s dresses,” Kiparizoska says.

She’s confident it will do well in other markets too.

“The response at Ole Miss is great, so that’s why we want to expand to other campuses to give women the opportunity to monetize their closets as well as borrow fashionable dresses without having to spend that much money for a single event,” she says.

The secret to its success is that Curtsy tapped into a need that was there, but apparently no one had thought of a solution. It has another selling point too — the clothes you already own can be repeatedly rented for $25 or $30, for example.

“The best part of our app is you make money from the dresses you are already invested in, so now that $300 dress you bought is no longer a splurge but an investment you’re able to make money off of,” Kiparizoska says.

Another advantage for the app that makes it a hit on campuses is that it’s easy to find the person you are renting to or from.

“The great thing about college campuses is there is something people do that is the same every day — that’s go to class,” Kiparizoska says. “When you’re going to class, you meet the person and hand off the dress. It’s that one thing that has gone very smoothly.”

Seeing the transactions is useful to helping the marketing team understand the product and its future potential.

“I would witness so many times someone from the Tri Delta house meet someone from the Delta Gamma house and hand off the dress,” she says. “That was really cool to see that firsthand and be part of the process, so we can replicate it at other schools.”

Likely, Curtsy will also expand to cater to women who are also out of college.

‘ T h e b e st p a r t o f o u r a p p i s yo u make money from the dresses you are already invested in, so now that $300 dress you bought is no longer a splurge but an investment …’

— Sara Kiparizoska

Sara Kiparizoska 24

Alumni Review

“I know women in the professional world have expressed interest and have the need,” Kiparizoska says. “That’s the thing about our product is it’s a solution to a need women have, that’s having dresses for different events. Instead of buying them, we’re allowing them to rent them for a smaller price, because in today’s world you’re not going to wear them twice.”

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26

Alumni Review

By Annie Rhoades

Young alumna finds her niche in sports entertainment

s the studio lights dim and the cameraman steadies his shot, alumna McKenzie Mitchell (BA 16) looks into the lens, ready for action. Mitchell is a broadcaster for Impact Wrestling, a professional wrestling television program produced by Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling.

The former emcee for Ole Miss Athletics is a veteran after serving as the primary in-venue and on-camera host for all men’s football, baseball and basketball games for over two years.

“It was a huge honor to be chosen for that position because I’m essentially the face of the marketing team in Athletics,” Mitchell says. “I knew that when I graduated I wanted to do something in the same area, and I love Nashville. I wanted to work in the entertainment industry in either sports or music. [Impact Wrestling] said they wanted me to be their female face. They saw the work I did for the university and said I’d pretty much be doing the same thing for them, just on a larger scale.”

Born in Dexter, Mo., Mitchell graduated from Dexter High School in 2012 and enrolled at Ole Miss the following fall. Ole Miss was the front-runner when she looked at SEC schools for college.

Photo by Joshua McCoy s u m m e r 2 016

27

Photo by Layne Little Photography

“I wanted to go to school in the South, and Ole Miss immediately felt like home,” Mitchell says. “I walked onto campus, and people were so kind, nice and hospitable — it felt right.

I came to college knowing probably less than 10 people and ended up getting into a sorority and loving it. I made so many friends.”

A familiar face on campus, Athletics Director Ross Bjork soon became one of Mitchell’s friends due to the common bond they share with her hometown.

“We have a unique connection because my wife, Sonya, and McKenzie are from the same hometown of Dexter, so because of that, McKenzie’s mother reached out to Sonya and said I know you guys are at Ole Miss and McKenzie’s (going) to school there,” Bjork says. “We connected with her when she got here and said we’re a resource for you here.”

Originally interested in pursuing a degree in physical therapy, Mitchell learned that science was not her forte. She soon switched her major to journalism and never looked back.

“The second semester of my freshman year, I figured out that journalism was where I was supposed to be,” she says.

“One of my professors told me, ‘Hey, you’re definitely a journalist. I watched you do a project in class. You are going to be a reporter one day.’ So I decided to check it out and took my first journalism class and loved it. I couldn’t get enough of it, so from there on out, I switched my major to broadcast journalism and started working toward that degree.”

28

Alumni Review

A member of Chi Omega Fraternity and Ole Miss Diamond Girl, Mitchell learned from the previous emcee for Ole Miss Athletics that the job would soon be open. Without hesitation, she began inquiring about auditioning for the role.

“They took me to the Tad Pad and Swayze a couple of times to hear my voice over the microphone, then interviewed and selected me to be the emcee for all men’s sports.”

Taking on the coveted role meant juggling a demanding sports schedule along with her studies. But Mitchell was up for the challenge.

“She started working in the Athletics Department doing on-air, on-camera type stuff for us and was a great resource for our program,” Bjork says. “The key in that role is you have to be able to think on your feet, obviously, and be able to carry yourself behind a microphone and in front of a camera. McKenzie’s just really an artist from that standpoint. She’s a natural and confident in those types of settings. In college athletics, part of what we do is entertainment, and she was able to provide a unique piece of entertainment.”

Mitchell’s job consisted of a variety of duties including media liaison, on-field promoter during halftime, the “exaggerated fan” on the jumbotron, facility tour guide and postgame press conference liaison.

After spending a summer working in Nashville prior to graduation, Mitchell fell in love with the city and began looking for a job that would further her skills in the entertainment industry.

“I started looking for jobs in January during my senior year, and this job kind of fell into my lap,” she says. “I was looking around and connecting with people — Ole Miss helps you so much in the aspect of where you want to go and what you want to do. I got connected with Dixie Carter (BBA 86) and ended up finding this job. I interviewed for it in February, and they immediately offered me the job to begin as soon as I graduated.”

Carter, president of TNA Wrestling, knew Mitchell was perfect for the job from the beginning.

“Coming right out of college, McKenzie’s experience at Ole Miss was like coming into the job with several years of relevant job experience under her belt,” Carter says. “I met McKenzie through Ross Bjork. Knowing Ross well, I know he wouldn’t recommend someone as highly as he did without McKenzie

Photo by Joshua McCoy

“My favorite part of the job was meeting and greeting so many people and making connections that will forever be part of my Ole Miss family,” she says. “I got to be involved in so many incredible moments at Ole Miss like when we went to Omaha with the baseball team and the field rush at the Alabama game.

“Any time we would do things like Rebel Choice Awards, they would have me out there doing on-camera work and, of course, all of the games. I got to experience Ole Miss Athletics to its full extent. That was my commitment. It was really hard to balance that with being a (full-time) student, but I loved it.”

being extraordinary. Ross is one of the sharpest executives I have ever met, so his opinion played a big role in my decision to hire her.”

Bjork is thrilled to see the two alumnae working closely together. The connection they share by being part of the Ole Miss family is a testament to the strong relationships formed between Rebels that last long after graduation.

“I think the cool thing about Ole Miss is the family atmosphere,” he says. “It’s kind of a neat story to tie in both sides because you have an (alumna) in Dixie who wants to hire Ole Miss students and McKenzie who’s talented enough to land a position like that. Dixie is always looking to recruit Ole Miss students, so putting those two together was a natural fit.”

Mitchell made her Impact Wrestling debut on Pop TV in June during a whirlwind week filled with interviews, tapings and appearances.

“Essentially pro wrestling is entertainment,” Mitchell says.

“It’s been a whole different breed to learn because I’m so new to all of this, and there’s so much slang and etiquette to be approved of. My first week, they had me doing on-camera work with a BreakView, a preview and then [video] on our YouTube channel. All of our work is on so many different avenues. It’s been an incredible experience so far to see how entertainment works and go to TV tapings and live shows. It’s awesome to get a behind-the-scenes look and appreciate what’s happening.”

While Mitchell is based in Nashville, the show tapes in Orlando, Fla., at Universal Studios where the network has its own studio. Monthly visits are jam-packed with live shows as well as tapings to be used for the next four to five weeks.

“Coming into my first week, I had no idea how things were going to work,” she says. “They immediately told me to do an interview with wrestler Eli Drake, and I had just started meeting people that same day. I didn’t know much about [his] personality, but experience is the best way to learn. It’s 100 percent different from interviewing Chad Kelly because in wrestling everyone has a character.”

Mitchell with Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly s u m m e r 2 016

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Photo by Layne Little Photography

As a novice in the industry, Mitchell’s learning curve is steep in terms of knowing the ins and outs of wrestling terminology and, more importantly, respect.

“I had no idea how much work and education went into this,” she says. “We’re working with some of the best athletes who put their body on the line every single day in any match they’re fighting. It’s been awesome to see how everything works. In the wrestling world, everything is about respect. You respect their work, and when they’re done, you make sure you let them know how well they’re doing. They do the same to me.”

Carter couldn’t be more pleased with Mitchell’s success so far. And having another alumna on her team makes the job even more fun.

