Pictured are honorees Morgan Freeman (left), Mary Susan Gallien Clinton, Albert L. Hilliard, John Stroud, Sam Lane, John Louis Black Jr., Chip Crunk and Dr. Alexa Lampkin Minor. | Photo by Bill Dabney
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
Marisa C. Atkinson (JD 03), Kevin Bain (BA 98), Danny Barrett Jr., Srijita Chattopadhyay, Bill Dabney (BA 89), Joe Ellis, Jay Ferchaud, Tina H. Hahn, Jordan Karnbach, Robb McDonough, Hunt Mercier, Steve Mullen (BA 92), Michael Newsom (BA 05), Gary Pettus, Melanie Thortis, Clara Turnage (BAJ 17)
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
Charles White (BBA 82) president
Gail Pittman (BAEd 72) president-elect
Bruce Ware (BBA 99) vice president
Jennifer Calhoun (BBA 96) 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
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.
As we close out another extraordinary fall, I am thrilled to share the achievements that continue to elevate our university and strengthen our position as Mississippi’s leading higher education institution. For the fifth consecutive year, the university has achieved record overall enrollment, reflecting a strong demand for the transformative education and opportunities we provide.
Ole Miss has recently been recognized by multiple national rankings. The latest U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings reaffirm our institution as the top public university in Mississippi, marking our 15th consecutive year ranked among the nation’s top 100 public universities. Forbes, Niche and The Princeton Review have also recognized Ole Miss as the top school in Mississippi, with The Princeton Review naming us the only Mississippi institution on its list of 391 best colleges nationwide.
For the 16th year, our university was named one of the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher Education. This recognition reflects the extraordinary contributions of our people who create the supportive environment that makes our campus community so special. Their dedication, collaboration and spirit continue to be the foundation of everything we accomplish.
I am immensely proud to announce that the Now & Ever campaign raised an unprecedented $1.75 billion, making it the largest fundraising campaign in state history. Nearly 95,000 donors invested in scholarships, health care initiatives, endowed faculty positions and transformative facilities that will serve our students and state for generations to come. Another important milestone is our endowment surpassing $1 billion, which places Ole Miss among a select group of peer institutions. Thank you for your commitment to our university’s mission and future!
In service to the health of Mississippians, the University of Mississippi Medical Center has launched “It’s About Time,” a $125 million campaign to help build a new, world-class cancer facility and advance efforts to secure National Cancer Institute designation. In a state with the nation’s highest cancer mortality rate, the new facility will deliver cutting-edge care and foster groundbreaking research while positioning UMMC to become Mississippi’s first and only NCI-designated cancer center.
USA Today named Ole Miss the nation’s No. 1 college for sports fans in its 2025 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, validating our unmatched game-day experience. And our student-athletes continue to excel, with Ole Miss finishing 27th in the Learfield Directors’ Cup, marking the third time in five years we’ve achieved a top-27 finish.
These accomplishments are made possible by so many members of our university community, including our dedicated alumni. I extend my sincere appreciation to Jeff Hubbard, immediate past president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association, for his leadership and look forward to working with Charles White, our new president.
Hotty Toddy!
Glenn F. Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) Chancellor
from the President
Dear Alumni and Friends,
It is a great honor to serve as the new president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association — especially at such an extraordinary moment in our university’s history. We are living through what can only be called a golden era for Ole Miss. Under the steady and visionary leadership of Chancellor Boyce and his team, we’ve seen record achievements both on and off the field — unprecedented giving through the Now & Ever Campaign (to the tune of $1.75 billion) and athletic programs competing — and winning — on the national stage. Success, as we know, tends to beget more of the same, and the legacy we are building together is one that will endure.
One of the guiding principles of any organization worth its salt is simple: Leave it stronger than you found it. That’s not just a goal — it’s a responsibility. Our board and leadership team are aligned around this mission, and our work in the year ahead will focus on three key priorities that will carry Ole Miss forward into its next great chapter.
First, we aim to expand membership. The heart of this Association has always been its people — our relationships, our shared stories and the unshakable loyalty that connects Rebels around the globe. We want every graduate to see this Association as home base. Whether you live in Oxford, Omaha or Osaka, we want to make it easier than ever to engage, connect and give back.
Second, we are focused on funding, financing and building a world-class facility adjacent to the Grove — the new Triplett Alumni Center. This will be more than just a building; it will be a homecoming place, a front door for families discovering Ole Miss for the first time and a gathering place for those of us who never really left. It will reflect the Ole Miss of today — something to be proud of and built for the future.
Third, we’re committed to engaging new graduates the moment they cross the stage. As past president Karen Moore reminded us, quoting Frank Everett, “One never truly graduates from Ole Miss.” Our goal is to make that truth felt immediately — to welcome our newest alumni into the fold, helping them carry forward the spirit, friendships and values that define this place.
We often hear that Ole Miss is a national brand . I’d suggest that, by now, it’s become an international one. Our alumni, students and faculty are leaving their mark everywhere, and that’s no accident. The Ole Miss experience — equal parts rigor, resilience and heart — travels well.
In the months ahead, I invite you to join us as we build on this remarkable momentum. Get involved. Come back to Oxford. Bring a friend to a game, to a meeting, to a memory. Tell us how we can better serve you because this Association is — and always has been — about you.
Let’s make sure that what we pass on to the next generation of Rebels is stronger, deeper and more connected than ever before.
Hotty Toddy,
Charles White (BBA 82) President, Ole Miss Alumni Association
f rom the Circle
THE LATEST ON OLE MISS STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS
Ideas of Impact
OLE MISS RECOGNIZES RECORD GROUP OF STAMPS IMPACT PRIZE WINNERS
The Stamps Impact Prize program welcomed its largest cohort yet of University of Mississippi student researchers and artists on Aug. 28.
The Stamps Impact Prize will help 15 seniors study a range of topics from symphony conducting to bridging the language gap in public health. The university recognized the spring 2025 cohort of recipients during a ceremony in the Paul B. Johnson Commons.
“These 15 exceptional projects join 34 others that we have funded or are currently funding in our just first two years of operation,” says Kenneth Sufka, distinguished professor of psychology and pharmacology and research professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Sufka leads the Stamps Impact Prize program.
“Whether it’s in the sciences, fine arts, education, engineering or humanities, the Stamps Impact Prize gives students
the chance to chase their passions, test their ideas and prepare for what comes next. That’s what the prize is all about: investing in their potential while giving them the tools they need to succeed.”
This year’s recipients are:
• Jana Abuirshaid, of Southaven, majoring in public health and Arabic
• Maria Fernanda Argote de la Torre, of San Andres Cholula, Puebla, Mexico, a biomedical engineering major
• Darryl Bonds, of Flowood, a psychology major
• Emma Broemmer, of Leesburg, Virginia, a psychology major
• Benton Donahue, of Madison, a music education major
• Jack Griffith, of Charlotte, North Carolina, a mechanical engineering major
• Ann Grigsby, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, a studio art major
• Sydney Guntharp, of Hernando, majoring in English and political science
• Jacob King, of Canton, a biochemistry major
• Lindsey McGee, of Chesterfield, Missouri, a mechanical engineering major
• Camille Newman, of Pass Christian, a mechanical engineering major
• Compton Ross, of Madison, majoring in computer science and mathematics
• Jackson Sevin, of New Orleans, a psychology major
• Katherine Tibbs, of Gulfport, an exercise science major
• Abi Turner, of Suwanee, Georgia, an elementary education major.
The application portal for the fall semester opened Oct. 1. Recipients will be announced Nov. 15. The awards are open to all Ole Miss students on the Oxford and regional campuses.
The fall cohort of Stamps Impact Prize recipients at the University of Mississippi includes (front, from left) Ann Grigsby, Jacob King, Abi Turner, Benton Donahue, Jana Abuirshaid, Katherine Tibbs, (back, from left) Jack Griffith, Darryl Bonds, Camille Newman, Jackson Sevin, Maria Fernanda Argote de la Torre, Emma Broemmer and Lindsey McGee. | Photo by Kevin Bain
It’s Showtime
MUSIC, THEATRE, DANCE HIGHLIGHT FORD CENTER’S 2025-26 SEASON
The 2025-26 season at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts will bring world-class performers, beloved classics and popular new productions to the University of Mississippi.
The schedule provides opportunities for cultural and arts experiences to satisfy a broad range of tastes, says Julia Aubrey, Ford Center director and UM associate professor of music.
“Attending live theatrical performances is a unique experience,” she says. “Every show is different because the performers are reacting to the space and energy coming from the audience in real time.”
The fall schedule opened on Sept. 11 with a performance by The Avett Brothers.
Known for their high-energy performances and heartfelt songwriting, The Avett Brothers are four-time Grammy Award nominees and recipients of an Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
“It is quite a coup to bring these superstars to the Ford Center,” Aubrey says.
The fall schedule also includes:
Nov. 6: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac — The tribute band performs classic hits by one of rock’s most enduring bands in a show personally endorsed by Mick Fleetwood.
Nov. 17: Artemis — A jazz supergroup founded by pianist Renee Rosnes, featuring trumpet, saxophone, bass and drums. The ensemble just won the DownBeat Readers Poll Jazz Group of the Year for the second time.
Dec. 2: “Christmas in the Air” — A holiday dance and variety production featuring Rockette-style precision dancers, singers and actors in a family-friendly production.
Dec. 11: “Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet” — An update of the classic holiday ballet featuring an international cast, whimsical puppetry and lavish European sets and costumes. A special feature will be local children dancing alongside the professionals.
The spring schedule features:
Jan. 26: earspace — Chamber ensemble performing immersive new works and rarely heard repertoire for strings, winds, piano and percussion.
Jan. 29: “The Choir of Man” — Nine multi-instrumentalist singers perform well-known pop, rock, folk, Broadway and pub tunes in a show that combines music, dance and a working bar onstage.
Feb. 16: “Tango After Dark” — World tango champion Germán Cornejo, of Argentina, and a company of skilled dancers present an intimate evening of authentic tango.
March 3: Jazz at Lincoln Center presents “Great American Crooners” — Celebrate the golden age of jazz with music inspired by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin.
March 20: “Wizard of Oz on Ice” — A reimagined production of “The Wizard of Oz” retells Dorothy’s journey in a skating production with a new custom soundtrack and light show.
March 29: Verdi Requiem — The Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus perform the dramatic, powerful, sacred masterpiece in collaboration with the University of Mississippi Choirs.
April 7: Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra’s “Stage and Screen Spectacular” — The multitalented 12-member troupe delivers a musical journey through the 20th century, pairing ragtime with classic silent comedy.
April 12: “Mrs. Doubtfire” — A musical comedy based on the beloved film retells the heartfelt story of a father who will do anything for his children. Recommended for ages 16 and over.
In an age of streaming, on-demand entertainment, the Ford Center lineup offers audiences opportunities to form deeper connections with the arts, Aubrey says.
“There is a direct and immediate connection between the performers and the audience that cannot be duplicated with movies or television,” she says. “Live arts enhance our existence by sharing a collective experience with our community.
“A recording is always the same; live performances offer subtle differences. That is what makes it unique and worthy of one’s time.”
Photos courtesy of the Ford Center
Well of Welty
COLLECTOR SHARES TROVE OF EUDORA WELTY MATERIALS WITH UM LIBRARY
The late Floyd Sulser (BBS 68, JD 71) spent 40 years building a rare collection of work by Eudora Welty, an American short-story writer, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, photographer and Mississippian. Now, scholars and fans can enjoy the works at the University of Mississippi’s J.D. Williams Library.
The Ole Miss alumnus, retired attorney and lumberman, from Ridgeland, gifted his Welty Collection, valued at $184,000, to the library’s Department of Archives and Special Collections. The collection includes first editions and all 36 items listed in Noel Polk’s Eudora Welty: A Bibliography of Her Work, plus other materials, including her high school annual that the author signed for Sulser.
“It was fun to have a literary hobby,” Sulser said before his death in November 2024. “I met Eudora a number of times — such a fine lady. People would leave her books on her front porch, and she would sign them and put them back on the porch.
“I absolutely enjoy the literary community. The problem is I’ve bought too many books!”
The last item added to the collection was the complete Eudora Welty: Twenty Photographs, which was published by Palaemon Press Limited in 1980. It is rare because people often pulled out single photos from the collection to sell.
“It was a big deal to me to fulfill my collection,” said Sulser, who purchased Twenty Photographs at Rare Square Books in Oxford. “I had been working on this collection for many years. Whenever I traveled out of town, the first place I
would go is to a bookstore.”
Jennifer Ford (PhD 10), UM library professor and senior curator of manuscripts, is processing the Welty Collection so it can be more accessible for patrons. She and library officials are planning a future exhibition featuring the materials.
“The literary value of such an extraordinary collection, built over time, is incalculable for scholars and Welty enthusiasts,” Ford says. “The Department of Archives and Special Collections is extremely grateful to Mr. Sulser, as well as to his family, for such an outstanding donation and for their ongoing support.”
To further complement the Welty Collection gift, Sulser’s daughters — Lauren Sulser Benner, of Jackson, and Kristen Sulser Guinn (MA 95), of Ridgeland — are collaborating with the University Press of Mississippi for the “Critical Perspectives on Eudora Welty” series to honor their dad. The ongoing series celebrates and preserves the author’s legacy through scholarship and explores new issues in Welty studies.
The fifth book in the series, To Absent Friends: Eudora Welty’s Correspondence with Frank Lyell, is set to be released in October.
“Our dad felt it was important to recognize Ms. Welty’s contributions to Mississippi and the literary community,” Guinn says. “The University Press of Mississippi series strives for just that — to ensure and protect her legacy.”
Guinn says her father was very pleased to know the collection would be preserved at the university.
“I think he loved the idea of sharing all the Welty items with the world, and he certainly enjoyed curating it,” she says.
University of Mississippi alumnus Floyd Sulser (center) visits with his daughters Kristen Sulser Guinn (left) and Lauren Sulser Benner before his death in November 2024. | Photo by Bill Dabney
UM STUDENT SELECTED FOR NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP
The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights advocacy organization has chosen University of Mississippi senior Tyren Boyd Jr., of Indianola, as a fellow in its leadership program that honors the late civil rights icon U.S. Rep. John Lewis.
The John Lewis Young Leaders program is a yearlong undergraduate fellowship that prepares college students for a future in community organizing and civic engagement. The program was established in 2017 and restructured in 2022 to honor Lewis.
Boyd, majoring in public policy leadership and rhetoric, writing and speech communication, joins 15 other university students from across the country in the 2025-26 cohort. Throughout the year, fellows engage their campus and local communities in human rights work through a capstone project.
“This yearlong fellowship gives me the opportunity to design a capstone project rooted in my home community of Sunflower
Gold Standard
County,” Boyd says. “My goal is to create a robust college and career readiness curriculum that complements what the Mississippi Department of Education already offers, while filling in the gaps that exist for students in underserved areas.”
Kyle Rodgers holds his four sons during a reunion at the Ole Miss-Texas A&M football game on Nov. 4. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay
Tyren Boyd Jr.
Fellows get support to ensure their success, including access to grassroots organizing workshops, mentorship from RFK Human Rights staff, financial support and access to a network of human rights professionals, peers and program alumni.
The program accepted only 3% of this year’s applicants, and Boyd is the first Ole Miss student in the program.
“This year’s cohort is an extraordinary group of young people, and I’m inspired by their courage, kindness and commitment to making our country a more just and equitable place,” says Kerry Kennedy, president of RFK Human Rights. “I’m filled with hope as we welcome this next generation of leaders into the fold.”
Boyd says he is overjoyed to be selected and ready to start work.
“It is a true honor to join other change agents from across the country, and as the late Congressman John Lewis once said, I will continue to ‘keep up the good fight,’” he says.
OLE MISS MORTAR BOARD CHAPTER HONORED FOR LEADERSHIP, SERVICE
The Mortar Board national honor society has honored the University of Mississippi chapter for demonstrating commitment to scholarship, leadership and service.
The chapter brought home several honors in the annual awards program, including its fourth consecutive Gold Torch Award, which recognizes chapters “that are active on their campus in ways that improve the quality of student life.” Ole Miss also captured a Project Excellence Award in Alumni Involvement, an Inclusive Excellence Award and an Outstanding Achievement Award in New Member Tapping.
