Ole Miss Alumni Review - Spring 2026

OLE MISS ALUMNI REVIEW

A L U M N I

R E V I E W

SPRING 2026

SPRING 2026

Out of the Ice

HOW A FRACTURED CAMPUS FOUND ITS STRENGTH IN THE THAW

VOL. 75 NO. 2

Alumna oversees major business areas for NFL Alumnus helps revolutionize jaw reconstruction

Contents

VOL. 75 NO. 2 | SPRING 2026 A L U M N I

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Departments 2 | Chancellor’s Letter 4 | President’s Letter 6 | From the Circle 20 | Calendar 36 | Ole Miss Sports

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ifle wins team smallbore R in NCAA tournament

Track and Field claims three SEC indoor season awards Trio of Rebels become Super Bowl champions

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44 | Just Published 46 | Rebel Traveler 50 | Alumni News

Features 22 | Out of the Ice

How a fractured campus found its strength in the thaw

Introduction by Jim Urbanek Contributors: Marisa C. Atkinson, Carter Diggs, Clara Turnage

28 | L eague Leader

Alumna oversees major business areas for NFL

By Annie Rhoades

32 | J aw in a Day

Alumnus helps revolutionize jaw reconstruction

By Brian Hudgins

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ON THE COVER

The Triplett Alumni Center stands in the wake of Winter Storm Fern. | Photo by Jack Kirkland

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., Olivia Cangelosi, Srijita Chattopadhyay, Bill Dabney (BA 89), Carter Diggs (BAJ 23), Natalie Ehrhardt (BAJ 15), Joe Ellis, Jay Ferchaud, Thomas Graning (BAJ 17), Tina H. Hahn, Brian Hudgins, Jack Kirkland, Mary Knight (BA 00, MA 13, MFA 19), John McDermott, Hunt Mercier, Clara Turnage (BAJ 17), Rachel Vanderford (BS 19) 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 Michelle Coughlin (BAccy 93, MAccy 94), senior director of alumni affairs/ chief financial officer Savannah Dye (BS 21, MS 23), assistant director Olivia Harris (BS 20), assistant director Jessica Lynch (BSES 05), assistant director Steve Mullen (BA 92), associate director, membership and marketing Annie Rhoades (BBA 07, MBA 09), assistant director for communications Mary Kate Skelton (BS 18), alumni fundraising director Scott Thompson (BA 97, MA 08), associate director, engagement Jim Urbanek (BA 97), associate director, communications and marketing Rusty Woods (BBA 01), senior director of alumni affairs Ole Miss Alumni Review (ISSN 30652707), Copyright © 2026 by the Ole Miss Alumni Association is published quarterly by Kirk Purdom/Ole Miss Alumni Association.

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

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

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from the Chancellor Dear Alumni and Friends, I’m excited to share with you the many ways our university community has thrived this spring. Excellence, diligence and a championship spirit have defined the University of Mississippi in 2026.

In January, Winter Storm Fern brought historic conditions to Oxford and the surrounding area. We witnessed the resilience, dedication and passionate spirit of the Ole Miss community in its response. First responders and staff worked tirelessly to ensure our students stayed warm, safe and fed. A $500,000-plus relief campaign assisted more than 2,000 students. In the weeks that followed, landscape crews and arborists labored diligently to restore the campus you know and love.

The championship momentum that electrified the College Football Playoffs this winter has carried into the spring. Ole Miss Rifle brought home the NCAA Rifle National Championship team title in smallbore for the first time ever, and Audrey Gogniat defended her air rifle individual title. Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan claimed gold in shot put for the third straight year at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships. And the Ole Miss women’s basketball team competed fiercely in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year.

Our season of achievement extends to the entire campus. Spring is when we honor the distinguished accomplishments of our faculty and students, and the pinnacle of the academic year, Commencement. We’re pleased to once again receive the Military Friendly Advisory Council’s highest ranking for support of veteran and military-connected students, recognizing our dedication to providing students with a network, camaraderie and resources to succeed in their educational and personal journey at Ole Miss.

Ole Miss students continue to make an impact outside the classroom. RebelTHON shattered records this year, contributing $305,211 to support Children’s of Mississippi, the state’s only children’s hospital, and more than $2.5 million since the inaugural event. Through Dental Mission Week, UMMC students have served over 8,000 Mississippians. Last year alone, students logged 115,000 community service hours through our campus hub for volunteer opportunities, and Ole Miss fraternity and sorority members contributed an additional 51,000 hours. Their investment in their community reflects our university’s finest qualities.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center continues its $125 million campaign to help construct a world-class cancer facility and advance efforts toward National Cancer Institute designation. The campaign recently received a transformative $10 million gift from the Bower Foundation. We are grateful for the foundation’s generosity and shared vision of the future of Mississippi.

Finally, congratulations to the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 honorees, whose personal, professional and philanthropic achievements exemplify the transformative impact of an Ole Miss education. We are proud of what they have accomplished and eager to see what the future holds for them.

Take care and Hotty Toddy!

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

from the President

Dear Alumni and Friends,

OFFICIAL OLE MISS ALUMNI FASHION AND GIFTS olemissalumni.com/shop

We have all heard that adversity builds strength. Without question, we have a stronger Ole Miss community after Winter Storm Fern brought a whole new set of obstacles our way earlier this year.

If you have not been back to campus recently, you may be surprised when you see the front of the Triplett Alumni Center. The canopy of trees that once framed the entrance, along with much of the familiar landscaping, is gone. It is a big change. However, as Ole Miss always does, we adapted quickly. With the help of some great partners, we have the center ready for graduation, complete with a fresh new lawn out front.

In a way, the storm gave us a bit of a head start on what was already coming. That area was going to be cleared in preparation for the new Triplett Alumni Center. You will start to see even more change on our corner of campus as early as June, beginning with site preparation for the new Patterson School of Accountancy location and the demolition of the Yerby Center. Our alumni center project will follow right behind it.

We have been working closely with Provost Wilkin, Chancellor Boyce and their teams to finalize the design of the center and move construction plans forward. Ole Miss keeps growing, with about $1.6 billion in projects either underway or about to begin across campus, so a lot is happening all at once.

Support for the center from our alumni has been outstanding. We have received some truly meaningful additional gifts that we look forward to announcing soon, along with, hopefully, a groundbreaking date. The new Triplett Alumni Center will be a special place. It will serve as the front door to the university, a place to celebrate our shared story and a space where we can gather and stay connected.

If you have not yet become involved, I hope you will consider being a part of this project. The center will be a landmark for generations of Ole Miss alumni.

Meanwhile, please join me on the Triplett Alumni Center’s front lawn on Saturday, May 9, as we celebrate the Class of 2026 and recognize all they have accomplished.

I hope to see you soon. Hotty Toddy!

Scan to Save!

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Charles White (BBA 82) President, Ole Miss Alumni Association

WWW.REBELREALTY.COM “Pamela with Rebel Realty handled getting our family’s condo near the University cleaned out, and cleaned up to list on the market very professionally and quickly. The unit sold within a month of being turned over to her to prep and list. She went above and beyond to get the place looking good and her efforts made the difference in the offer ultimately accepted. Highly Recommend!” Cameron Tipton, LA "I had the pleasure of working with Pam Roberson at Rebel Realty to sell my condo in Oxford. Pam handled the entire process with aggressive professionalism, which is the exact trait I was looking for in an agent. She sold my condo for full asking price in a very short period of time, I could not have been more satisfied with Pam and Rebel Realty. " Jimmy Addison, Gulfport MS(SELLER) "Pamela was very helpful and attentive to all the details with our real estate purchase. She was instrumental in guiding and advising us, especially as out of state buyers. We feel fortunate to have her represent us through this process. I highly recommend Rebel Realty!" John D and Wendy Mixon (Houston, TX) BUYER "Pamela has done an extraordinary job getting my rental property sold. My previous management company had mismanaged the rentals, tenants and maintenance of my unit. She knew what improvements needed to be made and where the greatest return on investment would be. I found her to be very professional, proactive and went above and beyond in providing me with the best customer service. I wish I had found her earlier in my ownership of this property as I have no doubt she would have made it a profitable investment for me." Albert Cantu (Memphis, TN) SELLER “I would recommend Rebel Realty to anyone looking for an easy to work with, energetic, or knowledgable realtor. We had a wonderful experience with Rebel Realty! We live in Louisiana and the process of purchasing a condo in Oxford was painless. We look forward to our nights in Oxford, not only to watch Rebel Baseball, but to stay in our newly acquired residence!” Ryan and Michelle Waguespack (Prairie, LA) BUYER “I have purchased two condos in Oxford through Pamela Roberson at Rebel Realty. You will never find a more customer service oriented realtor. When we first came to town to look for Condos, Pamela took care of us by putting my family of six in a rental condo for the weekend. This happened to be in a condo in one of the developments we were looking to purchase, so we had a better Idea of what we were buying. Once we found our condos, Pamela took care of everything from contract signing to closing. I didn’t even have to make the 250 mile trip to Oxford for the closing. On our rental condo, Pamela secured a quality tenant and she manages that property for us. All I have to do is deposit the monthly rental check. If you need a realtor in Oxford, Pamela Roberson at Rebel Realty is your best choice.”David E. Burdin(Cape Girardeau, Missouri) BUYER/PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