“In the short time we have worked together, I have loved working with McKenzie,” Carter says. “She is so talented, energetic and full of great ideas. Selfishly, I love having a Rebel on TV and working side by side with me in the office. I can’t wait to experience football season with her. I’m as big of a Rebel fan as you can imagine. I do interviews all over the world, and I love talking about my Ole Miss Rebels.”

According to Mitchell’s friend and mentor Bjork, the sky is the limit for the former emcee.

“This is only a starting point,” he says. “I think what she’s doing in the entertainment world is going to set the course for a great future in whatever she decides to do. She’s going to learn so much and be exposed to that side of entertainment. I think it’s going to be neat to watch her evolve and grow.”

Mitchell is eager to see what the future holds for her. While she never imagined being part of the wrestling world, she knows she wouldn’t be where she is today without the skills she learned at her alma mater.

“I didn’t ever think I would ever be here, but now that I’m here, I love it,” she says. “I had no idea that my job at Ole Miss would lead to me working with Impact Wrestling. Being the emcee for Athletics opened up so many doors and made me who I am in my career. I don’t know where all of this is going to take me, but I’m excited and ready to take on whatever comes my way.”

Carter and Mitchell take a break from filming ‘Impact Wrestling.’

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Alumni Review

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A l u m ni R e vi e w

Engineering graduate’s technology transforming debris-removal industry

By Edwin Smith ollowing Hurricane Katrina, Brooks Wallace (BSCvE 02) wanted to reduce and eliminate expensive fraud in the debris-removal business. He found a way to do it, and now he is a rising star in that industry.

The Columbia native developed DebrisTech, software that tracks debris trucks with bar code scanners, digital photos and global-positioning systems. Resulting data are then wirelessly uploaded to a central database where the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies can retrieve it later for verification purposes.

Since Wallace created DebrisTech in August 2010, it has been used to document debris removal in the New York City area after Hurricane Sandy and in Pearl River, Lincoln and Pike counties after Hurricane Isaac.

City officials in Moore, Okla., used the software to clean up the devastating piles left by tornadoes in 2013. In 2014, DebrisTech handled the aftermath of the north Mississippi tornadoes, the Christmas tornadoes of 2014-15 and the 2016 floods in Louisiana.

Industry experts expect technology such as DebrisTech’s to have a profound effect on post-disaster cleanup.

“It really feels good to know that something I created is used by different entities across the United States during the times when they are in need the most,” says Wallace, CEO of DebrisTech. “When an entity chooses to use DebrisTech, we are solely responsible for making sure that their debrisremoval activities are properly documented. Without proper documentation, the entities are subject to losing millions of dollars in reimbursements.”

s u m m e r 2 016

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Wallace’s software is already being acknowledged. Following the firm’s work in Moore, FEMA produced a Best Practices video highlighting its work.

“I’ve been in debris-removal projects all over the country — Florida, California, Texas, Virginia — huge hurricanes, wildfires, floods,” says Russ Towndrow, a former Mississippi Emergency Management Agency official who used DebrisTech software. “This real-time data is a game changer.”

Before the Debris After graduating from UM, Wallace began working for Dungan Engineering in June 2002 at its Columbia office. Now vice president and principal engineer, he recalls vividly how the employment opportunity arose.

“My mom and dad were good friends with Jeff and Rene Dungan,” Wallace says. “Jeff and his brother, Les, owned Dungan Engineering in Columbia, so I made an appointment during spring break to spend a day with Jeff and see exactly what a civil engineer does.”

Dungan remembers the conversation he and Wallace had that day.

“He asked me some poignant questions about engineering and working here,” Dungan says. “Being a Mississippi State graduate, I was really tempted to misdirect him to State.”

Wallace asked Dungan if attending MSU was a requirement for him to become an engineer.

“To my surprise, he told me it didn’t matter where I went as long as the school was ABET-accredited and my grades were good,” Wallace says. “That made my day. I returned to Mississippi College and immediately rearranged my schedule to fit the Ole Miss engineering prerequisites.”

Transferring from MC after his sophomore year, Wallace enrolled at Ole Miss as a junior in fall 2000. He graduated in May 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

“My Ole Miss education certainly opened the door for my employment with Dungan Engineering,” Wallace says. “I really believe that my problem-solving skills were learned and developed during my time at Ole Miss. The Ole Miss family has been very helpful in my professional career.”

The plan was always for Wallace to transition from Columbia to Picayune, which he did in July 2003. As manager of the Picayune office, all was going well until Aug. 29, 2005.

Results of the Wreckage “The eye of Hurricane Katrina came directly over Picayune,” says Wallace, who also serves as consulting engineer for the city of Picayune. “We were tasked with coordinating, managing and documenting the county’s debris-removal efforts. Our sleepy little office with three employees almost instantly turned into a chaotic operation with over 150 employees.”

Wallace created DebrisTech in 2010. The software tracks debris trucks with bar code scanners, digital photos and global positioning systems. FEMA and other agencies can then retrieve that data for verification purposes.

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Alumni Review

Following Katrina, Wallace came up with the idea of DebrisTech.

“Brooks is a technical wizard,” Dungan says. “He loves the technology in engineering, but he also deeply cares about the people in disaster-impacted areas. That’s why he created DebrisTech.”

The entire debris-removal and debris-monitoring project lasted more than a year and totaled more than $100 million.

Then, toward the end of May 2006, the Mississippi Legislature created the Pearl River County Utility Authority.

“One of the most challenging tasks I’ve had to date was the creation and startup of the PRCUA,” Wallace says. “This entity was created by the Legislature following Katrina to manage water and wastewater infrastructure within the county.”

Many in Pearl River County saw the PRCUA as another unnecessary layer of government. Convincing citizens that it was to their benefit to have an entity focused solely on water and wastewater issues was a hard battle.

“Ultimately, the PRCUA persevered and was able to execute and implement the master plan,” Wallace says. “Today, Pearl River County is a better place to live because of the work of the PRCUA. What started as an entity that was hated by many has now become a financially sound, vital part of the county that serves thousands of customers each day.”

Wallace readily acknowledges that his achievements are shared accomplishments.

“This success would not have been possible without the vision and leadership of Steve Lawler (PRCUA board chairman) and Michael Caples (BSChE 87, JD 94) (the board’s attorney and a fellow Ole Miss engineering alumnus),” he says.

Solid Home Life Family is extremely important to Wallace. He and his wife, Susan, have three sons: Andrew, Connor and Luke. The family enjoys boating, spending time on the Jordan River in Bay St. Louis and vacationing at the beach. Of course, the Wallaces join their family and friends at Ole Miss Rebels’ football and baseball games.

Wallace also maintains close relationships with his parents, Randy and Jenny Wallace of Columbia. His younger sister, Whitney, is married to Ryan Holmes (BSCvE 04), another Ole Miss engineering graduate and Dungan employee. They live in Brookhaven.

“I enjoy working with Ryan because I think that we are a lot alike,” Wallace says. “Over the years, we both moved to new locations, have built a good client base and business in each of our locations for the firm. We both understand what the other has gone through to build what we have built and can understand the challenges of managing a remote office.”

Holmes expressed nothing but admiration for his brother-in-law.

“Brooks is passionate about his work and family,” he says.

“Being passionate also gives you a sense of accomplishment when you complete a project. I feel like he challenges me to be better and to learn new skills.”

Industry experts expect technology such as DebrisTech’s to transform post-disaster cleanup and the debris-removal industry. s u m m e r 2 016

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Personal Achievement Wallace, along with three others, incorporated Heritage Christian Academy Inc. in 2013. A 501c3 nonprofit organization that began operation the following year, HCA has 70 students in grades K-4. The organization has purchased property, and a groundbreaking for a new $1.5 million K-8 campus was scheduled to begin in August.

“I would have to say that my most gratifying personal achievement to date has been the formation of Heritage Christian Academy,” Wallace says. “It’s very rewarding to know that I played a major role in something that has such potential to make an eternal impact upon so many people in our community.”

Renderings courtesy of Landry and Lewis Architects

Wallace says he is already seeing the effect HCA has had on his children and their classmates, and he looks forward to continued growth.

“To be a part of something that can help provide a better path for the children is something I really enjoy,” he says.

Asked if he had any words of wisdom for high school graduates looking to continue their education, Wallace heartily recommends his alma mater.

“I try and advise young people who are trying to make a career decision, specifically engineering, that Ole Miss is the place to go,” he says. “I do this because I really enjoyed my time in Oxford and feel that because of the size of the engineering program, you have a lot more one-on-one time and attention than you would at other, larger engineering schools.”

Wallace remains focused on his short- and long-term professional goals.

“My short-term career goals would be to continue to build DebrisTech and position the company to be ready for the next major disaster,” he says. “My long-term goals are to make DebrisTech a national leader in the debris-monitoring industry and to continue to build lasting relationships and meet the engineering needs of Pearl River and the surrounding areas.”

