Ole Miss Alumni Review - Winter 2025 by Ole Miss Alumni Association

A Quarter Century of Transforming Lives

OLE MISS WOMEN’S COUNCIL CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Alumna masters social media, marketing in beauty industry

Alumna helms a thriving community of jewelry making in Baltimore

Ole Miss Alumni Association charts a strategic path forward

Ole Miss Women’s Council members: (first row, from left) Katie Hester, Edith Kelly-Green, Diane Holloway, current chair Roane Grantham, Mary Ann Frugé, Vicki Sneed, Margaret Barker; (second row) Susan Grice, Kimberley Fritts, Margaret Khayat, Ginger Clark; (third row) Pam Perkins, Julie Waldorf, Liz Randall, Susan Duncan; (fourth row) Gloria Kellum, Betsy Smith, Becky West, Suzan Thames, Karen Moore, Susan McCormick; (fifth row) Liza Frugé, Emily Boyce, Mary Haskell, Patricia Wise; (sixth row) Lib Quirk, Mary Sharp Rayner, Mary Susan Clinton; (seventh row) Lisa Mallory, Candie Simmons, Martha Kirkley, Patricia Lewis, Rose Flenorl; (not pictured) Jan Farrington, Ethel Scurlock, Pat Cooper | Photo by Amy Howell

Ole Miss Alumni Review

PUBLISHER

Kirk Purdom (BA 93)

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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

ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

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

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Benita Whitehorn

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Kayden Breedlove

ART DIRECTOR

Amy Howell

CONTRIBUTORS

Jennifer Altmann, Kevin Bain (BA 98), Marian Breitenbach, Srijita Chattopadhyay, Jewell Davis, Natalie Ehrhardt (BAJ 15), Joe Ellis, Jay Ferchaud, Marvis Herring, Jennifer Lea McClure (BBA 01, MBA 03, PhD 20), Joshua McCoy, Hunt Mercier, Jonathan Scott (BA 82), Edwin Smith (BA 80, MA 93), Clara Turnage (BAJ 17), Hannah Morgan White

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS

Jeff Hubbard (BBA 80, JD 83) president

Charles White (BBA 82) president-elect

Gail Pittman (BAEd 72) vice president

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

Zach Scruggs (BAccy 96, JD 00) athletics committee member

ALUMNI AFFAIRS DIRECTORS

Kirk Purdom (BA 93), chief executive officer

Joseph Baumbaugh, assistant director for information services

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

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

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

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

Jessica Lynch (BSES 05), assistant director

Steve Mullen (BA 92), assistant director for marketing

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

Mary Kate Skelton (BS 18), alumni fundraising director

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

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

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

Ole Miss Alumni Review (ISSN 30652707),

All offices are located at 651 Grove Loop, University, MS 38677. Call 662-915-7375 to subscribe. Periodicals postage paid at Oxford, MS 38655 and Jackson, MS 39201.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 1374, Oxford, MS, 38655-1374.

from the Chancellor

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Powered by resounding student success and deeply generous philanthropic support, the University of Mississippi continues to reach new heights as we enter the spring 2025 semester.

We welcomed 27,124 students to the Oxford campus, regional campuses and the University of Mississippi Medical Center in fall 2024, making us Mississippi’s largest university. This represents our fourth year of continuous growth. And, students aren’t just choosing Ole Miss — they’re succeeding here. Our freshman retention rate of 87% continues to exceed national averages, and our latest six-year graduation rate of 71.7% represents a significant increase — the highest in our university’s modern reporting. This demonstrates our commitment to supporting student success and preparing graduates who thrive.

Our momentum in student success is matched by extraordinary donor generosity. The Oxford campus saw a 20% increase in academic gifts during fiscal year 2024, totaling $79.57 million. Our Now & Ever campaign has surpassed $1.6 billion with support from more than 106,000 passionate donors. These contributions will transform our campus, exemplified by the recent $10 million gift from Paula and Jonathan Jones for the future home of the Patterson School of Accountancy, Jones Hall.

For the first time, three University of Mississippi researchers received National Science Foundation EPSCoR Research fellowships in the same year, allowing them to advance collaborative research at premier national facilities. We’re also celebrating significant milestones: The Institute of Child Nutrition marked 35 years as the only federally funded center focused on child nutrition programs. And, our School of Engineering, the first of its kind in Mississippi when it was established in 1900, is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

Our commitment to serving Mississippians was most recently demonstrated through the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Cancer Center and Research Institute, which launched a free lung cancer screening program for uninsured and underinsured Mississippians, supported by a $1.8 million grant. This initiative continues our long legacy of addressing pressing health challenges and improving outcomes for the citizens of our state.

Athletics programs continue to excel. Ole Miss football set a new Vaught-Hemingway Stadium attendance record of 68,126 fans during the unforgettable Nov. 9 Georgia game, and our men’s golf program achieved a No. 1 national ranking after winning their final two tournaments of the season. Our Academic Progress Rate, a team-based measurement of student-athletes’ success in the classroom, has exceeded national averages for three consecutive years. This academic excellence is further validated by Ole Miss Athletics’ record-setting 94% graduation success rate in 2024.

Spring semester always brings beauty and liveliness to campus, particularly through our students’ enthusiasm for embracing campus activities and serving our communities. I hope you’ll experience this special time of year here, whether by bringing a prospective student for a tour, enjoying Oxford’s Double Decker Festival (April 25-26) or cheering on our spring sports.

Thank you for being part of the Ole Miss story — past, present and future. Hotty Toddy!

Sincerely,

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

from the President

Alumni and Friends,

One of the things I mentioned in my president’s letter in the last Alumni Review was my new 9-year-old friend, Colton, who sits beside us at Vaught-Hemingway for Ole Miss football games. Today I want to tell you of another Ole Miss “friend” whom I have known much longer than Colton. In fact, this friend is closer to 209 years old and is a tree.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not much of a tree lover. In fact, the only trees I can name by sight are pines, oaks and magnolias. However, if you do not know about this particular tree, well, you need to. This is the northern catalpa tree that stands just west of the Union. More specifically, if you are standing on the front steps facing the Union, it is the huge tree directly to your left. And it looks old. I mean we are talking Methuselah old. In fact, although the exact age is unknown, it is estimated to have been around before our university began and is one of two “Champion Trees” on our campus, or the oldest of its species in the state of Mississippi.

Over the years I have walked by this tree often and, frankly, almost each time marveled at the fact that it was still here. At some point the university helped it by constructing a fence around it and putting crutches under a couple of its low-hanging limbs. Nevertheless, this tree really began showing its age, and it has come to resemble those old trees in Disney cartoons.

This past spring I was on campus and again found myself walking past the Union and checking on my old friend to see how it was doing. What I saw was, in a word, shocking. The tree I thought was almost dead had tons of new growth. But not just a couple of limbs with a few leaves — it was covered with new leaves and beautiful white flowers. (See the photo that I took that day.)

I quickly realized it was not the tree that had a problem, it was me — and my poor perception of that tree in particular, and maybe of old age in general. Without saying a word, my old friend reminded me that it may be over 200 years old, but it still has a lot of living left to do.

So, what does this have to do with our university? I hope the analogy is obvious. There are a lot of our alumni and friends who are of the age that many perceive to be old. However, the simple fact is, like me, Ole Miss prepared each of you for what has turned out to be a pretty wonderful life. And like my friend who lives just west of the Union, we all still have a lot of living to do.

And Ole Miss still needs us. So, I will look forward to seeing you on campus.

Hotty Toddy!

Jeff Hubbard (BBA 80, JD 83)

Ole Miss Alumni Association President

f rom the Circle

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

Nanomaterials, Big Applications

UNIVERSITY OPENS NEW SPACE FOR GRAPHENE RESEARCH, INNOVATION HUB

The University of Mississippi christened a new space for the Center for Graphene Research and Innovation on Oct. 18.

Housed in the Jackson Avenue Center, the new space allows the center to expand its thriving research into uses and applications of graphene and other nanomaterials.

The center has developed numerous military and civilian applications for nanomaterials, such as water filtration systems, body armor, semiconductors and construction materials.

The center has ongoing partnerships with multiple universities, government agencies and industry leaders, including Jackson State University, the University

“The establishment of CGRI came at a pivotal moment in our university’s growth, not long after we achieved R1 status,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) says. “Our expertise in this groundbreaking field positions the University of Mississippi at the forefront of innovation.”

The Center for Graphene Research and Innovation was founded in 2017. It serves as a bridge between university research and industrial applications of nanomaterials.

of Southern Mississippi and U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.

“Certainly, your attendance today is an indication of the vital role this center will play in keeping Americans safe,” U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (BA 73, JD 75) says. “We’re going to make asphalt stronger with graphene, and we’re going to do it right here. We’re going to make concrete stronger and we’re going to make life easier for our service members.”

The new space will allow the center

to continue its mission of discovering and using nanomaterials such as graphene in a variety of industries, says Ahmed Al-Ostaz, the center’s director.

“We started with the expertise of a few people who realized the importance of working with graphene and other nanomaterials,” he says. “With the support of the university, we were able to equip our new space with state-ofthe-art equipment that you’ll not find in many universities in the region.

“What we hope to do is to create a hub where people who want to work on graphene or on any of those frontier materials can think, ‘We need to go to the state of Mississippi.’”

The market for nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the last decade. In 2023, the market was valued at $21.8 billion, with an expectation to rise to $93.9 billion by 2032.

Having a center dedicated to nanomaterial discovery, research and application will draw industries to the state and region, Al-Ostaz says.

“ The center will be dedicated to multidisciplinary research. It will benefit the region in terms of economic development, and it will be a good showcase for research that will inspire high school students to, hopefully, become engineers.”

Although the science behind nanomaterials may be complicated, their uses should be of interest to everyone, he says.

“The purification of drinking water? That’s important to everybody,” Al-Ostaz says. “Support of our combat forces? Improved infrastructure? Semiconductors? It’s of interest to everybody.

“We have this unique facility in our home state, at our university, and we’re working on issues that affect everyone. That’s something that we are proud of.”

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (second from left) cuts the ribbon on the University of Mississippi’s Center for Graphene Research and Innovation, accompanied by (from left) Viola Acoff, dean of the School of Engineering; Chancellor Glenn Boyce; and Ahmed Al-Ostaz, the center’s director. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay

Destination Ole Miss

UNIVERSITY BREAKS OVERALL ENROLLMENT RECORD

Overall enrollment at the University of Mississippi has grown for the fourth consecutive year, fueled by a record-setting freshman class and strong retention rates.

This fall, Mississippi’s flagship university enrolled 27,124 students across its seven campuses, reaching record enrollment for the second consecutive year.

Despite a national trend of modest enrollment gains of around 1.1%, Ole Miss enrollment spiked 11%, or 2,385 more students, over 2023.

“Our growth reflects the University of Mississippi’s position as a thriving destination of choice for higher education,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) says.

“We are a flagship university in demand, as evidenced by a record number of applications and more than 32,000 campus visitors in the last year. Students and families recognize the value of our academic excellence, our student support programs and our experiences that build successful leaders.”

Freshman Class Highlights

The university welcomed 5,973 freshmen for the fall 2024 semester, the largest incoming class in state history. The freshman class includes 81 valedictorians, 59 salutatorians, 78 student body presidents, 85 Eagle Scouts, 8 Girl Scout Gold Award recipients and 27 National Merit finalists.

“For the past several years, incoming freshmen have cited having a ‘good program in their major’ and ‘academic reputation’ among the top three reasons for choosing the University of Mississippi,” says Noel Wilkin, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.

“I am pleased that students who see the importance and

value of our programs and higher education are choosing to join our community of scholars.”

The freshman class also includes 14 recipients of the Stamps Scholarship, one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious merit scholarships, funded by the Stamps family.

Educating More Students

UM students once again outpaced their peers across the country in continuing their education. This fall, the university posted an 87.2% retention rate, significantly higher than the most recent national average of 68.2%.

“Our record enrollment is evidence that the University of Mississippi is a true destination for gifted students from throughout the great state of Mississippi, nation and world,” says Eduardo Prieto, vice chancellor for enrollment management.

“This yearly growth is a tribute to our entire campus community and passionate alumni who provide selfless service to current and prospective students and families.”

University of Mississippi students buy flowers at the Ole Miss Student Union plaza during homecoming week. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay

Ole Miss students gather for a freshman science class at the Duff Center. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay

Beautiful Campus Recognized

OLE MISS LANDSCAPING HONORED BY PROFESSIONAL GROUNDS MANAGEMENT SOCIETY

The University of Mississippi campus has long been known for its beauty, and the team that works behind the scenes to keep it looking that way has been recognized.

The Professional Grounds Management Society awarded the UM Department of Landscape Services with an Honor Award for exceptional grounds maintenance of a large university or college during its 2024 Green Star Awards Competition. Winners were announced during the society’s annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, in October.

“At Ole Miss, we believe that a well-kept campus does more than just look good — it fosters a sense of community and pride,” says Jeff McManus, UM director of landscape and waste services. “This award celebrates the daily commitment of our landscaping team to make our campus a welcoming place for students, faculty and visitors alike.”

Landscape supervisor Matt Foley nominated the university for the award, McManus says.

“Receiving this honor highlights the hard work and passion of our landscaping team,” McManus says. “It shows that Ole

Miss is not only focused on academics but also on creating a campus environment that inspires and uplifts all who attend, work and visit.”

The Green Star Awards program brings national recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence, complementing other national landscape award programs that recognize outstanding landscape design and construction. Ole Miss has previously won two Grand Awards in the program, in 2002 and 2013.

“The University of Mississippi’s campus design, influenced by the renowned Frederick Olmsted Firm, emulates Frederick Law Olmsted Sr.’s vision with future growth in mind, organizing the campus around an east-west axis and creating a unified central area with peripheral roads,” the association’s award announcement notes.

“Known for its vibrant game-day atmosphere, the Grove attracts over 100,000 fans who enjoy traditions like the Walk of Champions, offering a unique blend of Southern hospitality and fervent football spirit at the heart of Ole Miss’ beautiful campus.”

Flowers bloom in front of the Lyceum. The university’s Department of Landscape Services has been honored by the Professional Grounds Management Society for the campus’s landscape design and maintenance. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay

Outstanding Educator

UM ACCOUNTANCY PROFESSOR EMERITUS RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD

The nation’s largest association of accountancy educators has recognized a retired University of Mississippi professor for his five-decade career, one marked by excellence in teaching, research and service to the profession.

The American Accounting Association pre sented its Outstanding Accounting Educator Award for 2024 to Dale Flesher, associate dean and professor emeritus in the university’s Patterson School of Accountancy. The presentation came at the group’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Flesher’s 56-year career includes 42 years as an Ole Miss faculty member. He previously held positions at Appalachian State University and Ball State University. He has taught more than 10,000 students at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels and also has served on 56 dissertation committees.

the year, the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants Outstanding Educator Award, the Institute of Internal Auditors educator award and the national educator award given by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

“I have been fortunate to work at a school where the faculty and administration have supported me,” Flesher says. “It takes a group — some would say a village — to accomplish great things.

“For instance, with respect to my publication record, I have co-authored with more than 20 Ole Miss faculty members.”

Throughout his career, Flesher has been honored for his teaching and research. He received UM’s campuswide awards for outstanding faculty member and outstanding researcher of

The Southeastern Conference recognized Flesher in 2017 with its Faculty Achievement Award. He remains the only accounting faculty member in the SEC to receive the award.

A prolific scholar, Flesher has authored and co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and some 50 books. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Academy of Accounting Historians Hourglass Award for Lifetime Achievement in Research.

Although retired from teaching, Flesher continues his scholarly work at the university and remains active in academic and professional organizations.

“Dr. Flesher has made a tremendous impact on the academy through training virtually every accounting doctoral student at Ole Miss since 1977,” Dean Mark Wilder says. “In addition, Dr. Flesher’s work with the AICPA was instrumental in the selection of UM as home to the organization’s library collection, which is now known as the National Library of the Accounting Profession.”

UM, MISSISSIPPI STATE PARTNER ON ACCELERATED LAW DEGREE

The Uni versity of Mississippi and Mississippi State Uni versity have come together to provide a streamlined opt ion for MSU students hoping to study law in Oxford.

Representatives of both universities met on Nov. 21 in Jackson to finalize the Pathway to Law School program, which will allow MSU undergraduate students to begin taking law school courses as early as their senior year, trimming a year off the time required.

“Our goal is to provide students with a quality education, so they a re p repared to p ractice l aw, p romote t he c ause o f j ustice, s erve t he public and enhance t he legal profession,” says Fred G. Slabach (JD 82), dean of t he School of Law. “ That includes students from Mississippi State University.”

Students from MSU made up 10% of the incoming class of 2027 at t he School of Law, he sa ys. Now t hose students will ha ve t he opt ion to expedite t heir progress t hrough t he 3+3 Accelerated Law Degree program.

MSU students must take the LSAT and register with Law School Admission Council’s Cr edential Assembl y Ser vice, complet e

t hree-fourths of t heir under graduate coursework , and meet all academic and application requirements for the School of Law.