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662-513-6262

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from the Circle

THE L ATEST ON OLE MISS STUDENTS, FACULT Y, STAFF AND FRIENDS

Roots of Renewal GRANT BRINGS 29 NEW TREES TO OLE MISS

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grant from the Mississippi Forestry Commission will help replace trees lost at the University of Mississippi during recent storms, including damage from January’s ice storm.

Although about 95% of campus trees survived the historic winter storm, many sustained damage and may need replacement. The grant will fund the planting of 29 new trees across campus, says Sophie Kline (BA 20), arborist and superintendent of the Department of Landscape Services.

“Tree care matters because, one, we want to make sure that everybody is safe,” she says. “If a tree is a liability, that’s a safety issue. But also, because people have always associated the Grove with its trees. This campus is not just a concrete slab; it’s an ecosystem.”

Landscape Services typically plants more than 300 trees each year, including replacements, but that number could grow in the coming planting season, says Nathan Lazinsky, the department’s director.

“We’re going to be planning for next planting season,” he says. “Landscape Services plants about 300 trees a given year on campus. I hope to maybe double that number this coming year.”

The department provides year-round care for more than 6,500 trees across campus and uses the TreePlotter mapping service to track and tag inventoried trees. The publicly accessible website allows visitors and alumni to locate favorite trees or follow a walking tour of campus.

Maintaining healthy trees in high-traffic areas presents

challenges. The Landscape Services team spends much of the year pruning, monitoring storm damage, checking for insect infestations and aerating soil around trees.

Most tree roots grow within about 12 inches of the surface, making them vulnerable to soil compaction caused by constant foot traffic on game days and throughout the academic year.

“Imagine someone stepping on your lungs over and over again,” Kline says. “That’s the best way I can describe it. It takes years for trees to decline that way, but we take a lot of steps to reduce compaction.”

To relieve compaction, crews use tools such as augers or air spades to loosen the soil and replace dense earth with larger aggregate material.

“What that does is it creates room, not only for water to get into the soil, but for those roots to have a little bit of breathing room and movement,” she says. “It’s kind of like taking that foot off of the lung for a bit.”

Some new trees will replace those lost to storms or other damage, while others will help screen utilities from view. In many cases, the same species will be replanted, though less resilient trees such as water oaks may be replaced with sturdier alternatives.

“Something we have to think about is not just the aesthetics but the long-term health of the trees,” Kline says. “Because we’re planting for people that will be here when I’m long gone, we want to give them the best shot they can have.”

Workers from the Department of Landscape Services plant hardy new trees in the Circle on Feb. 13. The trees will help replace those lost during the January ice storm, which shut down campus for two weeks. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay 6

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from the Circle GUT HEALTH STARTS WITH THE WEEKLY GROCERY LIST

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rillions of microorganisms living in the human gut play a major role in overall health, and the foods people choose each week can help determine how well that system functions.

“A Mediterranean-style diet is a good general dietary option for those who want to improve gut health who don’t have any particular GI condition,” says Dr. Elizabeth Paine, professor of medicine and clinician in the digestive diseases division at UMMC. “The overarching goal is to maximize consumption of whole, unprocessed foods and limit things like red meat and ultra-processed foods.”

Diets rich in whole grains, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables can help reduce inflammation and increase the diversity of beneficial gut microbes. Foods that support gut health include dark leafy greens, oats, nuts, seeds, beans and lentils.

Supplements containing prebiotics, probiotics or both may help but should be used only after consulting a health care provider, Paine says. Prebiotics stimulate beneficial bacteria

while probiotics introduce them directly. Probiotics are also found in foods such as yogurt and kimchi.

“Probiotic supplements are challenging because they are not FDA-regulated, and it is difficult to know exactly what is in the bottle,” Paine says. “If trying probiotics, they should be used for four weeks at the recommended dosing level on the bottle with careful surveillance of symptoms.”

Drinking water regularly can also support gut health by increasing microbial diversity.

Hydrating foods include cucumbers, bell peppers, cantaloupe, zucchini and watermelon.

Lifestyle habits also play a role. Managing stress, getting seven to nine hours of sleep, exercising regularly and limiting alcohol or tobacco use can all support a healthy gut.

While occasional symptoms such as bloating or constipation are common, persistent issues should be evaluated by a gastrointestinal specialist.

Illustration created with Adobe Firefly

Serving Together OLE MISS EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

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he Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized the University of Mississippi for its efforts to support and promote community engagement.

The foundation selected 277 institutions nationwide for the Elective Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, a designation that recognizes the work that higher education institutions do in collaboration with their local, regional, national or global community. The classification, which is valid for six years, was last awarded to Ole Miss in 2020.

“Community engagement is central to how we prepare students at the University of Mississippi — not only for careers, but for lives of purpose and service,” says Shawnboda Mead (EdD 19), vice chancellor for student affairs. “This recognition reflects our commitment to educating engaged citizens and strengthening communities through collaboration, service and shared learning.”

The designation highlights the university’s emphasis on research, service and outreach designed to work alongside communities. Programs range from voter engagement and public service initiatives to scholarships that help Mississippi students remain in state.

“This recognition affirms what our community partners, students, faculty and staff experience every day: that community engagement at the University of Mississippi is grounded in relationships, shared learning and mutual benefit,” says Castel Sweet, director of community engagement.

Ole Miss supports numerous programs that connect students with service and civic leadership, including the

Ole Miss students contribute to a community garden during the annual MLK Day of Service. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay

Grisham-McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement, the Bonner Leaders Program, CEED Scholars and M Partner. More than 70% of the university’s 192 offices are involved in community engagement efforts.

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from the Circle

More than 1,300 Ole Miss students gather for RebelTHON, benefiting patients at Children’s of Mississippi hospital. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay

Dancing for a Difference REBELTHON BREAKS $300,000 MARK FOR CHILDREN’S OF MISSISSIPPI

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niversity of Mississippi students donned costumes, shared dance moves and made memories while raising a record $305,211.38 during the 2026 RebelTHON fundraiser.

For the past 14 years, Ole Miss students have gathered each winter to dance the night away for Mississippi’s children, specifically patients

Hannah Terry (left) and Jessica Voge, both education majors from Cincinnati, dance during the silent disco portion of RebelTHON 2026. | Submitted photo 8

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at Children’s of Mississippi hospital.

This year’s RebelTHON, part of the nationwide Dance Marathon program, surpassed organizers’ goal of $300,000.

For many of the more than 1,300 students who participated, the event carries personal meaning. Jessica Voge, a junior secondary English education major from Cincinnati, is among them.

“I am a childhood cancer survivor, and it’s very important to me to stay involved in children’s health care philanthropies to give back to a system that saved my life,” Voge says. “What the previous generations had done for me, that’s what I wish to do for the next.”

The students’ fundraising has already made a tangible impact.

“We have fully funded 12 infusion bays within the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Mississippi,” says Maddie Grace Lightsey, a senior nursing student from Hattiesburg and 2025-26 RebelTHON president.

Like Voge, Lightsey’s involvement is deeply personal.

“My little brother was treated at Children’s of Mississippi, and I wanted to give back for all they have done for me and my family,” she says.

“RebelTHON has been a cornerstone of my college experience, and it was an

honor to go out with a record-breaking year — raising over $300,000 for the first time in RebelTHON history.”