(Top) Jeff Dungan (left) and Ryan Holmes on a work site in Columbia.

Wallace says Heritage Christian Academy is his most gratifying personal achievement. (Bottom) Wallace and his wife, Susan, with their three sons.

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Alumni Review

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Sports Ole Miss

Athletes of Distinction

6 REBEL GREATS TO BE INDUCTED INTO M-CLUB HALL OF FAME

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he Ole Miss M-Club Alumni Hall of Fame will add six more members to its collection of all-time Rebel greats this fall.

Slated to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame during the weekend of Sept. 23-24 in Oxford are Clarence Daniel (track and field), Stephen Head (baseball), Brad Henderson (baseball), Danielle Johnson (soccer), Bill Smith (football) and Joe Walker (track-and-field coach).

They also will be recognized on the field during the Sept. 24 football game against Georgia.

Clarence Daniel (1981-84): One of the best quarter-milers in school history, Daniel (BSHPE 84) was a three-time SEC champion and two-time AllAmerican during his Rebel career in the early 1980s. The Alexander City, Ala., native won conference titles at 400 meters/440 yards in both the indoor and outdoor season as a senior in 1984.

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Alumni Review

Stephen Head (2003-05): As a utility player spending time on the mound and at first base as a Rebel, Stephen Head (BBA 12) is the only three-time All-American in Ole Miss baseball history. The Jackson native helped put Ole Miss baseball on the map as

the Rebels advanced to three straight NCAA Regionals, including hosting the program’s first NCAA Regional in 2004 and advancing to the program’s first NCAA Super Regional appearance in 2005.

In 2003, he was named the Louisville Slugger National Freshman of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year before being selected to compete internationally with USA Baseball following the season. He followed that up with SEC Player of the Year honors in 2004. Head hit .338 while recording 239 hits, 165 RBI, 137 runs scored and 37 home runs in 188 career games.

On the mound, the southpaw went a combined 17-7 with a 2.32 ERA, logging 176 strikeouts over 213.0 innings.

He finished his Ole Miss career ranked second in program history with 26 career saves. He was drafted in the second round by the Cleveland Indians in 2005, playing five years in the

Stephen Head

Brad Henderson

He helped lead the Rebels to their best team finishes in program history, a runner-up SEC outdoor finish in 1984 and third-place SEC indoor finishes in 1983 and 1984. The first AfricanAmerican member of the Ole Miss track-and-field team, he still holds the school record for the indoor 400 meters (45.71). He continued to race after his college days, winning silver medals in the 400 and 4x400 relay at the 1986 Goodwill Games, a gold medal in the 4x400 relay at the 1990 Goodwill Games, silver in the 400 at the 1988 USA Championships and bronze at the 1990 USA Championships.

Ole Miss Sports Indians organization before signing with the Colorado Rockies in 2011.

Head returned to Ole Miss in 2013, serving as the team’s director of operations for one year before transitioning to assistant coach (2014-15).

Brad Henderson (1996-99): A four-year baseball letterman who was a threat at the plate throughout his career, Henderson (BA 01) can still be found throughout the Ole Miss record books.

With 298 career hits, he is the program’s hit king and also holds all-time school records for doubles (60), runs scored (198) and total bases (494). Hitting .371 during his career (sixth all-time), the Tupelo native also cracked the top 10 with 40 home runs (fourth) and 160 RBI (seventh). As a senior, Henderson earned All-America honorable mention accolades from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and was a first team All-SEC second baseman. He ripped a program-record 24 doubles that season. Following his college baseball days, Henderson was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 1999 MLB Draft.

(BBA 11) was a consistent force in the midfield and defense throughout her career. Equally as adept at dribbling through traffic as she was at stopping opponents’ attacks, Johnson was a second team all-league selection as a freshman and a first teamer the next three years. The Rebels finished no worse than third in the SEC West during her four-year tenure. As a senior team captain in 2009, she guided the team to the NCAA Tournament and a 13-6-2 overall record. A native of Baton Rouge, La., Johnson was the 35th overall pick (fourth round) by the New Jersey Sky Blue FC in the 2010 Women’s Pro Soccer Draft.

Rebel record section with the most consecutive games having one or more 50-yard punts (32, 1983-86). He participated in the 1986 Senior Bowl and the 1986 Blue-Gray game and was named to the 1980s All-SEC team.

Danielle Johnson (2006-09): The only four-time All-SEC selection in Ole Miss soccer history, Johnson

Bill Smith (1983-86): One of the top punters of the modern era, Smith (BPA 89) still holds several NCAA records thanks to his exceptionally strong leg. He earned All-America honors in 1985 and 1986 and was chosen to All-SEC teams in 1984, 1985 and 1986. The L itt le Ro ck, Ark., native averaged 44.3 yards on 254 career punts. His 92-yard punt against Southern Miss in 1984 is the longest in Ole Miss history. He owns the second-highest season punting average in school history with a 47.7 mark in 1984, while he leads the

Joe Walker (coach, 1979-85, 19882012): One of the most respected coaches in college track and field, Walker spent 30 seasons as the head man at Ole Miss. During that time, which spanned two stints, he guided the Rebels to 11 top-20 national finishes and was a six-time SEC Coach of the Year honoree. His pupils earned All-America recognition 124 times, including 12 NCAA individual championships, as well as 60 individual SEC titles. The Utica native was the 2002 U.S. Olympic Committee National Coach of the Year. At least one of his athletes or former athletes has participated in every Olympic Games but one (2004) since 1976. Perhaps his most notable mentee is Brittney Reese, who won a pair of NCAA long jump titles at Ole Miss and has gone on to be a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, 2016 Olympic silver medalist, six-time world champion, nine-time U.S. champion and the American indoor record holder in the long jump.

Danielle Johnson

Bill Smith

Joe Walker s u m m e r 2 0 16

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Ole Miss Sports

Rebels in Rio

OLE MISS BOASTS 9 REPRESENTATIVES AT 2016 OLYMPICS Photo by Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

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Brittney Reese claimed a silver medal with a world-class long jump performance in August at Rio’s Olympic Stadium. Hers is the fourth Olympic medal all-time among Ole Miss track-and-field representatives.

Photo by Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports

school-record nine Ole Miss representatives made the trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Two of t hem have b e en t here before – Ole Miss track-and-field head coach Connie Price-Smith, who served as head coach of the U.S. women’s track-and-field team, and one of her athletes in Rio, Brittney Reese (BA 11), who made her third Olympic appearance and was the defending gold medalist in the long jump.

Price-Smith competed in four Olympics as a world-class shot put and discus thrower for Team USA, and she has either competed or coached at every Olympics since 1988 except the 2004 Games in Athens.

“Ole Miss has great tradition,” she says. “One of my goals when I came down here was to keep building on that tradition. So I feel like I

Sam Kendricks vaulted his way to a bronze medal in the men’s pole vault at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Kendricks is the first American man to win an Olympic medal in the pole vault since 2004.

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Alumni Review

have started doing that with (current Ole Miss representatives) Raven and Gwen going. It is just great to be able to represent the United States and Ole Miss at the same time.”

All other Rebels besides PriceSmith and Reese experienced their first Olympics, including Gwen Berry (women’s hammer throw – USA), Antwon Hicks (BA 05) (men’s 110-meter hurdles – Nigeria), Sam Kendricks (BA 15) (men’s pole vault – USA), Anthony Perez (men’s basketball – Venezuela), Ricky Robertson (BA 14) (men’s high jump – USA), Raven Saunders (women’s shot put – USA) and Rafaelle Souza (BSCvE 14) (women’s soccer – Brazil).

Saunders, who finished her sophomore season at Ole Miss by winning the NCAA outdoor shot put title and breaking the all-time collegiate record, earned silver at the U.S. Olympic Trials to make her first Olympic team at age 20.

Ole Miss Sports

Iconic Achievement

ARCHIE MANNING NAMED 2016 NFF GOLD MEDAL RECIPIENT

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football, and we recognize them,” says Manning in a promotional video for the organization. “I am especially proud of the fact that we recognize the scholar-athlete, and we reward kids starting in high school with our chapter program, distributing scholarships to those who do a great job of Photo by Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Athletics

he National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announced in June that Archie Manning (BPA 71) has been named the 2016 recipient of the NFF Gold Medal in recognition of his exceptional leadership and unblemished reputation. He will be honored for his achievements and contributions to the nation during the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 6 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

“Archie Manning became an icon as one of the greatest players to ever set foot on the gridiron, and he subsequently used his standing to become one of the game’s greatest ambassadors,” says Steve Hatchell, NFF president and CEO. “The entire football community has been blessed by his enormous contributions, and we take great pride in having him as our chairman. He has earned this honor many times over, and we are extremely proud to add his name to the esteemed list of past NFF Gold Medal recipients.”