“I’m incredibly proud of the 2024-25 executive committee and general members, as they worked diligently to fulfill the purposes of Mortar Board while continuing to elevate the profile of the Tassels Chapter,” says Brent Marsh, former assistant vice chancellor for student
affairs, dean of students and chapter adviser. “These awards are a testament to their dedication and leadership.”
Ole Miss is one of just five universities nationwide to receive the Inclusive Excellence Award, alongside Auburn University, San Diego State University, University of Findlay and University of Washington.
The Tassels Chapter was selected for this award because of its support of the
annual Books and Bears program coordinated by the Black Faculty and Staff Association. The chapter hosts a book drive to promote donations from the student body, which this year doubled the number of collection sites and increased the number of books contributed.
Mortar Board is a national honor society recognizing college juniors and seniors for exemplary scholarship, leadership and service.
Submitted photo
Atomic Insight
STUDENT USES AI TO STUDY CLEAN ENERGY WITH NUCLEAR FELLOWSHIP
The U.S. Department of Energy selected University of Mississippi graduate student Abigail Hogue (BSME 25) for its University Nuclear Leadership Program graduate research fellowship, where she will use artificial intelligence to help improve nuclear fuel development.
The University Nuclear Leadership Program fellowship offers $175,000 to fund three years of a student’s education and research. It includes a 10-week internship at a DOE national laboratory.
Hogue, a first-year master’s student in materials science from Brandon, will use her fellowship to study ways machine learning can help scientists develop stable, efficient nuclear energy.
“Nuclear energy is also a lot more energy-dense than fossil fuels — and it’s much safer than people think,” she says. “Moving away from fossil fuels is really important, and if we can improve nuclear energy and get the most out of it that we possibly can, that’s the way we move forward for the future.”
Samrat Choudhury, associate professor of mechanical engineering and Hogue’s adviser, says this fellowship will help propel her into a career in nuclear energy.
“This is a very prestigious, nationally competitive graduate fellowship,” Choudhury says. “That itself is a big honor. But more than that, it provides her an opportunity to work in the field of her choice with the top scientists in that field, and it’s developing the next generation of nuclear energy workforce.”
Nuclear energy is created by splitting atoms in a reactor. This process releases heat that is used to generate electricity. But as nuclear energy is being used, both the fuel and structural materials often undergo multiple changes at the structural level.
Hogue’s research will use machine learning to go through the vast data sets of information about nuclear energy and help scientists better understand the behavior of the energy under different external conditions.
“When the fuels evolve and the microstructure changes, it affects the properties of the fuel itself,” she says. “Thermal conductivity and structural integrity — all sorts of things like that are changing as the fuel is being used in the reactor.
“That’s what we’re trying to understand, and understanding that is really important because you don’t want your fuel to fail.”
Using artificial intelligence to help parse and decipher the data will offer researchers a more nuanced understanding of nuclear energy’s behavior, Hogue says.
“I’m developing a model that will take these huge sets of raw data, which are really hard to process as a human, and find patterns so we can figure out how the fuels are going to evolve,” she says.
Hogue is set to complete her 10-week internship at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she can work with experts in the field.
“Data centers for AI are going to take a significant amount of energy and instead of building big reactors, we are now focusing on small modular reactors that can be placed close to the data centers so they can support AI innovation,” Choudhury says.
“In that context, we need to develop new materials and fuels that can support the design of small modular reactors, and we need to develop it quickly. That’s what Abby’s research is planning to contribute to.”
The university joined the University Nuclear Leadership Program in 2023, and Hogue is the second Ole Miss student selected for this graduate fellowship.
Abigail Hogue explains her research on graph neural networks and their utility in studying nuclear materials. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay
Samrat Choudhury (left), associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Mississippi, and Xiaopeng Zhao (right), chair and professor of mechanical engineering, congratulate master’s student Abigail Hogue on being selected as a fellow in the Department of Energy’s University Nuclear Leadership Program. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay
Sweet Solution
RESEARCHERS TARGET BREAST CANCER WITH SUGAR-COATED NANOPARTICLES
Triple-negative breast cancer is particularly aggressive and difficult to treat, but recent research may offer a new way to target the often-deadly disease.
A team of researchers from the University of Mississippi found that coating nanoparticles containing cancer therapies in a sugar-like substance makes them more effective in targeting this cancer.
“It’s called triple-negative because it does not have any of the three things that we have developed treatments to target in cancer,” says Eden Tanner, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry. “It particularly affects young women, and it particularly affects Black and African American women.
“What that means is we really urgently need to think creatively about new ways to try and treat this cancer.”
Mississippi’s rates of triple-negative breast cancer are higher than average. A 2024 report from the University of Mississippi Medical Center showed that 37% of breast cancer cases treated at the center between 2016 and 2023 were triple-negative — more than double the national average.
The aggressive nature of this cancer, combined with its resistance to many usual therapies, means its mortality rate is higher than that of other cancers.
While this cancer may not elevate levels of usual drug targets, the Ole Miss research team found a novel way to deliver
cancer therapies directly to the cancer cells.
“One thing that’s consistent across all of the patients (with triple-negative breast cancer) is that they overexpress glucose transporters to bring more sugars to the cells,” Tanner says.
“Essentially, it has a sweet tooth. So, how can we get it to take its medicine? We wrap it in sugar.”
By coating the nanoparticle cancer therapy in sugar, the researchers effectively “trick” the cancer into absorbing the medication, Tanner says.
“The drug itself is encapsulated in the nanoparticle, which is then coated in the glucose,” says Mira Patel, a junior chemistry major from Vicksburg.
When injected into the bloodstream, these sugar-coated cancer therapies can “hitch a ride” on red and white blood cells, Tanner says. Riding the blood cells like a bus, the medication travels across the body and ultimately becomes trapped by the cancer’s glucose transporters.
Triple-negative breast cancer is not the only disease that overexpresses glucose transporters, meaning the drug delivery method could be used to treat other illnesses.
“We haven’t tested the technology on those other diseases yet, but there’s a good reason to believe that a similar strategy might work,” Tanner says. “That’s exciting news for diseases like colon cancer, brain cancer and fatty liver disease, which also have high levels of glucose transporters.”
Eden Tanner (right), assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Mississippi, and Mira Patel, a junior chemistry major from Vicksburg, work in Tanner’s lab on a project to develop better therapies for triple-negative breast cancer. | Photo by Hunt Mercier
Dietary Puzzle
UMMC EXPERTS SAY PROTEIN INTAKE OFTEN EXCEEDS NEEDS
Powering up protein intake with fancy snack bars and shakes works well for those on the rebound from illness or injury. Most people, however, are already getting what they need.
It’s noted in dietary guidelines that the average person, ages 19 to 59, exceeds their daily protein recommendations. It comes from a variety of sources, including healthy whole foods and less healthy highly processed foods, but as with maintaining things such as blood pressure and sugar, balance is the key, diet experts say.
“Contrary to all the hype that everyone needs more protein, most people in the United States meet or exceed their needs,” says Dacia Breeden, registered and licensed dietitian based at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Cancer Center and Research Institute. “It’s also important to remember that the body can’t store protein, so once the body has met its protein needs, any extra will either be excreted out or stored as fat.”
Actual deficiencies of protein are rare in the U.S. and only occur if someone has gone prolonged periods of time with little to no food and exhausted their stores or has a chronic disease that inhibits the absorption of protein or other nutrients, Breeden says.
“We should also keep in mind all whole foods contain amino acids, the precursor to whole proteins,” she says. “So, even a diet of mostly fruit and vegetables without a whole lot of meat, for instance, can still help meet your protein needs as long as you’re eating enough calories for your weight.”
The average adult needs 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, which can be translated to pounds by dividing your weight in pounds by 2.2, then multiplying the result by 0.8. For example, someone weighing 165 pounds (75 kilograms) needs 60 grams of protein per day.
Athletes, older adults, pregnant women and super-active individuals who do regular intense exercises such as mile-long daily runs may need to go higher than 0.8 grams, often with protein supplements of various forms. Those looking to build muscle may also have higher protein needs, typically up to 1.7 grams per kilogram of weight.
Full attention paid to balanced nutrition could also mean a lower risk of extreme health outcomes.
“A healthy, well-balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, along with good sources of fiber and lean protein, can go a long way in helping to prevent new forms of cancer and fight existing diagnoses,” says Mary Harkins, nurse practitioner for hematology and oncology, also based at CCRI.
DON’T LET ATRIAL FIBRILLATION BEAT YOU DOWN
Dr. Michael McMullan (MD 91) has a favorite riddle: “Why do you never lie to cardiologists?” he asks. “Because they can always spot AFib.”
AFib, or atrial fibrillation, is an irregular, rapid heartbeat that significantly increases stroke risk, making detection and management crucial.
“AFib is a disorganized electrical conduction in the top chambers of the heart, usually starting in the top left chamber and spreading to the right one,” explains Dr. James “Mike” Bensler, UMMC associate professor of medicine-cardiology.
Palpitations are the most common symptom, though fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, exercise intolerance and chest discomfort may also occur. About a third of patients have no symptoms, yet stroke risk remains.
Detection can happen through health screenings, electrocardiograms, wearable monitors such as Apple Watches, or smartphone apps. Electrophysiologists — specialists in the heart’s electrical system — such as Bensler and Dr. Jimmy Hamilton (BSChE 03, MD 07), are skilled at spotting and treating AFib.
Many patients have diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension or heart failure, Bensler notes. Those who’ve had a transient ischemic attack are at higher risk of a stroke. AFib is linked to dementia, chronic kidney disease and death, and its prevalence rises with
age — from 0.2% in adults under 55 to about 10% in those over 85.
AFib can be persistent, lasting more than seven days, or paroxysmal, ending on its own within hours or days. Triggers for paroxysmal AFib include acute illness, surgery, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, high thyroid hormone levels and alcohol. Other risk factors are high blood pressure, obesity and sleep apnea; about half of patients with obstructive sleep apnea also have AFib.
Lifestyle changes are key to prevention. Avoiding alcohol is critical — there is no safe amount for AFib patients. Other recommendations include quitting tobacco, moderating caffeine, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, controlling diabetes and treating sleep apnea.
For those already diagnosed, managing underlying conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, overactive thyroid or valvular heart disease reduces AFib risk. When medications aren’t enough, cardiac ablation — destroying or scarring heart tissue that triggers AFib — may be performed. Bensler says ablation is successful 60% to 70% of the time, but lifelong lifestyle modification is essential.
In short, healthy living can prevent or reduce AFib and its complications. By controlling risk factors and seeking proper care, patients can lower stroke risk and improve long-term heart health. And that’s no lie.
Dangerous Debris
UM TEAM STUDIES HEALTH THREAT FROM SOUTHWEST US DUST STORMS
Massive dust storms swept across the American Southwest recently, leaving thousands without power and grounding dozens of flights. The storms are becoming more frequent, but the health impacts of these storms remain unknown.
A new grant from the National Science Foundation will ally the fields of geological science and environmental toxicology for a University of Mississippi study of the health impacts of dust storms in the Southwest.
“Dust storms affect over 150 countries globally, and in the U.S., especially in the West and Southwest, this is a big concern,” says Thomas Oommen, chair and professor of geology and geological engineering. “The exposure to these storms can cause serious health concerns, including cardiovascular, respiratory and infectious disease.
in that dust and is that potentially impacting health?” Roper says. “So, we can look at things like how many hospitalizations happen during a dust storm or in the days after a dust storm, which is common for a lot of air pollution exposures.
“If we know the composition of a dust storm early, hospitals can be better prepared in terms of what kind of infrastructure they need, what kind of medicines they need to make available and what kind of exposure you would expect.”
Dust storms — exacerbated by drought and agricultural practices — kick up tons of dirt, dust, sand and other minerals, creating a cloud of debris that sweeps across arid regions, sometimes knocking down trees and damaging homes. These storms have previously been associated with adverse health effects, including respiratory and cardiovascular risks as well as valley fever, a fungal infection caused by inhaling airborne spores.
What the research is missing, however, is a comprehensive understanding of which minerals in dust storms are most likely to affect people’s health. Understanding these weather events can help inform policymakers, community members and health officials.
The $300,000 grant from the NSF’s Division of Research, Innovation, Synergies and Education will help Oommen and Courtney Roper, Ole Miss assistant professor of environmental toxicology, fill that gap.
“Ultimately, the goal would be being able to support prediction and improve public health messaging and responses.”
With data from NASA’s satellites, Oommen and his team will use machine learning to analyze spectral data to determine the composition of dust storms that affected Arizona. Roper’s lab will analyze hospitalization records from the areas affected by those storms.
Together, the researchers will be able to show which storms affected communities most and determine the composition of those dust clouds. That understanding will allow them to create a predictive model that can inform health risk prevention and mitigation strategies for local hospitals and health care officials.
“We do very different things, but at the end of the day, we are asking a similar question: ‘How is the environment impacting health?’” Roper says. “(Dr. Oommen’s) team has expertise in satellite data. Our interest is, what happens when someone’s exposed and what are the health effects?
“Combining those two allows us to use the most advanced techniques to identify what might be in a storm and then connect that back to health.” Although agricultural practices and human activities contribute to dust storm frequency, they are natural phenomena, Oommen says.
“It’s not something that can be easily controlled by having better land management practices because dust storms are trans-boundary events,” he says. “They’re not just from the U.S. They’re traveling great distances from South America and even from Asian countries.
“This is a global issue. That’s why we need to better manage the risks associated with these dust storms. And that’s what we’re trying to do.”
“What we’re kind of trying to understand is what’s actually
This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation grant No. 2534192.
Thomas Oommen
Courtney Roper
Introducing The Ole Miss Alumni Association Wine Club
Crafted in Wine Country.
Rooted in Ole Miss.
Rooted in the traditions that make Ole Miss special— from Saturdays in the Grove to the rallying spirit of “Hotty Toddy” and the enduring symbol of the Lyceum—this club invites alumni to raise a glass to the place that shaped us.
Together with alumni-owned Krutz Family Cellars, The Ole Miss Alumni Association is curating small-lot releases worthy of your tailgates, watch parties, reunions and milestones.
Choose the club that fits your cellar and your season: 3-bottle, 6-bottle, or 12-bottle case—each shipping twice per year. It’s an effortless way to stay connected to the Ole Miss family and toast the memories we share, from Oxford to everywhere.
Now shipping to Mississippi! To join, scan the QR code or go to olemissalumni.com/wineclub.
Sponsored By
Patrick Krutz (BBA 01) founded Krutz Family Cellars in 2003.
Mediterranean Medicine
OLE MISS STUDENT COMBINES PASSIONS IN ITALIAN MEDICAL FELLOWSHIP
Sparked by a love of travel and aspirations of becoming a doctor, University of Mississippi junior Samantha Ragan experienced the best of both worlds when she spent time in Italy this summer as part of a global health fellowship program.
The adventure of travel was instilled by her family at a young age and affirmed when she studied abroad last summer in Italy, where her appreciation of the language and culture deepened.
“That transformative experience inspired me to seek opportunities that combine my love for travel with my academic and career goals,” the biological sciences major from Columbia says.
She decided that shadowing in the medical field would be the best solution. So, she sought opportunities to do just that.
As part of the Doctors in Italy Fellowship Program, Ragan, along with a handful of other students from around the world, spent two weeks in Bari, Italy, located along the top of the “heel” of Italy’s “boot.” There, she shadowed doctors at Giovanni Paolo II Cancer Institute, one of southern Italy’s leading centers for cancer care and research.
Participants had opportunities to observe oncologists, radiologists, surgeons and multidisciplinary teams delivering care to patients. They witnessed firsthand how clinicians use the latest research in their practice, offering a unique perspective on how scientific advancements translate into better patient outcomes.
Not only did students observe the technical aspect of providing care, but they also gained different insights.
“Participating in the program will increase Samantha’s ability to take in and analyze data and behaviors from different perspectives,” says Kelli Hutchens, senior academic adviser for the Ole Miss Health Professions Advising Office.
“For future doctors, cultural competence is very important,” she says. “By immersing herself in another country where English is not the primary language spoken, she gained perspective in relating to patients who are non-English — or limited English speaking — increasing her cultural humility.”
This exposure also allowed students to build a deeper understanding of oncological care, develop clinical observation skills and broaden their application for global health care systems.