The yearlong fundraising campaign culminates in a 12-hour marathon featuring dancing, games and themed costume hours.

“I actually got to crowd surf dressed up as Guy Fieri during the rave theme/ dance party hour,” Voge says. “That’s a sentence I’d never thought I’d say, and it’s only at RebelTHON that I would ever be able to do that.”

Voge knew she wanted to join RebelTHON after learning about it during freshman orientation.

Describing “Hotty Toddy” as “hello, goodbye and everything in between,” she says RebelTHON embodies the spirit of the cheer.

“To me, RebelTHON is that ‘everything in between,’” she says. “I’ve never felt more connected to the university, to the LOU community, to Mississippi in general, than when I am at RebelTHON. “As someone who is not from Mississippi, or anywhere near Mississippi, RebelTHON is important, as it helps build on the sense that Oxford is home,” Voge says. “Knowing that I am serving the community, the generations after me, means more to me than anything else.”

from the Circle

Stories of the South WILLIE MORRIS AWARD WINNERS PLUMB THE SOUTH’S MANY REALITIES

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he story of a 12-year-old boy who loses a leg and helps his community face issues of faith, loss and guilt, along with a sweeping history of one of the nation’s most prominent African American churches highlight this year’s Willie Morris Awards for Southern Writing.

Susan Gregg Gilmore

The Willie Morris Awards are housed at the University of Mississippi and overseen by its Department of Writing and Rhetoric. The awards honor Yazoo City native Morris, former editor-inchief of Harper’s Magazine, renowned author and a longtime instructor and writer-in-residence at Ole Miss.

“Willie Morris believed in all that was good and possible in the South,” says Susan Gregg Gilmore, winner of this year’s fiction prize. “To be associated with his name in this way, as a writer of Southern stories, is both humbling and a profound honor, especially now when we so desperately need reminders of the good and the hopeful.”

This year’s winners are Gilmore for fiction for The Curious Calling of Leonard Bush (Blair), Kevin Sack for nonfiction for Mother Emanuel:

Two Centuries of Race, Resistance and Forgiveness in One Charleston Church (Crown Publishing), and AJ White for poetry for “In Arcadia.”

The winners were featured March 27 at the Oxford Conference for the Book, organized by the UM Center for the Study of Southern Culture.

Gilmore, of Nashville, Tennessee, is also author of the novels Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove and The Funeral Dress. She has written for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the Los Angeles Times and the Christian Science Monitor.

Sack, a veteran journalist who has shared in three Pulitzer Prizes, spent 30 years on the staff of The New York Times as a senior writer and also worked for the Los Angeles Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, he lives in Charleston, South Carolina, and is teaching this spring at Princeton University as a visiting lecturer and Ferris Professor of Journalism.

“It’s tremendously gratifying to see ‘Mother Emanuel’ — and the underappreciated story of African Methodism

Kevin Sack

AJ White

— recognized in this way,” Sack says.

“For anyone who writes from or about the South, there could be no honor more humbling than to be associated with the name and legacy of Willie Morris.”

Ralph Eubanks (BA 78), author and faculty fellow in the university’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture, praised the book’s focus.

“In his book ‘Mother Emanuel,’ Kevin Sack could have focused on the lowest moment in the history of Charleston’s storied African Methodist Episcopal congregation,” Eubanks says.

“Instead of centering the book solely on tragedy, he takes the reader deep into the church’s two centuries of history and its profound role in resistance to racial oppression.”

White, a Georgia native who teaches creative writing in New York, is the author of the poetry collection Blue Loop, selected for the National Poetry Series.

“I praise the Willie Morris Awards for promoting artworks that speak to as many sides of these realities at once as artworks can,” White says.

The Willie Morris Awards are supported by an endowment from Dave and the late Reba Williams, of Connecticut.

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from the Circle

Recipients of the Stamps Impact Prize from the fall 2025 cycle include (top, from left) Julian Callender, Gilad Goulet and Charles Riley, and (bottom, from left) Sophia Sawser, Stokley Sawyer and Mia Signorelli. | Photos by Mary Knight

Ideas in Motion EIGHT UM STUDENTS WIN STAMPS IMPACT PRIZE

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he Stamps Impact Prize committee selected eight University of Mississippi students for its biannual competitive award program that funds undergraduate academic and creative projects.

The university launched the award in 2023 to support innovative, faculty-mentored projects that expand students’ academic experiences beyond the classroom. Undergraduate students across all Ole Miss campuses are eligible to receive up to $5,000 to support their work.

“Since our launch in 2023, we have funded 57 student projects across a wide range of fields of study,” says Kenneth Sufka, distinguished professor of psychology and pharmacology and research professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, who leads the program.

“Our current cohort is another example of incredibly interesting creative achievement, community service and research projects from exceptionally talented Ole Miss students.”

The fall 2025 recipients and their faculty mentors are: • Julian Callender, a junior chemistry major from River Ridge, Louisiana, with mentor Nathan Hammer, professor of chemistry and biochemistry • Gilad Goulet, a sophomore chemical engineering major from 10

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Oxford, with mentor Jake Bennett, associate professor of physics and astronomy • Charles Riley, a senior journalism major from Mount Laurel, New Jersey, with mentor Christopher Hutchinson, assistant professor of German • Sophia Sawser, a sophomore international studies, economics and Spanish major from Oxford, with mentor Daniel O’Sullivan, chair and professor of modern languages • Stokley Sawyer, a junior biochemistry major from Long Beach, with mentor Sujay Ray, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry • Mia Signorelli, a junior mechanical engineering major from Metairie, Louisiana, with mentor Damian Stoddard, assistant professor of mechanical engineering • Logan Sinquefield, a junior biochemistry major from Senatobia, with mentor Adam Estes, professor of music • Will Watson, a senior interdisciplinary studies major from Flowery Branch, Georgia, with mentor Matthew Reysen, associate professor of psychology Spring 2026 Stamps Impact Prize recipients were scheduled to be announced April 15.

from the Circle

Natural, Biodegradable Medicated Patches UM TEAM DEVELOPS 3D-PRINTED BANDAGE TO HELP HEAL CHRONIC WOUNDS

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team of University of Mississippi researchers is devel- Alshammari says. “With time, the scaffold is going to be oping a way to use 3D-printed medicated patches to absorbed into the skin. And it’s an inactive material, so we help close persistent sores and ulcers. don’t have to worry about side effects or toxic residuals.”

Researchers in the School of Pharmacy have created a Being biodegradable also means that if the material is used customizable wound scaffold designed to deliver natural, inside the body, surgeons would not need to make a second biodegradable antibacterials over time to encourage healing. incision to remove it, Vemula says.

Michael Repka, distinguished professor of pharmaceutics and The technology could also be used in situations where drug delivery; Sateesh Vemula, postdoctoral researcher; and traditional bandages are impractical.

Nouf Alshammari, doctoral candidate, published their findings “Depending on what kind of wound it is, a regular bandage in the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics. might work well, and this wouldn’t be necessary,” Repka says.

“People with limited mobility or diabetes often have wounds with reduced oxygen supply,” Vemula says. “This can slow the body’s normal repair process and make wounds more likely to become long-lasting, while also increasing the chance that bacteria can grow and lead to infection.”

Chronic wounds, including diabetic ulcers and pressure sores, can persist for months or even years.

Repka and his team are using 3D printing to create a breathable, patch-like structure that can be placed over a wound. The patch is made from chitosan — a natural material found in crustaceans, insects and fungi — combined with plant-derived antimicrobials that help fight germs. Chitosan can accelerate skin cell growth while reducing inflammation and preventing infection.

The structure acts as a scaffold, encouraging tissue growth while protecting the wound from Michael Repka, distinguished professor of pharmaceutics and drug delivery, works with a 3D-printed contamination. medical device in his lab in Shoemaker Hall. Repka’s latest research shows that 3D-printed wound “A lot of bandages are made scaffolding could aid in healing chronic wounds. | Photo by Thomas Graning with organic solvents, which actually hurt the wound-healing process, especially when applied “But there are a lot of applications for this technology. These intimately on the wound,” Repka says. “With the materials and could be printed in the field for, say, military applications. technique we’re using, you don’t have organic solvents.