“We are excit ed about t his impor tant collabor ation wit h t he Uni versity of Mississippi School of Law,” MSU President Mark E . Keenum s ays. “ These a ccelerated a cademic p athway a greements significant ly benefit MSU students who want to pursue law degrees in their home state.”

Ole Miss has se ven ot her inst itution or depar tment par tners in its accelerated law program, including t he uni versity’s School of Engineering, School of Journalism and New Media, College of Liberal Ar ts, School of Business Administration and Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, as well as Tougaloo College and Jackson State University.

“Through this par tnership, students have the unique oppor tunity of receiving a joint education from two of Mississippi’s universities,” says Joshua Tucker (BA 17, BBA 17, JD 20, PhD 22), assistant dean in the School of Law.

The Pathway to Law School program is set to launch in fall 2025.

Dale Flesher

A Grand Opening

Bin Xiao (standing at the screen), instructional assistant professor of physics education, teaches a class in the new Duff Center. |

DUFF CENTER DEBUTS, EXPANDS STEM OPPORTUNITIES AT OLE MISS

University of Mississippi officials cut the ribbon on the university’s largest academic building ever Nov. 7.

The 202,000-square-foot Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation includes four floors of laboratories, lecture halls and offices dedicated to supporting students in science, technology, engineering and math-related endeavors. The building — and the opportunities it provides students — is the crown jewel of the university research district, Chancellor Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) says.

“This center embodies the shared commitment of forward-thinking leaders who recognize the profound impact of investing in STEM education,” he said at the ceremony. “With today’s ribbon cutting, we’re celebrating a major milestone in the University of Mississippi’s history.”

Among those in attendance were U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (BA 73, JD 75) and Jim and Thomas Duff, the building’s namesakes, along with Yates Construction Co. CEO William Yates (BBA 93) and Ole Miss faculty, staff and supporters. Jim and Thomas Duff are brothers and co-owners of Duff Capital Investors who committed $26 million to building the new facility in 2020.

“This will be a world-class building,” Thomas Duff says. “I’m so appreciative of the tens of thousands of students who will go through these corridors and learn and become the

people that we need in the future.”

The building can accommodate up to 2,000 students in labs and classrooms and includes 50 technology-enabled active learning classrooms. It also includes more than 60 faculty offices, a 3D visualization lab — similar to a small IMAX theater — and a food service venue.

“There’s nothing I could say or articulate that would describe it any better than you can see if you look around with your own eyes,” Yates says. “This is the place where curiosity will be ignited. Minds will be challenged. Things will be discovered right here in the Duff Center.”

A major emphasis of the building’s construction focused on using energy-recovery technology, which includes sensors for monitoring lab air quality, skylights, 36 filtering fume hoods and terra-cotta shading louvers that align with the sun’s position during each season to help keep the building at a consistent temperature.

“The Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation fills a vital role at our university and for our state,” Boyce says. “It reinforces our standing as an R1 research institution.

“It cements our position as a national leader in studentcentered learning and STEM education, and it strengthens our capacity to serve the state of Mississippi. We’re thrilled to open it today.”

Photos by Srijita Chattopadhyay

Living Legacies

OLE MISS WOMEN’S COUNCIL HONORS JIM AND THOMAS DUFF

Jim and Thomas Duff, two of Mississippi’s most successful businessmen and generous supporters of the state’s public universities, were honored at the University of Mississippi on Nov. 7 with the 2024 Legacy Award from the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy.

The award is presented yearly to recipients whose lives exemplify the values and tenets of the Women’s Council: philanthropy, scholarship, leadership and mentorship.

The brothers founded and own Duff Capital Investors, a holding company that comprises 22 separate business units. With revenues of $5.5 billion, DCI is the largest privately owned business in Mississippi.

In 2020, the Hattiesburg residents made a $26 million gift to Ole Miss to construct the Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation.

“We believe higher education is one of the key factors, if not the key factor, that is vital to transforming our state and ensuring Mississippi has a successful future,” says Thomas Duff, who previously served as the board president of the state Institutions of Higher Learning.

“By becoming a better, more educated state, our state, in turn, will become more prosperous.”

“For us, providing financial resources to our state’s universities is a way to give

students more opportunities for a better life,” Jim Duff says.

The Duffs’ philanthropic efforts will have a far-reaching impact, says Roane Grantham (BAccy 90), chair of the Women’s Council.

“The Duff Center will ensure our students can have careers in medicine, chemical engineering, robotics and other growing fields anywhere in the world,” she says. “We are honored to be able to recognize and thank Tom and Jim Duff for their generous investment in our students, our university and our future.”

The Duffs also made a $1 million gift to Ole Miss in 2017 to create the Ernest R. Duff Flagship Constellation Fund to honor their father, a 1955 UM law graduate.

Their additional gifts include support for the Jim and Thomas Duff Athletic Center at the University of Southern Mississippi and the Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities and Department of Kinesiology at Mississippi State University.

“We are extremely honored to be recipients of the Legacy Award, and we hope we measure up to the incredible mission of the Women’s Council,” Jim Duff says.

“What the Women’s Council has done and is doing is remarkable,” Thomas Duff says. “Not only do they offer one of the most generous academic scholarships available to Ole Miss students, but the members provide mentors and leadership training, introduce students to different cultures and provide resources for internships and study abroad opportunities.

“They do all that while encouraging the students to give back to their communities.”

Jim Duff (bottom row, left center) and his brother, Thomas Duff (right center) meet with several Women’s Council scholars at the new Duff Center. | Photo by Amy Howell

Roane Grantham (left), chair of the Women’s Council, and UM Chancellor Glenn Boyce (right) present the 2024 Legacy Award to Thomas (second from left) and Jim Duff. | Photo by Amy Howell

Good Vibrations

UM RESEARCH USES LASERS TO DETECT LANDMINES, UNDERGROUND OBJECTS

Enough landmines are buried underground worldwide to circle Earth twice at the equator, but the identification and removal of these explosives is costly and time-consuming.

New University of Mississippi research could help solve the problem.

Vyacheslav Aranchuk, principal scientist in the National Center for Physical Acoustics, presented his research on laser multibeam vibration sensor technology at the Optica Laser Congress and Exhibition, held in Osaka, Japan. Aranchuk’s laser vibration sensing technology can detect landmines in the ground much faster than previous techniques.

“There are tens of millions of landmines buried around the world, and more every day as conflicts continue,” Aranchuk says. “There are military applications for this technology in ongoing conflicts and humanitarian applications after the conflicts are over.”

Aranchuk’s UM research team developed a laser vibration sensor in 2019 that could find buried objects at a safe distance from a moving vehicle with 30 laser beams formed in a line.

The researchers’ latest technology can form a vibration map of the ground in less than a second. It uses a 34x23 matrix array of beams — which roughly forms a rectangle.

Seventy countries worldwide still live with the risk of active landmines each day, including current and former war zones.

Landmines are easy to make and can cost as little as $3 apiece, but identification and disposal can cost up to $1,000 per mine to remove.

Current landmine detection mostly relies on handheld metal detectors, a technique that is dangerous and time-consuming, Aranchuk says. Metal detectors and ground-penetrating radar are not effective in finding plastic landmines.

“Most of the modern mines are made of plastic, so they are harder targets for traditional methods of detection that look for metal,” he says. “That’s why the NCPA developed this method of detection.”

Like the 2019 technology, Aranchuk’s laser multibeam differential interferometric sensor, or LAMBDIS, can be used from a moving vehicle, further increasing the speed at which buried landmines can be detected.

Boyang Zhang, a former postdoctoral researcher at the NCPA from Nantong, China, co-authored the report.

“Metal detectors often generate false positives by detecting any metallic object, and (ground-penetrating radar) can be hindered by certain soil conditions or materials,” Zhang says. “In contrast, laser-acoustic detection uses a combination of laser and acoustic sensing, which allows it to detect landmines from a distance with greater accuracy.”

To find buried objects — explosive or otherwise — the researchers create ground vibration and then cast a two-dimensional array of laser beams at the ground.

Ground vibration induces small variations to the frequency of reflected laser light, which are used to create a vibration image of the area. A buried landmine vibrates differently than the surrounding soil and appears as a red blob in the vibration image.

“The working principle is based on inference of light,” Aranchuk says. “We send beams to the ground and the interference of light scattered back from different points on the ground produces signals, which processing reveals vibration magnitude at each point of the ground surface.”

The next phase of Aranchuk’s research aims to investigate LAMBDIS’s performance for different buried objects and in different soil conditions.

Vyacheslav Aranchuk

In this image, an object buried in the soil appears as a red blob. | Submitted photo

TIPS TO DETECT SCAMS AND DECEPTIONS

Scammers t ook mor e t han $10 billion from Americans in 2023, according t o data compiled b y t he F ederal Trade Commission. That amount is growing, and a University of Mississippi criminologist says everyone should learn to recognize and avoid the latest cons.

Mississippi ranks No. 29 among states most affected by fraud and identity theft, and No. 5 in states most touched by tax scams. The most common scams are phishing emails that attempt to steal personal information.

Tax season, holidays, and emergencies or disast ers ar e t imes when people ar e par ticularly vulnerable to scams, says Wes Jennings, chair and professor of criminal justice and legal studies.

“Older adults, par ticularly t hose o ver 65, are often targeted for scams,” Jennings says. “ Young people ages 18 to 24 are also vulnerable to scams related to fraudulent job

offers and online shopping scams.”

One of t he first warning signs of a scam is an offer that seems to be too good to be true, Jennings sa ys. Ot her signs include r equests f or ur gent act ion, pa yment or unprofessional communications.

“Scams can be effective as t hey exploit human emotions such as fear, urgency or the desire to be helpful,” t he Ole Miss professor says. “Awareness is t he first line of defense agai nst fraud. Recognizing t hese warn ing signs can help indi viduals quickl y spot and avoid potential scams.”

Jennings offers several suggest ions for those who suspect they are being presented a scam:

• Do not provide an y personal or f inancial information.

• Verify t he ident ity of t he person or organization by contacting them directly.

Health Comes First

CANCER SCREENINGS CAN SAVE LIVES

Sonia Walker, a nurse practitioner, is using her personal battle with breast cancer to encourage others to prioritize their health.

In March 2023, she went in for a routine mammogram. A week later, she received her results and noticed a concerning red exclamation point indicating an abnormal finding. At 52, this

was her first experience with abnormal mammogram results.

She quickly scheduled a follow-up appointment that included an ultrasound and a diagnostic mammogram.

“The radiologist came in and said that she was going to be honest with me, and that it looked like cancer,” Walker says. “She added that while it could be a highly suspicious lesion, we needed to get a biopsy completed.”

The following Sunday, Walker checked her results again and saw the word: carcinoma.

“My heart just dropped. I was like, I have cancer,” she says, recalling the devastating moment.

Walker was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, fortunately with no spread to her organs. Under the care of Dr. Barbara Craft, professor of medicine and director of the Breast Cancer Treatment and Prevention Program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, she

• Consult a friend, famil y member or local law enforcement.

• Regularly updat e sof tware and ant ivirus programs on electronic devices.

• Be caut ious about sharing personal information online.

• Educat e y ourself on t he various t ypes of scams.

Th ose who think they have been scammed should contact local law enforcement, he sa ys. If t hey ha ve lost mone y or t heir accounts are compromised, vict ims should also contact their bank to report the fraud.

began a regimen that included 16 treatments of chemotherapy and 25 rounds of radiation.

“Every day I had chemo, I had to talk myself into coming back because I didn’t want to feel the way I felt,” Walker says. “But, I had to remind myself that I was not going to let cancer beat me.”

Routine screening helped Walker and her health care team discover her cancer, highlighting the importance of staying up to date with cancer screenings.

Craft says routine screenings are essential, not just for breast cancer, but for all types, including colon, prostate and cervical cancers.

“Make sure you have a regular doctor and that you stay up to date on your screenings,” she says.

Now cancer free, Walker is adjusting to life after treatment. She is transforming her health care expertise into a new goal aimed at helping others navigate their health journeys.

Dr. Barbara Craft (left) with Sonia Walker |

Photo courtesy of UMMC

Illustration by iStock

from the Circle

Many Milestones

UM ENGINEERING ALUMNI KICK OFF SCHOOL’S 125TH ANNIVERSARY

The male-dominated classes, dress code requirements and dorm curfews could not derail Barbara Beckmann (BSChE 61) from becoming the first female graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Engineering in 1961.

“You had to stay on campus, and the girls’ dorms closed at 8:30,” says Beckmann, a senior economic adviser at ExxonMobil.

“When we had group work to do and there was something that the rest of my group wanted to discuss late in the evening, it would have to be a telephone

call from one of the community dorm phones.”

Beckmann, ExxonMobil’s first female engineer and longest-serving employee, returned to her alma mater on Oct. 17 as an alumni panelist for the Ole Miss engineering school’s 125th anniversary kickoff event inside Paul B. Johnson Commons.

“My education at Ole Miss was superior,” the chemical engineering graduate says. “Primarily because it was focused on basic principles.”

From founding the first Chi Epsilon civil engineering honor society chapter in the Southeast in 1937 to expanding the accredited undergraduate and graduate academic programs offered, the school has marked numerous milestones since its start in 1900.

That’s why the anniversary celebrations began nearly a year early, says Viola L. Acoff, dean of the school and the first woman and first African American to earn the position.

“What better way to kick things off than to highlight the whole reason we are here, which is producing engineers,” Acoff says.

Alumni success stories reach beyond the panel and often start with graduates

hiring students for internships or jobs.

The school is the state’s oldest engineering program. Administrators continue to foster industry relationships, recruit award-winning faculty and update curriculum to keep pace with engineering trends and demands.

“For instance, our newest program is biomedical engineering, and Memphis is one of the major biomedical technology sectors in the U.S.,” Acoff explains. “That was a logical addition based on the university’s proximity to that technology sector, which is a rapidly growing field.

“The added value that we have over much larger schools is that we have a family atmosphere that instills a strong sense of belonging, yet our students still have access to the experiential learning activities that are available to their peers at larger institutions.”

And the result is paying off. Beckmann recently gave $5 million to the school, and the chemical engineering department will soon further cement her legacy as the Barbara Kerr Beckmann Department of Chemical Engineering.

“You need to give back for what you have received, and I want the whole program to succeed,” Beckmann says.

Alumni panelists (from left) Darin Van Pelt, director of the University of Mississippi’s general engineering program; Bill Parsons, vice president at Peraton; Lucy Priddy, associate director of engineering research at the U.S. Army Engineer and Research Development Center; Barbara Beckmann, senior adviser at ExxonMobil; Al Hilliard, retired ExxonMobil executive; and Markeeva Morgan, vice president at Boeing, field questions during the School of Engineering’s 125th anniversary kickoff event. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay

Viola Acoff | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay

Hopeful Research for Cancer Patients

UM RESEARCHERS TEST NEW CANCER DRUG DELIVERY METHOD

Aspoonful of sugar might actually help the medicine go down, according to recent research from the University of Mississippi. And it could reduce the harmful side effects of cancer treatment.

Instead of a literal spoonful of sugar, however, the researchers tried using glycopolymers — polymers made with natural sugars such as glucose — to coat tiny particles that deliver cancer-fighting medication directly to tumors. They found that glycopolymers help keep proteins from sticking to the nanoparticles, reducing the body’s immune response to the treatment.

As a result, the body is better able to respond to treatment.

“The real heart of the problem is that cancer drugs are incredibly toxic,” says Thomas Werfel, associate professor of biomedical engineering.

That toxic medication leaking into other parts of the body can cause serious conditions such as leukemia, trigger allergic reactions and even spawn other cancers. If more of the cancer treatment reaches the tumor, however, those side effects could be reduced.

Werfel and Kenneth Hulugalla, a third-year doctoral student in biomedical engineering from Kandy, Sri Lanka,

published their findings in ACS Nano in October.

Nanoparticles — particles smaller than one-thousandth the width of a human hair — have proven to be an effective option for cancer treatment and can deliver drugs directly to tumors. But proteins — including those that trigger an immune response — tend to gather around the nanoparticles, causing the

body to tag the treatment as a foreign invader.

This immune response reduces the effectiveness of the drug.

“PEG (polyethylene glycol) for the past 30 years has been the gold standard to shield these particles from that happening,” Hulugalla says.

When first used, it works extremely well. But after the first time, the body’s immune system can recognize and tag the drug as foreign quickly. Once that happens, the drug can’t get to the tumor and work.

Glycopolymers don’t have that problem, the researchers say.

“Our findings highlight that the nanoparticles we’re using significantly reduce unwanted immune responses while dramatically enhancing drug delivery, both in cell and animal models,” Hulugalla says. “This research could be an important step towards developing more effective cancer treatments.”

The next phase of their study will include loading those nanoparticles with medication and ensuring that the product is still effective against cancer.