The highest and most prestigious award presented by the National Football Foundation, the Gold Medal recognizes an outstanding American who has demonstrated integrity and honesty; achieved significant career success; and has reflected the basic values of those who have excelled in amateur sport, particularly football. First presented to President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in 1958, the Gold Medal boasts an impressive list of past recipients, including seven presidents, four generals, three admirals, one Supreme Court justice, 29 corporate CEOs and chairmen, actor John Wayne and baseball immortal Jackie Robinson. Manning will become the 63rd recipient of the NFF Gold Medal.

“Coming from humble beginnings, Archie Manning has exhibited an extraordinary work ethic throughout his life,” says Jack Ford, NFF Awards Committee chairman. “His exceptional composure enabled him to handle adversity both on and off the field, and he has remained deeply committed to his family and the community. His focus has always been on others and making those around him better. No individual is more worthy of our highest honor, and we look forward to celebrating the excellence he has come to personify at the NFF Annual Award Dinner in December.”

An All-America quarterback at Ole Miss, a Pro Bowl player with the New Orleans Saints and a College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Manning charted a successful post-football career, including roles as an investment broker, broadcaster, restaurateur, endorser, community leader and philanthropist.

He added the NFF to his list of many charities, joining the NFF board of directors in 1993. He served with distinction before becoming NFF chairman in 2007 and the leader of a nationwide network of 120 chapters in 47 states with more than 12,000 members.

“There are a lot of good things and people because of

Archie Manning will be honored on Dec. 6 during the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner.

balancing football time with their academic requirements. We honor those kids, and they’re the ones who turn out to be great leaders and people in our society. It’s just gratifying to be part of something that does something great for young people.”

Manning will accept his award alongside the recipients of the other NFF major awards, including William H. McRaven, chancellor of the University of Texas System and retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral (NFF Distinguished American Award); Grant Teaff, College Football Hall of Fame coach and AFCA executive director emeritus (NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award); Chet Gladchuk, U.S. Naval Academy athletics director (NFF John L. Toner Award for excellence in athletics administration); Bob Rondeau, the Voice of the Washington Huskies (NFF Chris Schenkel Award for excellence in broadcasting); and the yet-to-be announced recipients of the NFF Legacy Awards.

In addition to the presentation of the NFF major awards, the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner will provide the stage for the induction of the 2016 College Football Hall of Fame Class; the presentation of the 2016 NFF National ScholarAthlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments; and the bestowal of the 27th NFF William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments and displayed at its official home inside the New York Athletic Club, to the nation’s top football scholar-athlete.

tradition starts here.

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Becoming a member is the first step in beginning students’ lifelong relationship with Ole Miss.

Get special gifts and perks: • Special events throughout the year just for student members • Receive special gifts every year • Access to MEMBER ZONE on home football game days • Discounts and special offers at local and national retailers • Meet prominent alumni and learn valuable career advice at our networking events • Special car decal

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Ole Miss Sports

STADIUM EXPANSION TO FEATURE BELL TOWER

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niversity of Mississippi football fans are accustomed to the sounds of the Grove on game day — the chatter of classmates reuniting, the laughter of children playing catch, the rousing horns and drums of the Pride of the South, the cheers as Rebels parade along the Walk of Champions — but in the 2017 season and beyond, one sound will be heard over all others: chimes.

“Our hope is that the bell tower can be seen and its chimes heard from one end of campus to the other,” says Bob Lloyd (BBA 83) of Jackson.

To support the construction of a stately new bell tower in the north end zone of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Lloyd, his brothers Ted and Ben, and their late father, William B. “Cosmo” Lloyd, have committed $1.3 million to the Forward Together campaign for Ole Miss Athletics.

The tower is expected to be finished by early spring and dedicated during the Rebels’ spring

game weekend. At more than 60 feet tall, it will be a focal point when walking from the Grove to Vaught-Hemingway’s north end zone plaza along the new Gertrude C. Ford Way. The game-day Walk of Champions will culminate with players walking through the Lloyd Bell Tower.

“On game day, the special tone of the Rebel bell will signal game time — time to take that jovial Grove attitude and bring that energy to the Vaught with a swagger and confidence that says, ‘This is our day and our house!’” Lloyd says.

The $150 million Forward Together campaign was launched in 2011 to strengthen Ole Miss Athletics in its commitment to excellence. With the help of 3,425 donors, the ambitious campaign surpassed its original goal in November 2015, raising $155 million. It has surpassed $165 million on its way to a new goal of $200 million.

To learn more about the Forward Together campaign, contact Keith Carter, senior associate

athletics director for development and executive director of the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation, at jkcarter@olemiss.edu or 662-915-7159.

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up in Mississippi and received her bachelor’s degree in banking and finance. She has served her church as a children’s minister and youth volunteer.

A Narcotic Conspiracy (A Will and Betsy Black Adventure, Volume 3) b y David and Nancy Beckwith, 318

Leaving Oxford (Southern Hearts Series, Book One) b y Janet W. Ferguson,

352 pages, $13.95 (Paperback), Southern Sun Press LLC, ISBN: 9780997482201 Escaping home to Oxford, Miss., seemed like a good idea — until it wasn’t.

A year after a tragic accident in Los Angeles flipped her world upside down, advertising guru Sarah Beth LeClair is still hiding away in her charming hometown of Oxford. And she may well be stuck there forever.

Suffering from panic attacks, she prays for healing. Instead, her answer comes in the form of an arrogant football coach and an ugly puppy.

Former celebrity college quarterback Jess McCoy dreamed of playing pro football. One freak hit destroyed his chances. Although he enjoys his work as the university’s offensive coordinator, his aspirations have shifted to coaching at the highest level. His plans of moving up are finally coming together — until he falls for a woman who won’t leave town.

As the deadline for Jess’ decision on his dream career looms, the bars around Sarah Beth’s heart only grow stronger. But it’s time to make a decision about leaving Oxford.

Janet W. Ferguson (BBA 86) grew 46

Alumni Review

pages, $14.95 (Paperback), CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, ISBN: 9781522808671 In this latest adventure, Will and B etsy Black, those crime-solving financial whizzes, are curious when Geoffrey Oliver Watson III is found dead on his boat near Key West. Then, a 50-foot go-fast cigarette boat nearly rams a Coast Guard cutter, raising more questions. The answer is drug smuggling. Can the husbandand-wife sleuths thwart the local drug lords?

David W. Beckwith (BBA 69, MBA 71) spent most of his working career in the securities industry and is a retired senior vice president and financial adviser with Morgan Stanley. Nancy Beckwith was the largest commercial lender and underwriter for Florida National Bank/First Union/Wachovia.

She also served as provost of the University of South Alabama’s Brookley campus.

The Beckwiths started writing the Will and Betsy Black Adventure series in 2010.

The Invisibles: The Untold Story of African American Slaves in the White House by Jesse J. Holland, 240

pages, $25.95 (Hardcover), Lyons Press, ISBN: 9781493008469 The Invisibles chronicles the AfricanAmerican presence inside the White

House from its beginnings in 1782 until 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that granted slaves their freedom. During these years, slaves were the only AfricanAmericans to whom the most powerful men in the United States were exposed on a daily and familiar basis. By reading about these often-intimate relationships, readers will better understand some of the views that various presidents held about class and race in American society, and how these slaves contributed not only to the life and comforts of the presidents they served but also to America as a whole.

Jesse J. Holland (BA 94) is the author of Black Men Built the Capitol: Discovering AfricanAmerican History In and Around Washington, D.C. (Globe Pequot, 2007) and a longtime Washington correspondent for the Associated Press. Holland has covered the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court for AP. A regular guest on CNN, NBC, Fox News, PBS and C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal,” Holland speaks frequently on African-American and Washington political topics.

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.

Keith Carter

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

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

ajones@bus.olemiss.edu | 662-915-5483

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.

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Traveler 2016-17 REBEL

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he Ole Miss Alumni Association is offering a number of spectacular trips for 2016-17.

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.

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 itinerary aboard the 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 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.

Me e t l o c a l re s i d e nt s du r i ng t h e specially arranged Island Life Forum for a personal perspective on the true character of the Aegean Sea’s maritime culture. Athens pre-cruise option and Peloponnese post-cruise options are offered. — From $4,495

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

Montreal, Canada 48

Alumni Review

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

2016-17 rebel Traveler 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

CAPTIVATING MEDITERRANEAN OCT. 8-16, 2016

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

TRADE ROUTES OF COASTAL IBERIA OCT. 25-NOV. 2, 2016

This unique and exclusive nine-day itinerary and small-ship voyage showcases the coastal jewels of the Iberian Peninsula between Barcelona, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal. Cruise up Spain’s legendary Guadalquivir River, into the heart of beautiful Seville. Visit Portugal’s

Isle of Capri, Italy

lesser-traveled Algarve region and the regal city of Granada, Spain. See the scenic Strait of Gibraltar, and call on two of the enchanting Balearic Islands — Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca. Visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites while cruising ancient Mediterranean and Atlantic trade routes aboard the exclusively chartered, five-star small ship MV Tere Moana. Barcelona pre-cruise and Lisbon post-cruise options are offered.