“If you have a generator that can run these 3D printers, you “We’re also not using traditional antibiotics over a long can print the scaffold you need based on what kind of wound period of time, because that can often cause the bacteria has occurred.” to become resistant. That’s the advantage of using natural Before the scaffold can be used clinically, it will require products.” additional testing and review by the Food and Drug Using a 3D printer allows the scaffold to be customized to Administration. fit wounds anywhere on the body.

“The goal is translating this from research to patients,” “ The materials we used are also bio degradable,” Repka says.

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from the Circle

One Mother at a Time SCHOOL OF PHARMACY ASSISTS MATERNAL HEALTH EFFORT

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ississippi is experiencing a maternal and infant health crisis, and the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and its alumni are working to help address it one patient at a time.

Lindsey Rayborn, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice, is partnering with Ole Miss alumna Amy Catherine Love Baggett (BSPSC 17, PhMD 20), owner of Love’s Pharmacy on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, to pilot a community pharmacy-based maternal health program called Medications Optimizing Maternal Safety, or MOMS. The initiative aims to improve outcomes for mothers and babies in one of the nation’s most underserved states.

“Community pharmacists bring

knowledge, accessibility and trusted patient relationships that uniquely position them to support pregnant women that can change outcomes for mothers and babies across Mississippi,” says Donna Strum (BSPh 95, MS 97, PhD 99), dean of the pharmacy school.

The program operates through the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network of Mississippi, or CPESN Mississippi, a group of independent pharmacies focused on advanced patient care services beyond prescription dispensing.

“Community pharmacies are many times the front door to local health care infrastructure,” Baggett says. “Patients see their doctors, on average, three to five times per year, but they see their pharmacist, on average, 35 times per year.”

Amy Catherine Love Baggett (right), owner of Love’s Pharmacy, provides information and counseling to a client in her pharmacy in Diamondhead. | Submitted photo 12

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Mississippi ranks first nationally in the percentage of individuals living in maternal health care deserts, at 23.6%. The state also has the nation’s highest infant mortality rate, 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births. Both statistics prompted the Mississippi Department of Health to declare infant mortality a public health emergency in August 2025.

To help improve these outcomes, pharmacies participating in the MOMS program provide expectant mothers with free monthly prenatal vitamins, iron supplements and low-dose aspirin, when appropriate. The medications are packaged to encourage routine use and can be delivered to patients’ homes.

Pharmacy-based community health workers collaborate with federally qualified health centers, county health departments, local providers and community organizations to coordinate care.

“We are proud to see Dr. Baggett, Dr. Rayborn and colleagues across the CPESN network implementing this program to make a meaningful difference for patients in our communities,” Strum says.

The MOMS pilot launched in August 2025 with three pharmacies on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and currently serves 43 pregnant patients. Participants have enrolled as early as five weeks of gestation, with services continuing throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Education and ser vices have included vaccine gap closures, initiation of aspirin therapy and guidance on fetal movement, safe sleep and car seat safety.

R ay b or n, w ho a ls o s er ves as a CPESN Mississippi network facilitator, has helped assess early findings from the pilot locations. The initiative is preparing to expand to 17 additional pharmacies statewide.

“The first expecting mother enrolled is due any day now,” Baggett says. “It is so rewarding to see her excited and prepared for this journey into motherhood, knowing we have been able to be a small part of it.”

from the Circle

The Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy is honoring Ben and Erin Napier, both UM alumni, with this year’s Legacy Award. | Submitted photo

Community Builders OLE MISS WOMEN’S COUNCIL HONORS ‘HOME TOWN’ CREATORS

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he Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy honored HGTV stars Erin (BFA 07) and Ben (BA 07) Napier, both University of Mississippi alumni and hosts of “Home Town” and “Home Town Takeover,” with this year’s Legacy Award.

The event was held March 27 at The Jefferson in Oxford.

The annual award recognizes individuals whose lives reflect the council’s core values: philanthropy, scholarship, leadership and mentorship.

Known for revitalizing small towns — particularly their hometown of Laurel — and promoting American craftsmanship, the Napiers have built an international following while investing in communities.

“We are grateful that we get to work together every day and feel honored that someone thinks that work deserves to be celebrated,” the pair says.

Event co-chair Mary Susan Clinton (83), of Naples, Florida, praised the couple’s impact.

“Erin and Ben Napier remind us that communities are vibrant forces waiting to be championed,” Clinton says. “Their leadership delivers a powerful lesson: Transformation begins when vision meets commitment.”

Beyond television, Erin Napier is an artist, designer, entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author of

Heirloom Rooms (Gallery Books, 2023) and The Lantern House (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2022). Ben Napier is a woodworker, author and entrepreneur. Together they operate several Laurel businesses, including Laurel Mercantile Co., Scent Library, Scotsman General Store and Woodshop.

The couple also founded Osprey, a nonprofit that encourages families to delay children’s use of social media.

Through Scotsman Co., co-founded by Josh Nowell (BBA 06), Jim Rasberry and Ben Napier, the group crafted keepsake serving boards from the discarded floor of an Ole Miss gymnasium.

Proceeds support scholarships for students in the Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence.

“Our lives were changed as the recipients of college scholarships, and for many students, it’s the only way higher education is possible,” the Napiers say.

Proceeds from the event will support Women’s Council student programming.

Since its launch in 2000, the Women’s Council has built an endowment of more than $22 million. Forty-one scholars currently receive scholarships of $40,000, paid at $10,000 annually over four years.

More than 200 students have received the awards, which provide mentoring, leadership development and opportunities for travel, study abroad and cultural engagement.

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from the Circle

Subtle Signals THE QUIETER WARNING SIGNS OF HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN

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om e n are of t e n u rge d t o “know their numbers” and protect their hearts. But many women still don’t recognize when their own bodies signal trouble because heart disease in women often looks different from expected.

jaw, shortness of breath, nausea and cold sweats. Those symptoms occur in both men and women, McMullan says, but women often experience something different.

“They are more likely to have subtle or atypical symptoms that don’t fit the

Photo courtesy of UMMC

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men, higher than all forms of cancer combined,” says Dr. Michael McMullan (MD 91), chief of the Division of Cardiology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

“Yet many women don’t realize their risk is just as high as men’s.”

Women are just as likely to die from heart disease as men, and the risk rises sharply after menopause. Still, many underestimate their vulnerability and delay care until serious damage has occurred.

Most people recognize the classic warning signs of a heart attack: chest pressure, pain radiating to the arm or 14

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traditional picture,” he says.

Instead of crushing chest pain, a woman may experience persistent fatigue, discomfort in the neck, jaw or upper back, shortness of breath without chest pain, nausea or even a vague sense of anxiety or dread.

Because these symptoms resemble stress, indigestion or exhaustion, they are often dismissed by patients and sometimes even by clinicians, delaying diagnosis and treatment.

Women develop the same plaque blockages in arteries as men, but they are also more likely to experience conditions that do not appear clearly on traditional tests.

One such condition, microvascular disease, affects the heart’s smallest blood vessels and can cause chest pain through spasms and reduced blood flow. Another is spontaneous coronary artery dissection, or SCAD, a tear in the artery wall that can occur in younger, otherwise healthy women. “ These conditions don’t always appear on standard imaging the way classic blockages do,” McMullan says.

Hormones also play a role in women’s cardiovascular health.

“Estrogen provides a degree of natural protection by helping keep blood vessels flexible and supporting healthy cholesterol levels,” he says. “After menopause, estrogen levels drop significantly, and the risk of heart disease rises quickly.”

Many risk factors are shared by both men and women, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and family history. However, some factors carr y greater risk for women.

Diabetes increases heart disease risk more in women than in men, and smoking can be particularly damaging to women’s arteries. Autoimmune disorders, which are more common in women, also contribute to higher cardiovascular risk.

Pregnancy history can also provide early warning signs.

“Pregnancy can act as an early stress test for the heart,” McMullan says.

“Complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy are now recognized as predictors of future heart disease.”

Symptoms that could indicate a heart attack require immediate medical attention.