Thomas Werfel (right), associate professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Mississippi, has published an article in ACS Nano that suggests cancer drug delivery can be improved by coating nanoparticles that contain the medication in a sugar-like substance called glycopolymers. | Photo by Kevin Bain

Kenneth Hulugalla, a third-year doctoral student in biomedical engineering from Sri Lanka, examines breast cancer samples in the Interdisciplinary NanoBioSciences Lab. | Photo by Kevin Bain

UM PROFESSOR NAMED EDITOR OF NATIONAL PHARMACY JOURNAL

The Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy has announced University of Mississippi pharmacy professor Stuar t Haines as its newest editor-in-chief.

Haines is a professor of pha rmacy practice director of the university’s Division of Pharmacy Professional Development.

“Being appointed editor-in-chief of JACCP is an honor and a privilege,” Haines says. “I’m looking forward t o anot her oppor tunity t o ser ve the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and working with some of the brightest minds in pharmacy practice today to advance the frontiers of practice.”

Haines has been a contributing author and reviewer for the ACCP journal Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy more than 25 years, also ser ving on the editorial board and as a scientific editor at various points over that time.

research across t he full spectrum of clinical pharmacy, including ed ucation, training, pa tient an d ec onomic o utcomes, me dication optimization and policy.

After JACCP was founded in 2018, Haines made t he move to the new journal to ser ve as senior associate editor, a position he has held for nearly six years. The journal publishes reviews and original

“Being named editor of such an esteemed scientific journal is a testament to Dr. Haines’ breadth of knowledge and exper tise,” says Donna Strum (BSPh 95, MS 97, PhD 99), dean of t he School of Pharmacy.

Haines joined t he Ole Miss pharmac y faculty in 2016 and has ser ved at the school’s Jackson campus since his hire. Bef ore his a rrival, h e s pent m ore t han 2 0 y ears a t t he University of Maryland.

The pr ofessor began ser ving in his new osition in January. Looking ahead, he notes that scientific journals have faced the same challenges as traditional newspapers and magazines in terms of print media transitioning to online formats.

“I believe there are new oppor tunities to reach new audiences, to present information in formats t hat make science more accessible and to consider media beyond the printed word,” Haines says.

Help Preserve Lifesaving Antibiotics

AVOID OVERUSE AND MISUSE

Antibiotics are generally regarded as wonder drugs because they help combat dangerous infections and improve quality of life for millions of people. How ever, they are not curealls and must be used wisely to protect their effectiveness, a University of Mississippi pharmacy professor advises.

“Because of antibiotics, people are less likely to die from simple wounds that become infected,” says Jamie Wagner, a clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice in the School of Pharmacy. “Childbirth is much safer, advances such as transplants and cancer treatments are possible, and fewer people die from communicable diseases around the world.”

has caused their effectiveness to wane and led to the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of “superbugs” that can spread rapidly and cause severe illness.

Jamie Wagner

But overuse and misuse of antibiotics

The harms of antibiotic use can outweigh the benefits in some circumstances, Wagner advises.

The good news is that everyone can help maintain the effectiveness of important antibiotic drugs and slow the process of drug resistance, she says. Some steps everyone can take to protect their health and combat antibiotic resistance include:

• D on’t ask your doctor or dentist to prescribe antibiotics if they don’t advise them.

• Ask about potential side effects of any antibiotic prescription.

• Take all the prescribed medications. Do not stop taking the medicine because you feel better.

• Don’t share your antibiotics with family or friends.

• Don’t take a dose of an antibiotic “just in case” when you think you may have been exposed to something.

• F ollow all the dosing instructions, including the timing of taking pills and whether to take them with food or on an empty stomach.

• Try to select meats and dairy products that are raised without routine antibiotics. Many products are labeled as antibiotic-free.

“All of us must do our part to use antibiotics responsibly to protect ourselves, our families, our neighbors in Mississippi and the rest of the world, while also ensuring their availability for generations to come,” Wagner says.

Stuart Haines

Benefits of Biochar

FARM WASTE CAN FILTER MICROPLASTICS IN RUNOFF

Using treated plant waste as a filter reduced the presence of harmful microplastics in agricultural runoff by more than 92%, according to a new study authored by a University of Mississippi research team.

Microplastics — tiny plastic particles that are smaller than 5 millimeters — have been found in every ocean on earth, in food, water, and recently, in farmlands. An Ole Miss-led research group has published proof-of-concept data that shows biochar to be a cost friendly and effective method of filtering microplastics from overland water runoff.

Biochar is a type of charcoal made from plant material that has been heated or burned in an oxygen-limited environment.

“Microplastics in the environment stem in part from the degradation of larger plastic by natural physical, chemical and biological processes,” says James Cizdziel, professor and interim chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

“They pose an enormous challenge as they are widespread, persistent and can accumulate in plants and wildlife, leading to detrimental effects on certain organisms and, potentially, on humans who consume them.”

Microplastics in agriculture come from two primary sources, says Boluwatife Olubusoye, an Ole Miss doctoral student in chemistry and an author of the study. Sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants, which is used as a fertilizer, and plastic mulch and row covers, which insulate plants and promote growth, both bring measurable amounts of microplastics to agricultural areas.

“When these plastic sheets break down in the field, they become very tiny and that’s how you get microplastics in the agricultural fields,” the Lagos, Nigeria, native says. “What happens is that when there is a heavy rainfall, there will

be a wash of this agricultural field, which can lead to agricultural runoff.

“And this runoff can transport microplastics, and other pollutants, from the farm into aquatic environments — such as rivers, lakes and oceans — where microplastics can pose threats to organisms like oysters and small fishes.”

Many animals, including humans, feed on such organisms, where the microplastics could be passed on.

microplastics.

Using biochar reduced the amount of microplastics in samples of runoff by between 86.6% and 92.6%. Because of the success of the initial tests, the researchers are scaling up efforts to test biochar in the field.

“Our findings underscore the potential of biochar to be a cost-effective adsorbent for the removal of microplastics from runoff,” Cizdziel says.

Olubusoye and collaborators from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Water Quality and Ecology Research Unit in Oxford traveled to a farm near Beasley Lake in the Mississippi Delta to collect agricultural runoff.

They tested the water for microplastics in Cizdziel’s microplastic research laboratory at Ole Miss, and passed the runoff through biochar to determine how effective it was at capturing the

“Our work could result in new agricultural and stormwater management practices to mitigate microplastic pollution stemming from farms and urban runoff in order to safeguard environmental and human health.”

This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation grant no. MRI-2116597 and the National Institutes of Health award no. P20GM103460.

Boluwatife Olubusoye, a University of Mississippi doctoral student in chemistry, collects a sample of agricultural runoff water in the Mississippi Delta. | Submitted photo

Calendar

FEBRUARY

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Auburn. The SJB Pavilion, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.

Music City Club: Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt. Rebel fans are invited to join the Music City Ole Miss Club for happy hour and Ole Miss women’s basketball team send-off. Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, Central Bar and Kitchen, noon-2 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Kentucky. The SJB Pavilion, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma. The SJB Pavilion, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Performance: BritBeat — The Immersive Beatles Tribute Experience. This Beatles tribute band is a oneof-a-kind performance that transcends the ordinary and plunges you into the heart of The Beatles’ legendary history. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit olemissboxoffice.com.

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Belmont. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

8Baton Rouge Club: Ole Miss vs. LSU. Rebel fans are invited to join the Baton Rouge Ole Miss Club for happy hour and Ole Miss men’s basketball team send-off. Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel, Tallulah Wine Bar, 5:307 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Kentucky. The SJB Pavilion, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Performance: “The Simon & Garfunkel Story.” The immersive concert-style theater show chronicles

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State FEB. 15

the amazing journey shared by the folkrock duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit olemissboxoffice.com.

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Nebraska. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. The SJB Pavilion, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Iowa. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 11 a.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Alcorn State. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 3 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Alcorn State. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas State. Oxford-University Stadium, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

21-23

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Eastern Kentucky. Oxford-University Stadium, 4 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, noon Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.

22OMAA Club Leadership Summit: Butler Auditorium, The Inn at Ole Miss, time TBD. Email mclub@olemissalumni.com.

22 Performance: University of Mississippi Gospel Choir 50th Anniversary Concert. Fulton Chapel, 6-8:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit olemissalumni.com/ events.

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Missouri. The SJB Pavilion, 2 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Southern Miss. Oxford-University Stadium, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Softball: Ole Miss vs. McNeese. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 6 p.m. VIsit olemisssports.com.

Photo by Hunt Mercier

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. South Carolina. The SJB Pavilion, 8 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 3 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Nicholls. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 3:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Softball: Ole Miss vs. South Alabama. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Wright State. Oxford-University Stadium, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

MARCH

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Murray State. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 3:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Nicholls. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. LSU. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 11 a.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. North Alabama. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 3 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma. The SJB Pavilion, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

1-2Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Wright State. Oxford-University Stadium, 4 p.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Kentucky. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Softball: Ole Miss vs. South Alabama. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 12:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Southeastern Louisiana. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Murray State. Oxford-University Stadium, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. The SJB Pavilion, 8 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Alabama. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 3 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

7-9

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas. Ole Miss Softball Complex, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.

7-9

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Jacksonville State. OxfordUniversity Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.

7-9

M-Club Softball Alumni Weekend: Various times and locations. Email mclub@olemissalumni.com.

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs South Carolina. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. South Carolina. Palmer/ Salloum Tennis Center, 3 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Softball: Ole Miss vs. North Dakota State. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 3:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

14-16

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Iowa State. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.

14-16

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas. OxfordUniversity Stadium, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Samford. Oxford Softball Complex, 3:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Softball: Ole Miss vs. North Dakota State. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

M-Club Baseball 1960 Team Recognition: Swayze Field, time TBD. Email mclub@olemissalumni.com.

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Georgia. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

19-20Ole Miss Insurance Symposium: Opening ceremony at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, South Endzone Club, 5:307:30 p.m. For more information, contact kshoalmire@bus.olemiss.edu.

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Florida. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

21-22Rugby Alumni Reunion: Various times and locations. For more information, contact Clay Cavett at 662-915-1869.

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Memphis. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 3 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

27-29

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Florida. OxfordUniversity Stadium, times TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.

40 Under 40 Awards Ceremony and Reception: The Inn at Ole Miss, 4:30 p.m. Email sunny@olemissalumni.com.

M-Club Baseball 1995 Team

Recognition: Swayze Field, time TBD. Email mclub@olemissalumni.com.

29-31

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Missouri. Ole Miss Softball Complex, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

APRIL

Performance: William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” The Acting Company. Shakespeare’s quintessential comedy, this farcical tale of separated families and mistaken identities delights audiences young and old. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit olemissboxoffice.com.

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Jackson State. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

4-5

M-Club Track and Field and Cross-Country Alumni Weekend: Various times and locations. Email mclub@olemissalumni.com.

4-650 Years of Brotherhood: Bridging Generations and Building Futures. Various times and locations. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Softball: Ole Miss vs. UT Martin. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Alcorn State. Oxford-University Stadium, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi Valley State. Palmer/ Salloum Tennis Center, 10 a.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. Palmer/ Salloum Tennis Center, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

11-13

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Florida. Ole Miss Softball Complex, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.

11-13

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. OxfordUniversity Stadium, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.

12M-Club Baseball 2005 Team Recognition: Swayze Field, time TBD. Email mclub@olemissalumni.com.

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Little Rock. Oxford-University Stadium, 11 a.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

24Performance: “Hadestown.” Intertwining two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — “Hadestown” is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit olemissboxoffice.com.

25-27

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. Ole Miss Softball Complex, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.

25-27

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt. OxfordUniversity Stadium, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.

For more Oxford events, news and information, go to visitoxfordms.com or call 662-232-2477. Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee APRIL 11-13

29Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Austin Peay. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

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

Photo by Hannah Morgan White

OMWC founding members in 2000

OMWC members in 2024

A Quarter Century of Transforming Lives

Ole Miss Women’s Council celebrates 25th anniversary

By Jonathan Scott

Seeds were planted a quarter century ago to develop and nurture the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy. Today, this scholarship program has blossomed into one of the most innovative in the United States.

Now that its roots are deep and strong, the program is poised for a remarkably impactful future.

The women who gathered on Valentine’s Day in 2000 to launch a new University of Mississippi scholarship selected the image of a red rose to represent the unique initiative. This iconic symbol is ideally suited for a program designed to cultivate and mentor female and male students who will be tomorrow’s caring and ethical leaders.

“Like growing roses, mentoring student leaders requires loving attention to bring them into full bloom and share their beauty in service to the world,” the founding members noted when the program began.

The Women’s Council will celebrate its 25th anniversary at a gala on Friday, Feb. 21, at The Lyric in Oxford. Entertainment will be provided by Eagles cover band The Eaglemaniacs. Proceeds from the celebration will support the scholarship program, and tickets to the gala are available by emailing omwc@olemiss.edu.

Photos courtesy of the Ole Miss Women's Council

The theme of the event, “Paint the Town Red,” reflects the OMWC’s enormous success in expanding the number of scholarships created and, consequently, the number of scholars the program supports, says Karen Moore (BS 82), of Nashville, a longtime Women’s Council member and one of the organizers of the anniversary gala.

“The 25th anniversary is not just a celebration of what we’ve achieved,” says Roane Grantham (BAccy 90), Women’s Council chair. “It’s also a reminder of the impact we’re making and the exciting future that lies ahead.”

Opportunity Realized

Patricia “Patty” Lewis (BSC 62), an OMWC member and a program founder, credits three people as being among the principal organizers of the Women’s Council: Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat (BAEd 61, JD 66), Vice Chancellor Emerita for University Relations Gloria Kellum and Ellen Robinson Rolfes, of Memphis, now retired from Ole Miss, but who worked in the UM Development Office in 2000.

The timing was perfect, recalls Edith Kelly-Green (BBA 73), who served as the inaugural chair of the council.

“As the 20th century ended, a significant number of women had become financially successful and were responsible for making and/or influencing the majority of all charitable gifts,” Kelly-Green says. “Ellen believed that women could and should lead a philanthropic effort here at Ole Miss and that we would make a tremendous impact on the university and its students. She was right!”

Rolfes discussed this previously untapped potential with Khayat and Kellum, and the three decided to convene a Valentine’s Day luncheon with 24 philanthropic-minded women.

“As a group, we enthusiastically embraced the initiative,” Kelly-Green says. “And the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy was born.”

The founders divided its mission into three areas:

• To increase participation in philanthropy as a way of enhancing continuing excellence at the university

• To sponsor innovative programs that attract and develop students through leadership, scholarship and mentorship

• To encourage its scholars to become philanthropists for their communities and Ole Miss while on their life’s journey as caring, ethical leaders.

Unlike Other Scholarships

In the years since its founding, the Women’s Council’s mission has remained steadfast, but the program and its services have expanded dramatically.

The OMWC’s endowment has grown steadily — today, it’s more than $22 million. This endowment funds each scholarship, which provides a scholar with $40,000 ($10,000 a

year for four years), one of the most generous available at the university.

Those establishing either academic scholarships or programmatic endowments are honored with a dedication ceremony in the Women’s Council Rose Garden, located at University Avenue and Old Taylor Road, adjacent to the Gertrude Castellow Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The donor’s name is permanently displayed in the Rose Garden, which features at its center a bronze statue titled “The Mentor.”

“Our scholarship program is monetarily one of the largest offered at Ole Miss, but it’s our other components that focus on scholarship, mentorship, leadership and philanthropy that make it a stand-alone success story,” Lewis says.

In addition to the financial support, the Women’s Council provides its scholars with an extraordinary level of additional beneficial services, says Suzanne Helveston (BA 02), the Women’s Council program director.

The program has two scholar advisers, Atkins Trout (BA 02, MA 09) and Suzanne Wilkin, who work with the programming committee to oversee Red Plate Suppers, masterclasses and other programming designed for the OMWC scholars.

“Without the encouragement and extra pushes from our scholar advisers, I would not be where I am today nor as involved with the Ole Miss community,” says Madison DeVaul, a sophomore OMWC scholar from Brandon. “The Women’s Council has introduced me to opportunities I didn’t know were out there.”

Throughout the academic year, Anne Cantrell, program manager for the OMWC, oversees a continuous series of events and committees served by the OMWC board, including the PULSE Leadership Conference, Khayat Lecture Series, Legacy Award, Rose Society and certain scholar events.

Every scholar is also assigned life and career mentors, many from the Oxford-Ole Miss community. Several of the 36 active members and the 23 alliance members of the Women’s Council, who have backgrounds in a wide range of professions and philanthropic organizations, also serve as mentors.

“The emphasis on mentorship is my favorite aspect of the OMWC,” says Benton Donahue, a junior Women’s Council scholar from Madison. “My life and career mentors have given me vital advice and helped steer me in the right direction to achieve the very best during my time at Ole Miss.”

Since it began, nearly 200 students have been awarded a scholarship from one of the 59 endowments. Seven programmatic endowments have also been established to support the Women’s Council’s many leadership-building and philanthropic-related classes and events.

Services, Programming & More

The scholarship program hosts the annual PULSE Leadership Conference, set for Jan. 31-Feb. 1 this year. PULSE, an acronym for Preparing Undergraduate Leaders, a Student Experience, focuses on developing new leadership skills and

OMWC 15th anniversary

enhancing existing strengths, and centers on the core values of collaboration, communication and reflection.