— From $5,995

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 Mus e o Arche ol o g i c o Na z i ona l e.

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

MONTE CARLO, MONACO JAN. 13-21, 2017

Ole Miss Travelers Only By popular request, we will be visiting the Principality of Monaco on our traditional Ole Miss winter vacation in Europe. Our base will be the firstclass hotel Monte Carlo Bay, where every room has a superb view over the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy visiting the country of the Grimaldi family, and be often reminded there of the glamorous reign of Princess Grace.

The coastline offers magnificent vistas of landscapes and the fabulous villas and estates of the rich and famous. Day excursions will take travelers to Nice and Cannes, further into the countryside for wine tastings and to snowy mountain villages. Another highlight will be a visit to the historic port city of Genoa in Italy. And not to forget the wonderful meals of French and Italian cuisine we will be enjoying on this trip.

— From $4,690, including airfare s u m m e r 2 0 16

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2016-17 rebel Traveler

Antarctica

AMAZON RIVER EXPEDITION FEB. 3-12, 2017

This unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime journey features a cruise into the Amazon R iver B asin ab o ard t he deluxe, all-suite M.V. Zafiro, launched in November 2015, and two nights in historic Lima, Peru, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Led by Peruvian naturalists, cruise through one of the Earth’s most exotic natural realms and our planet’s largest rainforest ecosystem. Seek rare, indigenous flora and fauna — delicate orchids, towering ceiba trees, pink river dolphins and slow-moving sloths — and visit local villages to observe the traditional way of life of the ribereños (river people).

A special post-tour option to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley is offered.

— From $5,195

EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTICA FEB. 9-22, 2017

Join us for this spectacular 14-day journey featuring a nine-night exclusively chartered cruise to Antarctica, Earth’s last frontier. Cruise aboard the intimate M.S. Le Soléal, one of the finest vessels in Antarctic waters, featuring private balconies in 95 percent of the 50

A l u m ni R e vi e w

deluxe, ocean-view accommodations.

Experience the White Continent in its unspoiled state — fantastically shaped icebergs, turquoise glaciers, bu s t l i ng p e ng u i n ro oke r i e s an d breaching whales. Accompanied by the ship’s expert team of naturalists, board sturdy Zodiac watercraft for excursions ashore and observe Antarctica’s abundant wildlife. Spend two nights in vibrant Buenos Aires. Extend you r j ou r ne y w it h t he e xclus ive three-night Iguazú Falls post-program option. — From $9,395

WONDERS OF THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS FEB. 12-21, 2017

This incredible 10-day journey features a five-night cruise in the Galápagos Islands, a nature lover’s dream destination and UNESCO World Heritage site, aboard the newly refitted, first-class small ship Santa Cruz II. This exploration vessel is equipped for the complete Galápagos experience, from a fleet of Zodiacs and a glass-bottom boat to certified naturalists and complimentary snorkeling gear.

Visit six islands where the unique wildlife accepts up-clos e human

company like nowhere else on Earth.

In Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site, enjoy deluxe hotel accommodations. Ecuadorian rainforest eco lodge pre-tour and six-night Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley post-tour options are offered. — From $5,495

PASSAGE THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL AND COSTA RICA FEB. 17-25, 2017

Join this spectacular nine-day journey from the Costa Rican rainforest t hroug h t he mig hty lo cks of t he Panama Canal. Spend one night in a deluxe hotel in San José, Costa Rica.

Cruise for seven nights aboard the exclusively chartered, five-star, all-suite M.V. Star Pride. Explore the terrestrial wonders of Costa Rica’s national parks and wildlife refuges. Experience a daylight passage through the awe-inspiring Pa n a m a C a n a l t o re m ot e i s l a n d paradises and pristine waters home to diverse marine life.

Tour Panama City and visit Panama’s San Blas Islands. Enjoy lectures by exclusive onboard study leaders. Costa Rica’s Volcanoes pre-program option and Panama post-program options are offered. — From $4,795

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For an interview with a Regions Business Banker, call 1.800.833.9776 or visit us online at regions.com/interview.

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News ALUMNI

Alumni Association Launches Mobile App APP FEATURES REAL-TIME ALERTS

A

lumni, students and fans now have a new way to stay connected to Ole Miss and take advantage of Alumni Association perks and benefits.

The official Ole Miss Alumni Association mobile device app, which launched in August on the App Store and Google Play, features real-time alerts to campus happenings, a new array of nationwide discounts, a convenient alumni events calendar and more.

“We’re proud to offer our own app to Ole Miss alumni and friends,” Executive Director Kirk Purdom (BA 93) says. “The beauty of this app is we can alert alumni not only to events on campus but to events and discounts in their specific areas.”

Location technology available through the app helps the Alumni Association notify individual users of discounts and events close to them, Purdom says.

“The Alumni Association app will know, for instance, when users are on campus and send them text alerts about local events, traffic updates or whatever information is most important for them to know at that moment,” he says.

Alumni and friends can also join and renew their alumni memberships directly through the app, activating a virtual membership card that can be used for entry into membersonly events.

“Current active members will be able to access the full suite of benefits when they log into the app for the first time,” says Steve Mullen (BA 92), OMAA assistant director for marketing and membership. “For nonmembers, the benefits and other members-only benefits will activate once they join through the app.”

Other features include a convenient room reservation portal for The Inn at Ole Miss, access to the Ole Miss Alumni Review magazine and links to Alumni Association photo galleries and social media channels.

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ALUMNI News

Class Notes ’60s

Robert C. Khayat (BAEd 61, JD 66), UM chancellor emeritus, was presented an honorary doctorate by Tougaloo College at its May 2016 commencement ceremony.

Carole Lynn Meadows (BSC 60, MBEd 64) is co-founder of the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport, a recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

Mary Campbell Stewart ( BA E d 6 0 ) received the University of Pennsylvania’s Alumni Humanitarian Award, presented to an alumnus/alumna in recognition of his or her direct impact on diversity and cultural experiences of students on campus.

Scotty Welch (LLB 64) of Baker Donelson in Jackson received the Capital Area Bar Association’s 2016 Professionalism Award.

’70s

Jimmy Brown (BBA 70), past president of the Ole Miss Alumni

Association, retired as north Mississippi area president of Regions Bank after 42 years of service.

Distinguished Citizen Award, an honor the organization considers its most prestigious recognition.

Jere T. Humphreys (BM 71), professor of music at Arizona State University, finished his eighth and final year on the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona board of directors.

Archie R. McDonnell Jr. (BBA 74) of Meridian will serve as CEO of Citizens National Bank. He has served as president and CEO since 1999.

Clarice T. Ivey (BAEd 78) was one of five Mississippians recognized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness as an Outstanding NAMI Member for Special Achievement or Long and Distinguished Service at its annual state conference in Jackson.

Michael J. Molt (JD 74) of Fairfield, Ill., was elected Wayne County, Ill., resident circuit judge.

Arthur F. Jernigan Jr. (JD 74), partner at the Ridgeland law firm of Jernigan Copeland & Anderson, was appointed chairman of the board of trustees for Baptist Health Systems.

Archie Manning (BPA 71) of New Orleans is the recipient of both the 2016 National Football Foundation Gold Medal for his reputation and leadership and the Liberty Bowl’s

Sparky Reardon (BAEd 72, PhD 00), retired UM assistant vice chancellor/dean of students, was elected member at large of the general council of Phi Delta Kappa International Fraternity at its convention in Savannah, Ga. James R. Rogers (MEd 75, MA 77) of Monroe, La., authored “Proving Limits of Quadratic Functions,” an article published in the May 2016 issue of the Mathematics Teacher journal of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

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s u m m e r 2 0 16

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ALUMNI News

’80s

Robert Alexander (BAccy 84) of Horne LLP in Jackson was reelected to the firm’s board of directors.

Andy Anderson (BBA 81, MBA 82) of Anguilla was elected to a two-year term on the Mississippi Bankers Association board of directors.

John Barringer (BA 89, JD 94) was named partner in the Nashville law firm of Marnier and Herod, concentrating on workers’ compensation defense.

Doug Boone (BBA 86) joined Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson as vice president, business development and community relations.

Maj. Gen. Augustus Leon Collins (BBA 82), adjutant general of Mississippi, announced his retirement from the Mississippi National Guard effective Aug. 31, 2016.