“Chest pressure, sudden breathlessness, nausea, sweating, pain in the jaw, neck or upper back, and unusual fatigue or anxiety should never be brushed off,” McMullan says.

from the Circle UM NAMES BRADLEY BAKER DEAN OF STUDENTS

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he University of Mississippi named Bradley Baker (BA 05, MA the student experience, including the Office of Fraternity and Sorority 10) as assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of Life, the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union, the Office of Conflict students, appointing a longtime student affairs leader known Resolution and Student Conduct, UMatter: Student Support and Advofor his student support and steady leadership during cacy, and Confidential Advocacy, Support and Education. complex campus issues.

Baker’s leadership stood out to Shawnboda Mead An Olive Branch native, Baker began the role (EdD 19), vice chancellor for student affairs.

Jan. 12 after serving as interim dean of students “He leads with care and clear expectations,” since Sept. 2, 2025. He was selected following Mead says. “Bradley brings fairness and cona national search that included feedback sistency to hard decisions, and he builds trust from the campus and Oxford community. across campus.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to During his time as interim, Baker says he serve my alma mater,” Baker says. “Ole Miss learned the importance of clear communicahas shaped my life in profound ways, and tion and collaboration, whether addressing I’ve long admired how this role supports sturoutine policy questions or more complex dents both inside and outside the classroom. issues involving student well-being.

“Students can expect someone who is “As a student leader, I’m excited to see Bradley accessible, visible and supportive. Whether celBaker named dean of students,” says Jack Jones, ebrating their successes or helping them navigate Associated Student Body president and a senior public Bradley Baker challenges, my goal is to ensure every student knows policy leadership major from Murray, Kentucky. “Mr. they have someone in their corner.”

Baker is a true champion for students, and I’m confident As dean of students, Baker will oversee several areas that shape he will be the kind of dean our students deserve.”

Global Gamers OLE MISS ESPORTS SCORES BIG AT WORLD TOURNAMENT

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niversity of Mississippi students placed among the top teams in an international esports tournament held in Sydney, Australia.

Ten Ole Miss Esports members competed in January at the world competition. As a team, they finished No. 1 among U.S. contingents and No. 4 overall.

The invitation-only competition included matches across multiple games as well as a business pitch competition, a debate and a game design challenge.

“Pairing academics and esports showed our students another side of what we do in this department,” says John McDermott, director of the esports program. “Some people think esports is just playing video games, but there are many more layers to it — building connections, pitching ideas and collaborating with students from other cultures.”

After a week of competition, Ole Miss students finished No. 1 in League of Legends, second in Rocket League, third in

debate and sixth in game design. The team also tied for fourth and fifth in Valorant.

Bradley Benneyworth, a junior computer science major from Panama City Beach, Florida, joined Ole Miss Esports after competing professionally in League of Legends.

“I’m getting to meet new faces at my school that I’ll be playing alongside and working with, while also getting to travel somewhere I haven’t been and play with people across the globe,” he says.

The tournament also included time for students to explore Sydney and experience Australian culture. Students visited the city’s zoo, harbor, botanical gardens and opera house.

Cason Logas, a graduate student in computer science from Dallas, developed a civilization-building game for the design competition despite having no prior game design experience.

“It was a blast,” he says. “And it was amazing meeting people from so many

Ole Miss Esports team member Anna Marie Turner prepares for a League of Legends match at the Academic Esports World Tournament in Sydney, Australia. | Photo courtesy John McDermott

different areas of the globe and seeing how they think about the games.”

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from the Circle

Sound Science OLE MISS, USM USE ACOUSTICS TO MONITOR COASTAL THREATS

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hen a motorboat cuts across the ocean or a helicopter flies overhead, it leaves a sonic signature. Mississippi researchers recently teamed up to test sensors designed to detect and analyze those signals in real time, potentially offering a new way to monitor coastal threats.

This technology could inform national defense, commercial shipping and coastal resilience efforts.

“This collaboration demonstrates the strength of Mississippi’s innovation ecosystem,” says Nathan Murray (MS 03, PhD 06), director of the National Center for Physical Acoustics. “Working

Wayne Prather (second from left), principal scientist at the university’s National Center for Physical Acoustics, gathers with Harley Garrett (third from left), a master’s student in computer science, and other Ole Miss students during an acoustics demonstration on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. | Submitted photo

Students and researchers from the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi recently joined Mississippi companies Hyperion Technology Group and BLUEiQ on the Gulf Coast to try out new acoustic sensors.

The sensors, loaded onto autonomous watercraft, use sound to detect boats, aircraft and underwater activity.

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together across institutions and with private industry, we are able to move research from concept to application more quickly.”

The test, coordinated by the USM Marine Research Center, used SeaTrac’s unmanned watercraft along with Hyperion’s acoustic sensors and BLUEiQ’s underwater hydrophones to capture sound both above and below the waterline

in different coastal environments.

“Water covers nearly 75% of the earth, but we can perceive far less about our environment there,” says Wayne Prather, principal scientist at the National Center for Physical Acoustics.

“In the ocean, there could be a submarine beneath me and I’d never know it. That’s what all this is about: improving our ability to be aware of what’s going on in the environment.”

The acoustics center led the project’s acoustic modeling and signal analysis, helping the team distinguish meaningful targets from background ocean noise such as waves, weather and other ambient sounds.

“Anytime you put sensors into the environment, you have to understand the noise of the environment,” Prather says. “If you want to record birds chirping, are you going to do that in a quiet forest or in the center of Manhattan?

That’s why we need to understand background noise.”

By combining information from sensors above and below the waterline, researchers can determine both the type of sound and its location.

“For ocean-based detection, acoustics has often been limited to either underwater or air detection alone,” Prather says. “But if you detect a signal both in the air and underwater, you can determine how far away it is.”

The technology could eventually help track suspicious vessels, monitor commercial traffic and improve safety in busy shipping lanes. “ This project highlights the importance of collaboration between universities, industry and federal partners to accelerate innovation through technology demonstrations,” says Brian Cuevas, USM associate vice president for research and innovation.

“These demonstrations are essential for rapidly identifying solutions to meet the mission-critical needs of our war fighters and federal agencies.”

Pre-Order Now! Publication date: May 15, 2026 n Limited Press Run

“Ole Miss football is the most compelling story in the sport today!”

Paul Finebaum, ESPN Relive every moment of “the greatest story in college football” — from the emergence of Trinidad to a coach abandoning his team headed into the College Football Playoff, from the selection of a new, unassuming head coach to the Rebels’ sensational playoff run, and from building one of the nation’s top transfer portal classes to a Mississippi judge lambasting the NCAA. All this and more — illustrated with stunning photographs to capture every climactic scene on and off the field.

Pre-Order at NautilusPublishing.com/store or at these ne bookstores

8.5” x 11” Hardcover • 144 pages • 200 photographs • ISBN: 978-1-949455-83-0 • $45 • Limited press run

from the Circle

Law in Orbit REAL-LIFE SPACE RANGERS STUDY AT UM LAW SCHOOL

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n “Toy Story,” Buzz Lightyear boldly declares his mission “to infinity and beyond.” But real-world space activities require something Buzz never needed: lawyers trained to navigate the legal complexities of Earth’s newest operational domain.

At the University of Mississippi School of Law, the Center for Air and Space Law has spent decades training attorneys to address those challenges.

As activity in space expands from exploration to sustained operations, demand for lawyers with specialized air and space law expertise has grown, particularly in national security and defense.

“Space is no longer aspirational; it’s operational,” says Michelle Hanlon, executive director of the Center for Air and Space Law. “That shift changes the legal questions dramatically — from how we interpret treaties to how we advise commanders making real-time decisions.

“Our program exists because those decisions need lawyers who understand

both the law and the domain.”

Ole Miss offers the nation’s only Master of Laws degree in air and space law. Traditionally, the program prepared attorneys for careers in the aerospace industry, but in recent years it has taken on an expanded role training military lawyers.

The U.S. Air Force began sending judge advocate generals, or JAGs, to Ole Miss in 2019 for specialized training related to air and space operations. After the creation of the U.S. Space Force later that year, the program became increasingly important in preparing military attorneys for legal issues tied to space as a national security domain.

Graduates have gone on to serve in roles such as advising the chief of space operations at the Pentagon, working with U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Space Command, teaching air and space law at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and serving as legal advisers for Space Operations Command, Space Training and Readiness Command and Space Forces – Space.

Demand for attorneys trained in the complexities of air and space law has grown tremendously in the decades since astronaut William Anders captured this image of the Earth rising above the moon during his Apollo 8 mission. | NASA photo 18

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Aaron Brynildson

Some alumni return to Oxford to help train the next generation of space lawyers.