This annual event not only supports Women’s Council scholars but also is open to all students at Ole Miss, and students from other higher education institutions in the state such as Jackson State University and Mississippi College.

The Women’s Council established the Global Leadership Circle to provide educational opportunities beyond the Ole Miss campus, Moore says.

The GLC offers financial resources to OMWC scholars so they can study abroad, participate in either a career-defining internship in the United States or overseas, or travel for other educational or career purposes such as attending a conference.

In 2010, the OMWC created the Legacy Award, presented annually to honor those whose lives exemplify the values and tenets of the Women’s Council: philanthropy, scholarship, leadership and mentorship.

“The Legacy Award serves as an occasion to thank those who have made a positive difference at Ole Miss, in our state or around the nation,” Moore says.

“Since it was created, we have presented the Legacy Award to 12 remarkable individuals or couples. Each of our honorees serves as a role model for our scholars,” she says. “They inspire and encourage our future leaders, and the work they have done impacts and improves the lives of future generations.”

In 2018, the Emerging Young Philanthropist Award was founded to illustrate to OMWC scholars other examples of philanthropic efforts accomplished by someone early in their life or career. To date, five young community servants have been recognized with this award.

The Robert C. Khayat Lecture Series, the latest initiative cultivated by the OMWC, is part of an expansion of impact within the Global Leadership Circle, and the series has already reached nearly 1,000 participants throughout its various events.

“While the GLC travel initiative launches scholars around the world by providing financial resources and logistical support for scholars to expand their horizons by studying abroad and obtaining national and international internships, the Khayat Lecture Series is a different means by which to impact our students, alumni, the full Ole Miss family and extending to others throughout the state by bringing dynamic speakers and experiences to our campus,” says Liz Randall (BBA 03, MBA 05), an active member and past OMWC chair.

The series brings renowned speakers, uniquely talented individuals and performers to the university community where they share thought-provoking concepts, personal experiences and unique insights through the three pillars of the lecture series: leadership, philanthropy and culture.

“The speakers in our lecture series assist the Women’s Council in fulfilling its mission to encourage and educate scholars through traditional academic means but also in the lecture series’ pillars to nurture our scholars, all UM students and others in the community to carry a culturally diverse worldview while becoming more empathetic and caring and ethical leaders,” Randall says.

Preparing for the Future

The seemingly tireless women who comprise the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy are just getting started.

“Looking ahead, we aim to continue our positive trajectory by serving even more students, enhancing our programs and fostering an environment where our scholars can thrive,” Grantham says. “Our commitment to mentorship, unique experiences and meaningful engagement has positioned the Women’s Council as a model for other universities.”

To strengthen their efforts to create more scholarships and programming initiatives to support future scholars, the Women’s Council members are working to establish a permanent structure to serve as their headquarters.

They envision this facility as a welcoming space for its scholars, mentors, council members and staff. Once completed, they can all gather under one roof and prepare this unparalleled scholarship program for an even brighter future.

“The growth and success of the Women’s Council could not have been predicted when Chancellor Khayat and Vice Chancellor Kellum first brought us together on Feb. 14, 2000, to hear Ellen Rolfes’ story,” Lewis says.

“We shocked a lot of people who couldn’t envision a group of women rising up to build such an impressive and important program at the University of Mississippi, a program that is positioned to make a positive, transformational impact on an unimaginable number of lives for generations to come.”

Support the Women’s Council

Ole Miss Women’s Council scholarships can be endowed f or $125,000 to establish general assistance open to all students or f or $250,000 t o designat e a scholarship f or students in a par ticular field of study or from a specific geographic region. The Women’s Council also sponsors innovative programs t hat attract and develop students t hrough leadership, scholarship and mentorship. Several opt ions are available to suppor t programming, such as joining t he R ose Societ y, becoming a member of t he Global Leadership Circle or creating a new endowment to fund programming.

omwc.olemiss.edu

For more information about establishing a Women’s Council scholarship or supporting the Global Leadership Circle, the Robert C. Khayat Lecture Series, the Rose Society and other aspects of the Ole Miss Women’s Council, contact Suzanne Helveston, program director, at 662-915-2956 or shelveston@olemiss.edu. For more information about the program, visit the OMWC website at omwc.olemiss.edu.

OMWC Program Leads to Love, Marriage, Family for Two Scholars

The rose, an iconic symbol of the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy, reflects how the scholarship program’s focus on mentoring student leaders is like growing roses. The program, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in February, nurtures its scholars so they bloom into caring, ethical leaders.

For Mikayla Johnson (BS 19, MD 23) and Caleb Pracht (BA 18, JD 21), two former Women’s Council scholars, the program nourished their budding romance.

The couple met 10 years ago at an Ole Miss Women’s Council scholar retreat. Today, they are married and the parents of 2-year-old Madelyn. They are also doing well in their profes sional careers.

“Without the Ole Miss Wom en’s Council, Mikayla and I likely would have attended, separately, other universities,” says Caleb Pracht, originally from Hendersonville, Tennessee, who had contemplated enrolling at the University of Alabama.

“And our story wouldn’t be the same,” added Mikayla Pracht, who grew up in Mooreville.

The couple describes their relationship as a “classic case of opposites attract.” She recalls that her husband was more of an extrovert, while he reflects that his wife was initially “quiet, which, for me, made her mysterious.”

the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UMMC. Once she completes her professional training in 2027, the couple plans to return to north Mississippi, where she wants to establish her medical practice.

Moving closer to Ole Miss only makes sense. The Prachts are raising their daughter, Madelyn, to be a Rebel.

“Madelyn has completely captured our hearts and transformed our worlds,” Mikayla Pracht says. “She is so full of energy and life. Every day is a new adventure as she grows and learns so quickly!”

They credit the Women’s Council for bringing them together as a couple and equipping them with the tools they needed to succeed with their education, careers, their family and community lives.

In addition to being OMWC scholars, they were both in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, Mikayla Pracht earned a medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical School in 2023. After Caleb Pracht graduated from Ole Miss in 2018 with his undergraduate degree, he continued his academic studies at the UM School of Law, earning a Juris Doctor in 2021.

They live near Jackson, where he is an attorney in the Opinions and Policy Division of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. She is a second-year resident physician in

“Before she even turned 2 years old, Madelyn had been to six Ole Miss football games, two baseball games and the Double Decker Arts Festival,” Caleb Pracht says. “She’s already saying ‘Ole Miss’ and ‘Toddy,’ so keep an eye out for her in the Class of 2045!”

The Prachts remain connected with the scholarship program as well.

“The postgraduate relationship we have maintained with the Women’s Council has actually become our favorite part of the OMWC experience,” Mikayla Pracht says.

“It’s so rewarding to stay in touch with old friends and mentors while meeting new scholars and watching them succeed with the support of the program. We love connecting with current scholars and learning more about their backgrounds and goals.”

The couple joined the program’s Rose Bud Society a few years ago. Supporters of the program under 30 years of age can join the Rose Bud Society for an annual membership contribution of $500. Others can join the Women’s Council’s Rose Society with an annual gift of $1,000 or more.

“The Rose Bud Society is an excellent opportunity for former scholars to give back to the OMWC and receive all the benefits of a Rose Society membership while giving at a flexible and accommodating level as they are still early on in their careers,” Caleb Pracht says.

“The principles of our faith and the philanthropic focus of our education have compelled us to give back to ensure that future scholars can have the same incredible experience that we did — and then some. We strongly encourage all former scholars to consider joining!”

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in manhattan madisen

Alumna masters social media, marketing in beauty industry

BY ANNIE RHOADES

Today’s fast-paced beauty industry is filled with TikToks, social media influencers and consumers’ increased demand for new content. It’s easy for brands to get lost in the digital shuffle. But for alumna Madisen Theobald (BAJ 16), global director for social creative at MAC Cosmetics, it’s another opportunity to showcase her growing skill set.

“My favorite part of my job is that I get to play with makeup every day and be inquisitive about cosmetics, formula, product packaging and then figure out how to translate that to a consumer wanting to buy it,” she says. “Then taking all of that and formulating a strategy to make something viral and wanted on platforms like TikTok.”

With a resumé boasting some of the industry’s heavy hitters including MAC Cosmetics, Makeup by Mario, and Allergan, Theobald began her career in the highly sought-after hallways of Condé Nast.

“Right after Ole Miss, I knew that I wanted to move to New York City,” she says. “I remember calling my parents and saying I’m going to move to New York City and work in magazines and they’re like, OK, that’s great, but you’re going to pay for the whole thing. That was a driving force that lit a fire under me.”

Never one to shy away from work, Theobald drove to Memphis on Fridays to design pages for At Home Memphis & Mid South magazine. She also started her own graphic and web design business.

“I designed resumés for students for $50 per resumé,” Theobald says. “I also started making websites and portfolios for $300 to $500 — really doing anything and everything I could to save up enough money to make New York City rent and hopefully build up my resumé at the same time.”

A member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity, the Normal, Illinois, native dove into everything the University of Mississippi had to offer including its journalism school.

“I knew I wanted to study magazine journalism and thankfully Ole Miss had the Magazine Innovation Center,” she says. “Being a Kappa brought me lifelong friends and made me feel so loved. I also made many professional relationships and lifelong connections. I think that’s something Ole Miss offers that would have been hard to get at other colleges because it’s such a community and family-oriented university.”

Friend and mentor Darren Sanefski, UM associate professor of media and communication, recognized Theobald’s tenacity from the beginning.

“From the first day I met her, she was driven like no other,” he says. “[That] drive has gotten her where she is today.”

KICKOFF TO HER CAREER

While her friends enjoyed their senior year spring break in Cabo San Lucas, Theobald decided to spend the week in New York with her dad going on informational interviews with the likes of Condé Nast, Hearst Magazines, Time Inc., LinkedIn and BuzzFeed to name a few.

“I made my own little magazine with my name on it and all of my work inside of it to leave with these employers,” she says.

“I would reach out and ask if I could come in for 30 minutes to talk. I told them I haven’t graduated yet, but I’m Madisen Theobald and here’s what you need to know.”

Her steadfast resolve paid off. One week before Commencement, she received a phone call from Condé Nast.

“They said we remember you from coming out in March, and we have this coordinator role open in advertising,” she says.

Theobald promptly booked a same-day, round-trip flight to the Big Apple determined to land the job.

“The interview went well, and then I walked over to my apartment where I was going to sign a lease without a job,” she recalls. “I remember sitting there talking to the leasing office manager saying I really hope I get this job; otherwise, I can’t afford the apartment.

“As soon as I signed the papers, I got a call from Condé Nast offering me the job. I was elated! I remember the woman saying to me on the phone, ‘Welcome to the Condé Nast family.’ I started bawling because it was everything I’d worked for and more. That was the kickoff to my career in New York City.”

After serving as a digital ad coordinator for six months, Theobald transitioned to social media-centered roles serving as a Facebook Live personality on Condé Nast’s “The Scene” and creating content for Condé Nast Co/lab and Condé Nast Hackathon social channels.

“I knew I wanted to work in social media,” she says. “I started my own blog my first year in New York called Madisen on Madison as a cute play on words to Madison Avenue, and I started doing collaborations and freelancing opportunities from Fashion Week events to teeth-whitening strips. All of that gave me enough experience to get the job at Allure magazine.”

Theobald at NYC’s The Standard hotel for a Makeup by Mario event.

Theobald attends a Botox Cosmetic and Juvéderm event in Chicago.

BEAUTY INSIDER

Allure magazine’s highly anticipated annual Best in Beauty Awards have assisted in making Allure the leading publication in beauty journalism for over 30 years.

“That [job] was my big break into beauty and why I still work in and love beauty to this day,” she says.

Serving as a social media associate, Theobald wrote and scheduled the publication’s Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram copy and creative.

“I got to meet celebrities like John Legend, Jordan Sparks and Ciara, and I became good friends with Kim Kardashian’s hairstylist, Chris Appleton,” she enthuses. “Anyone who had a hand in beauty was coming to Allure, so I had the opportunity to interview them and shoot social content with them.”

After being promoted to social media manager for Allure, Theobald was recruited by Allergan to become the social media editor for Botox Cosmetic and Juvéderm. She spent the next four-and-a-half years with the company, steadily climbing the ranks to the position of senior manager of content marketing in April 2022.

“I started having more of an interest in skin care while I was at Allure,” she says. “I found myself liking more skin-care articles and going (to) dermatologists often to interview them

and stay behind to ask questions. I was excited about that sector of the industry, so when I got a call from Botox Cosmetic, I thought it was a great opportunity.”

At the time, most pharmaceutical companies weren’t focusing on social media.

“The creative side of doing social media for a pharmaceutical company had really never been done before,” she recalls. “We were the first ones launching a YouTube [channel] and ended up being the No. 2 YouTube channel in beauty in 2022.”

While Theobald was excelling in her role at Allergan, she knew she wanted to return to the beauty industry.

In 2023, she worked as the director of social media and influencer program for Makeup by Mario, a cosmetic company founded by highly sought-after makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, known for his pioneering makeup techniques and creating the “Master Class” series.

“I was excited to be back in beauty,” she says. “Makeup by Mario is iconic and to work and learn from Mario himself, Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist, was a pinch me moment. We did a European tour for two weeks in partnership with Sephora that was awesome. He’s amazing and a great mentor and teacher.”

GOING VIRAL

Nearly a year into the role, Theobald was recruited by Estée Lauder to take on her current position as global director for social creative for MAC Cosmetics.

“I skipped out on four years of cosmetics knowledge,” she says. “I was missing it, and I wanted that foundational training and to be back in a corporate culture.”

Cat Quinn, executive director for social and creative for MAC Cosmetics, says she is constantly inspired by the “intelligence, drive, warmth and positivity” that Theobald brings to everything she does.

“I’ve long admired her career and the reputation she’s built in the industry,” Quinn says. “Everyone loves Madisen, from her current and former co-workers to models and makeup artists she’s worked with on set. She leaves a lasting and positive impression on everyone.

“She brings so much joy to our team and walks in every day with a huge smile and brilliant fresh ideas — always looking for ways to elevate and inspire others and their work. Madisen is going to change the industry. I only hope I can work for her one day.”

Theobald oversees a team of six that focuses on creatively driven content on MAC Cosmetics’ global social media channels.

“It’s so rewarding,” she says. “I’ve done Fashion Week and met Madonna and Blac Chyna. I do all the aesthetic for our Instagram and all our trending and viral TikToks as well as photo shoots and videos.

“It’s been a dream come true to finally end up somewhere that I know all my previous work has been so deserving of. I feel very recognized here and that I can make an impact. I’m so glad that I have taken different career paths to get here. I’ve hopped around, I’ve made the connections, and I think it all worked out just the way it was supposed to.”

Theobald returns to the School of Journalism and New Media to share her social media and digital marketing expertise with students.

An Unexpected Gleam in the Road

Shane Prada helms a thriving community of jewelry making in Baltimore

By Jennifer Altmann

When a prominent jewelry program in Baltimore announced it was closing in 2012, devastated students and teachers got together to discuss what to do.

Among them was Shane Richardson Prada (BA 04), who had started taking jewelry classes just a few years earlier. After more than a year of intensive planning and fundraising, the group unveiled the Baltimore Jewelry Center, with Prada soon to become its executive director.

The BJC has just marked its 10th anniversary. Prada, a former first-grade teacher, remains at the helm of the center, which since 2014 has served more than 9,000 people through workshops, classes, studio rentals and other offerings.

“In an era where creative spaces often struggle to survive, Shane has not only established a thriving hub for metalwork and jewelry but also cultivated a vibrant, enduring community,” says Brian Weissman, co-founder of Brooklyn Metal Works, a metalsmithing studio and education lab.

Born and raised in Union, a Neshoba County town of 1,800, Prada grew up on a 50-acre property at the end of a dirt road with her father, a carpenter; her mother, a teacher’s assistant; and an older sister.

“We grew our own food and raised horses, dogs, geese, ducks and chickens,” she recalls. “Probably my favorite part of my identity as a child was being outside with horses.”

Photos courtesy of Shane Prada

Prada, the first person in her family to attend college, was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Mississippi, where she was in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Croft Institute for International Studies. She majored in English and international studies, helped found a literary magazine named Hyperbole and studied abroad in Italy.

A professor told her about Teach for America, which places teachers in underserved schools throughout the United States.

“It gave me an answer to how I could intersect with social justice and do something that felt necessary,” Prada says.

After graduation, she headed to Baltimore to be a first-grade teacher at Waverly Elementary School. While teaching, she earned a master’s degree in teaching and leadership from Johns Hopkins University.

When her two-year commitment to Teach for America ended, Prada became a founding teacher at the Green School of Baltimore, a newly created charter school with a focus on environmental and experiential education. During her 10 years there, she taught first and third grade as well as a cooking class in an improvised space without a kitchen.

“I loved working at a new school where I got to shape the curriculum

and really connect with the families,” she says.

While continuing to teach, she began a doctoral program in education at the University of Maryland. She also enrolled in an evening class in metalsmithing in the continuing education program in jewelry at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

“I was about to turn 30, and I had had almost no exposure to art,” she says. “I never thought of myself up until then as someone who was artistic.”