Before her trek along the Adriatic coast, Ragan shadowed an anesthesiologist, a cardiologist and an orthopedic surgeon in Mississippi. But in Bari, she was able to observe a wide range of surgical procedures.
Since the hospital is a cancer center, all the surgeries were cancer focused, she says.
“I observed surgeries under obstetrics and gynecology, senology, radiology, cardiothoracic surgery and general oncology.”
A unique aspect of the program allowed students to photograph the surgeries they observed. Additionally, students observed any surgery that interested them — with no restrictions.
“Something I will take from this experience is perspective. When studying medicine, especially pictures and diagrams, it’s hard to transfer those images to real-life scenarios, as real anatomy always looks different from the books.”
Ragan says seeing the surgeries gave her a deeper understanding of the human body.
“It is always important to understand anatomy as that allows you to distinguish abnormalities, but also, everyone looks different and that does not mean something is wrong,” she says.
“I had never really thought of how health care is taught in other parts of the world before this experience, which helped me gain appreciation for my country.”
Samantha Ragan (third from left) gathers with fellow interns and doctors as part of the Doctors in Italy Fellowship Program. | Submitted photo
University of Mississippi junior Samantha Ragan checks out the sights in the old town district in Bari, Italy. | Submitted photo
Full Circle
NEW UM MUSEUM DIRECTOR COMES HOME TO OLE MISS
In 1997, Karleen Gardner (BA 94, MA 98) led a tour at the University of Mississippi’s campus museum, sparking a lifelong love of museum collections, communities and learning opportunities. Now, she is back to lead the UM Museum. Gardner, who earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees in art history at Ole Miss, was named director of the University Museum and Historic Houses following the retirement of former director Robert Saarnio.
For Gardner, coming back to Ole Miss is a homecoming.
“In school, I did an internship at what was then the Marie Buie Museum, and there was a moment in the gallery where I was connecting people with art, and I realized I wanted to work in art museums,” she says. “Lo and behold, that became my career. But it started at Ole Miss.”
Gardner, a Laurel native, went on to hold leading roles at several acclaimed museums. She was the Kathleen C. Sherrerd director for learning and engagement at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and was also director of learning innovation at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and director of the institute’s Center for Empathy and the Visual Arts.
“So many of the pivotal moments in my life happened in Mississippi,” she says. “I’m excited to bring all the experience I’ve gotten across the country and the world and bring it back to Ole Miss.”
Throughout her career, Gardner has championed access and empathy in museums. She plans to continue that mission at the university.
“Museums are for people — both the students and faculty and staff and the community,” she says. “And sometimes that means meeting people where they are.
“I want this to be a museum that people come to, but also a museum that goes out into the community.”
Embracing the community is a key tenet to keeping museums relevant in an ever-changing world, she says.
“In the past, museums have been a place for the elite,” she says. “I think if museums really want to not only survive but thrive, we have to be relevant and responsive to (a) variety of different people from different backgrounds and experiences and bring in their perspectives and viewpoints.”
Gardner hopes to strengthen partnerships across campus and find ways for the museum to engage with students.
She has also been an international advocate for museums, publishing works and giving presentations across the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and other countries.
“I love working with students and creating those experiences that help them grow and find their strengths,” she says. “I’m really excited to help them figure out what they want to do with their lives and careers here, like I did.”
Karleen Gardner leads a tour of the Marie Buie Collection in the late ’90s. The two-time graduate of Ole Miss has returned to Oxford as the new director of the UM Museum. | Submitted photo
Karleen Gardner
Calendar
NOVEMBER
1
School of Pharmacy Alumni and Friends Tailgate: Faser Hall front lawn, three hours before kickoff. No registration required. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
1
Young Alumni Tailgate: Triplett Alumni Center front lawn, three hours before kickoff. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
1
School of Engineering Tailgate: Front lawn of Brevard Hall, two hours before kickoff. Email apsims@olemiss.edu.
1
Football: Ole Miss vs. South Carolina. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
2
Astronomy Open House: View the moon, planets and double stars, visibility permitting. Kennon Observatory, 5:30-7 p.m. Visit events.olemiss.edu.
3
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Norfolk State. SJB Pavilion, 11 a.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
3
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Southeastern Louisiana. SJB Pavilion, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
4Law Alumni Reception: Hosted by BGR Group. The Homer Building, Washington, D.C., 5:30-7 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
6Discovery Day: Fun and flexible art program designed specifically for homeschooled students and their guardians. UM Museum, 10:30 a.m.noon. Visit events.olemiss.edu.
6
Performance: “Rumours of Fleetwood Mac.” The tribute band performs classic hits by one of rock’s
most enduring bands in a show personally endorsed by Mick Fleetwood. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org/events.
7
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Louisiana Monroe. SJB Pavilion, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
7
Performance: University of Mississippi Pride of the South Concert. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org/events.
8
School of Engineering Tailgate: Front lawn of Brevard Hall, 10 a.m.noon. Email apsims@olemiss.edu.
8
Football: Ole Miss vs. The Citadel. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, noon. Visit olemisssports.com.
9
Houston Ole Miss Club Ladies’ Luncheon: La Columbre d’Or, 1 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
11
Veterans Day Concert: Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org/events.
11
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Memphis. SJB Pavilion, 8 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
12
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Southern University. SJB Pavilion, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
13Center for Manufacturing Excellence Alumni Social: Circle & Square Brewing, 5:30-7 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
13
M-Club Hall of Fame Banquet: The Inn at Ole Miss, Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom, reception 6 p.m., dinner and program 7 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
14
2025 Banking and Finance Symposium: Oxford Conference Center, 7:45 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
14
Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Florida. Gillom Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
14
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. CSU Bakersville. Tad Smith Coliseum, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
15School of Engineering Tailgate: Brevard Hall front lawn, two hours before kickoff. Email apsims@ olemiss.edu.
15
Football: Ole Miss vs. Florida. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
16
Music City Rebel Club Skeet & Social: Nashville Gun Club, 2 p.m. Email rbuchanan@crcgroup or musiccity@alumni.olemiss.edu.
17
Performance: Artemis, an award-winning jazz supergroup founded by pianist Renee Rosnes, featuring trumpet, saxophone, bass and drums. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org/events.
18
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Austin Peay. SJB Pavilion, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
20Discovery Day: Fun and flexible art program designed specifically for homeschooled students and their guardians. UM Museum, 10:30 a.m.noon. Visit events.olemiss.edu.
20University of Mississippi Wind Ensemble Concert: Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter. org/events.
24
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Longwood. SJB Pavilion, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
30
Astronomy Open House: View the moon, planets and double stars, visibility permitting. Kennon Observatory, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Visit events.olemiss.edu.
DECEMBER
2
Performance: “Christmas in the Air,” a family-friendly holiday production featuring Rockette-style precision dancers, singers and actors. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org/events.
2
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Miami. SJB Pavilion, 8 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
4
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Notre Dame. SJB Pavilion, 8 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
5-16Holiday Village: Enjoy a magical atmosphere with gingerbread houses designed by community members and civic groups, a miniature village, holiday-themed LEGO houses, a mailbox for Santa, a decorated tree surrounded by gifts by a fireplace hung with stockings, and a multicultural display of holiday traditions from around the world, all enveloped by cheerful and inspirational music. Gertrude C. Ford Center. Visit fordcenter.org/events.
6Holiday Concert: Featuring University of Mississippi ensembles. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org/events.
6
Concert Singers: The Concert Singers will perform an evening of choral music. Paris-Yates Chapel, 7:30 p.m. Visit events.olemiss.edu.
11Performance: “Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet.” An update of the classic holiday ballet featuring an international cast, whimsical puppetry, lavish European sets and costumes, and local children dancing alongside the professionals. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org/events.
13
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Wofford. SJB Pavilion, noon. Visit olemisssports.com.
14
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. South Carolina State. SJB Pavilion, 2 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
17
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi Valley State. SJB Pavilion, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
28
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Alcorn State. SJB Pavilion, 2 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
29
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Alcorn State. SJB Pavilion, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
JANUARY
1
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Georgia. SJB Pavilion, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
7
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas. SJB Pavilion, 8 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
10
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Missouri. SJB Pavilion, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
11
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. SJB Pavilion, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
20
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Auburn. SJB Pavilion, 8 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
26
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. SJB Pavilion, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
26Performance: earspace. Chamber ensemble performing immersive new works and rarely heard repertoire for strings, winds, piano and percussion. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org/events.
28Astronomy Open House: View the moon, planets and double stars, visibility permitting. Kennon Observatory, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Visit events.olemiss.edu.
29
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt. SJB Pavilion, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
29Performance: “The Choir of Man.” Nine multi-instrumentalist singers perform well-known pop, rock, folk, Broadway and pub tunes in a show that combines music, dance and a working bar onstage. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org/events.
31
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Kentucky. SJB Pavilion, 7:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
For a listing of Ole Miss sports schedules, visit olemisssports.com.
For more Oxford events, news and information, go to visitoxfordms.com or call 662-232-2477.
Alumni Awards Alumni Awards
Highlight Leaders, Legends
OMAA recognizes eight honorees for achievement, service
By Jim Urbanek
by
Photos
Bill Dabney
he Ole Miss Alumni Association recognized eight distinguished alumni with its highest annual awards as part of Homecoming activities on Thursday, Oct. 9, in front of a packed crowd in the Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom at The Inn at Ole Miss.
University of Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame inductees for 2025 are John Louis Black Jr. (BA 61, MBA 62), of Madison; Chip Crunk (BBA 87), of Brentwood, Tennessee; Albert L. Hilliard (BSCS 83), of Spring, Texas; Sam Lane (BA 76), of Jackson; and John Stroud (BSHPE 82, MEd 86), of New Albany.
Created in 1974, the Hall of Fame honors select alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to their country, state or the University of Mississippi through good deeds, services or philanthropies that have perpetuated the good name of Ole Miss.
Mary Susan Gallien Clinton (83), of Naples, Florida, received the Alumni Service Award for service to the university and the Alumni Association over an extended period.
Alexa Lampkin Minor (BA 13, DMD 17, MS 24), of Ridgeland, received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which honors alumni who have shown exemplary leadership throughout their first 15 years of alumni status in both their careers and dedication to Ole Miss.
Morgan Freeman, of Charleston, received the Honorary Alumni Award. This award recognizes outstanding individuals who, though not graduates of the University of Mississippi, have consistently demonstrated over an extended period extraordinary commitment, moral and/or financial support, dedication, loyalty, leadership or service that has enriched the substance and contributed to the advancement of the university’s or Alumni Association’s mission, reputation or prestige.
“It’s a privilege to recognize these outstanding alumni who have excelled in their professions and remained deeply committed to Ole Miss,” says OMAA CEO Kirk Purdom (BA 93). “Their achievements and service exemplify the values we celebrate as a university community.”
Hall of Fame
John Louis Black Jr. is a distinguished businessman and philanthropist whose life reflects a deep commitment to leadership, family and giving back. Black graduated from the University of Mississippi with distinction with a B.A. in mathematics in 1961 and earned an MBA in 1962. He received the Taylor Medal in mathematics and was inducted into numerous honorary fraternities, including Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Gamma Sigma, Beta Alpha Psi and Phi Eta Sigma. He served as treasurer and president of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.
Black began his career at Peat Marwick (now KPMG) as a CPA before founding Mediplex Inc. in 1968, a company that grew to operate 53 skilled nursing homes across seven southern states. He sold the business in 1981.
In 1963, he married Sandy, his lifelong partner, and together they raised three children. Their legacy includes eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Black has served as president of the Country Club of Jackson and Annandale Golf Club and is a former member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and Chief Executives Organization.
A passionate supporter of education and health care, Black has made transformational gifts totaling over $46 million to institutions including the University of Mississippi and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. His generosity has supported cancer research and athletics, including the naming of The Sandy and John Black Pavilion.
Black also achieved Life Master status in duplicate bridge and remains an active and respected community leader.
“The No. 1 priority in my life has been centered around family, and Ole Miss has played a major role in that journey,” Black says. “I thank the Alumni Association and am so appreciative and humbled to receive this award and to be included among the many outstanding prior recipients.”
Chip Crunk
, owner and CEO of RJ Young, graduated from Ole Miss in 1987 with a degree in business, laying the groundwork for a career that would span decades and redefine the company his family helped build. Shortly after graduation, Crunk joined RJ Young, a company where his father, John Crunk, had taken majority ownership years earlier. He became CEO in 1995, and under his leadership, the business transformed from a respected office equipment supplier into a dynamic technology solutions company.
Throughout his career, Crunk has remained deeply engaged with Ole Miss, serving in numerous leadership and advisory roles across the university. He serves on the Ole Miss School of Business advisory board and has participated in countless initiatives designed to support students, alumni and university advancement.
His past involvement includes service on the Ole Miss Alumni board of directors, the Real Estate Advisory Board and the Athletics Committee board. Crunk also participated in the Student Alumni Council’s annual Bridging the Gap panel — demonstrating his commitment to fostering connections between the university and the broader business community.
Whether through business, philanthropy or education, Crunk’s leadership is marked by consistency, humility and forward-thinking values. He is passionate about mentorship, team culture and helping others succeed — principles he credits, in part, to the foundation laid during his time at Ole Miss.
“Being inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame is an incredible honor,” Crunk says. “Ole Miss shaped the foundation of who I am as a leader, and it’s deeply meaningful to be recognized by a place that has given me so much. I’m proud to carry forward the values I learned in Oxford — integrity, service and innovation — into everything we do at RJ Young.”
Hall of Fame
Albert L. Hilliard is a retired information technology executive with more than 33 years of service at ExxonMobil, where he led global initiatives in industrial cybersecurity, project management and IT strategy. A native of Hernando, he earned a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Mississippi in 1983, followed by a master’s degree from the University of Dayton and an Executive MBA from Baylor University.
Hilliard began his career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force, attaining the rank of captain and receiving the USAF Commendation Medal for outstanding achievement. During his ExxonMobil career, he worked in over 20 countries, directing complex technology operations and influencing enterprise-wide solutions across the energy sector.
The University of Mississippi holds deep significance for Hilliard and his family. In addition to his own achievements, three of his brothers, two nephews and two nieces are also proud Ole Miss alumni.
Hilliard served on the university’s School of Engineering Advisory Council from 2017 to 2025 and was honored with the Engineer of Distinction Award in 2018 and the Engineer of Service Award in 2024. He has been an active member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. for over 45 years and is a proud alumnus of the Eta Beta Chapter at Ole Miss. He is deeply committed to mentoring and community service.
Hilliard and his wife, the former Harriet Nailor (BA 83, MD 87), live in Houston, Texas. They have two sons, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.
“Ole Miss changed the trajectory of my life and laid the foundation for everything I’ve been blessed to accomplish,” Hilliard says. “To be honored by the university that has meant so much to me — and to generations of my family — is incredibly humbling. I am deeply grateful to be recognized alongside such an accomplished group of alumni.”
Sam Lane is a founder of First Commercial Bank, headquartered in his hometown of Jackson. The bank changed its name this year to Story Financial Partners, and Lane serves as chief development officer. Before starting Story Financial Partners, he spent 17 years with Deposit Guaranty National Bank after graduating with a B.A. in English in 1976.
Lane is married to the former Leila Bogy (BA 77) of Rosedale, and they have three children: Ole Miss graduates Mary Mills Ritchie (BA 03) and Ben (BS 14), and Samuel, a graduate of the University of Georgia. The Lanes have six grandchildren.
Lane has served numerous terms on the board of the Ole Miss Alumni Association and the UM Foundation. He was co-founder of the Rebel Club of Jackson and later served as president of the Central Mississippi Ole Miss Club. He served as co-chair of the Ole Miss First Campaign and on the steering committee for the campaign to construct The Inn at Ole Miss. Most recently, he has served as co-chairman of the Now & Ever Campaign at Ole Miss for the College of Liberal Arts.
Lane was formerly president of the Mississippi Kidney Foundation and a board member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. He serves as chairman of the board of the Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center and as a board member of Belhaven University. He is a lifelong member of St. Andrews Episcopal Cathedral.
“I was stunned when Kirk Purdom called to give me this news,” Lane says. “This is far and away the greatest honor I have ever received in my entire life. It means so much to me.”
Hall of Fame Alumni Service Award
John Stroud is a former Ole Miss basketball star and accomplished coach with deep ties to Mississippi basketball. A four-year starter at the University of Mississippi, he was a two-time SEC scoring champion, the 1980 SEC Player of the Year, an AP All-American and remains the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,328 points — third in SEC history. Stroud was the 19th overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets and played one season professionally in Spain.