Janet Ferguson (BBA 86) of Brandon authored a series of novels titled “Southern Hearts Series,” with the first three novels in the series set in Oxford.

Daniel J. Griffith (JD 88) joined the Cleveland practice of Jacks Griffith Luciano.

Hon. David M. Ishee (JD 88) of Gulfport was inducted as a fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.

Marty Michel (BSPh 83), pharmacist and owner of Key Drugs in Poplar Bluff and Dexter,

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Alumni Review

Mo., was elected chairman of the Three Rivers Endowment Trust.

Bobby Moak (BPA 80), former state representative and House minority leader, was elected chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party.

James F. Pierson III (BBA 89) joined the Phoenix office of Walker & Dunlop, a company specializing in commercial real estate lending.

David R. Ragsdale (JD 86) of Dallas opened Ragsdale Law Firm, a firm that will exclusively handle personal injury and wrongful death cases for plaintiffs.

Alvin L. Spencer (BA 85) of Hampton, Va., authored The Poetic Therapeutic Guide (Of a Simple Poetic Veteran), a book of poetry.

Hampton D. Thames (BBA 84) of Meridian was named president of Citizens National Bank’s statewide franchise, which consists of 26 branch locations in Mississippi.

Dr. J. Martin Tucker (BS 80, MD 84) of Jackson was named secretary of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

’90s

Tom Anderson (JD 93), vice president, chief legal and compliance officer and secretary of GuideWell Source, was appointed president and CEO of subsidiary GuideWell Allegiance Inc., in Jacksonville, Fla.

Christian Yale Cahill (BBA 93), U.S. customhouse broker with Cahill & Dunn CHB Inc., in Culleoka, Tenn., received his Juris Doctor from Nashville School of Law in May 2016.

Tonya K. Cammon (JD 92), director in the Chattanooga law firm of Grant, Konvalinka and Harrison, was elected a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation.

Frank Lenoir (BBA 93) of St. Louis was named vice president of human resources for St. Dominic Health Services and St. Dominic Hospital.

David Magee (BA 98) of Oxford was named president of Oxford Newsmedia LLC and publisher of The Oxford Eagle.

Dr. Michael R. McMullan (MD 91), director of the Adult Congenital Heart Program and vice chair for clinical affairs for the Department of Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, was named to the International Association of HealthCare Professionals as an outstanding cardiologist in the city of Ridgeland.

D. Zachary Scruggs (BAccy 96, JD 00) of Windermere, Fla., assumed the role of executive director of Second Chance Mississippi, a joint mission with the state’s community colleges to increase participation and graduation for some 400,000 adults statewide without a high school diploma.

Photo by Phillip Waller

ALUMNI News

Mississippi on the Mall

T

he Mississippi Society of Washington, D.C. hosted the 26th annual Mississippi on the Mall on Saturday, June 18. In the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, Ole Miss alumni and friends enjoyed Simmons farm-raised catfish, hushpuppies, coleslaw, caramel cakes from Sugaree’s Bakery and Newk’s sweet tea. The event also featured live music by Terry “Harmonica” Bean from Pontotoc.

My interest in painting came from things in my life which have been personally challenging.

www.butterbeanandbird.com

A percentage of each sale goes to the Mississippi Alzheimer’s foundation.

A percentage of each sale of my art goes to the Mississippi Alzheimer’s foundation.

s u m m e r 2 0 16

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ALUMNI News

The 2016 UM School of Education Hall of Fame inductees are (left to right): Robert Depro of Sikeston, Mo.; Suzie Adcock of Jackson; Cathy Stewart of Oxford; Jahnae Barnett of Fulton, Mo.; and Cecil C. Brown Jr. of Jackson.

5 HONORED AT EDUCATION ALUMNI HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

T

he University of Mississippi inducted its second class of alumni into its School of Education Hall of Fame in May. Collectively, the group has more than 178 years of experience and public service in education.

The 2016 honorees are Suzie Mills Adcock (BAEd 77) of Jackson; Jahnae H. Barnett (MBEd 67, PhD 72) of Fulton, Mo.; Charles Robert Depro (MEd 70) of Sikeston,

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Alumni Review

Mo.; Cathy Stewart (BAEd 78, MEd 80, EdD 95) of Oxford; and Cecil C. Brown Jr. (BA 66) of Jackson. Brown received the School of Education’s first-ever service award for noneducation alumni.

“Our alumni board of directors selected our 2016 alumni award recipients for their distinguished careers as educational leaders and practitioners,” says David Rock, UM education dean. “Each of these five alumni (is a

model) for our current university students and graduates to emulate.

“We believe there is no more important or greater area of service in our state and nation than in the practice and advocacy of education.”

The ceremony was May 13 at The Inn at Ole Miss. Honorees were selected after being nominated by their peers and colleagues earlier this year.

ALUMNI News J. Howard Thigpen (BA 95, JD 99), partner with Finger, Newcomb & Thigpen in Evergreen, Colo., opened a satellite office for the firm in Gulfport.

Virginia Todd Weaver (BA 93, JD 96), member of Baker Donelson’s Real Estate and Finance Group in Jackson, was elected shareholder.

William Yates III (BBA 93), president and CEO of W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co. of South Mississippi, was elected to the Mississippi Economic Council as the 201718 chair.

’00s

R. William Anderson (BA 01) accepted the position of sergeant with the Philadelphia Police Department in May 2016.

Michael S. Carr (BA 03, JD 05) opened the law practice of Carr Calderon PLLC in Cleveland.

Keith Carter (BBA 01), Ole Miss Athletics Foundation senior associate athletics director for development/executive director, received the 2016 Fundraiser of the Year Award from the National Association of Athletic Development Directors.

Jeremy England (JD 08), associate at Markow Walker in Ocean Springs, received the Star of the Quarter Award from the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division.

Claire Cowart Haltom (JD 08), a member of the Nashville office of Baker Donelson, was elected shareholder.

Jonathan Jones (BAccy 04), CEO of Jones Cos. in Columbia, received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Diversified Industrial Products, Gulf Coast region.

Robert D. King Jr. (BAccy 08) of Hattiesburg received the 2016 Rising Star Award from the Mississippi Society of CPAs. Sevans Martinez (BFA 05) of New York completed a character voiceover demo and was a featured day player on CBS’ “Blue Bloods.”

Gabe Roberts (BAccy 03, BBA 03) of Nashville was named deputy director of the State of Tennessee’s Division of Health Care Finance & Administration.

Weddings

Hays Burchfield (BA 04, JD 10) and Josh Whitlock, March 12, 2016.

Kayla Elise Clayborne (BA 05) and Donald Lloyd Counts III (06), March 19, 2016.

Gabrielle Elizabeth Gero (BAJ 12) and Andrew Mark Rose (BSCvE 12), April 2, 2016.

Simonee Grace Patton (BA 03) and Terry Lynn Miller, May 21, 2016.

OX F O R D

•

Owen James, son of Sharon Rowland Albert (BAccy 97, MAccy 98) and James W. Albert, May 19, 2016.

Katherine Louise, daughter of Susan Hall Blake (BAEd 06, MEd 07) and Paul Pacific Blake (BA 04, JD 07), June 16, 2016.

Eustace Cowan Jr., son of Mary-Hendrix Fabris Conway (BBA 10) and Eustace Cowan Conway (BBA 10), Feb. 23, 2016.

Jacob Jonathan, son of Crystel C. Hardin (BA 06) and Jonathan Gregory Hardin (BAccy 05, MAccy 06), Sept. 2, 2015.

Georgia Laine, daughter of Lauren Flegle Johnson (MA 11, PhD 14) and J.D. Johnson (BBA 03, JD 06), March 5, 2016.

William Randall, son of Lauren Noel Jones (BA 06) and Walter Parke Jones (BBA 05), Dec. 3, 2015.

Murphey, daughter of Leah C. McKenzie (BBA 08) and Matthew Scott McKenzie (BBA 03, JD 06), May 7, 2015.

Leonidas Joseph, son of Rachel Noel Skontrianos (BA 06, BA 06) and Kostas Skontrianos, June 3, 2016.

Hayden James, son of Anna Gibson Smith (BA 05) and Nathan Cole Smith (BBA 06), April 20, 2016.

Andrew Richard, son of William H. Tate (BBA 86) and Galyna N. Tate, July 12, 2016.

Emery Nell, daughter of Deanna R. Turner (BBA 98) and Jason F. Turner (BBA 98), March 28, 2016.

Norah Pearl, daughter of Meredith Webb and Kevin A. Webb (BBA 00), May 13, 2016.

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ALUMNI News

OMAA Introduces Future Alumni Network for Students

T

he Ole Miss Alumni Association has launched the Future Alumni Network, a student membership program that promises special discounts, gifts and events just for Ole Miss undergraduates.