But she found that she loved jewelry making. She took class after class over the next three years and dropped out of the Ph.D. program.

Committed to the Craft

When MICA announced it was closing the jewelry program, Prada and other students banded together with the teachers to find a way to continue their jewelry studies. Like her, many of the students were established in other careers but felt passionate about making jewelry.

“We had lawyers, architects, people in state politics,” Prada says.

Prada drew on her experience writing grants and creating budgets for the charter school she had helped establish. Eventually she emerged as the Baltimore

Jewelry Center’s first executive director, a job that for the first three years was largely a volunteer position while Prada continued to teach part time.

The BJC is a nonprofit makers space focused on contemporary jewelry making. It offers classes and workshops in metals and jewelry, as well as studio rentals for artists. One of its core principles is making its offerings accessible to everyone.

The average cost of a class is $350, and scholarships, work-study opportunities and internships are available. Free workshops, offered several times a year, are attended by about 250 Baltimore residents a year.

The BJC opened in June 2014 in the old mill where MICA’s jewelry program had been located, with $80,000 worth of equipment donated by MICA. But the building was in a flood plain. In its first year, the BJC was formed as a nonprofit, and it launched a capital campaign to raise money to build out a new space for the organization. Prada dryly says she “does not recommend” doing both at the same time.

Says Weissman of Brooklyn Metal Works, “Not only did Shane see a need for providing a home for jewelry makers and teachers when MICA closed its program in Baltimore, but she understood the importance of providing a physical space for that community.”

The BJC moved to an old movie

Students in Prada’s first grade class at the Green School of Baltimore work with fiber artist Pam Negrin on a project that integrated hand stitching with math concepts in December 2014. | Photo by Shane Prada

Every fall, the BJC hosts an annual symposium that includes academic talks and a panel discussion, as well as a day dedicated to free workshops and demonstrations for the broader public. Here, participants in the 2019 symposium learn traditional pearl string methods from BJC staff member Elliot Keeley. | Photo by Marian Breitenbach

theater — vacant for more than two decades — that was being renovated by the development company Jubilee Baltimore, a nonprofit that revitalizes old buildings in struggling Baltimore neighborhoods. It was one of the first tenants, taking 3,500 square feet in the 70,000-square-foot building.

“It was a risk, moving to that neighborhood,” says Charlie Duff, who recently retired as president of Jubilee Baltimore. “Shane has made the BJC into a regional center for an important artistic endeavor. She is that rare thing, an artist who is also good with business and people.”

The design of the space has been critical to its success, Prada says.

“It’s basically all in one room,” she says, with work benches in several rows in the open space and machinery along the walls. Sharing equipment and sitting in an open area create an atmosphere where people ask each other for help and exchange ideas and knowledge, Prada points out.

Phenomenal Growth

More than 450 students took one of the 70 classes and workshops offered at the BJC last year. Most classes are held during the evening.

The students range in age from 20s to 80s, from recent college graduates to retirees looking for a new challenge. Some are looking to change careers; others are adding jewelry as a side endeavor. More than 175 artists had access to studio space at the BJC last year.

The BJC’s kids and teen programs offer workshops each year to more than 300 elementary, middle and high school students. There are also summer camps and after-school programs.

The BJC also offers a workforce development program during both the summer and academic year, providing Baltimore youths with the opportunity to learn metalworking and design, and to sell a line of jewelry.

“Shane is a force,” says Molly Shulman, who runs the BJC’s youth programs. Shulman praised Prada for building “such a strong community here. We help each other. If I’m struggling to

make something work, there’s always someone to ask for help.”

Revenue from classes, workshops and studio rental programs comprise 45% of the BJC’s budget. The other 55% comes from grants from foundations and the government, as well as individual donations. Some of the fundraising takes place around festive jewelry events, such as the annual Ornamenta benefit, with a silent auction for jewelry donated by artists, and the December holiday sale.

Fundraising is the most challenging part of the job for Prada, who does all the grant writing and estimates that 35% of her grant applications are accepted. She also does all the budgeting and accounting and manages a staff of four employees and up to 10 instructors at any time.

“I love numbers and spreadsheets,” says Prada, who has read books on accounting to refine her skills. The BJC’s budget has grown from $150,000 in its first year of operation to around $725,000 in 2024.

The BJC also offers several residencies for artists, providing them with access to the metalsmithing studio for one week to three months. Residencies are available for emerging artists, mid-career artists and for artists who are Black, indigenous and people of color. Some residencies come with housing and a stipend. Since its opening, the BJC has provided residencies to 67 artists.

It has also hosted more than 80 exhibitions featuring the work of more than 1,200 artists from around the globe.

Jewelry artists who are part of the BJC community praise Prada’s leadership.

“She’s super interested in what people are doing,” says Cindy Cheng, a sculptor and installation artist who recently began studying jewelry at the BJC. “She’s nurturing and encouraging, which has made the BJC so warm and inviting. People want to be here.”

Victoria Pass, an associate professor of fashion and design history at MICA, says Prada “really supports local artists in Baltimore.”

The BJC’s residencies and fellowships have built a support system for artists, some of whom have ended up settling in Baltimore because of the community at the BJC, Pass points out.

“I think of Shane as a really great impresario in the sense of people who work behind the scenes to make spaces and platforms for artists.”

When she’s not working, Prada can be found riding Arlo, her 5-year-old horse. She has owned several retired thoroughbred racehorses, and has competed in show jumping, dressage and cross-country jumping. She also took up sewing during the pandemic and makes most of the garments in her wardrobe.

Looking back on her career, Prada is surprised at the direction it took.

“I still very much identify as an educator,” she says. “I’m passionate about contemporary jewelry, but I’m also passionate about providing authentic educational opportunities to students across their lifespan.”

She loves that students come to the BJC not to earn a degree but purely for the love of learning.

“I see education as a kind of expansion that one can experience throughout their life,” she says. “My time at Ole Miss was central in helping me develop that mindset.

“What I found in craft education reminds me of what I was privileged to experience in school growing up and at Ole Miss, a space where learning and growth are centered rather than status and achievement. It still has a sense of freedom.”

Prada with her horse, Arlo

The REBEL WAY

Ole Miss Alumni Association charts a strategic path forward

Few things are as quintessentially Southern as an Ole Miss tailgate: The Grove teems with folding chairs, white linen tablecloths and an almost alarming number of Yeti coolers. The whole scene is a symphony of tradition, and for years, it’s been the unofficial emblem of University of Mississippi alumni engagement. But now, the Ole Miss Alumni Association wants to do more than throw a good party. With “The Rebel Way,” a new three-year strategic plan, the Association is reimagining what it means to stay connected to your alma mater.

Built on three guiding pillars — fostering engagement, building community and sustaining growth — The Rebel Way seeks to redefine what it means to be part of the Rebel family. The effort is driven by data, informed by alumni feedback and anchored by values such as service, inclusivity and integrity.

At its heart is a promise to create meaningful connections for all Ole Miss graduates, whether they’re in Oxford or halfway around the globe.

These aren’t just lofty buzzwords; they’re practical solutions to honest feedback the Association received from alumni in its 2024 annual survey.

“We learned a lot,” says Steve Mullen (BA 92), OMAA assistant director for marketing and membership, who is spearheading the strategic plan. “Some of it was encouraging, some of it stung a little, but all of it was useful.”

It isn’t just a plan, but a vision for who we are as Ole Miss Rebels, OMAA CEO Kirk Purdom (BA 93) says.

“We’re drawing on everything we’ve learned from our alumni — what they love, what they need and what they dream of — to create something transformative.”

Rendering by Eley Guild Hardy

Fostering Engagement: Beyond the Grove

As a 10-acre mecca of tailgating culture, the Grove is, for many, the quintessential alumni experience.

“There’s nothing like it,” one respondent shared in a recent survey. “The Grove is home. It’s where I reconnect with friends and the university.”

Yet, as beloved as the Grove is, it’s not enough to sustain long-term engagement for everyone. Many alumni, particularly those living outside the Southeast, feel disconnected.

“I haven’t been to Oxford in years,” one respondent admits. “I miss it, but life gets in the way. It’d be nice to feel like I’m part of the community even when I can’t be there in person.”

Mullen has taken this feedback to heart.

“We want to create a model of engagement that’s accessible to everyone,” he says. “Whether you’re a lifelong tailgater or someone who prefers a virtual book club, we’re building opportunities that meet you where you are.”

One idea is a new alumni engagement score that tracks how connected alumni feel to Ole Miss based on their participation in events, contributions and general enthusiasm.

“We’re tracking higher among members versus nonmembers, as you would expect,” Mullen says. “The goal is to look for ways to close that gap — and to pick up new members along the way.”

The good news is that the team behind The Rebel Way isn’t afraid of criticism. Mullen has worked closely with R.J. Hill, a marketing professor at Ole Miss, to ensure that the plan balances data with humanity.

“The numbers tell us where the gaps are, but the stories tell us why they exist,” Hill says. “That’s the sweet spot where we need to operate.”

Others on the core committee bringing The Rebel Way to life include Purdom, Alumni Association president Jeff Hubbard (BBA 80, JD 93) and Executive Committee member Bill Fry (BPA 80). The committee was the brainchild of past president Karen Moore (BS 82). The plan will roll forward each year, with new officers rolling on and off the committee.

“This way, the plan stays top of mind each year,” Mullen says.

Building Community: Perks That Matter

If engagement is the gateway, community is the foundation. The second pillar of The Rebel Way focuses on strengthening alumni bonds through tangible benefits and shared experiences.

The annual wall calendar is one such tradition that remains deeply cherished.

“It’s the first thing I hang up every year,” one member says. “It’s more than a calendar — it’s a reminder of what Ole Miss means to me.”

The Ole Miss Alumni Review ranked at the top of most-valued benefits. Others praised career networking events and mentorship opportunities.

“I got my first job through a Rebel connection,” one respondent shares. “That’s what community looks like — helping each other succeed.”

Still, the survey revealed areas for improvement. Alumni want more diverse programming, with one participant noting, “Not everyone wants to talk about football all the time.

‘We’re drawing on everything we’ve learned from our alumni — what they love, what they need and what they dream of — to create something transformative.’ — KIRK PURDOM

Let’s do something for the arts, or maybe a workshop on entrepreneurship.”

The Association is responding by diversifying its event offerings. Plans are underway for more regional meetups, industry-specific networking groups and family-friendly activities.

“We’re building a community that reflects the diversity of our alumni,” Mullen says. “There’s something here for everyone.”

Sustaining Growth: Building for the Future

The third pillar, sustaining growth, ensures that The Rebel Way has the resources to deliver on its promises. At the center of this effort is the new Triplett Alumni Center, a $40 million project that will serve as the heart of the Association’s activities. Featuring event spaces, meeting rooms and an M-Club sports memorabilia museum, the center is designed to be both functional and inspirational.

“I can’t wait to visit,” one survey respondent writes. “It sounds like a place where you can relive the glory days while planning for the future.”

To fund the center and other initiatives, the Association launched a capital campaign that engages donors at all levels.

“This isn’t just about big checks,” Purdom says. “Every contribution matters just as every Rebel matters.”

A Collaboration

The success of The Rebel Way is a team effort, with key players such as Mullen, Hill and OMAA staff working to craft a plan that balances tradition with innovation.

“It’s been a learning experience,” Mullen admits. “But one thing is clear: Rebels are fiercely loyal. They just want to feel like their loyalty is reciprocated.”

Purdom agrees. “This isn’t just a plan,” he says. “It’s a promise — to our alumni, to our university and to future generations of Rebels. Together, we’re going to make it something extraordinary.”

LEARN MORE ONLINE

Read The Rebel Way strategic plan summar y, see renderings of the new Triplett Alumni Center and more at olemissalumni.com/therebelway.

OMAA Annual Survey

A deep dive into Ole Miss alumni perspectives

When Ole Miss Alumni Association leadership decided to undertake a comprehensive survey of its diverse alumni base, the goal was not just to listen but to act. The results from key segments — university leaders, club leaders, active members from adjoining and nonadjoining states and lapsed members — reveal a community unified by pride yet varied in their needs and expectations.

A Calendar to Treasure, a Legacy to Build

One of the most consistent themes across all groups was the enduring love for the annual wall calendar.

“I look forward to the calendar every year,” one survey respondent shares. “It’s not just a calendar — it’s a daily reminder of my Ole Miss roots.” This sentiment is echoed by another respondent who adds, “Even after decades, the calendar remains a small but meaningful touchpoint that keeps me connected.”

Some alumni suggested adding an option for a day planner, which could cater to more diverse needs. However, the consensus was clear: The calendar is a valued membership perk that shouldn’t be overlooked

Networking Needs and Career Boosts

While the wall calendar brings joy, the survey also shows gaps in career networking opportunities. Active members, particularly those in nonadjoining states, call for an expanded network to connect Rebels across industries.

“I work in higher education and would love to collaborate with other Ole Miss grads in my field,” one respondent suggests. Another respondent says, “I found my first job through the alumni network, but I know we could do even more to connect Rebels in similar professions.”

To address this, the Association is piloting a program that links alumni by profession and provides mentorship opportunities for recent graduates

Game-day Perks and Member Zone

For many, game day is synonymous with the Ole Miss experience, and Member Zone remains a beloved tradition.

“It’s where I see old friends, meet new ones and feel part of something bigger,” one respondent shares. Yet some suggest expanding these benefits beyond Oxford. “I can’t always make it back to campus,” one member shares. “It would be great if there were similar experiences for alumni gatherings in other cities.”

The Association is already exploring ways to bring the Member Zone experience to regional events, blending tradition with accessibility.

Disparities in Regional Engagement

Geography is a defining factor in alumni satisfaction. Those in adjoining states reported greater participation in events, with 66% visiting Oxford at least once a year. By contrast, nonadjoining state alumni often feel disconnected.

“Living in California, I rarely hear about events,” one respondent says. “I love Ole Miss, but it’s hard to stay engaged from so far away.”

This gap underscores the importance of hybrid events such as a virtual speaker series.

“It’s a way to stay connected even when I can’t physically be there,” one participant notes.

The Challenge of Lapsed Membership

Perhaps the most revealing insights come from former members who let their membership lapse. Some in this group cite communication and perceived value as key reasons for disengaging.

“I didn’t even know I was a member for years,” one respondent admits. Another notes, “The benefits didn’t feel relevant to where I was in my life.”

The Association is working to reengage these members through personalized outreach and updated programming that reflects the evolving needs of alumni at different life stages, as well as to show the tangible value of staying connected.

A New Center for Connection

Among the most anticipated developments is the construction of a state-of-the-art Triplett Alumni Center. From new Member Zone spaces with Grove views to an M-Club sports memorabilia museum, alumni express excitement about a central hub that celebrates Ole Miss tradition.

“It’s about time we had a space that reflects the greatness of our school,” one respondent says.

The center will also serve as a jumping-off point for digital programming, making it a resource for both in-person and remote alumni engagement.

“This isn’t just a building,” OMAA CEO Kirk Purdom says. “It’s a symbol of our commitment to every Rebel, no matter where they are.”

Ole Miss Sports

2025 Football Schedule Unveiled

EIGHT HOME GAMES HIGHLIGHT SEASON

Ole Miss football‘s slate for the 2025 season was released in December in a primetime unveiling on ESPN2 and SEC Network by the Southeastern Conference. Ole Miss will play all four of its nonconference games at home, giving Rebel fans eight chances to see the squad at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

The Rebels open the season at home against Georgia State (Aug. 30) before hitting the road to open SEC play at Kentucky (Sept. 6).

Ole Miss returns home for a three-game stretch at Vaught-Hemingway against Arkansas (Sept. 13), Tulane (Sept. 20) and LSU (Sept. 27) before the first of two bye weeks.

The Rebels return to action with a key nonconference home matchup against Washington State (Oct. 11), the firstever meeting between the Rebels and Cougars. Following that contest, Ole Miss hits the road for a two-game swing at Georgia (Oct. 18) and Oklahoma (Oct. 25) — the latter constituting the first-ever trip to Norman for the Rebels.

Ole Miss opens November with a three-game homestand, first by welcoming South Carolina (Nov. 1) to Oxford for the

first time since 2020, then The Citadel (Nov. 8) for the first time since 2005, and finally Florida (Nov. 15) also for the first time since 2020. After a second bye, the Rebels will close out the regular season in Starkville with the annual Battle for the Golden Egg against Mississippi State (Nov. 29).

Similar to the 2024 SEC football schedule, during the 2025 season, teams will play eight conference games plus one required opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12 or major independent. Schools will play the same opponents in 2025 that they did in 2024, with sites changed for equal home and away competition over the course of two seasons. This past season was the first to feature newcomers Oklahoma and Texas in the SEC.

The 2025 schedule format was approved by a vote of the SEC presidents and chancellors earlier this year following a recommendation from the league’s athletics directors. The 2025 season will be the second year that the SEC Championship game will feature the top two teams in the 16-team conference standings at the end of the regular season after eliminating divisional standings prior to the 2024 season.

2025 OLE MISS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sat., Aug. 30 – vs. Georgia State – Oxford

Sat., Sept. 6 – at Kentucky – Lexington, Ky.