In 1985, Stroud began coaching at New Albany’s W.P. Daniel High School, leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back Class 3A state championships in 1986 and 1987. He compiled a 71-24 record over three seasons before taking over the men’s program at Millsaps College in 1990.
Over 13 seasons at Millsaps, Stroud posted a 204-131 record, winning three Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference titles and making three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances. He was twice named SCAC Coach of the Year and remains the program’s all-time wins leader. His best season came in 1994-95, when Millsaps went 25-3 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
In 2004, Stroud returned to New Albany to open an insurance agency and coach his daughters. Over 13 seasons, he led the Lady Bulldogs to a 248-131 record and the 2011 Class 4A state title. His teams also reached the state semifinals in 2009, were runners-up in 2010, and made a memorable triple-overtime quarterfinal appearance in 2015. He retired from coaching in 2017.
Stroud is a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Ole Miss M-Club Hall of Fame.
“Being inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame is one of the greatest honors of my life,” Stroud says. “Ole Miss shaped me, not just as an athlete but as a person. It gave me lifelong friendships, values that carried me through every chapter of my journey and a deep love for a place I’ll always call home.”
Susan Gallien Clinton served as chairman of the University of Mississippi Foundation board (2022-24), as a director since 2019, and as a member of its Joint Investment and Executive committees (202024). A member of the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy since 2013, she has served as chairman, scholar programming chair and helped launch the Global Leadership Circle. She chaired Legacy Award events honoring Robert Khayat (2016) and A.J. Brown (2024) and will co-chair in 2026.
Gallien Clinton created the council’s first scholarship to include a paid internship with INSOUTH Bank, where she is a director — combining financial aid with career mentorship. A longtime Delta Gamma Fraternity adviser at Ole Miss, she is committed to student leadership development.
As chairman of Gallien Global Vision since 1990, she distributed African wildlife documentaries to over 110 countries and co-produced “Swift and Silent,” which won the 1993 Academy of Cable Entertainment’s Best International Documentary.
Gallien Clinton is a founding trustee and former board member of the Naples Children & Education Foundation, which has raised over $334 million for underserved youth. She is chair-elect of the Shelter for Abused Women & Children and co-chaired its 2024 fundraiser, which raised more than $1 million.
Her honors include Collier County Women of Initiative (2024), American Heart Association Woman of Impact (2024) and Delta Gamma Fraternity’s Oxford Award (2019).
She lives in Naples, Florida, with her husband, J.D. Clinton. Their sons, Denver (BAccy 17, MAccy 18) and Hurst, a Vanderbilt graduate, work in the family’s INSOUTH Bank.
“It is a privilege to serve Ole Miss,” Gallien Clinton says. “Students leave not only prepared but inspired to be their best selves and use that growth to uplift those around them.”
Mary
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Dr. Alexa Lampkin Minor , a Ridgeland native, made history in 2009 as the first African American valedictorian of St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison. She earned a B.A. in biology from the University of Mississippi in 2013, where she was a Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College scholar, and received her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry in 2017. In 2024, she completed an Executive Master of Science in Population Health Management at UMMC.
Following a residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry, Minor became the youngest assistant professor at UMMC’s School of Dentistry. From 2021 to 2024, she served as a director of admissions, helping shape the next generation of dental professionals.
In 2024, she transitioned to private practice and is now the sole practitioner at Mint Dental in Pearl. She continues part time as a UMMC faculty member, remaining dedicated to dental education and expanding access to care in underserved areas.
A trailblazer in her field, Minor became the first African American female president of the UMMC Dental Alumni Board in 2022 and the first female dentist appointed to the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners.
She is an active member of the American Dental Association, Mississippi Dental Association, Mississippi Dental Society, American Dental Education Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. A fellow of the International College of Dentists, she was named to the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2024.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled by this recognition,” Minor says. “The University of Mississippi and the UMMC School of Dentistry didn’t just educate me — they empowered me. This place gave me knowledge, purpose and a deep love for service.”
Honorary Alumni Award
Morgan Freeman , the accomplished actor, director and narrator, is closely tied to the state of Mississippi and holds a special relationship with the University of Mississippi. Although not an alumnus, Freeman has long been a supporter of the university’s cultural and academic initiatives. In recognition of his contributions to the arts and his commitment to education and community engagement in Mississippi, Ole Miss awarded him an honorary degree in 2013.
Born in Memphis and raised in Mississippi, Freeman has consistently championed Mississippi’s cultural development. Through his work with the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, which he co-founded, and his support for regional arts and education, Freeman has become a vital part of the state’s creative identity — an identity in which Ole Miss plays a central role.
In 2021, Freeman and Linda Keena, a criminal justice and legal studies professor, donated $1 million to establish the Center for Evidence-Based Policing and Reform at the University of Mississippi. The center aims to enhance skills, drive research and provide training in evidence-based policing. It serves as a forum for scholars in this field.
Freeman’s honorary degree from the University of Mississippi acknowledges not only his exceptional artistic achievements but also his dedication to enriching Mississippi’s cultural and educational landscape.
His connection to Ole Miss is a testament to the university’s broader impact beyond academia, celebrating figures who shape Mississippi’s story on the national and global stage.
“Deep gratitude is expressed for the University of Mississippi’s commitment to education and research,” Freeman says. “Being recognized as an honorary alumnus of Ole Miss is a true honor. Ole Miss holds a special place, and this award strengthens that connection.”
Trip of a Lifetime
Five Ole Miss friends appreciate time together on unique adventure
By Tina H. Hahn
Charles Overby (left), Robert Weems, Dan Jordan, John Grisham and Robert Khayat on their ‘Trip of a Lifetime’ in 2018. | Submitted photo
It was called the “Trip of a Lifetime” and “Bucket List Tour.”
The long, shiny tour bus transported Robert Khayat (BAEd 61, JD 66), John Grisham (JD 81), Charles Overby (BGS 68), Dan Jordan (BA 60, MA 62) and Robert Weems (JD 66) through a week steeped in rich history, fascinating personalities and events, and remarkable fellowship.
“The trip just flowed as if we were rock stars on a tour,” Overby says. “We enjoyed being on the bus as much as the places we visited. I would have ridden around on that bus and talked with these men forever.”
The idea formed by Khayat in 2018 had come to fruition: Rent a bus, travel for a week with four friends and see significant parts of America.
“Each bus rider had to have a strong connection to Ole Miss and Mississippi,” Grisham says. “We wanted to travel in style, stay in nice hotels, dine with interesting people and listen to music from the South. We weren’t willing to sleep on the bus, but napping would be permitted.
“In addition to teaching law and serving as chancellor for 16 years, Robert had a secret dream of being a country music singer and touring about in one of those fancy buses,” Grisham says. “Dan and I figured renting a bus would be easier than teaching Robert to sing, so we cooked up the idea for a ‘Bucket List Tour’ that would include a lot of history.”
During a conference call, each of them pitched five ideas of places to visit. When they reached a consensus, they all took assignments and used their connections to set up meetings and tours.
“The trip was a riot,” Grisham shares. “The bus seemed like half a mile long and had all the amenities any serious country star would expect. We started in Charlottesville with a brunch on our back porch, then took off to Richmond, Jamestown and points beyond for the grand adventure.”
Weems says the trip went smoothly because of the common thread: “Everyone had a very deep appreciation for Robert Khayat.
“And all were very nice people,” he says. “I didn’t know Charles Overby before the trip but now consider him a close friend. The trip reminded me how blessed I’ve been in my life to be able to do things like that.”
Khayat describes the trip as “life-enriching.”
“I was overwhelmed by the history of the country — the several hundred years and all that transpired — how so much of it is still evident,” Khayat says. “I was awed by the history of our country, the moral and cultural depth of America from the 1600s through the present. Everywhere we went, we encountered a different vitality and strength.
“I’ve done a lot of things; I’ve been blessed. Nothing compared to this trip. It was great to have all these good friends to travel with — all successful, generous, funny, smart, well-informed and well-connected.”
And the people they spent time with were legends in their own right.
“We went to Tom Brokaw’s residence, where about 30 people were having cocktails. Every one of them was a national or international celebrity, and I sat down by a lady who turned out to be Peggy Noonan. Isn’t that amazing?” Khayat asks.
Brokaw, an author and retired network TV journalist, was co-anchor of NBC’s “Today Show” for five years before serving as the anchor and managing editor of “NBC Nightly News” for 22 years. Noonan is a Wall Street Journal weekly columnist and NBC and ABC News contributor. She was a primary speechwriter and special assistant to President Ronald Reagan.
oston was my favorite stop,” Overby says.
“In fact, it was one of the best days of my life. You could say it was a five-star triple-header. We visited with historian and author David McCullough, spent several hours with historian and presidential biographer Doris Kearns Goodwin, and watched the Red Sox at Fenway Park in the owner’s box hosted by Tony La Russa.”
The now late McCullough, an author of 14 books, was a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Goodwin is an American biographer, historian and political commentator, who has written biographies of numerous U.S. presidents and won a Pulitzer Prize for History.
Coincidentally, and a surprise to all, former Ole Miss Rebel Drew Pomeranz pitched that day in Fenway.
The Travelers
Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Montalto, Oakwood, Richmond, Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown, Virginia
Departed for Richmond, where they saw various historic sites on the way to the Virginia State Capitol. Explored the Capitol with Mark Greenough, the building’s historian. Took the scenic James River route to Jamestown, with a stop at Shirley Plantation and a visit with Bill Kelso, director emeritus of archaeology and research at the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation. Stopped at the College of William and Mary, then toured Colonial Williamsburg via carriage ride. Visited with Willie Balderson, retired head of the living history programs at Colonial Williamsburg, at the iconic Raleigh Tavern. Balderson accompanied them to Yorktown Battlefield with a stop at Surrender Field.
All five travelers have led extraordinary lives. Here’s what Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat says about his fellow travelers:
John Grisham — “My friendship with John Grisham began when he was enrolled in one of my School of Law classes after attending Delta State University and Mississippi State University. When grading one of his law exams, I wrote: ‘Though you missed most of the legal issues, you have a real talent for fiction.’”
Grisham has become the author of over 50 consecutive No. 1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly 50 languages. His recent books include The Judge’s List, The Exchange, Camino Ghosts and his third Jake Brigance novel, A Time for Mercy , with several books being turned into movies.
Grisham was inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame in 2008. He is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction. When he’s not writing, Grisham serves on the boards of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
Dan Jordan —
“My friendship with the now late Dan Jordan began when we were freshmen together at the University of Mississippi, where the natural-born leader eventually served as the Associated Student Body president and a member of the Army ROTC, Mortar Board honorary society, Ole Miss basketball and baseball teams, and Sigma Chi Fraternity,” Khayat says. “We were on the baseball team together. He pursued undergraduate and graduate degrees in history — the smartest guy I knew.”
After earning a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, Jordan taught for more than a decade at Virginia Commonwealth University and wrote several books. He was recruited to serve as the director of Monticello, the home of the third U.S. president, with the position later titled president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. He was responsible for creating the Thomas Jefferson Library. Outstanding moments of his career were seeing Monticello placed on the World Heritage list of famous places — and as Jordan would say, with the Taj Mahal and the pyramids of Egypt — and the purchase of Mount Alto to save it from development. It initially belonged to Jefferson.
He established an endowment to ensure future funding for Monticello and received a special award from the Department of the Interior. Leading the response to questions of slavery at Monticello, Jordan said, “We will follow the truth wherever it leads us.” He was inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame in 1990.
Charles Overby — “My friendship with Charles Overby began when he provided leadership on the staff of The Daily Mississippian, the student-run newspaper at the university,” Khayat says. “His position as executive editor bloomed into an illustrious career as a well-known influencer in the journalistic field and as an advocate for the First Amendment.”
As editor of The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Overby led his staff to win the Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal for Public Service. For 16 years, he was a reporter, editor and executive for Gannett Co., the nation’s largest newspaper organization.
Overby became chair and CEO of The Freedom Forum, a
Day 2: Washington, D.C., Valley Forge and Philadelphia
Toured the International Spy Museum with Jonna Mendez, former chief of disguise in the CIA’s Office of Technical Service. Drank coffee with Peter Earnest, founding director and longtime CIA veteran in clandestine services. Explored the Newseum with Overby in charge and had lunch with the now late Jim Lehrer, executive editor and a news anchor for the “PBS NewsHour,” known for his role as a debate
moderator during U.S. presidential election campaigns, moderating 12 debates. Took a driving tour of Valley Forge with Superintendent Steve Sims.
Day 3: Philadelphia and New York
Visited the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia and viewed original Lewis and Clark journals and other treasures with Director Patrick Spero. Stopped at Second Bank of the United States, now an American history art gallery. Saw the “George Washington Exhibit” at the Museum of the American Revolution with Director Mike Quinn. Lunched inside Independence Hall with Superintendent Cindy MacLeod, followed by focused
nonpartisan foundation dedicated to educating people about the press and promoting a stronger understanding of the First Amendment. He oversaw the construction of two museums about news, called the Newseum, first in Arlington, Virginia, and the second in Washington, D.C. The Freedom Forum provided the resources to open the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics at Ole Miss to honor Overby. He continues to serve as chair and founder of the Overby Center and was inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame in 1992.
Robert Weems — “My friendship with Robert Weems began when we were both law students at the UM School of Law, where Weems graduated at the top of his class,” Khayat says.
Weems earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics at Millsaps College and then had a stint in the U.S. Army Security Agency. After law school, he joined the firm of Brunini, Everett, Grantham and Quin in Vicksburg for 11 years before being called back to serve on the law school faculty.
“His success as a classroom teacher is remarkable,” Khayat says.
He received the law school’s Outstanding Law Professor Award in 1980, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2003.
In 1994, he was awarded the most prestigious honor an instructor can receive at the University of Mississippi when he was presented the Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award. In addition to teaching, he served for a decade on the university’s Athletics
Itinerary, continued on page 32
Dan Jordan (left), Robert Weems, Jim Lehrer, Robert Khayat, John Grisham and Charles Overby. The travelers visited with Lehrer, who served as executive editor and news anchor for the ‘PBS NewsHour.’ | Submitted photo
Committee, as faculty athletics representative and as chair. He was inducted into the UM Law Alumni Hall of Fame in 2017.
Robert Khayat — “I earned undergraduate and law degrees from the university with a stint playing professional football in between. At Ole Miss, I was an Academic All-American football player and was chosen as an All-SEC catcher for the 1959 and 1960 SEC Champion baseball teams.”
Khayat joined the law faculty in 1969, after being in private practice, and then earned a Master of Laws from Yale University. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the NFL, Distinguished American Award from the National Football Foundation, and Silver Medallion Award for best memoir in the nation for his book The Education of a Lifetime.
He was selected for the Ole Miss Football Team of the Century, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and the Student Hall of Fame. He holds an honorary membership in Phi Beta Kappa, was selected as Law Alumnus of the Year in 2014 and inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame the same year.
“It was my great honor to lead as chancellor of the University of Mississippi from 1995 until my retirement in 2009. My passions were strengthening the university, including increasing enrollment, bringing in research and development grants, attracting private support, securing the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa chapter, hosting the 2008 presidential debate and elevating the beauty of the Oxford campus.”
tours of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Drove by the “Rocky” statue and stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art en route to New York. Cocktails with Brokaw and Richard Engel, chief foreign correspondent for NBC News, at the Brokaw residence, followed by dinner with Andy Lack, a journalist, TV and film producer, and media executive, serving as chairman and CEO of NBC News and MSNBC for 15 years.