R e t i re d A i r Forc e Maj. Aaron Brynildson (LLM 23), who previously worked with U.S. Space Command and the U.S. Space Force, now serves as an instructor and executive editor for the Journal of Space Law. “I loved my time as a JAG at Ole Miss, so when the opportunity to train future lawyers for the Space Force came up, I jumped at the chance,” Brynildson says.

Students in the program study national aviation law, national and international space law, and emerging legal issues involving military, commercial and government space activities before completing a thesis on a related topic.

U.S. Space Force Maj. Timothy Sutherland (LLM 24), now a legal adviser for the National Space Defense Center, credits the program with preparing him for the role.

“The program provided me with a deep and rich understanding of the complexities of international law and policy in space,” Sutherland says.

“My studies at Ole Miss provided me with a strong foundation that I apply daily in my NSDC role.”

Calendar

Commencement: A Toast to Graduates MAY 9

Photo by Annie Rhoades

MAY

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, 9, 16, 23, 30 Sketchbook Saturdays: All skill levels and ages are welcome to enjoy a self-guided sketching session using the UM Museum’s free sketch materials (first-come, first-served) or your own supplies. UM Museum, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (drop-in).

Visit olemiss.edu/museum.

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, 9, 16, 23, 30 Art Start Kits: Art Start Kits make creativity easy! Just take a kit and create your project at the museum or at home. Each kit includes all the special supplies and inspiration you need for a fun, hands-on art experience. UM Museum, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (drop-in). Visit olemiss.edu/museum.

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Commencement: School of Nursing.

Ford Center, 6 p.m. Visit olemiss.edu/ commencement.

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Commencement: Business Administration – Master’s Awards Ceremony. Ford Center, 9:30 a.m. Visit olemiss.edu/commencement.

Commencement: College of Liberal Arts – Master’s Award Ceremony.

Ford Center, noon. Visit olemiss.edu/ commencement.

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Commencement: School of Applied Sciences – Master’s Award Ceremony. SJB Pavilion, 3:30 p.m. Visit olemiss.edu/commencement.

Commencement: School of Law. SJB Pavilion, 3:30 p.m. Visit olemiss.edu/ commencement.

Commencement: Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. SJB Pavilion, 7 p.m. Visit olemiss.edu/commencement.

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Commencement: School of Education. SJB Pavilion, 9 a.m.

Visit olemiss.edu/commencement.

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Commencement: School of Engineering. SJB Pavilion, noon.

Visit olemiss.edu/commencement.

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Commencement: Graduate School Doctoral Hooding. SJB Pavilion, 6 p.m. Visit olemiss.edu/commencement.

Commencement: School of Pharmacy. SJB Pavilion, 11 a.m.

Visit olemiss.edu/commencement.

Commencement: School of Journalism and New Media. SJB Pavilion, 3 p.m. Visit olemiss.edu/commencement.

Commencement: College of Liberal Arts. SJB Pavilion, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemiss.edu/commencement.

Calendar

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Commencement: Convocation.

The Grove, 9 a.m. Visit olemiss.edu/ commencement.

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Commencement: A Toast to Graduates. The Ole Miss Alumni Association invites its members from the Class of 2026 to a reception in their honor featuring photo opportunities and commemorative champagne flutes.

Triplett Alumni Center front lawn, 9-11 a.m. Register at olemissalumni. com/events.

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Commencement: General Studies.

Ford Center, 11 a.m. Visit olemiss. edu/commencement.

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Commencement: School of Applied Sciences. SJB Pavilion, 11 a.m. Visit olemiss.edu/commencement.

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Commencement: Patterson School of Accountancy. SJB Pavilion, 2:30 p.m. Visit olemiss.edu/commencement.

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Commencement: School of Business Administration. SJB Pavilion, 5:30 p.m. Visit olemiss.edu/commencement.

DFW Golf Tournament: Bear Creek Golf Club, Dallas, 8 a.m. start. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.

Young Alumni Council: Dallas Young Alumni Happy Hour. Stan’s Blue Note, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemissalumni. com/events.

JUNE

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Young Alumni: Rebels Relocate – Washington, D.C., Mission Navy Yard, 6-9 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/ events.

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Mississippi in the Park: Hudson River Park in New York City, noon-4 p.m.

Mississippians in the city and anyone with a Mississippi connection are invited for a day of fun on the Hudson River. Email mississippisocietynyc@gmail.com.

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Mississippi on the Mall: Henry Bacon Ball Field on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., 2-6 p.m. The 35th annual picnic will feature Mississippi farm-raised catfish, beverages and live music. Email info@mississippisociety.org.

DFW Golf Tournament MAY 9

Young Alumni: Rebels Relocate – Houston. Kirby Ice House, the Heights, 5-7 p.m. Visit olemissalumni. com/events.

Young Alumni: Rebels Relocate – Memphis. Loflin Yard, 2-4 p.m.

Visit olemissalumni.com/events.

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Young Alumni: Rebels Relocate – Dallas. Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins. Globe Life Field, first pitch at 7:05 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/ events.

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Nashville Golf Tournament: Location TBD, 8 a.m. Email rbuchanan@crcgroup.com.

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Houston Golf Tournament: Wildcat Golf Club, 8 a.m. Email rebeccadonaldsontv@gmail.com.

JULY

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UM Law Alumni Luncheon: Annual meeting of the Mississippi Bar. Mary Mahoney’s Old French House in Biloxi, noon-1 p.m. Tickets available through the Mississippi Bar. Call 662-915-1878 or email scott@ olemissalumni.com.

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Young Alumni: Rebels Relocate – New York City. Downtown Social, 6 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/ events.

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Atlanta Summer Sendoff: Dunwoody North Driving Club, 4 p.m. Email smoss.olemiss@gmail.com or smbierman87@gmail.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.

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How a fractured campus found its strength in the thaw Introduction by Jim Urbanek Contributors: Marisa C. Atkinson, Carter Diggs, Clara Turnage Photographers: Kevin Bain, Olivia Cangelosi, Srijita Chattopadhyay, Jack Kirkland, Hunt Mercier

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canopy defines the skyline of the University of Mississippi — a sprawling, leafy architecture of ancient oaks and elms that has shaded generations of scholars. But in the wake of Winter Storm Fern, the campus stood as a landscape transformed — not by the usual gentle change of seasons, but by a fracture that redefined the skyline of Oxford and the surrounding areas. Yet, as the rhythmic buzz of chainsaws replaced the eerie silence of the ice, a different kind of architecture emerged: one of absolute, unyielding community resilience.

Background image created with Adobe Firefly

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he statistics of the catastrophe are staggering. An estimated 100,000 cubic yards of debris — enough to fill a professional football stadium — littered the grounds. For two weeks, the university stood still. But behind the frozen glass of residence hall windows and the darkened corridors of the Lyceum, a small army of staff members labored around the clock to keep the heart of Ole Miss beating.

The Night the Canopy Cracked

The crisis begins in earnest at 11 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24. As a thick glaze of ice coats every vertical surface, the sound of snapping pine limbs on Poole Drive signals the start of a marathon for the Department of Facilities Management. Charles “Toby” Bowen and his high-voltage crew don rain suits and safety gear, stepping into a night defined by the sounds of failing infrastructure.

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Bowen says the calls of downed trees came faster than his team could resolve them, recalling the sensory overload of the storm’s peak. Explosions from fuses popping across campus combine with the crackle of “thundersleet,” including lightning that illuminates a freezing sky.

The conditions become so severe that the mechanical arm of a bucket truck freezes solid, trapping a worker 15 feet in the air. The team members must manually disconnect hydraulic components in the freezing rain to lower their colleague to safety.

By the early hours of Sunday, the “big glow” of Oxford dims. More than 24,000 residents in the surrounding county lose power as a full inch of ice accumulates.

On campus, the university’s generation plant is crippled, operating at only 25% capacity. Despite 16-hour shifts and an average of only two hours of sleep for supervisors such as Matt Klow, the university goes dark.

Cooking in the Dark

While the outside world freezes, the spirit of the university remains centered in the Paul B. Johnson Commons.

Inside, a skeleton crew of 11 from Ole Miss Dining Services performs what is being hailed as a herculean feat of service.