Sat., Sept. 13 – vs. Arkansas – Oxford

Sat., Sept. 20 – vs. Tulane – Oxford

Sat., Sept. 27 – vs. LSU – Oxford

Sat., Oct. 11 – vs. Washington State – Oxford

Sat., Oct. 18 – at Georgia – Athens, Ga.

Sat., Oct. 25 – at Oklahoma – Norman, Okla.

Sat., Nov. 1 – vs. South Carolina – Oxford

Sat., Nov. 8 – vs. The Citadel – Oxford

Sat., Nov. 15 – vs. Florida – Oxford

Sat., Nov. 29 – at Mississippi State – Starkville

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

BINFORD TABBED AS SOFTBALL AMERICA PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN

Ole Miss softball’s Aliyah Binford earned a Sof tball America preseason honor, as she was named a preseason second team All-American as announced on Jan. 7.

Binford w as recently n amed a s t he N o. 3 2 ranked p layer i n t he n ation by S oftball America. The New Braunfels, Texas, nat ive is a t wo-time Nat ional F astpitch Coaches Associat ion All-Region and All-Big 12 honoree who earned the first such distinction of her career.

A highl y accomplished t wo-way player, Binford joins the Rebels after a successful career at Baylor, where she shined last season

Top Golf

in her return from season-ending injury in 2023, going 13-12 wit h a 3.23 ER A in t he circle, while hitt ing .272 wit h 10 ex tra-base hits and 21 RBI. As a result, she was named D1Sof tball’s Comeback Player of the Year.

Over her career, Binford holds a record of 40-23 with a 3.12 ER A over 410.2 innings pitched, while also tall ying a .297 batt ing a verage wit h 19 home runs, 96 RBI, 37 doubles and 21 stolen bases.

Binford and t he Rebels open t heir regular season on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 10 a.m., as they face Clemson at the FAU Tournament in Boca Raton, Florida.

TANKERSLEY WINS PATRIOT ALL-AMERICA INVITATIONAL

Winter events are an important time for collegiate golfers to build on their fall season and gear up for what lies ahead in the spring.

Junior Cameron Tankersley seized the opportunity in December, claiming victory at the Patriot All-America Invitational, Dec. 29-31, at Wigwam Golf Resort, in Litchfield Park, Arizona.

Tankersley shot three consecutive rounds in the 60s posting a score of 200 (-10), winning the tournament by three strokes.

Featuring golf’s stars of tomorrow, the Patriot All-America is regarded as a top amateur event nationally, attracting PING All-America golfers from all three NCAA divisions, NAIA and NJCAA rankings as well as from universities outside the United States.

The West Valley Mavericks, Patriot All-America LLC, Golf Coaches Association of America, Women’s Golf Coaches Association, JDM Partners and AZ GOLF (also known as the Arizona Golf Association) partner with the Folds of Honor Foundation to host the tournament, played annually at the Wigwam Golf Resort.

Tankersley came out of the gates

hot, firing an opening round 65 where he carded seven birdies including three straight over the final three holes. He would take a two-shot lead into the final round at -9 after shooting -4 (66) on the Gold Course at Wigwam on moving day.

Tankersley continued that trend into the final round, as he walked toward the 18th tee with a two-shot lead. He would go on to post a final round score of -1 (69), winning the tournament by three strokes.

The solid play in Arizona was no

surprise as Tankersley finished inside the top 10 in three events this fall for the Rebels. With that came a career-best finish at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate and a career-low 54-hole score of (202, -8).

Tankersley and the No. 1 Rebels have their sights set on National Championship aspirations as the spring season begins Feb. 1-2 at the Thomas Sharkey Individual. Team play will begin Feb. 10-12 at the Puerto Rico Classic at Grand Reserve Golf Club.

Aliyah Binford | Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

Cameron Tankersley (second from left) wins the Patriot All-America Invitational. | Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

Ole Miss Sports

OLE MISS DOMINATES DUKE IN GATOR BOWL

The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl wasn’t too taxing for No. 14 Ole Miss football, as t he Rebels dominated Duke 52-20, leading from wire-to-wire to finish the 2024 season at 10-3 (5-3).

Ole Miss not ched back-to-back 10-win seasons f or just t he second time in school history and have won 10 games in three of the last four seasons under head coach Lane Kiffin. The Rebels improved

to 27-15 on the field in bowl games, including 13-4 in their last 17. Ole Miss outgained Duke 589 to 280, holding t he Blue Devils to just 44 yards rushing despite z ero Rebel sacks f iguring into t he numbers. The Rebel offense racked up 438 yards through the air and 151 on the ground, while Duke threw for 236.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS

In his final game as a Rebel, Jaxson Dar t went 27- for-35 through t he air and rushed 12 t imes f or 447 y ards of t otal off ense, f our touchdowns and no interceptions. Ulysses Bentley IV led the rushing efforts wit h 70 yards and t wo scores on 14 carries. Jordan Watkins had a team-high 180 receiving yards with two touchdowns, Cayden Lee caught a team-high eight passes, and Dae’Quan Wright turned in a phenomenal game as well wit h t hree catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.

DEFENSIVE LEADERS

Trey Washington paced t he Rebel defense wit h 10 tackles. Ole Miss had a rare sack-free game but racked up a staggering 15 QB hurries, including fi ve for Jared Ivey, four for Princel y Umanmielen and t hree by Khari Coleman. Isaiah Hamilton highlighted a st ifling defensive effort with an interception return for a touchdown.

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

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Just Published

Southern Man: A Political Thriller from the Natchez Burning Series by Greg Iles (BA 83), 976 pages (hardback, also available in paperback and Kindle), William Morrow, ISBN: 978-0062824691

Fifteen years after the events of the Natchez Burning trilogy, Penn Cage is alone. Nearly all his loved ones are dead, and he carries a mortal secret. But his exile ends when a brawl at a Mississippi rap festival triggers a bloody mass shooting — one that nearly takes the life of his daughter, Annie.

As Natchez and Bienville reel, antebellum homes burn and the deadly attacks are claimed by a Black radical group as historic acts of justice. Panic sweeps through the tourist communities, driving them inexorably toward a race war. But what might have been only a regional sideshow of the 2024 presidential election explodes into national prominence, thanks to the stunning ascent of Robert E. Lee White, a Southern war hero who seizes the public imagination as a third-party candidate.

One fateful autumn weekend, with White set to declare his candidacy in all 50 states, the forces polarizing America line up against each other: Black vs. white, states vs. the federal government, democracy vs. fascism. Teaming with his fearless daughter (now a civil rights lawyer) and a former Black Panther who spent most of his life in Parchman prison,

Cage tears into White’s pursuit of the presidency and ultimately risks a second Civil War to try to expose its motivation to the world, before the America of our Constitution slides into the abyss.

Greg Iles has spent most of his life in Natchez. His first novel, Spandau Phoenix, was the first of many New York Times bestsellers.

Running on Broken Bones by W.A. P epper (BBA 01, MBA 02, PhD 14), 441 pages (paper back, also a vailable in Kindle), Hust le V alley Pr ess, ISBN: 978-1958011065

Tanto is crumbling. Escaping a brutal covert institution, the follower of the Bushido code struggles to keep one step ahead of the merciless government agency. But sought-for sanctuary slips through the hacker’s fingers when he loses the ability to communicate and collapses in a debilitating fit.

Fighting his way back to consciousness in an unfamiliar hospital bed, Tanto makes a break for the streets as military choppers and agents storm his refuge. Hoping to find the answers to his worsening ailment, he returns to his former prison to discover old acquaintances wielding a cure worse than death. As his body fails, can Tanto’s brilliant tactical mind stand against a relentless host of obstacles and killers?

W.A. Pepper writes thrillers and is a bestselling author for his contribution to the business anthology Habits of Success Under different names, he has published in academic journals, interactive e-books, anthologies and online.

SolHuBod by Sandr a Shaw (BA 96), 322 pages (paperback , also a vailable in Kindle), independent ly published, ISBN: 979-8884360754

Ten-year-old Mbaye Diagne doesn’t see himself as an orphan. He sees himself as the leader of the SolHuBod Club. Every day is an imagined mission around the garbage-laden edges of the African refugee camp. “Hear the Unseen.” That’s what his dad always said about wonder. Mbaye, his two best friends and their pet rat comb through the squalor adventurously. Yet play turns to real horror. The three accidentally stumble upon a darkness with quantum implications. It could separate the SolHuBods from the one they love most. An invisible predator hunts. It’s not after what the kids know. It’s after who they are: soul, human, body.

Sandra Shaw is a fourth-generation University of Mississippi graduate. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and has had a career in television journalism and meteorology spanning the nation. This is her debut novel.

Rebel Traveler 2025

The alumni travel program is a service the Ole Miss Alumni Association offers as part of its mission to unite its alumni and keep them connected to Ole Miss and one another. OMAA has partnered with several tour operators that specialize in alumni travel to offer a broad selection of educational tours. Alumni and friends obtain group rates and discounts. Listed prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and pricing and dates are subject to change until booking. Airfare is not included unless noted. Visit olemissalumni.com/travel for a complete listing and the most up-to-date information.

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

GREAT TRAINS AND GRAND CANYONS

MARCH 9-14, 2025

Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery “The Grand Canyon is the one great sight which every American should see.”

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt said this when he first laid eyes on one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights. Every traveler should explore the beautiful American West, and that is exactly what you will do on this exciting program to Arizona. This travel experience features a combination of American West highlights with the scenery of Grand Canyon National Park and the red rocks of Sedona, the Native American history at the Montezuma Castle National Monument, the Old West nostalgia of two train rides and five nights at a picturesque property in Sedona, Arizona. Just north of Phoenix, Sedona is known for its upscale resorts, artist galleries and breathtaking red rock scenery, and is the perfect “home base” for this six-day adventure. —From $3,795

HAWAII THREE-ISLAND ADVENTURE

MARCH 11-19, 2025

Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery Aloha! From the moment you arrive in this incredible destination you will be greeted with sheer beauty and a cultural experience like no other. You will quickly realize why Hawaii is known as

the “Paradise of the Pacific.” With many exotic beaches, flowers, mountainous landscapes, breathtaking views and magnificent waterfalls, you will be amazed everywhere you travel within this incredible island state. We welcome you to experience three Hawaiian islands on this incredible tour, which features a perfect combination of sightseeing and leisure time in this island paradise. — From $5,995, including airfare

DUTCH WATERWAYS

APRIL 16-24, 2025

Tour Operator: AHI

Embark on a carefree seven-night cruise along the intimate waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium brimming with centuries of history and Old World splendor. Delight in Amsterdam’s charming canals and stroll amid the glorious tulips at Keukenhof Gardens. Revel in Bruges’ wonderfully preserved Gothic gems and Antwerp’s impressive medieval old town. Other ports of call introduce you to Enkhuizen, a beautiful Dutch Golden Age city, and Veere, a laid-back harbor town. Enjoy enriching lectures and a choice of included excursions. Admire Enkhuizen’s stately

Kauai Island, Hawaii

landmarks on foot and by boat, tour the picturesque, 17th-century port town of Hoorn, or bike through the pastoral West Frisian countryside. See The Hague and the Mauritshuis’ celebrated masterpieces, watch artisans at the Royal Delft porcelain factory or sample farmfresh cheeses in Gouda. In Bruges, visit a chocolaterie, discover the beer culture or take in renowned Belgian art. Unpack once aboard your exclusively chartered, first-class ship and savor generous meals with wine and beer at lunch and dinner. No single supplement. — From $3,595

RIVIERAS OF FRANCE AND ITALY

APRIL 19-27, 2025

Tour Operator: Gohagan

Experience the allure of the legendary Cote d’Azur under the billowing white sails of the Wind Spirit, a motorized sailing yacht with ocean views from every suite or stateroom. Immerse yourself in the best of the French and Italian rivieras on our exclusive cruise itinerary, which takes you from Barcelona to the coast of Marseilles and along the sparkling coastline to such iconic destinations as Nice, Monaco, Portofino and Cinque Terre. Visit four UNESCO World Heritage sites: the medieval fortified city of Carcassonne, incomparable Riviera resort town of Nice in France, the Palazzi dei Rolli of Genoa and picturesque villages of Cinque Terre in Italy. Embark

on unforgettable excursions, from the Rock of Monaco to the fountain-filled streets of Aix-en-Provence. Savor delicious local foods and wines during this unparalleled journey. Extend your stay with a pre-tour extension option in Barcelona and/or a post-tour extension option in Rome. — From 5,895

THE CHARM OF THE AMALFI COAST

APRIL 30 – MAY 8, 2025

Tour Operator: AHI

Behold the splendors of the Amalfi Coast on this incredible seven-night journey. From ancient ruins to sun-swept coasts and enchanting towns, let this alluring slice of Italy seduce your senses. From your base in charming Vietri sul Mare, set off to explore Amalfi and Positano, endearing villages perched majestically above the sea. Admire unspoiled vistas while cruising azure waters, and delve into fascinating legends at Herculaneum and Pompeii, frozen in time by the mudflows of Mount Vesuvius. Unravel history amid Paestum’s Greek temples and tuck into the region’s sensational cuisine, including olive oil and cheese tastings during a rural farm experience. Whether visiting the renowned National Archaeological Museum or discovering Old Naples, your Italian daydreams will come to life. This handcrafted, small-group journey features first-class

accommodations and an extensive meal plan. Along the way, local experts share their knowledge of the region as you discover the wonders of Italy. — From $3,495

EUROPEAN COASTAL CRUISE

MAY 3-12, 2025

Tour Operator: Gohagan

Visit four European countries and indulge all the senses on this eightnight cruise aboard a deluxe small ship. Connect the past with the present as you sail from Lisbon to London, exploring the cuisine and culture of Portugal, Spain, France and England. Retrace the footsteps of ancient pilgrims in Santiago de Compostela, delight in the exquisite collections of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, climb to the top of UNESCOinscribed Mont-St.-Michel and enjoy an overnight docked within view of London’s Tower Bridge. Experience culinary traditions and taste regional specialties throughout the tour, including the option to attend a Basque cooking demonstration. Meet guest speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II, grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, as he leads you on a tour of the hallowed D-Day beaches at Normandy. Complement your journey with the Lisbon pre-tour and London post-tour extensions. — From $6,890

MASTERS OF THE AIR: THE MIGHTY EIGHTH OVER THE SKIES OF EUROPE

MAY 7-14, 2025

Tour Operator: National WWII Museum

The rural farmland of England’s East Anglia region became the Allied headquarters for the “Bomber War.” Villages with prewar populations in the hundreds suddenly buzzed with the energy of thousands of pilots, crew and support staff carrying out the missions to bring about the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. This was a new type of warfare, a war waged from the skies against an unseen enemy. The National WWII Museum’s exclusive weeklong Masters of the Air tour visits the villages and airfields from which American flyboys launched their massive bombing campaign against Nazi Germany. The

Sorrento, Italy

Rebel Traveler 2025

bases, control towers and museums that tell the story of the U.S. Eighth Air Force are part of the tour, but also the opportunity to view restored aircraft like the ones the Bomber Boys flew, to immerse yourself in the very pubs and country inns they frequented, and to meet, in London and elsewhere, survivors of the German Blitzkrieg. — From $6,495

BRITISH AND EMERALD ISLES JOURNEY

MAY 11-26, 2025

Tour Operator: Gohagan

In this exclusive journey, experience the best of the British Isles and Ireland, in all its variety and splendor. Immerse yourself in incredible destinations — from the dazzling metropolis of London to the windswept archaeological sites of Scottish isles; from the warm gregariousness of Dublin to the breathtaking natural beauty of the Lake District. Learn from distinguished guest speaker Allen Packwood, OBE, World War II and Winston Churchill expert, and visit Guernsey Island, where Hitler stockpiled armaments. Visit four UNESCO World Heritage sites, four castles and lesser known but unforgettable locales of Cowes, Tresco and Whitby. Ride on ferries and in black cabs, step inside ancient castles and among prehistoric stones, stroll in lush gardens and down cobbled streets. Enhance your experience with a London pre-tour extension. — From $12,590

GREECE: ATHENS AND CRETE

MAY 16-27, 2025

Tour Operator: AHI

Delight in authentic Greek island life on this enriching 10-night journey featuring seven nights on Crete. Take in charming Cretan villages, tranquil beaches, olive groves and the breathtaking Aegean Sea over five nights in Heraklion and two nights in Chania. Revel in picturesque old towns and beautiful, 16th-century Venetian harbors in each locale, plus feast on Greek olives, seafood and wine. Enjoy guided tours of Knossos and Phaistos, major centers of the Minoan civilization, and view exquisite Greek and Minoan artifacts, including the mysterious Phaistos Disc. You’ll also set off to the

stunning island of Santorini and delve into the intriguing history of Spinalonga Island. Learn how to make traditional Cretan dishes at a fun cooking class, marvel at one of the world’s oldest olive trees, and cruise on Chania Bay at sunset. During three nights in Athens, take in the glorious Parthenon on the Acropolis and admire the Acropolis Museum’s treasures. This remarkable, small-group program includes a round-trip flight to Crete, deluxe and first-class hotels, and illuminating insights from expert guides and lecturers. — From $5,690

crucial battles across Europe and changed the course of history. Every tour features an original cast member from the miniseries, making this tour a truly unique experience. — From $8,299

GREAT EUROPEAN JOURNEY BY RIVER AND RAIL

MAY 31 – JUNE 11, 2025

Tour Operator: Gohagan

Embark on an exhilarating European adventure steeped in storied history, grand architecture and breathtaking scenery on this fabulous 12-day, 11-night itinerary.