Weather Forecasts
Richmond: Cloudy, high 67, low 49
Williamsburg: Cloudy, high 67, low 50
Washington, D.C.: Partly cloudy, high 65, low 51
Valley Forge: Mostly cloudy, high 63, low 46
Philadelphia: Partly cloudy, high 63, low 52
New York City: Partly cloudy, high 59, low 51
West Point: Rain, high 47, low 37
Cooperstown: Rain/snow, high 41, low 32
Boston: Partly cloudy, high 56, low 46
Travel Times and Distances
Montalto to Richmond: 1 hour, 14 minutes - 74 miles
Richmond to Jamestown: 1 hour, 1 minute - 58 miles
Jamestown to Williamsburg: 15 minutes - 7 miles
Williamsburg to Yorktown: 21 minutes - 13 miles
Yorktown to Washington, D.C.: 2 hours, 31 minutes - 163 miles
Washington, D.C., to Valley Forge: 2 hours, 35 minutes - 150 miles
Valley Forge to Philadelphia: 36 minutes - 23.5 miles
Philadelphia to New York City: 1 hour, 57 minutes - 99 miles
New York City to West Point: 1 hour, 27 minutes - 56 miles
West Point to Cooperstown: 3 hours, 3 minutes - 155 miles
Cooperstown to Boston: 3 hours, 59 minutes - 239 miles
Day 4: New York City and West Point
Visited the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Enjoyed lunch at the Lamb’s Club with Lois Chiles, a philanthropist, model and actress known as a “Bond Girl” for her appearance in the James Bond movie “Moonraker.” Attended “Hamilton” on Broadway with 1,000 inner-city kids, most of whom had never been out of the Bronx. Dinner with Boo Corrigan, director of athletics for the North Carolina State Wolfpack, and his wife, Kirsten, and Rob McDonald, professor of history and the group’s host and guide at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Day 5: West Point and Cooperstown
Enjoyed breakfast with around 4,000 cadets at West Point before a tour of the military academy with assigned cadets. Arrived in Cooperstown for an archives presentation at the National Baseball Hall of Fame with President Jeff Idelson.
Day 6: Boston
Took part in a walking tour of Boston with David McCullough, ending with treasures from the Massachusetts Historical Society with chief historian Peter Drummey and greetings from Director Catherine Allgor. Visited the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum with greetings by Director Steve Rothstein and a brief treasurer presentation. Long visit with Goodwin while at the Kennedy Library and Museum. Drove by the Edward Moore Kennedy Institute, Harvard Yard and Faneuil Hall. Watched Red Sox vs. Rays at Fenway Park. Pitching was Pomeranz, the only Rebel to win SEC Pitcher of the Year with a career strikeout record of 344.
Day 7: Boston
Flew home to Nashville and Charlottesville
“The greatest memory was the time spent with professors Khayat and Weems, Dan Jordan and Charles Overby,” Grisham says. “The stories, some of them probably true, came in waves, as did the laughs.
“Dan died suddenly last year, and his absence has left a large, empty space in our lives. Robert and I talk about him often. As soon as the bus trip was over, Dan started talking about an encore, a second act, another lap around history. The idea never gained traction, and, of course, we have regrets.
“But we are much more thankful that we seized the moment and hit the road when we did. Life is too unpredictable and too short to make lists and plans that go nowhere.”
Khayat says he hopes readers of this article will consider planning a similar trip with friends.
“You need to travel with people with whom you are compatible,” Weems advises. “We did not talk politics on this trip. Politics can get people crossways.”
Grisham implores, “Just do it and you’ll have no regrets.”
“It was so much fun to listen to these guys talking about not only the present but also of days at Ole Miss,” Overby says. “Ole Miss memories hold us together and keep us united for decades. This trip was proof of that.”
Khayat agrees. “We always say Ole Miss is where you form friendships that last a lifetime.”
In an “It’s a small world” moment, the five travelers had agreed to keep the trip confidential, telling only immediate family members. When Weems returned home, his phone rang.
“How was the trip, Bob?” a former colleague asked. When he inquired how she knew about it, she said a friend in New Mexico called and said her friend, Doris Kearns Goodwin, had called to tell her about a lively discussion she’d had with five nice men from Mississippi.
Above Goal
Rebel Nation unites to raise $1.75 billion for Ole Miss
By Michael Newsom
Photos by Srijita Chattopadhyay, Bill Dabney, Amy Howell, Hunt Mercier and Melanie Thortis
On a warm fall Saturday in Oxford, the Grove swells with familiar sounds: alumni cheerfully greeting old friends, the pounding of the Pride of the South drumline warming up and verses of “Hotty Toddy” echoing beneath the oaks. The traditions feel timeless here.
Yet beneath the normal joy of a game day, the story is that the University of Mississippi has made history once again — and the future shines brighter than ever.
In 2021, Ole Miss announced the most ambitious fundraising effort in its history — and in Mississippi’s history. The Now & Ever Campaign aimed to raise $1.5 billion. The number seemed staggering. Achieving it would fuel scholarships, faculty support, health care, athletics and research that would secure the university’s place among the nation’s top institutions.
But Rebel Nation didn’t just meet the challenge. It exceeded it in stunning fashion. More than 95,000 alumni and friends made over 500,000 gifts, writing a new chapter of Ole Miss history. When the campaign closed in June, the final tally came in at an astonishing $1.75 billion — a full $250 million above goal.
“This campaign was about belief — belief that Ole Miss is a national leader, that our students deserve every opportunity and that our alumni and friends care deeply enough to make
it happen,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) says. “The Ole Miss family turned that belief into reality with incredible generosity and unwavering commitment.
“These results are humbling, inspiring and transformative.”
The campaign’s success elevated the university’s endowment to $1 billion, positioning Ole Miss among the nation’s best-funded public institutions.
In September, Rebel Nation gathered to celebrate. At a donor gala at Oxford’s The Jefferson on Sept. 12, campaign leaders unveiled the total, toasting the generosity that made it possible. The next night, before a packed crowd gathered at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to watch the Ole Miss vs. Arkansas football game, the number blazed across the big screen as the Pride of the South formed “1.75 billion” at halftime. The spectacle on the field was designed to thank the Ole Miss supporters in the stands for their massive outpouring for the campaign.
The total amount raised for the capital campaign was unveiled at the donor gala on Sept. 12 at The Jefferson in Oxford.
Members of the Now & Ever Campaign steering committee toast surpassing the campaign’s goal.
A Movement Born of Passion
Major fundraising campaigns succeed not because of spreadsheets but because people care enough to lead with passion. For Now & Ever, that passion ignited a movement.
Campaign co-chairs Leigh Anne (BS 82) and Sean Tuohy (BBA 85), of Memphis, and Debra and retired Maj. Gen. Leon Collins (BBA 82), of Madison, became tireless ambassadors. They logged miles, made phone calls, opened doors and inspired others to do the same. Alumni committees sprang up in cities across the country, carrying the Ole Miss story into living rooms, boardrooms and ballrooms.
“When the call went out, alumni and friends answered,” Leon Collins says. “It shows the love and dedication we all have for our university. It proves Ole Miss is an international brand — one to be reckoned with.”
The volunteer leadership was relentless. Rebels in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles and beyond rallied classmates and colleagues. They weren’t just donors; they were inspired leaders, spreading a vision of what Ole Miss could become.
Gifts came in all sizes. Alumni remembered professors who shaped them. Parents thought about scholarships that opened doors for their children. Mississippians recognized how much the state depends on the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s world-class health care. Each gift carried a story. Together, those stories fueled history.
By the Numbers:
A Historic Achievement
When the campaign officially ended, the statistics alone told a remarkable story:
• 95,000 donors participated from all 50 states and 65 countries
• 530,000 individual gifts were made over four years
• 540 new endowments were established to provide permanent funding
• 385 new scholarship endowments will provide financial aid in perpetuity
• $1 billion endowment places Ole Miss among top-funded public universities
The geographic diversity of donors reflects the university’s national appeal. While Mississippi alumni provided the largest single-state contribution, significant support came from Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, Georgia and beyond. International donors included alumni living in London, Tokyo, Sydney and other major cities worldwide.
Gift sizes ranged from $5 monthly pledges from recent graduates to eight-figure commitments from major donors. The campaign’s success stemmed from broad participation rather than reliance on a few large gifts.
“The success of the campaign shows the generosity and passion our alumni from all walks of life have for this great university,” Bill Fry (BPA 80), who served on the campaign steering committee, says.
Personal Connections Drive Success
For alumni such as Charles Clark (BBA 72), the campaign’s success is deeply personal. Clark, a certified public accountant who lives in Birmingham, Alabama, enrolled at Ole Miss in 1968 and quickly found a mentor in legendary accountancy professor Gene Peery.
Decades later, serving on the Patterson School of Accountancy campaign committee, Clark saw a chance to pay forward the investment others had made in him.
“We have an elite accountancy program,” Clark says. “This new building will keep us among the tops in the country. I wanted to be a part of it in my small way.”
Clark’s enthusiasm reflects a broader truth about Ole Miss fundraising success: Relationships matter. As a corporate recruiter who has visited accounting programs across the Southeast, Clark has seen the difference firsthand.
“The students we recruit out of Ole Miss just seem to have better relationship skills,” Clark says. “At other universities, professors often haven’t met the students we want to recruit. At Ole Miss, professors know their top students well — sometimes even know their families.”
Campaign co-chairs Sean (left) and Leigh Anne Tuohy, of Memphis, and Debra and retired Maj. Gen. Leon Collins, of Madison.
Those personal connections create lifelong bonds that extend far beyond graduation. When Clark established a scholarship honoring Peery, the late professor’s granddaughter became a recipient during her time at Ole Miss.
“It gives me great gratitude that although he is no longer with us, he is part of this success,” Clark says.
‘A Wildfire of Generosity’
Fry and his wife, Lee Anne, of Bluffton, South Carolina, and Oxford, served on the overall campaign steering committee and co-chaired the School of Business Administration’s campaign committee. Despite economic headwinds including inflation and market volatility, they witnessed unprecedented donor enthusiasm.
“For us, it wasn’t just about giving back; it was about investing in the next generation of Rebels and in the future impact that Ole Miss can have on countless lives,” Lee Anne Fry says.
Bill Fry marvels at supporters’ determination despite economic uncertainty.
“What amazed us was how Ole Miss supporters responded
Campaign steering committee members Bill and Lee Ann Fry (center), who also co-chaired the School of Business Administration’s campaign committee, visit with John Berns
Business Administration, and UM
with even greater determination,” he says. “It felt like watching a spark turn into a wildfire of generosity. Every gift, large or small, reminded us that this Rebel community refuses to let obstacles stand in the way of something that matters so deeply.”
The couple has witnessed Ole Miss’ global reach firsthand. During a recent trip to Greece and Turkey, they heard several “Hotty Toddys” from strangers who instantly felt like family.
“It’s not just a casual cheer; it’s an invitation to connect, to share stories and to relive memories,” Bill Fry says. “That passion is deep, enduring and contagious. Ole Miss alumni don’t just love their university — they carry it with them, through both good times and bad, and they want to ensure future generations can experience the same magic.”
Transforming the Skyline
The results of Now & Ever can already be seen rising from the Oxford skyline and across the state. The campaign fueled new construction and major renovations, including the:
• Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation
• Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at Children’s of Mississippi at UMMC
• Expansion of the Olivia and Archie Manning Athletics Performance Center
• New facilities for the Pride of the South Marching Band, softball, track, esports and baseball
• Greenfield Farm Writers Residency on William Faulkner’s property
• Enhanced student health and counseling centers
• Cancer Center and Research Institute at UMMC
• Fred R. Adams Jr. MIND Center and Geriatric Clinic at UMMC
(left), the inaugural Fry Scholar in
School of Business Dean Ken Cyree.
A Family Tradition
Frances Permenter Smith (BA 74), who grew up in Greenville and Gulfport but now lives in Oxford, exemplifies the multigenerational commitment that drove the campaign’s success. One of four sisters who attended Ole Miss from 1959 to 1974, Smith has watched 26 family members earn degrees from the university.
Before the campaign, she helped create a scholarship honoring her parents’ sacrifices for her and her sisters’ education. Her father was an Air Force civil service employee working in educational services, and her mother taught piano lessons. When it came time for the Now & Ever Campaign, she enthusiastically served on the College of Liberal Arts committee.
Today, her nephew is putting his own three children through Ole Miss, and scholarships help, she says.
“I don’t care how successful you are, paying for three children at Ole Miss is tough,” Smith says, referencing her nephew’s situation. “They get scholarships and that helps. My nephew has seen firsthand how important scholarship money is to all people.”
Beyond infrastructure, Smith appreciates the campaign’s emphasis on faculty support through endowed professorships and research funds.
“It is important to me to keep Ole Miss strong,” she says. “We have a great staff and there are alumni everywhere, and we marvel at what they’re doing for Ole Miss.”
Smith attributes Ole Miss’ fundraising success to Mississippians’ generous spirit and the university’s unique culture.
“I think there is something intangible about the feeling people have about Ole Miss,” she says. “Everybody has a story about something special. Our classes are still mostly small and close. That closeness creates connection. There is a bond that exists between Ole Miss people that I don’t think exists in other places.”
Changing Lives
The impact of Now & Ever will ripple for generations through scholarships, new facilities, endowed faculty chairs, research centers and expanded health care. From Oxford classrooms to UMMC’s hospitals, lives will be changed because donors cared enough to give.
“These scholarships are life-changing,” Smith says. “They allow students to focus on their studies instead of worrying about paying for college. That makes better students — and ultimately, better graduates.”
At UMMC, new pediatric and cancer facilities mean more Mississippi families will receive world-class care without having to leave the state. Endowed professorships will attract leading scholars. Research dollars will generate innovation and economic growth.
These results came not just from generosity but from passionate supporters who love Ole Miss deeply and want its influence to extend far beyond Mississippi’s borders.
A Legacy of Leadership
The Now & Ever Campaign represents more than a record-breaking total. It showed the world what is possible when Rebel Nation unites.
“This campaign proved we can compete with anyone,” Collins says. “It showed that Ole Miss belongs among America’s great universities.”
The construction cranes rising over the Oxford campus and the breakthroughs happening in UMMC labs tell part of the story. But the greater legacy is confidence. With every dollar raised, every scholarship created, every gift given, Ole Miss alumni and friends showed they are inspired leaders who will always stand for their university.
Tradition and transformation now walk hand in hand. The Grove still hums on fall Saturdays, but the conversations have shifted a little. Alumni speak not only of memories but also of possibilities: the discoveries, achievements and lives their generosity has made possible.
The future of Ole Miss is forever changed because Rebel Nation believed.
Lee Anne Fry notes passing the campaign’s ambitious goal was a headline success, but the more long-term victory was how the campaign ignited pride in everything Ole Miss is achieving, including rising enrollment, stronger graduation and retention rates, success with first-generation students and inspiring athletics programs.
“The campaign wasn’t just about raising dollars; it was about commitment to raising up our university and those whom we have both the obligation and opportunity to improve their way of life,” she says. “We reminded our alumni and friends that Ole Miss is on the move — and by investing now, we set the stage for even greater accomplishments in the decades ahead.”
To find out how you can support success at Ole Miss, visit give.olemiss.edu.
Frances Permenter Smith
The record campaign achievement was displayed on the big screen at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium before the Ole Miss vs. Arkansas football game on Sept. 13.
Ole Miss Sports
Athletes of Excellence
OLE MISS ANNOUNCES 2025 M-CLUB HALL OF FAME CLASS
Ole Miss will honor its 2025 inductees into the M-Club Hall of Fame this fall, enshrining six Rebels across five different sports.
The 2025 M-Club Hall of Fame class includes Stacy Andrews (03) (track and field/football), Kenny Carlyle (BBA 96) (baseball), Lance Lynn (08) (baseball), Jim Poole Jr. (BBA 72) (football), Marilyn Brooks Thomas (BSHPE 86) (women’s basketball) and Regina Thomas (BA 11) (volleyball). Additionally, Sheila Sullivan Hickman (BSHPE 77, MEd 78) will receive the George Lotterhos Service Award.
“We’re proud to welcome this year’s Hall of Fame class, representing excellence across multiple sports,” says Jessica Lynch, M-Club director. “Induction into the M-Club Hall of Fame is one of the greatest honors for our former student-athletes. This year’s inductees join an elite group whose accomplishments have brought lasting pride to their teams, Ole Miss and the M-Club legacy.”
An induction ceremony is planned for Thursday, Nov. 13, at The Inn at Ole Miss. The Hall of Fame class will also be honored on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium during the Rebels’ contest against Florida.
2025 INDUCTEES
STACY ANDREWS
track and field (2000-03) and football (2003)
A two-sport athlete at Ole Miss, Andrews compiled an outstanding four-year career in track, where he became a two-time All-American in weight throws and discus. Andrews also played football his senior year for the 2003 Rebels.