“Student engagement is becoming more important for our Alumni Association,” says Alumni Association Executive Director Kirk Purdom (BA 93). “The Future Alumni Network is designed to better connect students to our valuable network of alumni worldwide, while helping foster a love for Ole Miss and everything that makes our university special.”

Annual memberships are $25, or $75 for four years. As an added bonus, what students pay in during their undergraduate career can be applied as a discount toward a Life Membership in the Alumni Association.

“The four-year membership is a bargain, and it also reinforces the idea that Ole Miss is your home for four years,” Purdom says. “Four years of student membership means $100 off a Life Membership, even if the student paid for the $75 discount membership.”

The student membership fee will go toward membership gifts, perks and Future Alumni Network-exclusive events.

Upon joining, students receive a car decal and smartphone

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Alumni Review

wallet as well as discounts on retail and restaurant partners through a nationwide discount program. Entry to special events and online networking sessions with alumni are also included.

Members of #TheNetwork should watch out for special events and giveaways throughout the year, says Steve Mullen (BA 92), OMAA assistant director for marketing and membership.

“Follow the Alumni Association on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and watch out for #TheNetwork,” Mullen says. “Expect surprises during the fall and spring, just for our student members.”

Student members will count toward the Alumni Association’s total membership number, which stands at just over 27,000 active members. The Association set a goal to reach 30,000 active members

by July 15, 2017, its birthday.

“We need every graduate, friend and now every student of Ole Miss to join the Alumni Association to reach our goal,” Purdom says.

“Ole Miss deserves an elite Alumni Association. At 30,000 members, we will stand among the top-tier university alumni associations nationwide.”

For more information about the Future Alumni Network, visit olemissalumni.com/students.

ALUMNI News In Memoriam

1950s

Thomas Luster Askew (BBA 50) of Greenwood, July 2, 2016

1940s

William Morrow Abney (BBA 48) of Vicksburg, April 27, 2016 Dempsey M. Allen (BSC 41) of Jackson, May 16, 2016

S. John Brademas Jr. (46) of New York, N.Y., July 11, 2016

Elizabeth Barner Champion (BAEd 44) of Tupelo, May 18, 2016

Anna McDonald Berryhill (BA 51) of Lockhart, Texas, May 30, 2016 Jerry Dean Boutwell Sr. (BSGE 59) of Senatobia, June 5, 2016

Betty Atwood Boynton (BA 50, MEd 52) of Coppell, Texas, June 1, 2016 Heard Wylie Butler (BA 57, MA 83) of Oxford, June 11, 2016

Ancil Liddell Cox Jr. (BA 49, LLB 51) of Cleveland, May 18, 2016

Justin Lamar Cox (BBA 50, LLB 62, MS 64) of Madison, June 11, 2016

David T. Dockery Jr. (BSC 41) of Clinton, July 1, 2016

John Alvin Dickinson (MBEd 52) of Memphis, Tenn., April 22, 2016

Margaret Patterson Ewing (BA 43) of Benoit, May 5, 2016

James Augustus Dorsett II (BSPh 59) of Gautier, June 26, 2016

Henry Lee Harwell (49) of Memphis, Tenn., July 2, 2016

Gerald Thomas Easley (BM 54) of Statesville, N.C., April 22, 2016

Cynthia Ruffin Holmes (46) of Saltillo, April 29, 2016

William Hudson Glover (BSHPE 50) of Jackson, May 26, 2016

Frank Collins Horton (LLB 41, BA 41) of Clinton, May 4, 2016

Marcus Darnell Gordon (LLB 59, BBA 59) of Union, May 26, 2016

Gloria Anderson Palmer (BA 49) of Houston, Texas, July 7, 2016

Mary Smith Heath (BA 53) of Denver, Colo., March 26, 2016

James Wilson Raley Sr. (LLB 48) of Mandeville, La., May 18, 2016

John Willis Kenelly Jr. (MS 57) of Clemson, S.C., July 3, 2016

Carolyn Carpenter Schabel (BA 41) of Scottsdale, Ariz., June 3, 2016

Onnie Rudolph Koski (BA 53) of Katy, Texas, July 15, 2016

Irwin Gerald Waterman (LLB 48) of Louisville, Ky., June 19, 2016

James McClure Jr. (LLB 53) of Sardis, July 8, 2016

Agnes Anderson Crisci (44) of Memphis, Tenn., May 22, 2016

Jean Pemble DeLashmet (BBA 50) of Ridgeland, June 20, 2016

Ada Ruth Weilenman Ellis (BSC 46) of Cleveland, May 11, 2016

Joe Kenneth Dillard (BBA 59) of New Albany, April 26, 2016

Louise Jean Toombs Greenlee (BA 45) of Arlington, Texas, Dec. 29, 2016

Ernest R. Duff (LLB 55) of Hattiesburg, May 27, 2016

Sara Rainer Hines (BM 41) of Yazoo City, June 9, 2016

Gloria Granberry Evans (BAEd 59) of Clarksdale, May 30, 2016

Lucy Aileen Ricks Hoover (BAEd 40, MA 58) of Saltillo, June 16, 2016

Leslie E. Goodwin (MA 51) of Greenville, S.C., June 27, 2016

Louise Chadwick Lynch (BSPh 44) of Waveland, July 12, 2016

Harriet Denham Harman (BAEd 52) of Huntington, W.Va., April 30, 2016

John William Quinn III (BBA 49) of Jackson, Tenn., June 5, 2016

Dan Spearman Hyde (BBA 50) of Ridgeland, May 19, 2016

Lillian Taylor Rogers (MA 49) of McKinney, Texas, Jan. 1, 2016

Frederick Maurice Key Jr. (MD 58) of Roanoke, Texas, May 30, 2016

Stephen Clint Stringfellow (BA 49) of Trussville, Ala., May 20, 2016

Sara Guthrie Livezey (BBA 54) of Tyler, Texas, July 4, 2016

Lillian Young Webb (BAEd 48) of Leland, May 4, 2016

James Thomas McQueen (MA 59) of Hattiesburg, June 11, 2016

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59

ALUMNI News James Thomas Morgan (MS 51, MedCert 53) of Graysville, Ala., Jan. 13, 2016

John Franklin Cole (BSPh 66) of Hattiesburg, July 11, 2016

Word Baker Patton (BBA 51) of Clarksdale, June 5, 2016

Mary Elizabeth House Crutchfield (MA 62) of Chatham, May 23, 2016

Alice Joiner Morrow (BAEd 51) of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., May 1, 2016 Jeannette Hendrix Perry (BA 52) of Natchez, July 6, 2016 Jack Lawrence Ritter (LLB 52) of Jackson, July 8, 2016

Charles William Cook Sr. (BBA 62, LLB 64) of Bruce, June 10, 2016 Robert Lavalle Donald Jr. (MD 62) of Pascagoula, June 9, 2016

Charles Williams Garraway (MSS 65) of Abilene, Texas, May 23, 2016

James William Shumate (BSCvE 55) of Charleston, S.C., April 28, 2016

Susan Gayle Gordon (BA 69) of Memphis, Tenn., May 17, 2016

Ernest Gilmer Spivey Jr. (58) of Canton, June 20, 2016

Sarah Paschall Horner (MCS 69) of Fuquay Varina, N.C., May 12, 2016

William Earl Smith (BSPh 51) of Dyersburg, Tenn., May 13, 2016 Sidney Fields Stamm (BA 55) of Vicksburg, June 16, 2016

William Cameron Stevenson Jr. (BBA 56) of Jackson, May 6, 2016

James Edward Tramel Jr. (BAEd 51, MEd 57) of Batesville, May 14, 2016 John Walter Vaughn (BA 58) of Stuart, Fla., March 25, 2016

William Abbott Windham (MEd 59) of Madison, April 26, 2016

1960s

John Gabor Adler (BSEE 60) of North Palm Beach, Fla., June 1, 2016

Joe Ann Cole Brewer (Cert 62) of Pleasant View, Tenn., May 13, 2016 C. Page Broadway (BBA 69) of Oxford, May 31, 2016

William Coleman Callender (BA 63, JD 66) of Columbia, June 3, 2016

Charles Thomas Cayce (MA 66, PhD 68) of Virginia Beach, Va., April 29, 2016

Martha Anderson Hernandez (BS 69) of Houston, Texas, April 14, 2016

Donald Drummond Jones (BBA 66, MAccy 67) of Oxford, June 10, 2016 William M. Jones Jr. (MA 69) of Jackson, May 19, 2016

Martha Bickerstaff Kerge (BAEd 62) of Tenafly, N.J., June 22, 2016 Elbert Leslie Knight (MCS 67) of Lakeland, Fla., June 26, 2016 Edwin William Mattox Sr. (BBA 67) of Shannon, May 30, 2016