EASY COMPANY: ENGLAND TO THE EAGLE’S NEST

MAY 19-31, 2025

Tour Operator: National WWII Museum The HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers” brought the story of the 101st Airborne Division’s 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment “Easy Company” to millions of viewers. In the decades since its 2001 premiere, the men of Easy Company have become world famous, with their actions recounted and steps retraced from England to the Eagle’s Nest. Join us on this personal journey to the beaches, bridges, cities and villages where the legendary Easy Company fought the

Enjoy a deluxe seven-night river cruise aboard the sumptuous Viva Enjoy, boasting luxurious amenities and impeccable service. Discover the timeless beauty of the Rhine and Moselle rivers as you wind past storybook towns, terraced vineyards and forested hills crowned by castles. After embarking in Amsterdam, call at Cologne, Cochem, Rüdesheim and Heidelberg, Germany; and Strasbourg, France. Disembark in Switzerland and explore the unforgettable cities of Basel and Lucerne. Marvel at the sweeping grandeur of the Alps on a panoramic train ride and cable car cruise that afford gorgeous views. Add to your amazing European exploration

Athens, Greece

with an optional pre-tour extension in Amsterdam. — From $5,094

SCOTTISH ISLES AND NORWEGIAN FJORDS

JUNE 4-12, 2025

Tour Operator: Gohagan

Across the mist-shrouded peaks, verdant glens and velvet moors of Scotland, and through the unsurpassed natural beauty of Norway’s mighty fjords, experience the enduring legacies of Viking and Celtic clans. On this unforgettable sea journey, step inside sacred, ancient abbeys, Viking cathedrals and legendary castles; and glide alongside majestic fjords aboard the breathtaking Flåm Railway. Fall under the spell of the emerald teardrop Isle of Iona; the archipelago of the sandstone-rimmed Orkney Islands; and the spectacular bird life, blue lochs and famous ponies of the Shetland Islands. Aboard the luxurious World Traveller, this exclusive travel program takes you to destinations of wild beauty you’ll never forget. Enhance this fabulous exploration with the Edinburgh and Glasgow pre-tour extension option and/or the Norway and Copenhagen post - tour extension option. — From $6,390

UTAH’S MIGHTY NATIONAL PARKS

JUNE 8-14, 2025

Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery

Welcome to Utah’s mighty national parks, renowned for awe-inspiring views, impressive rock formations and otherworldly landscapes that must be seen to be believed. Enjoy five nights at one hotel on this relaxed tour beginning with a scenic byway drive from Grand Junction to Moab. Enjoy a Colorado River cruise to view the canyon walls and ancient petroglyphs. Explore Canyonlands National Park, carved by Utah’s two mightiest rivers. Stand 2,000 feet above a gooseneck in the Colorado River at Dead Horse State Park for a breathtaking view of vertical cliffs, and visit and walk along one of our country’s great national parks to see the stunning collection of natural sandstone formations at

Arches National Park. Visit Capitol Reef National Park, which got its name from the great white rock formations that resemble the U.S. Capitol building. Journey on a guided, scenic drive to explore Monument Valley Navajo tribal area and experience one of the most majestic points on earth. View the area’s oddly shaped monoliths, buttes and mesas of red sandstone and stop at famous John Ford’s Point, the location of many classic Westerns. Conclude your tour with a wine tasting at a local winery followed by a farewell dinner. Please review the itinerary details and count the extras. With roundtrip airfare included, we hope you can join us on this amazing trip. — From $3,895

CRUISE ITALY: TUSCANY, CINQUE TERRE AND AMALFI COAST

JUNE 20-28, 2025

Tour Operator: Gohagan

Experience the best of the Italian Riviera on this remarkable seven-night cruise, round-trip Rome, aboard a deluxe small ship. Customize your Tuscany experience with included Traveler’s Choice options to visit either Florence or Lucca. Enjoy excursions to the cliffside villages of Cinque Terre, Corsica’s fortified town of Bonifacio and the UNESCO-inscribed ruins of Pompeii. Savor the splendor of the Amalfi Coast and the Isle of Capri on an incomparable journey that concludes with a visit to the Sicily-Rome American

Cemetery and Memorial — led by guest speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II. — From $5,390

NORWEGIAN FJORDS AND MIDNIGHT SUN

JULY 2-12, 2025

Tour Operator: AHI

Get set for a marvelous adventure in Norway, one of the world’s most beautiful countries! On this nine-night, smallgroup journey, enjoy first-class stays in cosmopolitan Oslo, enchanting Bergen and far northern Tromsø above the Arctic Circle. Like a little bit of heaven on earth, Norway’s sublime landscapes of lush fjords and snowcapped mountains will take your breath away. Thrill to spectacular scenery on the famous Flåm and Bergen railways, and cruise through the pristine, glacier-carved Aurlandsfjord. You’ll also experience the phenomenon of the midnight sun, northern Norway’s endlessly golden summer sky! Delve into fascinating facets of Norwegian history and culture, including skiing, seafaring, the impressive art of Edvard Munch and the Hanseatic heritage of Bergen’s colorful wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Plus, discover what life above the Arctic Circle is like as you visit a dogsledding kennel, learn about the traditions of the indigenous Sami people and tour a botanical garden. Includes expert guides, enlightening lectures and a generous meal plan. — From $5,990

Mesa Arch, Utah

A lumni News

Class Notes

’60s JAMES MEREDITH (BA 63), of Jackson, was honored with a civil rights marker in Kosciusko for his actions and dedication to the forwarding of rights for African American citizens and their education.

’70s MARTIN HEGWOOD (BPA 74, JD 77), of Canton, received recognition by the Southern Literary Review for his fifth novel, Queen of Memphis . The novel was named the “January Read of the Month” and won first place in the 2022 William Faulkner Literary Competition.

DAN JONES (MD 75), of Hazlehurst, and his wife, Lydia Jones, were selected to receive the 2025 Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy Legacy Award. They have dedicated much of their lives to the service of others, both in their resident communities as well as overseas in South Korea.

MICHAEL J. MOLT (JD 74), of Fairfield, Illinois, announced his retirement as Wayne County circuit judge. He will step down from the bench on Nov. 30 of this year.

MARY LOU OWENS (MEd 74), of Oxford, was named one of 12 Legacy Quilters by the Mississippi Quilting Association.

MARY PACE (BA 71, BS 72), of Tupelo, received the McLean Award for Philanthropy from the CREATE Foundation. This award honors exceptional leaders working to improve the quality of life in northeast Mississippi and their communities.

JOY LAMBERT PHILLIPS (BA 76, JD 80), of Gulfport, announced her retirement from Hancock Whitney Bank as its chief legal officer. She has provided legal counsel in

the financial services industry for almost 40 years and has served Hancock Whitney Bank for more than 25 years.

JULIA H. THORNTON (BA 72), of Oxford, completed three years as president of the University of Mississippi Museum’s Friends board. She is also serving on the Ole Miss Alumni Association board of directors.

’80s

GLENN BOYCE (BAEd 81, EdD 96), of Oxford, was appointed to serve on the NCAA Board of Governors and board of directors as the representative for the Southeastern Conference.

G. DEWEY HEMBREE III (BPA 83, JD 86), of Madison, was recognized on the 2024 MidSouth Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists in the Business Litigation category.

GERALD L. JONES (88), of Windermere, Florida, received two Grammy nominations for the February 2025 Grammy Awards as a producer and engineer. He is the technical director for the band Violectric, which has opened for many artists and includes his wife, who also received two Grammy nominations. These are their first Grammy nominations.

ORMA (BA 88) and TERRE SMITH (BAEd 88), of Corinth, were presented with the McLean Award for Philanthropy from the CREATE Foundation. This award honors exceptional leaders working to improve the quality of life in northeast Mississippi and their communities.

’90s AMY SOLOMON WHITEHEAD (BA 92), of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was named press secretary and communications director for the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services.

’00s

LAURIE BETH ELLIS (BAEd 06, MEd 08), of Oxford, received the Frances A. Karnes Award for Excellence in Gifted Education from the Mississippi Association for Gifted Children. This award recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to enhancing the gifted education program for students.

MARY FURLONG MINKOFF (BA 03), of Pensacola, Florida, was named executive director for the Florida Public Archaeology Network.

ROBERT SAVOIE (BBA 07), of Solon, Ohio, was honored by the 2025 FinTech Legal guide. Savoie is one of 31 attorneys ranked nationwide in the payments and lending category, as well as receiving a Band One ranking, which is the highest possible ranking in the FinTech guide. He is one of six attorneys to be nationally ranked in two categories overall.

MELISSA SELMAN SCOTT (BBA 00, JD 03), of Jackson, was promoted to general counsel of the Mississippi Bar. Scott also serves as president of the National Organization of Bar Counsel.

JOHN P.F.H. VANDERLOO (BA 02, MEd 10), of Jackson, was elected president of the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians at its 2024 annual meeting. Vanderloo has been a member of MAFP since 2006.

’10s BRANDON IRVINE (BAJ 11), of Schleswig, Iowa, won a 2024 Upper Midwest Emmy for producing the best evening newscast for markets 121+ for KTIV-TV in Sioux City.

BIRTHS

Darcie Jane, daughter of Savannah Nychole Dye (BS 21, MS 23) and

Ryan Michael Dye, Oct. 15, 2024.

MacKenzie Ann, daughter of Scarlett Rogers Green (BBA 10) and Kyle F. Green, Oct. 2, 2024.

James Mitchell, son of Mary Mitchell Provence (MEd 22) and Christopher Neal Provence (BBA 03, MBA 12), Sept. 16, 2024.

WEDDINGS

Amy Law and Mark Starr Levi (PhD 02), Sept. 27, 2024.

Jessica Rena Reed (BA 10, MEd 14) and Tim Lampkin, Sept. 29, 2024.

IN MEMORIAM

1940s

Delma Barber Aven (BAEd 49, MEd 51), of Oxford, Dec. 22, 2024

Percy Walker Johnston Jr. (BA 41), of Mobile, Ala., Nov. 4, 2024

Julia Posey Latimer (43), of Jackson, Dec. 16, 2024

Patricia Paynter Strickland (46), of Concord, Ga., Oct. 21, 2024

Jane Walker Trammell (MedCert 49, BS 49), of Knoxville, Tenn., Oct. 11, 2024

1950s

Douglas Carlton Altenbern Sr. (BBA 58), of Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 27, 2024

Michael Stein Baughman Jr. (BSPh 59), of Farmerville, La., Sept. 19, 2024

Billy Gene Bennett (BAEd 52), of Flagstaff, Ariz., Sept. 24, 2024

Agnes Burrous Burkley (BAEd 51), of Olive Branch, Nov. 16, 2024

William Harold Cox Jr. (BA 55, LLB 61), of Jackson, Oct. 2, 2024

Edmund Harry Dorgan (BBA 57), of Daphne, Ala., Oct. 25, 2024

Winfield Culberson Dunn (BBA 50), of Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 28, 2024

James William Elliott Jr. (LLB 58), of Brookhaven, Nov. 21, 2024

Dorothy Lynn Crosby Gammill (59), of Hattiesburg, Dec. 6, 2024

Buddy Harbin (BSME 58), of Grenada, Dec. 13, 2024

Marilyn Bowers Hoffman (BA 58, MA 63), of Oxford, Dec. 31, 2024

James Herman Homan Jr. (BA 56), of Shannon, Dec. 19, 2024

William Henry Houston III (MBA 59), of Memphis, Tenn., May 19, 2024

Jamie Rowsey Hubbard (BSC 58), of Oxford, Dec. 23, 2024

Joseph Francis Luisi (BA 56), of Chesterbrook, Pa., Oct. 23, 2024

Jan Holmes Martin (BA 58), of Trevett, Maine, Sept. 14, 2024

Paul Joseph Mathis (BA 59), of Meridian, Sept. 23, 2024

Bertha Miriam Marron Montgomery (BA 50), of Natchez, Oct. 17, 2024

Grace Lyon Montgomery (BS 57), of Byhalia, Dec. 30, 2024

Oscar Dodson Moore (BSPh 58), of Carthage, Dec. 14, 2024

Bobby Merrell Nelson (BA 50), of Raleigh, N.C., Oct. 10, 2024

Peggy Ferguson Phillips (55), of Madison, Dec. 5, 2024

Beatryce Ann Slayden Pringle (BSC 54), of Biloxi, Oct. 17, 2024

Betty Oswalt Robertson (BS 54), of Florence, Ala., Oct. 23, 2024

Stuart Robinson Sr. (BBA 59, LLB 61), of Jackson, Sept. 25, 2024

Anna Shands Savery (56), of Pensacola, Fla., Nov. 12, 2024

Kathryn Duncan Sette (BA 54, BS 56), of Baltimore, Md., Nov. 24, 2024

David Shepard Smith Sr. (50), of Oxford, Oct. 8, 2024

James Gordon Sullivan (BBA 51), of Germantown, Tenn., Nov. 13, 2024

Joseph Chapman Todd (BS 56), of Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 27, 2024

William Thomas Turner (52), of Ridgeland, Dec. 8, 2024

Martain Vanzant Jr. (BSC 56), of Holly Springs, Oct. 14, 2024

Billie Herring Wadlington (50), of Oxford, Oct. 19, 2024

Ralph Dale Young (LLB 50), of Gulfport, Oct. 15, 2024

1960s

Ray Rolland Ayers (BSCvE 63), of Houston, Texas, May 4, 2024

Brenda Kay Willard Azlin (BAEd 69, MEd 81), of Etta, Oct. 23, 2024

Robert Nelson Reed Beckham (BBA 63), of Sarasota, Fla., Oct. 14, 2024

Thomas Victor Bishop (LLB 64), of Fulton, Dec. 20, 2024

Charles Walton Campbell (MD 61), of Lexington, Dec. 23, 2024

Johnny Lee Carson (68), of Batesville, Dec. 25, 2024

Bobby Albert Coates (BSEE 66, MS 69), of Harvest, Ala., Nov. 20, 2024

Martha Hale Cooper (BSC 64), of Etta, Dec. 20, 2024

Christina Ostronic, NASA Contracting Officer

Never Lost a Party

Ole Miss alumni and fans turned out in force at Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium for the Alumni Association’s Pregame Party sponsored by Rebel Rags before the Rebels beat Duke in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Photos by Steve Mullen

Alumni News

Millie Nichols Craig (BS 61, MS 62), of College Station, Texas, Nov. 18, 2024

Glenn Wesson Crocker Jr. (BM 63, MM 67), of Columbus, Nov. 10, 2024

Lewis Howard Daniel Jr. (BSPh 61), of Germantown, Tenn., Oct. 27, 2024

Nedra Jane Butler De St. Aubin (BS 61), of Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 7, 2024

David William Decker (MCS 66), of Thomson, Ga., Feb. 28, 2024

Hal Conn Dilworth Jr. (BA 66, JD 73), of Rienzi, Dec. 3, 2024

Henry Dalton Drennan (EdD 69), of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Sept. 19, 2024

Steven Roy Evans (BSCvE 69), of Blairsville, Ga., Nov. 13, 2024

Mary Elizabeth Ford (BAEd 60), of Pascagoula, Oct. 31, 2024

Arthur Watt Frierson (BAEd 61), of Oxford, Sept. 25, 2024

John Allen Gantt (BBA 61), of Andalusia, Ala., Oct. 4, 2024

Rene Garcia (BSCvE 62), of Caracas, Venezuela, July 10, 2024

George Washington Green III (BBA 69), of Cumming, Ga., May 8, 2024

James Watkins Haddock (BPA 68, JD 70), of Lake Village, Ark., Oct. 29, 2024

Joan Jeffrey Hebert (BA 61), of Lafayette, La., June 23, 2024

John Liddon Hopkins Sr. (63), of Jackson, Oct. 1, 2024

William Medford James (BS 64), of Oxford, Oct. 18, 2024

Benny Fant Johnson (BBA 65), of Pelham, Ala., Nov. 11, 2024

Samuel Martin Keith (BA 69), of Salem, Wis., May 9, 2024

Oliver Achille Latil III (BBA 62), of Ocean Springs, Nov. 30, 2024

Thomas Dale Little Sr. (MD 62), of West Point, Nov. 2, 2024

Carole Oates Lynch (BAEd 68), of Tullahoma, Tenn., Dec. 16, 2024

Charles Percy Magee (BBA 60), of Harlingen, Texas, Sept. 20, 2024

Hal Hick Hartsell McClanahan III (BA 64, JD 70), of Columbus, Dec. 13, 2024

Jack Cooper McIntyre Jr. (BBA 68), of Hendersonville, N.C., Aug. 27, 2024

Larry Gaston McKibben (BBA 69), of Nesbit, Dec. 24, 2024

Kenneth Ewing Milam (BA 66, JD 69), of Jackson, Dec. 13, 2024

Don Quinton Mitchell (MD 67), of Jackson, Sept. 19, 2024

Stanford Clark Morton (MEd 62), of Canton, N.C., Nov. 9, 2024

Richard Nichol (BBA 62), of Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 28, 2024