Andrews, a three-time NCAA qualifier, left Ole Miss as the school record holder for the indoor weight throw (68-3.75), outdoor hammer throw (2017) and discus (188-5). The Camden, Arkansas, native also ranked fifth alltime in the shot put outdoors (51-4.5). Andrews earned Indoor All-America honors as a senior in 2003, by placing fifth in the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He then picked up another All-America honor by placing sixth in the discus in the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The four-time All-SEC honoree won two silver SEC medals, as well as two bronze medals during his career.
On the gridiron, Andrews played in five games as a senior in 2003 to earn his
first collegiate letter in football. Despite not playing football before 2002, Andrews was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Andrews played in 94 NFL games over the course of an eight-year NFL career for the Bengals (2004-08), Philadelphia Eagles (2009), Seattle Seahawks (2010) and New York Giants (2011).
KENNY CARLYLE
baseball (1989-92)
An outstanding right-handed pitcher who earned four letters from 1989 to 1992, Carlyle played for the legendary Jake Gibbs his first two seasons and then Don Kessinger his final two years. Carlyle still holds the Ole Miss record with 27 career wins.
Kenny Carlyle
Stacy Andrews
Ole Miss Sports
Carlyle led the Rebel pitching staff as a junior with a 9-4 record and again his senior year at 8-4, earning All-SEC honors in 1992. He finished with a career record of 27-20, with a 3.78 earned run average. In his four seasons, Carlyle pitched 326 innings and recorded 243 strikeouts with only 115 walks.
Selected in the ninth round of the 1990 MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds, Carlyle chose to return to Ole Miss to finish out his stellar collegiate career. As a senior in 1992, he had his name called again, this time in the fourth round by the Detroit Tigers. Just one year later, Carlyle was rated as the No. 4 prospect in the Tiger organization. He played eight years of pro baseball, reaching as high as AAA for five seasons. After his playing career, Carlyle was the head baseball coach at Greensboro (North Carolina) College for eight years.
LANCE LYNN
baseball (2006-08)
One of the most successful pitchers in Ole Miss history, both in college and
professional baseball, Lynn spent three years with the Rebels, followed by a highly successful pro career (2009-24).
At Ole Miss, Lynn finished with a 23-12 record with 48 starts in 51 appearances, 297.4 innings pitched and three complete games. Lynn set
the Ole Miss single-season (146) and career (332) pitching strikeout records. As a junior in 2008, his final season at Ole Miss, he had an ERA of 4.52 in 89.2 innings pitched, a 7-4 record, and started 15 games. Lynn enjoyed a dominant sophomore season in 2007, finishing the year in the top five in the SEC in ERA, opponent batting average, innings pitched and strikeouts.
JIM POOLE JR.
football (1969-71)
A three-year letterman at tight end from 1969 to 1971, Poole Jr. was a two-time first-team All-SEC selection and helped lead Ole Miss to a 25-9 overall record and three bowl appearances during his time in Oxford.
Poole Jr. tallied 110 career receptions for 1,196 yards and six touchdowns. During his first varsity season, Poole Jr. was the only sophomore on the team to acquire a first-team All-SEC accolade and set a then-Ole Miss record for sophomores by catching 43 passes for 456 yards. He led Ole Miss receivers in the 1970 Sugar Bowl against Arkansas with seven receptions for 70 yards.
As a junior, Poole Jr. ranked second on the 1970 team in scoring with 46 points. He once again excelled in the Rebels’ bowl game, hauling in nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown in the 1971 Gator Bowl vs. Auburn. Poole Jr. wrapped up his collegiate career by playing in the 1972 Hula Bowl and then signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants.
MARILYN BROOKS THOMAS
women’s basketball (1982-85)
During her four-year Ole Miss basketball career, Brooks Thomas played a vital role as the Lady Rebels compiled a 106-20 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament all four seasons, including the first NCAA postseason berth in 1982.
Brooks Thomas, a senior captain for the 1984-85 team, averaged 10.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in her career. She is a member of the 1,000 Point Club with 1,308 points, which ranked fourth-best in Ole Miss history after her final season. She also finished
Lynn was selected in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. After just two-plus seasons in the minor league system, Lynn played in the major leagues for 13 seasons, beginning with the Cardinals (2011-15, 2017), the Twins (2018), the Yankees (2018), the Rangers (2019-20), the White Sox (2021-23), the Dodgers (2023) and returning to the Cardinals at the end of his career (2024). In his first season (2011), the Cardinals won the World Series. During his 13 major league seasons, Lynn compiled a 14399 record, with a career 3.74 ERA and 2,015 strikeouts.
Lance Lynn
Jim Poole Jr.
Ole Miss Sports
her career ranked No. 3 for career rebounds (854), No. 5 for career free throws made and No. 4 for free throws attempted.
While at Ole Miss, Brooks Thomas was a natural leader, as well as a spiritual leader on campus and in the community. She was instrumental in partnering with North Mississippi Regional Center to bring busloads of residents to the women’s games and spearheaded the outreach walkathon, where players went door-to-door in the community and at businesses, inviting locals to attend the games.
REGINA THOMAS
volleyball (2008-11)
Thomas was a strong presence on and off the field for Ole Miss during her college career from 2008 to 2011. Thomas became the first Ole Miss volleyball athlete to be recognized as an All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches
Association, earning third-team honors in 2010 and honorable mention in 2011. She was the first Rebel to be selected All-South Region twice (2010-11) by the AVCA.
A three-time All-SEC honoree, Thomas ranks third in the record book for career attack percentage rally scoring (min. 1,500 attempts) at .340 and third in a match in rally scoring (play to 25) at .682. Thomas was nominated as a candidate for the Lowe’s Senior
CLASS Award in 2011 due to her notable achievements in the community and classroom.
Thomas, a two-time team captain, was on the SEC Academic Honor Roll all four years while at Ole Miss. Following her Ole Miss career, Thomas played professional volleyball in the Swedish Elitserien Division, the top-tier volleyball league in Sweden.
2025 LOTTERHOS SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT SHEILA SULLIVAN HICKMAN
Inducted into the Ole Miss M-Club Hall of Fame in 1995, Sullivan Hickman has continued to play a significant role in the Ole Miss M-Club Alumni Chapter’s continued success. She served as a past president of the M-Club Alumni Chapter and also served on its board of directors.
Sullivan Hickman was one of the first stars of Ole Miss women’s basketball when the program was revived in the mid-1970s. Her career 19.2 points per game average still ranks No. 1 all-time for Ole Miss women’s basketball. She scored 1,475 career points at Ole Miss and was honored in 2003 with the SEC Legends Award in the sport of women’s basketball.
Sullivan Hickman continues to support the M-Club by actively attending alumni events and engagement opportunities. She goes above and beyond to connect with other former players and current players, encouraging their participation and highlighting the value of networking within the alumni community.
Sheila Sullivan Hickman
Marilyn Brooks Thomas
Regina Thomas
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Just Published
Rooftop by Darden North (BA 78, MD 82), 312 pages (paperback, also available in hardback and Kindle), WordCrafts Press, ISBN: 978-1967649082
“What kind of a monster would murder his own sister?”
Voncelle Wallace, a recycled physician from a failed medical practice, lands employment at the CumminsBratton Surgical Center and continues to battle her demons of regret and might-have-beens. Her husband, Chuck, is a high-dollar real estate negotiator for the international acquisition of the lucrative Belmont Clinic, a nearby exclusive, multiservice medical and cosmetic treatment practice. The Belmont family of physicians tends to put profits above ethics, and Chuck is not above cooking the books to his and their advantage. But before the deal can be consummated, a rifle fired from a rooftop puts financial negotiations on hold.
Surgeon Diana Bratton’s effort to avoid the Belmonts and simplify her life is derailed when a new patient, Roy Garnett, arrives at her office. Garnett confides that his mentally ill nephew has accused him of murdering his sister, the nephew’s mother. Suddenly, Bratton finds herself drawn into a tangled web of deceit, highstakes intrigue and multiple homicide that could involve Voncelle Wallace.
Darden North is an award-winning author of three thrillers: House Call, Points of Origin and Fresh Frozen. North graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in zoology
and a medical degree in 1982. North has practiced medicine for over two decades as a board-certified OB-GYN. He and his wife, Sally, live in Jackson.
House of Smoke: A Southerner Goes Searching for Home by John T. Edge (BA 96, MA 02), 272 pages (hardback, also available in Kindle), Crown Publishing Group, ISBN: 978-0593241028
The author of The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South tells his own story this time. Of growing up in a house wrecked by violence and a South haunted by racism. And of how his search for home led him to find escape and belonging through food.
In this unflinching and moving memoir, John T. Edge takes us on a quest for home in a South that has both held him close and pushed him away, as he tries and fails and tries again to rewrite the stories he inherited. Born in a house where a Confederate general took his first breath and the Lost Cause narrative was gospel, troubled by the violence he witnessed as a boy, Edge ran from his past, searching for a newer and better South.
As founding director of the Southern Foodways Alliance and a contributor to newspapers and magazines, he told stories that showcased those possibilities. In the process, Edge became one of the most visible and powerful voices in American food. Beginning in Georgia and ending in Mississippi, his search spans the Deep South and charts a very American story of the truth telling
and soul searching it takes to love your people and your place.
Edge writes and hosts the Emmy Award-winning television show “TrueSouth.” His book The Potlikker Papers was named one of the best books of 2017 by NPR and Publishers Weekly. Edge serves the University of Mississippi as a professor, writer-inresidence and director of the Mississippi Lab. He graduated from the university with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Southern studies. He lives in Oxford with his wife, the artist Blair Hobbs.
The Dean: Memoirs & Missives by Sparky Reardon (BAEd 72, PhD 00), 342 pages (paperback), Nautilus Publishing, ISBN: 978-1949455694
Sparky Reardon — who dedicated 36 years to his alma mater, the University of Mississippi — witnessed the best, and worst, of times at Ole Miss. Reardon engaged with every facet of campus life, navigating the wild and unpredictable situations sparked by students (and, at times, by visitors).
Reardon found himself in the midst of campus crises where he assisted the university family through tragedy and loss (some involved student casualties); he navigated intricate battles for freedom of expression on campus (including confrontations with the Ku Klux Klan and loony street preachers); he gently guided students (and sometimes administrators and politicians) through complex judicial issues; and he had a rare insider’s view
of the evolution of Oxford, from a quiet college town to a vibrant cultural hub.
Reardon retired in 2014 after 36 years at Ole Miss, working in student affairs where he later served as dean of students. Encouraged by friends and driven by his love for writing and reminiscing, Reardon authored The Dean. Now living in Taylor, he cherishes his solitude, his porch and the occasional poker game.
Amazing Love, It Can Be by Robert Magarian (BA 56, BSPh 60, PhD 66), 268 pages (paperback, also available in Kindle), Robert Magarian, ISBN: 979-8991461405
What does it take for two people to form a lifelong bond of love, one strong enough to endure through the good and the bad, including the loss of two children? It takes understanding, respect, and the loving embrace of God and his wisdom.
Amazing Love, It Can Be is the heartwarming, true story of Bob and Charmaine Magarian, and their love story that stretches across 77 years, from their meeting in high school in the aftermath of the Great Depression to their impending 74th wedding anniversary. During that time, Bob served in the Korean War and became a respected pharmacist and professor. Charmaine raised four children while supporting her husband and making his accomplishments possible.
In their later years, Bob became
a published author, and they both deepened their commitment to charity work, including an annual Christmas dinner they host for their community. The couple created a true partnership in their marriage, working toward difficult goals and overcoming numerous challenges to attain their dreams and raise their family.
Robert Magarian received three degrees from the University of Mississippi and has published numerous books including five thrillers and two nonfiction works. He lives in Norman, Oklahoma, with his family.
Forever Home by Marianne (BA 96) and Jennasey Guzman, 38 pages (paperback, also available in Kindle), Trilogy Christian Publishing, ISBN: 979-8893334999
Jennasey adopts a quirky little dog from her friend in kindergarten, and he becomes her best friend. Oso’s unique personality changes her life, and they have many adventures together. Find out how Jesus changes Jennasey’s life when she goes on a mission trip around the world, and how Jennasey learns to trust God when her furry friend needs help! Our pets really do go to heaven (the Bible says so), and they have a special place in our hearts forever.
Marianne Guzman is a speechlanguage pathologist who graduated from Ole Miss with a degree in communication
disorders. Jennasey Guzman is an aspiring writer and missionary, and is majoring in English at Ole Miss.
Cerebral Weather by Mary Buchanan Sellers (BA 13), 108 pages (paperback), independently published, ISBN: 979-8315535065
Cerebral Weather explores areas of possibility between the margins of the purely clinical and personal. Magic is the creation left behind after elemental destruction and has historically been an avenue through which disability can be productively discussed.
These flash fictions, short stories, vignettes and micro essays play ball with second person, while doing something a little mad. Make way for the psyche, as this collection attempts to melt mental health and magic through personal history and family, lazy research in neuroscience and nods to Greek myth, cinema and ’90s culture. The collection writes around themes of childhood, bipolar disorder and the supernatural to approach a conclusion that remains — at best — hallucinatory.
Mary B. Sellers hails from Jackson. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Fine Arts in fiction from Louisiana State University. Sellers is a cultural resource specialist and editorin-chief for her mental health literature and arts magazine, Libre.
Information presented in this section is compiled from material provided by the publisher and/or author and does not necessarily represent the view of the Alumni Review or the Ole Miss Alumni Association. To present a recently published book or CD for consideration, please mail a copy with any descriptions and publishing information to: Ole Miss Alumni Review, Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1374, Oxford, MS 38655.
Rebel Traveler
2026
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 662-915-7375 or email travel@olemissalumni.com.
ANTARCTICA
JAN. 11-24, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan
Retrace sea lanes navigated by storied explorers Shackleton, Amundsen and Scott on a journey that includes two nights in vibrant Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a nine-night, five-star cruise to the “White Continent.” On this active program, set foot on this pristine wilderness and enjoy guided excursions aboard sturdy Zodiacs, intricate ecosystems and abundant wildlife — including humpback whales and Adélie penguins. — From $10,995
CUBA DISCOVERY FEB. 23-28, 2026
Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery Located 90 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida, Cuba is an island brimming with vibrant art, soul-stirring music and villages cloaked in colonial charm. Cuba, once again accessible to American travelers, is a country begging to be explored. Travel with us to the largest Caribbean island nation and discover a country with a population as warm and scintillating as its tropical climate and colorful arts. Travel out of Havana and into the rural Cuban countryside to the Vinales Valley, located in the westernmost mountainous range in Cuba and declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. This region is known for its stunning scenery, a landscape of
Naples, Italy
prehistoric-looking flat-top mountains, or “mogotes,” tobacco plantations, caves and rivers. — From $5,395, including airfare
D-DAY: INVASION OF NORMANDY AND LIBERATION OF FRANCE
MAY 7-13, 2026
Tour Operator: WWII Museum
For more than two-and-a-half years, the Allies planned and gathered their military strength to launch the decisive amphibious invasion of northern France and strike a mortal blow against the Third Reich. In anticipation, Adolf Hitler stockpiled reserve units in the Atlantic Wall defenses across the French coastline, determined to drive the Allied forces back into the sea when the invasion was finally launched. There would be no second chance for the Allies: The fate of the continent hung upon this decisive day.