Arthur Dale McCary (EdD 67) of Natchez, May 4, 2016

James Lorenzo McCorkle Jr. (MA 62, PhD 66) of Salem, Ore., Dec. 29, 2015 Mary Phelan Houston McElwrath (61) of Grenada, May 7, 2016

Freddie Sandidge McEwan (BA 63) of Memphis, Tenn., May 14, 2016

Lucy Webb Millsaps (MA 66) of Madison, May 3, 2016

Lillian Myzette Wilder Roberts (MA 63, MEd 90) of Tupelo, July 1, 2016

Betty Hellums Rowland (BSPh 67, MLS 68) of Portage, Mich., June 27, 2016

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Alumni Review

ALUMNI News Charles H. Scruggs III (LLB 64) of Tampa, Fla., June 5, 2016

James Mallard Holston (MD 76) of Laurel, June 24, 2016

Ralph Guy Smith (BSHPE 65) of New Albany, May 29, 2016

Suzann Buzard Linder (BAEd 70) of Mobile, Ala., July 1, 2016

John Stewart Slack III (BA 68) of Baton Rouge, La., June 3, 2016 Helen Margaret Stahl (MA 66) of Bolivar, Tenn., May 8, 2016

Frederick Henderson Thompson (66) of Madison, June 21, 2016

Jack Walker Thornton (MD 64) of Elizabeth City, N.C., May 6, 2016 Eugene Coursey Tullos (JD 66) of Raleigh, May 24, 2016

James A. Visconti (PhD 69) of Columbus, Ohio, May 23, 2016 Joseph Franklin Wing (BBA 66) of Jonestown, May 2, 2016

1970s

Laura Bright Adams (BA 76) of Stanford, Ky., June 22, 2016

Thomas Michael Baldwin (BBA 72) of Canton, June 26, 2016

Dolores Watts Barnett (MEd 72, SpecEd 75, EdD 80) of Batesville, May 17, 2016 Robert Lemoyne Brigance (MEd 72) of Olive Branch, May 14, 2016 Bobby Joe Broadway (MEd 78) of Coldwater, June 22, 2016 Harold Nicholas Finnegan (BS 70) of Gulfport, July 1, 2016

James David Goodwin (BBA 70) of New Albany, July 7, 2016

Janet McKay Hall (BAEd 77, MSP 78) of Amory, July 7, 2016

Claude Fields Haraway (BA 70, MA 72) of Memphis, Tenn., July 8, 2016

Jocelyn Renee Jackson (USA Ret) (BAEd 79) of Sardis, July 6, 2016 Terry Wayne May (78) of Grenada, June 4, 2016

Worthy Powell McClure (BSHPE 72) of Biloxi, May 14, 2016 Byron Paul Meaut (BBA 73) of Bains, La., July 13, 2016 Bobby Rex Ratliff (BAEd 72) of Starkville, July 3, 2016

Charles Edward Richmond (MEd 77) of Holly Springs, June 5, 2016 Larry Olin Ridge (BAEd 73, MEd 74) of Ripley, May 19, 2016

Charles Kelly Safley (MD 73) of Grand Blanc, Mich., May 22, 2016 Cherrie Simon Sellers (MN 74) of Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 10, 2016

Wilma Jean Stegall Stahl (BAEd 77) of Algoma, May 20, 2016 Stanley Frank Stater III (JD 74) of Madison, June 2, 2016

Sharon Stringfellow Stewart (BS 70) of Duluth, Ga., July 1, 2016

Addison Johnston Stone (BBA 74) of Jackson, Tenn., May 8, 2016 Joseph Grant Thomas Sr. (BSJ 72) of Louisville, Ky., May 5, 2016 Carmon Collins Vestal (BSN 79) of Jackson, May 1, 2016

Michael Scott Walls (BA 79) of Memphis, Tenn., June 3, 2016

Ruth Jeanette Loden Walton (MLS 73) of Hermitage, Tenn., April 19, 2016 John Dudley Williams (BA 77) of Aberdeen, June 10, 2016

s u m m e r 2 016

61

ALUMNI News Gary Wayne Williamson (BPA 75) of Malvern, Ark., May 19, 2016

Glenn Allen McCrory (MD 97) of Madison, May 6, 2016

Roger Wayne Woodall (BBA 78, JD 81) of Gulfport, June 7, 2016

Debra Ann Williams McGee (BSW 97) of Lambert, May 8, 2016

1980s

Roberta Grissom Willis (BAccy 91) of Corinth, July 5, 2016

Rodney Eugene Billingsley (BA 82) of Biloxi, May 30, 2016

Lucinda Brawn Sawyer (PhD 95) of Jackson, June 19, 2016

Roger M. Bradford (MD 86) of Metairie, La., April 15, 2016

2000s

W. Layne Kelly (BBA 89) of Palestine, Texas, July 11, 2016

Shontell La’Mil Credit (BS 04) of Jackson, June 29, 2016

David Harrell Goodin (JD 81) of Bay St. Louis, April 30, 2016 William Selby Kennedy V (BBA 82) of Roland, Ark., May 26, 2016 Julie McMurray Nickel (BA 88) of Huntsville, Ala., July 6, 2016

1990s

Michael Ozier Alexander (BSME 94) of Oxford, April 24, 2016 Judy Harkins Autry (MEd 91) of Holly Springs, July 3, 2016

Jessie Merle Garner Bardwell (09) of Pascagoula, May 19, 2016 Steven Donald Dearborn (BA 07) of Frankfort, Ky., May 6, 2016 Jeffrey Wayne Ingram (BSN 03) of Brandon, July 16, 2016

Brandon Lynn Newman (MA 04, JD 06) of Milan, Tenn., May 21, 2016 Tasha Bailey Parham (BA 09) of Senatobia, April 23, 2016

Paula Shoemake Patterson (MD 03) of Starkville, June 1, 2016

Robert Tod Benz (BE 98) of Garland, Texas, June 19, 2016

2010s

Edwin Love Holt Jr. (BA 93) of Natchez, May 29, 2016

Tristan Gene Byrd (16) of Brandon, April 26, 2016

Michael Paul Haynes (BBA 96) of Baldwyn, May 30, 2016 Thomas Taylor Hudson (BBA 99) of Harrison, Ark., May 11, 2016 Robert Earl Jordan (PhD 92) of Ely, Minn., April 28, 2016

Michael Durant Bonner (16) of Birmingham, Ala., July 5, 2016 Jessica Caroline McClain (BA 12) of Oxford, March 28, 2016

Jennie Ann Moran (BAEd 13) of Olive Branch, June 16, 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 Faculty and Friends

Bobby Warren Pence Jr. of Cordova, Tenn., April 17, 2016

Kelly Anderson of Amory, June 22, 2016

John Ray Roberson of Charleston, May 20, 2016

Thomas Eugene Bates of Oxford, July 15, 2016

Celeste Freeman Spencer of Port Gibson, May 6, 2016

Monte Stanton Connell Sr. of Brownsville, Tenn., May 23, 2016

Beverly Mallon Taylor of Mobile, Ala., July 7, 2016

Robert T. Duncan of Hernando, May 18, 2016

Phil Youngblood Jr. of Trussville, Ala., May 30, 2016

Mike Gauthier of Memphis, Tenn., May 20, 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.

Loretta Cook Agnew of Taylor, June 20, 2016

Gregory F. Quillinan of Wharton, N.J., Sept. 21, 2015

Jackie Hollowell Barry of Oxford, May 7, 2016

Samuel Nathaniel Saxon of Saltillo, April 28, 2016

William Tramel Beavers of Clinton, June 13, 2016

Pete Stribling of Brandon, May 27, 2016

Shirley Berry Craigo of Pontotoc, May 29, 2016

Gerald H. Walker of Oxford, June 28, 2016

Ken Erickson of Germantown, Tenn., June 18, 2016 Lucille Williams Glenn of Jackson, July 10, 2016

Duncan Montgomery Gray Jr. of Jackson, July 15, 2016 Terry Crawford Johnson of Gautier, July 5, 2016

George Louis Luffey of Monroe, La., July 5, 2016 Maria Beek McFadden of Oxford, May 19, 2016 Max Robert Miller Jr. of Oxford, April 22, 2016

Sylvester Andrew Moorhead of Oxford, June 1, 2016

Frank Givens, CPA Financial Advisor BBA Finance ‘77

Structured approach to investment decisions

662.404.3798 frank.givens@lpl.com Investments Retirement Financial & Estate Planning

Member FINRA and SIPC

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63

ALUMNI News

Places to See laine (BAEd 73) and Tom (BBA 72) Hooker pause for a photo at the U.S.-Canadian border above Skagway during their trip on the “Alaska Passages” cruise from July 25 to Aug. 4, part of the Alumni Association’s travel program. Upcoming travel opportunities can be found on page 48 in this issue or on the Alumni Association website at www.olemissalumni.com/travel.

For Everything Red and Blue

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Alumni Review

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