Alumni News

Judith Colvin Ousley (BSC 67), of Oxford, Jan. 1, 2025

Edwin Lloyd Pittman Sr. (LLB 60), of Ridgeland, Sept. 25, 2024

Billy Joe Plunk (BBA 64), of Oxford, Oct. 9, 2024

Nancy Ellis Poore (BAEd 63), of Chattanooga, Tenn., Sept. 22, 2024

Bobbie Price Rhodes (BSN 60), of Brandon, Oct. 3, 2024

Jimmy Walton Ritchie (BBA 60), of Gulfport, Dec. 18, 2024

Lester Lackey Rowe Jr. (BA 62, JD 66), of Brevard, N.C., Dec. 8, 2024

James Sargent Ruby Jr. (MA 62), of Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 1, 2025

Timothy Richard Schock (BSHPE 69), of Munster, Ind., Nov. 26, 2024

Edward Reese Sharpe (BAEd 63, MEd 65), of Signal Mountain, Tenn., Oct. 16, 2024

Isaac Dudley Stewart Jr. (BA 65), of Greenville, Dec. 10, 2024

Tommy Fitzgerald Stone (BBA 63), of Dallas, Texas, Nov. 13, 2024

Floyd Melvyn Sulser Jr. (BBA 68, JD 71), of Ridgeland, Nov. 15, 2024

Frederick Francis Travis (BS 65, MA 67), of Rhinebeck, N.Y., Nov. 30, 2024

Gerald Gwin Tyler (BBA 62), of Suwanee, Ga., July 31, 2024

Joseph Edwin Varner Jr. (MD 66), of Hattiesburg, Oct. 2, 2024

Gerald Joseph Viator (BSPh 69), of Gulfport, Oct. 12, 2024

Wayne Clarence Voigt (MCP 67), of Tallahassee, Fla., Dec. 21, 2024

Martha Carroll Payne Ward (BA 65), of Casselberry, Fla., July 8, 2024

Jane Montgomery Warren (BA 61), of Greenwood, Oct. 24, 2024

Jack Woolfolk (BSCvE 61), of Little Rock, Ark., Dec. 4, 2024

1970s

Jimmy Eugene Baker (BA 70), of Houston, Texas, Oct. 3, 2024

Claire McBride Barrett (MLS 75), of Natchez, Oct. 26, 2024

William Wayde Benson (MCS 74), of Huntsville, Ala., Oct. 14, 2024

Joseph Lamar Blount (BAEd 71, JD 73), of Union, Oct. 3, 2024

Elizabeth Boling Bounds (BA 73), of Meridian, Oct. 18, 2024

Thomas Emery Box (BBA 72, MBA 73), of Booneville, Sept. 22, 2024

Lloyd Miller Bridgers Jr. (BA 76, MD 80), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Nov. 1, 2024

Bessie Hatten Bruer (MEd 71), of Diberville, Dec. 12, 2024

Thomas Martin Carr Jr. (MD 74), of Oxford, Nov. 11, 2024

Evelyn Bell Carter (MCS 70), of Greeneville, Tenn., Oct. 26, 2024

James Joseph Chacko (MEd 71), of Charleroi, Pa., Nov. 10, 2024

Harold Wayne Chaffin (BPA 77), of Tupelo, Dec. 19, 2024

Edward Glenn Chisolm (MEd 71), of Houston, Nov. 9, 2024

Sharon Kaye Wise Clegg (MEd 75), of Belden, Dec. 27, 2024

John Brooks Collier (BBA 71), of Brandon, Dec. 21, 2024

Waymon Thomas Covington (BS 70, MLS 73), of Ripley, Sept. 30, 2024

Kenneth Stephen Dwyer (BS 72), of Greensboro, N.C., Aug. 29, 2024

Davey Lee Farris Jr. (BRL 75), of Clarksdale, Dec. 14, 2024

Susan Karer Garrett (BSB 76), of Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 5, 2024

David Van Gillentine III (BAEd 70), of Tupelo, Dec. 11, 2024

Robert Edward Gorman (BSHPE 71), of Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 10, 2024

Carl Watson Graves (MD 72), of Dade City, Fla., Sept. 24, 2024

Lorraine Wilson Greaves (BA 73), of Mill Spring, N.C., Aug. 14, 2024

Don William Gregg (BSPh 71), of Columbus, Ga., July 7, 2024

Paul Lawrence Halat (JD 74), of Ocean Springs, Sept. 25, 2024

Elynor Butler Hamilton (MA 70), of Hampton, Va., Dec. 8, 2024

Dale Lewis Hansen (MCS 71), of Hot Springs, S.D., Oct. 3, 2024

H. Lee Hetherington (JD 73), of Jackson, Sept. 24, 2024

Michael McDaniel Honea (BSHPE 74), of Brandon, Oct. 18, 2024

Steven Joel Johnson (JD 79), of Hattiesburg, Dec. 19, 2024

William Ellis Jones (BBA 73), of Dumas, Oct. 26, 2024

Susan Parham Kahauolopua (BBA 77), of Bonaire, Ga., July 9, 2024

J. Max Kilpatrick (JD 73), of Philadelphia, Dec. 11, 2024

John Wesley Kinkennon II (BA 78), of Corinth, Oct. 4, 2024

Frank Peter Liberto (BA 72), of Dunlap, Tenn., Oct. 5, 2024

Jackie Burton Long (BBA 78), of Philadelphia, Oct. 1, 2024

William Jeffrey Lowe (BA 74), of Columbus, July 18, 2024

Joe Harvey Magee (BBA 70), of Frederick, Md., Sept. 29, 2024

Mary Biedenharn Majors (Cert 77), of Clinton, Dec. 29, 2024

Frank Monroe McKellar (BBA 72), of Madison, Sept. 21, 2024

Don Keith McNeely Sr. (BSChE 71), of Iuka, Oct. 7, 2024

Robert Rex McRaney Jr. (JD 75), of Clinton, Dec. 20, 2024

Ina Katherine Graves Miller (BAEd 72), of Brandon, Dec. 20, 2024

Michael Richard Montee , USN (Ret) (BBA 72), of Pensacola, Fla., Sept. 21, 2024

Sam Ray Mosley (73), of New Albany, Sept. 20, 2024

Joseph Benjamin Moss (JD 74), of Flowood, Nov. 8, 2024

Williams Dennis Mulkins III (BPA 76), of Killeen, Texas, Oct. 17, 2024

Fred Jerril Newell (BBA 78), of Hazlehurst, Nov. 12, 2024

Johnny Lafayette Odom (BSPh 70), of Long Beach, Dec. 9, 2024

James Carson Patton Jr. (JD 79), of Starkville, Dec. 5, 2024

Jettie Ruth Hill Pettit (BAEd 77, MEd 86), of Bruce, Nov. 4, 2024

Donald Ralph Purvis (BBA 71), of Brandon, Nov. 3, 2024

Charles Edward Paul Rosenbaum (MEd 76, MEd 87), of Pontotoc, Oct. 14, 2024

Pamela Hall Stewart (BSPh 71), of Raymond, May 11, 2024

Allan Eschol Stuart (BA 75), of Little Rock, Ark., Oct. 1, 2024

Janeil Pickett Stutts (MEd 76), of Germantown, Tenn., Oct. 18, 2024

John Jeffrey Taylor (BBA 77), of Germantown, Tenn., Oct. 20, 2024

James Edmond Vance (BBA 76), of Tupelo, Oct. 20, 2024

Charlotte Jackson Whitaker (BA 70), of Mountain Brook, Ala., Oct. 21, 2024

Richard Lew Winther (BSHPE 71), of Chelsea, Ala., June 26, 2024

Margaret Wong (BBA 72), of Jackson, Oct. 26, 2024

Dimple Bumpas Yarber (BAEd 77), of Corinth, Nov. 29, 2024

1980s

Eileen Garrard Bailey (BSJ 87, MEd 09), of Mooreville, Nov. 19, 2024

Josephine Davenport Barringer (BA 86), of Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 10, 2024

Cynthia Jackson Bennett (MS 88), of Carrollton, Nov. 16, 2024

Glen David Gilbert (EdD 85), of Monticello, Ark., Jan. 1, 2025

Max Ray Goodman Jr. (BBA 82), of Brandon, July 11, 2024

Terry John Heindel (BA 86, MD 91), of Durham, N.C., Nov. 14, 2024

Matthew Stephen Heiter (BA 82), of Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 29, 2024

Susan Joy Hoover (BA 87), of Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 19, 2024

Marks Whittle Jenkins Jr. (MEd 85), of Oxford, Oct. 21, 2024

Richard Allen Jenkins (BA 81), of Athens, Tenn., Dec. 26, 2024

Jeanne Carter Luckey (BAEd 83), of Ocean Springs, Nov. 7, 2024

Robert Phillip Mathis (MD 82), of Corinth, Oct. 29, 2024

Edward Gene McDoniel (BBA 86), of Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 30, 2024

Ronnie Mack Owens (PhD 82), of Belton, Texas, Sept. 23, 2024

Donald Lee Prisock Jr. (PhD 85), of Starkville, Dec. 26, 2024

Michael Magee Puddister (DMD 87), of Natchez, Dec. 25, 2024

Billy Joe Ratliff (MEd 80), of Belden, Dec. 3, 2024

Lee Edward Reid III (BBA 83), of Madison, Oct. 7, 2024

Joy Wallace Robison (BAEd 82), of Germantown, Tenn., Oct. 21, 2024

Andrew Earl Stepp (BSPh 81), of Bruce, Dec. 5, 2024

Leroy Thompson (MEd 80), of Taylor, Nov. 14, 2024

1990s

Dustin Reid Bagwell (BSES 97), of Geismar, La., Aug. 27, 2024

Peggy Cockroft Bush (92), of Cordova, Tenn., Oct. 9, 2024

Lara Sullivan Butler (BA 91), of Lexington, N.C., Sept. 14, 2024

Willie Roland Clark (BBA 90), of Oxford, Dec. 9, 2024

Evelyn Townsend Cuthbert-Baird (BSPh 95), of Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 1, 2023

Matthew Anthony Galler (BA 97), of Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 9, 2024

Webb® Elizabeth Gage®

Alumni News

Virgil Hall Jr. (MEd 91), of Pope, Dec. 24, 2024

John Robert Hammons III (BA 99), of Conway, Ark., Oct. 11, 2024

Stephen Anderson Harrison (BA 91, MD 95), of San Antonio, Texas, April 23, 2024

Jeffery Wayne Jones (BSPh 91), of Morton, Oct. 28, 2024

Timothy Detrice Jumper (BBA 90, MBA 94), of Cordova, Tenn., Dec. 8, 2024

Gordon Wayne Nall II (BBA 92), of Canton, Dec. 23, 2024

Boris Eugene Ricks (MPA 91), of Inglewood, Calif., Sept. 5, 2024

Lucie Jones Riggsbee (MSN 91), of Yazoo City, Dec. 20, 2024

Patricia Rogers Sawyer (MEd 97), of Rienzi, Oct. 25, 2024

James Thaddeus Strange (DMD 95), of Flowood, Dec. 22, 2024

LaTonya Renee Taylor (BA 92), of Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 12, 2024

Thomas Corey Vinson (BA 99), of Oxford, Sept. 28, 2024

Larry Dale Yager (MEd 98, EdD 08), of New Albany, Dec. 12, 2024

2000s

Kathryn Kitchens Banks (BBA 06), of Madison, Nov. 3, 2024

Ian Andrew Boswell (BBA 05), of Tupelo, Oct. 21, 2024

Angela Regina Cohran (BSW 03), of Oxford, Nov. 12, 2024

Alan Wade Hawkins (BAccy 01), of Forrest City, Ark., Oct. 14, 2024

Trudie Perry Mister (BSW 04), of Oxford, Dec. 10, 2024

Robert Abernathy Smith Jr. (MBA 03), of Brentwood, Tenn., Oct. 29, 2024

Jennifer Houston Snyder (BSW 01), of Cascilla, Oct. 1, 2024

Nina Mae Vaiden (BAccy 02), of Southaven, Oct. 7, 2024

Brian Lee Walker (BFA 04), of Louisville, Ky., Nov. 3, 2024

2010s

Aziza Bailey Barnes (16), of Oxford, Dec. 15, 2024

Walter Earl Cox Jr. (MS 17), of Ridgeland, Oct. 7, 2024

John Carlo Croce (BBA 11), of Collierville, Tenn., Dec. 1, 2024

Rachelle Norris Kirk (BSCJ 14), of Corinth, Oct. 18, 2024

Blake Lanier Marquis (BBA 10), of Oxford, Dec. 13, 2024

William Logan Rogers (BSCvE 14), of Broadway, N.C., Oct. 7, 2024

Joseph Antone Rychlak (JD 18), of New Orleans, La., Oct. 1, 2024

James Robert Witt III (BBA 10, MBA 11), of Germantown, Tenn., Oct. 15, 2024

2020s

Tamera Nicole Abram (BSW 21, MSW 24), of Como, Dec. 9, 2024

Jacob Graham Baldwin (21), of Midlothian, Va., Oct. 16, 2024

William Beck Hester (BA 21), of Tupelo, Nov. 22, 2024

Rodney Deon Kemper (BE 22), of Vicksburg, May 30, 2024

STUDENTS

Jesse James Rego, of Bay St. Louis, Oct. 28, 2024

Gianna Marie Angelina Solimine, of Commack, N.Y., Dec. 23, 2024

Luke Emerson Whaley, of Germantown, Tenn., Nov. 21, 2024

FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS

Shelly Priour Baker, of Austin, Texas, Dec. 2, 2024

Mary Lois Barnett, of Jackson, Jan. 2, 2025

Richard Lamar Blount, of Madison, Nov. 21, 2024

Joan Dees Boyd, of Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 30, 2024

Thomas McClure Brewer, of Columbia, S.C., Sept. 24, 2024

Stanley Willetts Chapman, of Jackson, Nov. 20, 2024

Patsy McKee Coleman, of New Albany, Dec. 16, 2024

James Daniels, of Oxford, Aug. 24, 2024

Anne Johnston Davis, of Como, Sept. 30, 2024

Cile Downer, of Mobile, Ala., Nov. 7, 2024

Dianne Williams Downs, of Oxford, Oct. 16, 2024

Paul Douglas Downs, of Oxford, Dec. 5, 2024

Classie Mae Reynolds Gable, of Abbeville, Nov. 13, 2024

Richard Gershon, of Oxford, Dec. 9, 2024

Laura Breland Godfrey, of Natchez, Nov. 8, 2024

Alumni News

Philip Powell Gorman Jr., of Collierville, Tenn., Oct. 23, 2024

Mary Wilson Harkins, of Jackson, Dec. 28, 2024

Tommy Alan Haskins, of Oxford, Nov. 9, 2024

Shed Hill Hunger III, of Winona, Oct. 15, 2024

Margaret Arnold James, of Grenada, Nov. 21, 2024

Carole Jones, of Steele, Mo., April 13, 2024

Lee Kennedy, of Oxford, Dec. 12, 2024

Mary Gilliam Knight, of Warsaw, Va., Nov. 8, 2024

Barbara Newman Kroeze, of Madison, Dec. 10, 2024

Mitch Lavinghouze, of Brandon, Oct. 10, 2024

John William Lockett, of Pass Christian, Nov. 23, 2024

Darlene Daffin Lominick, of Oxford, Dec. 30, 2024

Adams McDavid, of Georgetown, Texas, Nov. 17, 2024

Lowell Price Mills, of Greenville, Dec. 12, 2024

Betty Jean Mize, of Paris, Nov. 13, 2024

Edgar Lawrence Moore, of Oxford, Oct. 18, 2024

Mable Ozella Pettis, of Oxford, Oct. 8, 2024

Elizabeth Ann Petty, of Ramer, Tenn., Jan. 3, 2025

Kenneth Douglas Pruett, of Oxford, Nov. 15, 2024

Clarke Thomas Reed Sr., of Greenville, Dec. 8, 2024

Gary Glen Robinson, of Gulfport, Oct. 22, 2024

Douglas William Vorhies, of Oxford, Oct. 31, 2024

Norma Jean Wicker, of Tupelo, Jan. 5, 2025

Frances Wilkerson Wren, of Long Beach, Dec. 10, 2024

Lyle Dean Zardiackas, of Bulverde, Texas, Dec. 15, 2024

Due to space limitations, class notes are only published in the Alumni Review from active, dues-paying members of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. To submit a class note, send it to records@olemiss.edu or Alumni Records Dept., Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1374, Oxford, MS 38655. Class notes also may be submitted through the Association’s website at olemissalumni.com. The Association relies on numerous sources for class notes and is unable to verify all notes with individual alumni.

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