In the early minutes of June 6, 1944, Allied paratroopers and gliders descended from the night sky to wrest control of key bridges and roadways from the Nazi occupiers. Behind them, in the darkness of early morning, an initial force of over 130,000 service members
from the Allied nations crossed a choppy English Channel aboard an armada of more than 5,000 ships. Their destination was Normandy: D-Day had arrived. Normandy’s World War II history is vastly intriguing and moving. You will experience these sacred sites in ways other tours can’t offer with the national WWII Museum. With unmatched local expertise, our itinerary delves deeper into the stories and tumultuous times of World War II while providing the convenience and attention to detail you expect while traveling. Offering a full week of touring in Normandy at an incredible price, this unforgettable tour offers great value. It features top guides, upscale accommodations in prime locations, comprehensive dining and exclusive access to sites unseen on other programs. — From $5,750
CRUISE SICILY, MALTA & AMALFI COAST
MAY 25-JUNE 2, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan
Bask in the glorious Amalfi Coast, Sicily and Malta on an exclusively chartered, seven-night, deluxe cruise brimming
with picture-perfect vistas, intriguing history and tantalizing cuisine. Tour the UNESCO-inscribed ruins of Pompeii and Syracuse, plus savor the splendor of the Isle of Capri. Enjoy enriching excursions in Palermo, Taormina, Ortigia and Malta’s majestic capital city of Valletta, complemented by the expertise of local guides and lecturers. Extend your stay with the Rome pre-tour and/or the Valletta post-tour extensions. — From $6,995
GREAT EUROPEAN JOURNEY
MAY 26-JUNE 6, 2026
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 featuring an unforgettable Swiss getaway plus a deluxe river cruise. Marvel at the sweeping grandeur of the Alps and Lake Geneva. Discover the timeless beauty of the Rhine and Moselle as you wind past storybook towns, terraced vineyards and forested hills crowned by castles. — From $5,995
Rhine River, Germany
Rebel Traveler 2026
CRUISE THE DALMATIAN COAST AND ITALY
JUNE 11-20, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan
Discover ancient civilizations on this eight-night, deluxe small ship cruise from Dubrovnik, Croatia, to Venice, Italy. Cruise aboard the World Traveller, calling at medieval villages, storied archaeological sites and small ports. Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the old city of Dubrovnik, old town Kotor and the remarkable Trulli in Alberobello. Your journey is complemented by the expertise of local guides and lecturers, including special guest speaker Darius Arya, archaeologist and author based in Rome. Choose to extend your stay with the Dubrovnik pre-tour and/or the Venice post-tour extensions. — From $7,995
FLAVORS OF NORTHERN ITALY
JUNE 11-20, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge
Immerse yourself in the flavors and charm of Northern Italy on a nine-day adventure based at Selva Capuzza, a welcoming wine estate near Lake Garda. Wander Verona’s cobbled streets, see Juliet’s balcony and admire the city’s Roman amphitheater. Cruise the serene waters of Lago d’Iseo, sip sparkling Franciacorta and roll fresh pasta alongside local chefs. Discover Amarone wines in Valpolicella, taste artisan cheeses in Roncà and enjoy a private balsamic vinegar experience in Modena. From medieval villages to lakeside Sirmione, each day blends culture, history and cuisine, with expert guides ensuring a seamless, enriching journey. — From $5,695
GRAND SEINE & NORMANDY
JUNE 20-28, 2026
Tour Operator: AHI
Join an unforgettable seven-night Seine River cruise that showcases poignant wartime history, colorful Norman cities and majestic Paris, the City of Light. Unpack once on your exclusively chartered, first-class ship and sail round trip from Paris, passing bountiful countryside and ports brimming with antiquity. Stroll through centuries-old towns, including Rouen, host to a well-preserved medieval quarter, and maritime Honfleur with its enchanting Vieux Bassin. Delve into the dramatic history of the D-Day invasion at Normandy’s beaches and the Caen Memorial Museum while expert guides add context to your visit. Walk through bountiful gardens at Claude Monet’s home, gaze in awe at majestic Versailles and explore timeless abbeys. While in Paris, experience the city’s charismatic districts and landmarks, from the NotreDame Cathedral to the Latin Quarter. This extraordinary journey features an extensive meal plan, including wine and beer with lunch and dinner. There is no single supplement for solo travelers. — From $5,295
KENYA SAFARI: THE BIG FIVE
JULY 1-11, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge
Venture with us into the heart of Kenya’s wilderness during this 11-day epic journey. Alongside expert guides, gain unparalleled access to Kenya’s national parks, reserves and conservancies with opportunities to witness the Big Five and a plethora of other wildlife in their natural environment. This adventure promises an unforgettable exploration of Kenya’s iconic landscapes, captivating cultural interactions and exhilarating animal encounters. — From $7,995
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS & CALEDONIAN CANAL
JULY 10-26, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan
Discover the Scottish Highlands — with their mist-shrouded peaks, verdant glens and velvet moors — from the perspective
Kotor, Montenegro
of the Caledonian Canal aboard the cozy Lord of the Glens. Immerse yourself in breathtaking scenery as your expedition ship navigates passages inaccessible to larger craft. On this unforgettable voyage, step inside ancient abbeys and legendary castles; experience warm, welcoming cities; and glide alongside an untamable coastline. — From $9,695
DISCOVER THE CANADIAN ROCKIES BY RAIL
JULY 22-28, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge
On board Rocky Mountaineer’s all-dome fleet, travel through otherwise inaccessible terrain to unlock the unparalleled beauty of British Columbia, Alberta and the Canadian Rockies. Journey through breathtaking prairies and revel in the grand landscapes of some of Canada’s most mesmerizing mountain vistas. — From $6,995
CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS
JULY 25-31, 2026
Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery
“The Cape” — Cape Cod, located in eastern Massachusetts, is among New England’s favorite summer vacation destinations with beautiful ocean beaches and small unique businesses. Spend time in Boston and see Boston Commons, Old North Church, Beacon Hill and the ship “Old Ironsides.” Travel to Plimoth Plantation, a re-creation of the Pilgrims’ 1627 village, and learn of the journey that brought the pilgrims to the New World some 400 years ago with a visit to the Mayflower II, a reproduction of the 1620 ship. Enjoy a ferry ride to Martha’s Vineyard for a tour of the island to see Victorian cottages, pristine beaches and colorful harbors. Along the Cape Cod National Seashore, explore a traditional cranberry bog and learn about harvesting this famous fruit. In Provincetown, enjoy free time to explore the lively artist community with its great restaurants and charming shops. Enjoy a city tour of one of New England’s most delightful coastal cities, Newport, Rhode Island, and cruise to historic Nantucket Island and visit the Nantucket Whaling Museum. Enjoy these incredible New
England sights during your adventure to Boston and “The Cape.” Please review the itinerary details and count the extras. — From $3,995, including airfare
DELIGHTFUL DOURO & SOLAR ECLIPSE
AUG. 8-15, 2026
Tour Operator: Go Next Immerse yourself in the enchanting beauty of the UNESCO World Heritagelisted Douro Valley on this unforgettable seven-night cruise aboard Emerald Cruises’ Emerald Radiance, culminating in the breathtaking spectacle of the total solar eclipse. Begin your journey in the vibrant city of Porto, Portugal, where history meets modern charm, and set sail along the sun-dappled river toward Pinhão. Visit the beautiful Vega de Terron and discover the serene pace of western Spanish life with quiet streets and lush landscapes. Experience the captivating landscapes of Pocinho, a hidden gem nestled within the valley, and continue to Régua, where the ancient
art of winemaking comes alive. Here, indulge in the rich flavors of port wine, crafted from grapes grown on steep terraces carved into the rugged hills, and experience the highlight of the trip — the rare opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring solar eclipse, a celestial spectacle that will enhance the region’s already breathtaking beauty. Spend your final day in Porto wandering through its maze of cobblestone streets and savor authentic Portuguese cuisine at a local eatery. — From $3,595
STUNNING SCOTLAND
AUG. 8-17, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge
Join us on this land-based journey as we explore Scotland’s inspiring history, exuberant culture and fascinating sites. From windswept highlands to serene islands, home to revered castles and iconic towns, Scotland is a vibrant country overflowing with rich traditions, natural beauty and welcoming hospitality. — From $6,795
Paris, France
A lumni News
M BUILT
The Alumni Association’s Future Alumni Network gathered with members of the Ole Miss Class of 2029 on Aug. 18 in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the second annual ‘Build the M’ event.
Class Notes
’60s ROBERT C. KHAYAT (BAEd 61, JD 66), of Oxford, was presented with the prestigious Michael Rubenstein Award for Lifetime Contributions to Sports in Mississippi by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum.
’70s DAVID (BA 78) and SHAWN BREVARD , of Tupelo, received the 2024 J.G. Berry Volunteer Service Award, the highest honor for a lifetime of service and dedication to others, presented by United Way of Northeast Mississippi.
DANIEL W. JONES (MD 75), of Hazlehurst, developed the new clinical guideline for hypertension, replacing the guidance written in 2017. Jones previously served as
chancellor of the University of Mississippi (2009-15) and president of the American Heart Association (2007-08).
G. RODNEY MEEKS (MO 74), of Brandon, was inducted into the 2025 University of Mississippi Medical Center Medical Alumni Hall of Fame for his decades of leadership, mentorship and surgical excellence.
CHARLES S. O’MARA (BS 70), of Ridgeland, was inducted into the 2025 UMMC Medical Alumni Hall of Fame for his lifelong commitment to surgical excellence, education and service to Mississippi.
CHERYL W. TURNER (BS 79, MPA 90), of Jackson, was elected international president and chair of the national board of directors of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
’80s
SHARON P. DOUGLAS (BA 82, MD 86), of Madison, was inducted into the UMMC Medical Alumni Hall of Fame for her commitment to the residents of Mississippi, medical excellence and mentorship.
JEFF HUBBARD (BBA 80, JD 83), of Madison, founding member of Hubbard, Mitchell, Williams & Strain PLLC in Ridgeland, was named 2025 Law Alumnus of the Year at the University of Mississippi School of Law Alumni Luncheon held at the annual meeting of the Mississippi Bar.
Photo by Bill Dabney
SCOTT LEARY (BE 84, JD 91), of Water Valley, was nominated to become U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi.
CLEN DAMON MIGUEL MOORE (BA 86), of Sterling, Virginia, was elected president of the Master Singers of Virginia, northern Virginia’s premier mixed choral ensemble.
BLAKE TELLER (BBA 88), of Vicksburg, was appointed co-chair of the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission.
GLORIA THOMAS (BSHPE 85), of Alexandria, Virginia, retired after 31 years of service with the federal government. Thomas served 22 years with the U.S. Air Force and eight years as a civilian.
PAT THOMASSON (BAccy 85, MAccy 87), of Philadelphia, Mississippi, was named Citizen of the Year by the Philadelphia Community Development Partnership. She was recognized for her leadership in business, economic development and community service.
’90s
CAMILLE MCGEHEE BRECKENRIDGE (BA 93, MA 06, SpEd 11) opened Mississippi’s only needlepoint shop located in Water Valley.
JOHN COX (JD 99), of Cleveland, Mississippi, was inducted into the 2025 Mississippi Tennis Hall of Fame.
JOHNNY DAVIDSON (BBA 97), of Ridgeland, was promoted to Madison County market president for Citizens National Bank.
KARLEEN GARDNER (BA 94, MA 98), of Oxford, was named director of the University of Mississippi Museum and Historic Houses.
XAVIER HOSKINS (BBA 92), partner at Magnolia Medical Orthotics & Prosthetics in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was named Veteran of the Year by the Rotary Club of St. George, Louisiana.
RICHARD MYERS JR. (JD 94), executive member at Stites & Harbison PLLC, in Nashville, was included by Forbes on its inaugural America’s Best-in-State Lawyers 2025 list under Intellectual Property in Tennessee.
TODD SANDRONI (BSPH 92, PHMO 97), of Tupelo, was inducted into the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools’ Hall of Fame.
KELLY SESSOMS (JD 92), partner at Wilkinson, Williams, Bosio & Sessoms PLLC, in Pascagoula, assumed the duties of president-elect of the Mississippi Bar.
RHEA TANNEHILL (BPA 91, MEd 92, JD 96), partner at Tannehill Carmean PLLC, in Oxford, assumed the duties of president of the Mississippi Bar.
KAREN YELVERTON (BA 98, MA 99) was chosen to be Oxford High School’s next head volleyball coach.
’00sJOHNNY BECK (BBA 02), of Brandon, joined Citizens National Bank as senior vice president and Brandon market president.
WINSTON COLLIER (BA 03), of Oxford, established McKenzie Collier PLLC as a firm to handle title searches and insurance, residential and commercial real estate, closings, wills and estates, LLC formations and estate planning.
MELANIE HATCHER (BBA 06), of Woodstock, Georgia, joined Ammunition, an advertising agency in Atlanta, as vice president of client partnerships.
MATTHEW S. MCKENZIE (BBA 03, JD 06), of Oxford, established McKenzie Collier PLLC as a firm to handle title searches and insurance, residential and commercial real estate, closings, wills and estates, LLC formations and estate planning.
RYAN MILLER (BA 02, JD 08), of Oxford, is one of four new members on the Innovate Mississippi board of directors.
REGINA PURNELL-ADAMS (BA 05), of Miami, was chosen to lead as the SFROTC commander and chair of aerospace studies at the University of Miami.
JOHN ROUSE (MBA 01) joined the Phelps Jackson office’s litigation team.
MICHAEL WELGAN (BSES 03), of San Diego, was promoted to the rank of captain in the U.S. Navy and assumed command of the USS John L. Canley (ESB-6).
BRETT YOUNG (00), of Nashville, Tennessee, released his fifth country studio album, “2.0.” This album marks Young’s fifth release on a major label and his ninth overall.
’10s
FABIA DILLON (BSW 14), of Morgantown, West Virginia, joined the West Virginia University athletics staff as associate athletics director for strategic finance and budget.
SUTTON MILLER (BA 14), of WinstonSalem, North Carolina, was named to the 2025 Forbes Top Next Generation Best-inState Wealth Advisors.
Outstanding Young Alumni
NOMINATIONS CLOSE SOON FOR 40 UNDER 40 AWARDS
The Ole Miss Alumni Association is accepting nominations for its annual 40 Under 40 Awards.
Year after year, the University of Mississippi graduates some of the most influential young leaders in a broad range of industries. They forge partnerships, solve problems, blaze trails and serve their communities wherever they may be. The Ole Miss Alumni Association 40 Under 40 awards program spotlights alumni across a variety of vocations for having made a significant impact in business, research, leadership, public service and/or philanthropic endeavors.
“We are excited to continue this program as a way to recognize and celebrate some of our outstanding young
BIRTHS
Smith Anne, daughter of Ashley Smith Baker (BBA 08, MA 12) and Thomas Bradley Baker (BA 05, MA 10), July 29, 2025.
Delayne Lillian, daughter of Claire Rowsey Fairbairn (BBA 20) and Taylor Middleton Fairbairn, July 8, 2025.
Everett Rhodes, son of Sarah Elisabeth Vaughan Harrell (BS 19) and Sebastian Len Harrell (BBA 20, JD 22), Sept. 10, 2025.
Joshua Mitchell Jr., son of Julye Clark Jenkins and Joshua Mitchell Jenkins (BBA 06, BAccy 09), Oct. 13, 2024.
Louise Hammond, daughter of Kelly Blackstone Love and Samuel Hammond Love (BA 07, MD 12), May 12, 2025.
Poppy Gray, daughter of Mikelah Dupuis Lugg (BA 21) and Jared Patrick Lugg (BBA 21), June 13, 2025.
Evelyn, daughter of Moriah Miller and Sutton Craig Miller (BA 14), Sept. 22, 2024.
Margot Hewes, daughter of Susan Smither Phillips (BS 16) and Harry J. Phillips IV (BA 16), July 15, 2025.
alumni,” says Sunny Brown (BSFCS 09, MA 11), OMAA assistant director and 40 Under 40 coordinator. “Our young alumni population continues to grow, and they are doing noteworthy work in their respective industries. In addition, the recipient of the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which is presented at Homecoming, will be selected from the 2026 40 Under 40 class.
To be eligible, nominees must be active members of the Alumni Association, have made a significant impact on their industry or field, have civic or professional achievements, aspire to uphold the core values of the UM Creed, have earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and must demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a lifelong relationship with the university and OMAA. Nominees also must be 39 years of age or younger on Jan. 15, 2026, to be considered.
Nominators should fill out an online form with the nominee’s name and email address only. The nominee will then be asked to complete the application process.
Nominations for the Class of 2026 may be submitted through Nov. 10, 2025. Recipients will be announced in the spring and celebrated with a reception and ceremony.
For more information, visit olemissalumni.com/ 40-under-40.
WEDDINGS
Olivia Grace Belew (BS 20) and Drake Harris, July 26, 2025. Ansley Farnsworth and Malcolm Deaton McAuley IV (BA 16), Aug. 23, 2025.
Savannah Laurét Sanders (BS 20) and William Matthew Morris (BBA 21), June 14, 2025.