Cr ystal Jones, residential food service manager, and Michael Gillespie, a student and supervisor, wake up to find Rebel Market without electricity.

With only gas-powered equipment and sheer grit, they set to work in a cramped 9-foot section of the kitchen. Using just one flattop griddle, one grill and five stovetop burners, the team cooks in the dark, illuminated only by flashlights and emergency lanterns.

The numbers tell a story of defiance.

On that Sunday, when the worst of Fern’s grip paralyzes campus, the team serves 3,300 meals — nearly 1,000 more than Rebel Market typically serves

on its busiest academic days. For the thousands of students stuck in residence halls, many of whom are from other countries or out of state and cannot leave, this is more than just a meal; it is a vital sign of life and a reminder that they are not forgotten.

“Our team understands that when weather closes most things down, dining becomes even more essential,” says Amy Greenwood Anderson, marketing manager for Dining Services. “For many students, campus is home. We have to be there.”

Loss of Living Landmarks

When the thaw finally begins on Jan. 27, the physical cost of the storm is laid bare. The university’s legendary canopy is scarred in ways that will take decades to fully heal. Nathan Lazinsky, director of the Department of Landscape Services, describes the scene as the remnants of a “frozen tornado.”

For Lazinsky, a 15-year veteran who has personally planted many of the trees on campus, the sight is emotional. After spending days clearing his own driveway with a chainsaw to escape his Lafayette County home, he arrives on campus to find his life’s work in splinters.

“When I first pulled onto campus, I was upset,” Lazinsky says. “I’ve seen a lot of trees I planted [that] had damage to them.”

The casua lt ies include s e vera l s t or i e d l a n d m a r k s . Tw o h i s t or i c willow oaks near Johnson Commons, planted in 1932 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to honor George and Martha Washington, are among the hardest hit. Weakened by age and the sheer weight of the ice, the almost century-old oaks are deemed a safety risk and must be cut. In the Circle, near historic Ventress Hall, shattered trunks remain as grim reminders of the storm’s weight.

Yet, a silver lining exists. Thanks to years of proactive, preventive pruning by university arborists, 95% of the campus trees survive the storm. This includes the university’s two state champion trees: the northern catalpa near the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union and the Osage orange near the UM Museum.

Rise of the Second Responders

Beyond the campus gates, the storm eras es the “ imaginar y b oundar y” between the university and the Oxford community. What Betsy Chapman, director of the Oxford Community Market, initially imagines as a smallscale relief effort quickly evolves into a massive, decentralized network of “second responders.”

Partnering with the Oxford Community Market, local churches, and groups such as Lovepacks and More Than A Meal, the university helps coordinate a relief effort that serves more than S PR I NG 2026

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3,000 families across 700 square miles of Lafayette County. The scale of the outreach is unprecedented: Volunteers distribute 15,000 hot meals, 5,000 hygiene packs, 62 generators and 4,000 gallons of propane to those still trapped without power or heat.

“Lafayette County is about 700 square miles, and it’s like a 700-squaremile EF2 tornado hit our county at the same time,” says Beau Moore, county emergency management director.

For the volunteers, the work is exhausting but clarifying.

“S e e i n g t h e c o m mu n i t y c o m e together ... it shows that we are all in this together,” Chapman says.

The university even hosts a drivethrough dinner at Oxford Middle School, where helpers hand out 2,000 free chicken tender meals to residents, supported by donations from McAlister’s Deli and the Cajun Navy.

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A Campus Reborn

By Monday, Feb. 9, the university officially resumes classes. The two-week hiatus ends, and while the landscape is forever altered, the rhythm of academic life returns with a newfound sense of gratitude.

Near the Trent Lott Leadership Institute, students walk past towering piles of crepe myrtle debris that line the sidewalks. In the Grove, contract workers are already planting new saplings to replace the fallen trees. The strategy for the future is rooted in the lessons of the present: Arborists are opting for sturdier willow oaks over “finicky” water oaks, ensuring that the future canopy is built to withstand the next Fern.

The university administration works closely with the U.S. Department of Education to modify the spring calendar, shortening the semester to ensure students maintain their spring break and

graduate on schedule. It is a logistical victory that matches the physical recovery happening on the ground.

As the morning light grazes the white columns of the Lyceum, the resilience of the community mirrors the enduring spirit of the university’s alma mater. The branches may be lower for now, and the scars may be visible, but the mission of the University of Mississippi remains unshaken.

“You’re putting your signature on everything you do out here,” Lazinsky tells his staff members as they plant the first of the new oaks. “That’s your legacy.”

The recovery from Winter Storm Fern is far from over — estimates suggest months will pass before the “campus aesthetic” returns to normal. But for the students, faculty and staff who lived through the freeze, the story is no longer about the ice that fell but about the community that rose to meet it.

Introducing The Ole Miss Alumni Association Wine Club

Crafted in Wine Country.

Rooted in Ole Miss.

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ooted 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.

Patrick Krutz (BBA 01) founded Krutz Family Cellars in 2003.

Now shipping to Mississippi!

To join, scan the QR code or go to olemissalumni.com/wineclub.

Sponsored By

WE SHIP THE SIP.

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Alumna oversees major business areas for NFL

By Annie Rhoades

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n a spring afternoon in Oxford, the steps of Farley Hall are bustling with students heading to class. For alumna Renie Anderson (BA 97), who graduated with dreams of one day writing screenplays and winning an Oscar, these steps were the launching pad to a very different stage: the executive suites of the National Football League.

“I absolutely didn’t know [my] job existed,” she laughs. “If you had told 1993 freshman me, living on the third floor of Martin Hall, that I’d be working on Park Avenue for the NFL, I would’ve thought you were insane.”

The NFL executive vice president and chief revenue officer grew up in Morganfield, Kentucky, a small farming community where her father raised soybeans, winter wheat and corn. Her life revolved around the Union County Braves and closeknit friends who remain in her life today.

“I loved growing up in Kentucky,” she recalls. “But I wanted something that was just far enough away that I wouldn’t be home every day.”

Anderson left rural Kentucky and headed south to Ole Miss, drawn to the strength of its journalism program.

“Ole Miss had an incredible journalism school, and I wanted to write,” she says. “I wanted to be a storyteller.

Farley Hall became my home.”

Renie Anderson (left); Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner; Elliott Hill, CEO of Nike; and Ann Miller, executive vice president of Global Sports Marketing for Nike, at the NFL and Nike partnership extension on Dec. 11, 2024, in Dallas.

Photos courtesy of Renie Anderson

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At Ole Miss, she immersed herself in campus life — studying in the Grove, walking to Rowan Oak and joining Pi Beta Phi Fraternity. Her passion for storytelling deepened through the Chancellor’s Leadership Class, where she heard lectures from notable authors such as alumnus John Grisham (JD 81).

“He used to have his office at the Burns-Belfry Church, and you could go there and he would sign books,” Anderson recalls. “I always thought it was super fascinating with his background as a lawyer, that he had this incredible ability to turn that into storytelling.”

With journalism at the forefront of her future, an internship in the sports department unexpectedly expanded her horizons.

CAREER CALLING

“I didn’t even know working in sports was a job,” she admits. “Helping with the first Midnight Madness for Ole Miss basketball was a turning point. I loved telling stories — and that translated into the world of sports without me even realizing it.”

After graduating in 1997, Anderson moved to California in pursuit of screenwriting dreams. However, reality arrived in the form of a receptionist job. Her break came as personal and professional assistant to David Baker, then commissioner of the Arena Football League.

“My first day, he said, ‘I need you to do three things: balance my checkbook, pick up my dry cleaning and call all 32 NFL owners to see if they want to buy arena football teams.’

And then he handed me the list,” she says.

Anderson with New York Giants and former Ole Miss quarterbacks Eli Manning (BBA 03) and Jaxson Dart (BA 25) at the NFL-Breitling sponsor event held on Aug. 27 in New York City.

“I looked at him in total dismay. He said, ‘Fake it till you make it, kid.’ So, I thought, do I go to the dry cleaners, or do I call Jerry Jones?”

She did both. For six years, Anderson rose through the AFL ranks, learning sponsorships, licensing and consumer products under mentors. In 2006, the NFL came calling, recruiting her as manager of new business. Her first task?

Selling the presenting sponsorship of the Super Bowl halftime show.