IN MEMORIAM
1940s
Ben Edwards Bowie (BA 43), of Lafayette, La., Sept. 13, 2025
Ann Gail Alford Camp (BA 46), of Memphis, Tenn., July 27, 2025
Mary Fran Thompson Gottschall (BAEd 47), of Spanish Fort, Ala., May 29, 2025
Dellie Abner Mardis Jr. (BBA 49), of New Orleans, La., July 15, 2025
James Edgar McDonald Jr. (47), of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Sept. 2, 2025
Land Rush 2025
Members of the Ole Miss Alumni Association gathered on the front lawn of Triplett Alumni Center on the eve of the first home football game against Georgia State as tailgaters “Land Rushed” the Grove to secure their spots on Friday, Aug. 29. The event featured live music, food and beverages.
Photos by Annie Rhoades
Alumni News
Sarah Aycock Thomason (BAEd 47), of Rayville, La., July 31, 2025
Derry Young Williams (BA 48), of Flat Rock, N.C., Aug. 26, 2025
1950s
Michael Thomas Aiken (BA 54), of Cody, Wyo., Aug. 25, 2025
Marian Sykes Alexander (BA 59, JD 87), of Madison, Aug. 5, 2025
Barbara French Baker (MEd 56), of Ocean Springs, Aug. 18, 2025
Laura M. Boyer (54), of Modesto, Calif., Aug. 15, 2025
Charles Wesley Bullock (BSPh 52), of Ooltewah, Tenn., Aug. 13, 2025
Shirley Williams Burris (MA 54), of Jackson, Aug. 20, 2025
Susie Baldridge Cook (MEd 53), of Placentia, Calif., May 28, 2025
Mamie Lomax Cox (BAEd 57), of Jonesboro, Ark., Aug. 17, 2025
Harris Vann Craig (MD 59), of Tupelo, Aug. 29, 2025
Wallace Edwin Davenport (BBA 55), of Denton, Texas, July 24, 2025
Clifton B. Davis (MD 59), of Grand Rapids, Mich., Aug. 26, 2025
James Turner Dunn (BBA 55), of Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 20, 2025
Mary Campbell Evans (BAEd 59), of Pascagoula, Aug. 6, 2025
Robert Milton Floyd (BSPh 56), of Booneville, Aug. 10, 2025
Lawrence Odell Gill (MBA 59), of Chattanooga, Tenn., Sept. 22, 2025
Emma Carr Hamilton (BM 52), of Jackson, Sept. 24, 2025
Newt Parks Harrison Sr. (LLB 59), of Jackson, Sept. 2, 2025
Lucy Gerhart Mazzaferro (BA 65), of Jackson, Sept. 20, 2025
Ray McLarty (69), of Hernando, Sept. 10, 2025
Allen Wood Neel (BA 68, MURP 72), of Knoxville, Tenn., July 20, 2025
Paul Leroy Odom (BS 60, MD 63), of Water Valley, July 22, 2025
Michael Cortez Page (BBA 66), of Myrtle, Aug. 29, 2025
Linda Farmer Piazza (MS 68), of Clinton, Sept. 10, 2025
OMAA LAUNCHES WALK OF CHAMPIONS BRICK CAMPAIGN
The Ole Miss Alumni Association launched a new opportunity this fall for alumni, families and friends to leave a lasting mark on campus through personalized bricks in the iconic Walk of Champions.
The campaign officially kicked off after the Rebels’ football victory over Kentucky.
The Walk of Champions, located in the Grove, is one of the most beloved traditions in college athletics and a central symbol of Ole Miss pride. By purchasing a custom brick, alumni and supporters can honor their time at the university, celebrate milestones or recognize loved ones — all while directly supporting the Alumni Association.
“Every brick placed on the Walk of Champions tells a story,” says OMAA CEO Kirk Purdom (BA 93). “This campaign allows our alumni
and friends to become a permanent part of the tradition that unites generations of Rebels.”
Bricks are available in limited quantity and will be installed along the path where the Rebel football team makes its legendary game-day march. Placement is first-come, first-placed, ensuring that each donor’s legacy becomes part of one of the most recognized walkways in college football.
Funds raised from the brick campaign will support Alumni Association initiatives. In addition, a portion of the proceeds will directly support the long-term care and upkeep of the Grove, preserving its beauty and traditions for future generations of Rebels.
To secure a brick and become part of the Walk of Champions legacy, visit olemissalumni.com/grovebricks.
Thomas Houston Pigford (BA 61, JD 69), of Collierville, Tenn., Sept. 18, 2025
Thomas Irwin Rice III (BBA 66), of Ridgeland, July 17, 2025
Brent Allen Richardson (BA 62, JD 65), of Gulfport, July 17, 2025
Tommy Cade Rogers (BBA 65), of Laurel, Sept. 17, 2025
Linda Anne Scott (BA 60, MA 65, PhD 75), of Gulfport, Aug. 31, 2025
William Andrew Seth (BAEd 63), of Centreville, Md., July 9, 2025
Bernard Loring Shipp (BA 66, MD 70), of Corinth, July 27, 2025
Albert Aaron Siegel Jr. (BBA 66), of Menlo, Ga., Aug. 5, 2025
Toxey Hall Smith Jr. (BA 60, LLB 62, JD 68), of Diberville, July 16, 2025
Jimmy Lloyd Solomon (BS 64), of Statesboro, Ga., Sept. 29, 2025
Frank Pleasants Stainback III (BA 67), of Greenwood, Sept. 28, 2025
John Calhoun Sullivan Jr. (LLB 63), of Lena, Sept. 20, 2025
Grover Lee Thomas (BSChE 65), of Spring, Texas, July 19, 2025
George William Tomlinson Sr. (BBA 69), of Oxford, July 17, 2025
Robert Major Walker (MSS 68), of Jackson, July 29, 2025
Ronald Keith Wallace (BBA 68), of Clayton, Ga., July 20, 2025
James Everett Walters (69), of Brandon, July 22, 2025
Mary Cox Wiggs (MBEd 67), of Houston, Aug. 3, 2025
Florian Henry Yoste III, USAF (Ret.) (BA 65), of Jackson, Sept. 3, 2025
1970s
Julia McLarty Anderson (MA 71), of Madison, July 27, 2025
Wallace Carroll Anderson (BA 75, JD 78), of Olive Branch, Sept. 8, 2025
Mary Harrison Apostolos (BA 71), of New Orleans, La., Aug. 19, 2025
Richard Allan Boren (BPA 74), of Athens, Tenn., July 30, 2025
Donald Hal Butts (MD 76), of Clinton, July 25, 2025
Richard Lynwood Childers (MLS 70), of Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 23, 2025
Thomas Warren Christian (MD 73), of Madison, Aug. 31, 2025
Ronnie Lee Crawford (BA 71), of Baldwyn, July 17, 2025
Walter Jeffrey Crawford (BSME 71), of Oklahoma City, Okla., July 12, 2025
Michael Barry Cruthird (BBA 75), of Madison, Ala., Aug. 21, 2025
Robbie Linn Dace (MA 79), of Vilonia, Ark., July 11, 2025
EXPAND YOUR OPPORTUNITIES
• Get the advanced degree you need in just two years.
• Develop a broad range of business skills that can be applied in any setting.
• Flexible format designed for busy professionals in diverse industries.
• GMAT/GRE waivers available for professionals with 5+ years post-graduate work experience.
• Rolling admission for spring, summer, and fall cohorts.
“Joining the MBA program at Ole Miss was one of the best decisions of my life. Each class provided a lens through which I look at business, my career, and day to day life. The program provided further knowledge and confidence to excel in my career and start a business with my wife.”
John of Houston, Texas 2025 UM Online MBA Graduate Director of Software Engineering, Baker Tilly Accounting firm
Alumni News
OMAA LAUNCHES WINE CLUB IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KRUTZ FAMILY CELLARS
Rooted in the traditions that make Ole Miss special — from Saturdays in the Grove to the rallying spirit of “Hotty Toddy” and the enduring symbol of the Lyceum — this club invites alumni to raise a glass to the place that shaped them.
Together with alumni-owned Krutz Family Cellars, the Ole Miss Alumni Association is curating small-lot releases worthy of tailgates, watch parties, reunions and milestones.
Participants can choose the club that fits their cellar and season: a three-bottle, six-bottle or 12-bottle case — each shipping twice a year (March and October). It’s an effortless way to stay connected to
Donna Mauney Daniel (MA 76), of Saulsbury, Tenn., July 5, 2025
Marilyn Neubert Dansart (MCS 70), of Schaumburg, Ill., Aug. 7, 2025
Thomas Carroll Fenter (MD 70), of Madison, July 15, 2025
Rodger Allen Foshee (77), of Oxford, Sept. 10, 2025
Barbara Dyre Fuller (BSPh 71), of Grenada, Sept. 10, 2025
Keith Edward Gay (BSHPE 75), of Dothan, Ala., Aug. 12, 2025
Gwendolyn Gong (BA 75, MA 77), of Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China, Aug. 7, 2025
Charles Harold Hanna (78), of Louisville, Aug. 11, 2025
Marvin Oris Harris II (76), of Verona, Aug. 30, 2025
Sharon Wallace Hendrix (BBA 78), of Oxford, Sept. 7, 2025
Godfred Hennig III (BBA 72), of Biloxi, Aug. 18, 2025
Elizabeth Dianne Perkins Hogue (BAEd 73, MEd 76), of Jonesboro, Ark., Sept. 26, 2025
the Ole Miss family and toast the memories we share, from Oxford to everywhere.
Wine Club members receive these benefits:
• 20% off retail prices on each club shipment and website purchase
• Exclusive first offers on large format bottles, library wines and special direct-only, limited wines
• Invitations to private Krutz Wine Club events Visit olemissalumni.com/wineclub for more information.
Judith Matthews Gregg (BSN 91), of Florence, Aug. 29, 2025
Odessa Simon Hawkins (MSN 98), of Madison, July 5, 2025
Frederick Scot Huffman (BS 97), of Pelahatchie, July 12, 2025
Daren Maurice Johnson Sr. (BPA 90), of Belton, Mo., Sept. 7, 2025
Kenneth Maurice Kellum (MD 96), of Tupelo, July 22, 2025
David Lee Ketchum (BBA 96), of Dallas, Texas, Aug. 7, 2025
Gwendolyn Evans Knight (BBA 99), of Oxford, Sept. 19, 2025
Shirley Smith Lester (MEd 96), of Vaiden, Feb. 17, 2025
John Wallace McBryde III (Cert 96), of Cedarbluff, July 30, 2025
Gregory Andrew Morse (JD 92), of Woodstock, Ill., July 24, 2025
Robert Wayne Perry (EdD 96), of Mansfield, Mo., July 30, 2025
William Cecil Ramsey Jr. (BBA 91), of Germantown, Tenn., Sept. 22, 2025
Hilary Harder Rendon (BS 92), of Starkville, Aug. 28, 2025
Rita Faye Sanders (Cert 96), of Kosciusko, Aug. 22, 2025
Louie Jay Smith (BSPh 90), of Hernando, Aug. 10, 2025
Doug Stuart (BPA 92), of Oxford, Aug. 5, 2025
Robert Lee Thornton (BAEd 90, MEd 94), of Sardis, Aug. 25, 2025
Billy Vayne White Sr. (BPA 94), of Madison, Sept. 17, 2025
Joye Lucinda Woodard (BS 97), of Clinton, Sept. 11, 2025
2000s
William Allyn Brown Jr. (06), of Mountain Home, Ark., Sept. 16, 2025
Elizabeth Rainey Dabney (BA 07, BA 11), of Oxford, Aug. 26, 2025
Christopher Jay Gannon (BA 08, MA 09), of Saucier, July 30, 2025
Mary Beard Grodsky (BA 03), of Collierville, Tenn., July 12, 2025
James Michael Knight (BSPh 00, PharmD 02), of Belden, July 3, 2025
Lauren Butler Mann (BBA 07), of Spring Hill, Kan., Aug. 19, 2025
Randy Joe Michael (BAEd 07), of Booneville, Sept. 29, 2025
Jonathon Scott Morgan (MBA 07), of Oxford, Sept. 9, 2025
James Clark Ortkiese (BA 08), of Memphis, Tenn., July 12, 2025
Regina Lynn Starnes (BA 03), of Shreveport, La., July 19, 2025
Photo by Kevin Bain
2010s
Heather Nicole Bliss (MA 16, PhD 20), of Overland Park, Kan., Aug. 13, 2025
Tuere Niasha Bluitt-McGaughy (14), of Tupelo, July 19, 2025
Angela Hope Scrivner (BPS 11), of Okolona, July 28, 2025
2020s
James Leo Segars (21), of Tupelo, Aug. 1, 2025
Jonathan Guyton Temple II (BBA 22), of Utica, Aug. 20, 2025
STUDENTS
Corey Semaj Adams, of Marrero, La., July 19, 2025
FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS
Rosharon Shirley Bahm, of McHenry, July 28, 2025
Doug Blackwell, of Richmond, Va., July 11, 2025
Lillian Marie Boren, of Iuka, Aug. 3, 2025
Julia Hart Box, of Satsuma, Ala., Aug. 8, 2025
William John Buchanan III, of Vancleave, July 12, 2025
Sue Carol Cabunac, of Horn Lake, Aug. 25, 2025
Mary Fanelli D’Angelo, of Sewell, N.J., Aug. 1, 2025
James Harold Elmore, of Crowder, Sept. 2, 2025
Craig Lee Evans, of Springfield, Mo., July 13, 2025
Jonnie Wait Fitch, of Oxford, Aug. 23, 2025
Billie Thrasher Franks, of Tupelo, July 12, 2025
Charles David Gibson, of Abbeville, Aug. 17, 2025
Thomas Preston Givens, of Collierville, Tenn., Aug. 19, 2025
Delores Ball Glazier, of Madison, Dec. 7, 2024
Jimmie Lantrip Harris, of Germantown, Tenn., March 20, 2025
Monroe Alvin Harrison, of Fayetteville, Ark., Sept. 16, 2025
Greg Horner, of Corinth, July 13, 2025
Sherman Cody Hull Jr., of Vicksburg, July 25, 2025
Desmond Laurence Kincaid, of Canton, July 23, 2025
Walter Randall Lakey, of Oxford, Aug. 6, 2025
Tommy Wilson Leach Sr., of Brandon, Aug. 24, 2025
Alumni News
Elgene George Mainous, of Galveston, Texas, July 31, 2025
Sheryl Carroll Mann, of Ridgeland, Sept. 2, 2025
Terry Eugene Mann, of Ridgeland, Sept. 12, 2025
Michael Glenn Manning, of Myrtle, July 27, 2025
Pat Arthur Martin, of Jackson, Sept. 25, 2025
John Reginald McNamee, of Lowndesboro, Ala., July 17, 2025
Lewis Quinby Morgan Sr., of Starkville, Sept. 14, 2025
Bebe Quay Neal, of Gulf Shores, Ala., April 21, 2025
Alice Gandy O’Ferrall, of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., Sept. 2, 2025
Martha Sheats Odom, of Hattiesburg, Sept. 13, 2025
Robert Holmes Oswald, of Gulfport, Aug. 28, 2025
Alice Louise Paysinger, of Brandon, Aug. 22, 2025
Tony Christopher Provias, of Louisville, Aug. 2, 2025
Charles E. Raiteri, of Sainte Genevieve, Mo., July 6, 2025
Nina Winter Rikard, of Oxford, April 10, 2025
Larry Edwards Scott, of Memphis, Tenn., July 29, 2025
Margaret Ann Crews Sims, of Oxford, Sept. 5, 2025
Donna Ruth Smith, of Oxford, Sept. 8, 2025
Charles Marion Stevens Jr., of Jackson, Aug. 2, 2025
Patrick James Suttlemyre, of Reno, Nev., Aug. 7, 2025
Don Russell Taylor Sr., of Madison, Sept. 7, 2025
Thomas Kyle Taylor, of New Albany, Sept. 27, 2025
Xa’Zavion Tyaun Traylor, of Ashland, Sept. 19, 2025
Oscar Lee Westbrook, of Oxford, Aug. 29, 2025
Bobby Don White, of Grenada, Sept. 22, 2025
Don Williams, of Booneville, Aug. 8, 2025
Nell Causey Williams, of Gulfport, July 23, 2025
Barbara Browne Young, of Oxford, July 15, 2025
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.
SHOW YOUR PRIDE!
If you live in Mississippi, get your Ole Miss affinity plate today! Affinity plates are $51 a year, $32.50 of which comes to the university to support student scholarships and keep the Grove and Circle vibrant.