“It was trial by fire, but I learned quickly,” she says. “If you can sell orange juice, you can sell lemonade. Business is business — you just have to know how to package it. And the NFL is an incredible product.”

ENTERING THE NFL

Anderson, daughters Callie and Kate, and husband Chris McCloskey tailgate in the Grove before the Ole Miss vs. Tulane game on Sept. 20 last year.

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Over nearly 20 years, Anderson climbed the NFL’s ranks, moving from manager to executive vice president and chief revenue officer. Today, she oversees four major business areas: sponsorship, consumer products and licensing, ad sales and legalized sports betting. Her days are fast-paced and never the same.

“One day I’m talking to Nike about new rivalry uniforms, the next I’m working on the integration of the hardware and technology on the field for the Microsoft Surface tablet and the Sony headsets that our coaches use on the sideline,” she explains. “Then there’s the Super Bowl halftime show, presented by Apple Music — talking about press events, talent and production. Or I’m in meetings about a game that’s going to happen in Australia at the start of the season.”

Longtime friend and NFL colleague Tracie Rodburg says she and the “consummate professional and fantastic leader” have formed a bond.

“She sees the big picture and understands the point of view of all the different stakeholders,” Rodburg says. “She has [this] amazing skill of bringing ideas and differences together. We could not do our jobs in a silo, and where [Anderson] is so

good is at bridging departments and projects and people together for a common goal.

“You want to follow her vision, you trust in her, and that is what makes her so successful. If she sets her mind to something, she can accomplish it.”

Anderson never dreamed that a career growing revenue for the National Football League would come from her journalism degree.

“I have a giant calculator on my desk, and I’m terrible at math,” she jokes. “But I’m relatively good at making money.”

She credits her success in large part to teamwork and self-awareness.

“Part of leadership is understanding your strengths and areas that maybe you’re not as great at,” she says. “One of the areas where I’m not as strong is the accounting side, but the good news is, I know the guy who’s great at that here at the NFL. We make a great team.”

Anderson, pictured with Goodell, receives the WISE Woman of the Year Award on June 22, 2016, in New York City.

BORN TO LEAD

While interest in working in the industry is high, the jobs available are few.

“There are so many people who want to work in sports, and not a lot of these jobs exist,” she says. “Networking and internships are crucial. Be confident in what you know, but just as confident in what you don’t know. Self-awareness and the willingness to learn make all the difference.”

Anderson enjoys returning to Oxford to visit her daughter, Callie, a freshman at Ole Miss, and to mentor students in the growing journalism and integrated marketing communications programs.

Her advice to students is simple: Get experience, volunteer and stay curious.

NFL colleagues Doug Paoletti (left), Tracie Rodburg and Rachel Margolies with Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Anderson and the NFL’s Monica Gimlet and Anthony Cardillo at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime performance in Miami.

“I see so many future leaders there,” she says. “The best is yet to come for those students. Be confident in your ability to learn — and that doesn’t stop once you get a job. Also, know that you don’t have to be in sports marketing to work in sports. You can have a variety of experience. It takes a village to build an entire ecosystem to support the National Football League.”

Anderson credits her parents for her work ethic and determination.

“I’m very blessed because both of my parents are hard workers,” she enthuses. “My dad’s a farmer, and my mom was on the school board. They were focused and driven, and they taught me to strive for excellence.”

She also cites mentors David Baker and Glenn Horine in her early career, and at the NFL, colleagues such as Brian Rolapp and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “[Renie] Anderson has risen rapidly through the NFL’s ranks,” Goodell says. “She is creative, strategic and fun to be around, with a deep understanding of our game and business.

It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch [her] grow.

“From early on, she showed strong instincts, great work ethic and a drive to take on more responsibility. As chief revenue officer, [she] plays an invaluable role within the NFL’s leadership team. [She] leads in a highly collaborative way — empowering her team and encouraging new ideas. She is a mentor and friend to many, and we are lucky to have her.”

Anderson commutes by train from her home in Darien, Connecticut, to NFL headquarters in New York City. She travels frequently for league business, from the Super Bowl to the NFL Draft, and is deeply involved in shaping the league’s future.

“The business of sports and media is constantly evolving,” she says. “I want to make sure I’m always learning and making sure I have a seat at the table, while also helping others get a seat at the table through mentoring.”

As for whether she envisioned this life — she still marvels.

“Sometimes I step off the train, walk to the NFL offices on Park Avenue, and I can’t believe I get to do this,” she says.

“It’s crazy. But I wouldn’t change it for a second, and I am so thankful for it every day.”

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JAW IN A DAY

Photos courtesy of Dr. Jeffrey Brooks

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Alumnus helps revolutionize jaw reconstruction

By Brian Hudgins

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atients who need jaw reconstruction due to a jaw malformation, injury or cancer previously endured a lengthy, multistep journey that required surgeries over many months or years.

Dr. Jeffrey Brooks (BA 84, DMD 88) and his colleagues have used their skills and high-tech tools to whittle the process down considerably.

The surgery, known as “Jaw in a Day,” enables doctors to remove diseased or damaged bone and reconstruct a jaw by using the patient’s own bone — often from the fibula — and place dental implants in the same operation. In many cases, the patient wakes up from surgery with a new jaw and a functional set of teeth already in place.

“This is made possible through advanced 3D imaging, virtual surgical planning and close collaboration among surgeons, prosthodontists and biomedical engineers,” says Brooks, professor and chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry.

SURGICAL STRIDES

Long before Brooks made those surgical strides in Tennessee, he grew up in Magee. His father was a dentist, and his interest in dentistry grew during his undergraduate years at the University of Mississippi.

“Ole Miss provided an environment that emphasized both academic rigor and meaningful mentorship,” Brooks says.

“Through those experiences, I became increasingly interested in health care and the surgical sciences.”

One part of the intraoperative Jaw in a Day Brooks met his wife in dental school at UMMC. He said procedure takes place. the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery appealed to him because of the variety of disciplines involved.

“It sits at the intersection of dentistry, medicine and surgery,” Brooks says. “We treat conditions ranging from facial trauma and pathology to reconstructive surgery and complex dental rehabilitation. That combination of technical precision, problem solving and the opportunity to dramatically improve a patient’s quality of life made it a natural fit for me.”

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istorically, patients undergoing jaw reconstruction faced multiple operations and extended periods without teeth, which affected facial structure and the ability to eat and speak. “(Previously), the jaw reconstruction had to heal,” Brooks says. “Then there was a whole other process — the plan for placement of dental implants. Dentists had to put the teeth on top of the implant. Through virtual surgical planning, now everything is 3D printed.”

Whereas putting together simulated models for patients used to take a year or two, doctors now know exactly where to cut the fibula during a jaw reconstruction-based bone transfer.

Before those cuts are made, the denture has already been printed, creating a single procedure.

“The process was less predictable before, and you would get less desirable results,” Brooks says. “When you plan it all at once virtually, you know the placement is correct.”

The technology needed to 3D print all the elements is relatively new — available within the last year and a half or so.

“We have done pieces and parts of this for some time, five or six years ago,” Brooks says. “But we didn’t have the ability to 3D print dentures. If someone previously had a tumor in the mandible, they would come out missing all of their teeth. That is somewhat debilitating. Some are young patients. This is a much better outcome.”

The surgical response requires extensive preoperative planning. Advanced imaging and computer software are used to plan every step of a surgery before the team enters an operating room.

“Custom cutting guides and implants are designed specifically for the patient,” Brooks says. “During the procedure, multiple surgical teams may work simultaneously — one preparing the jaw while another harvests the donor bone.”

Dr. Brett Wilson, associate professor and program director in the UT Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, trained under Brooks and calls him a mentor and colleague.

Both have witnessed the advances of the past few years.

“Now, we start with the ideal position of the teeth during treatment planning and move backwards from there,” Wilson says. “We can now plan and virtually perform the surgery with a biomedical engineer before we ever get to the operating room. We no longer have to fit the patient to what we have. We can customize what we have to fit the patient, and we can do it with extreme accuracy.”

In addition to the virtual walkthrough, surgeons evaluate the scenario.

“Beyond making sure the tumor is completely removed, the main question we answer during treatment planning is how we can provide our patients with a reconstruction that is functional, aesthetic and can withstand the test of time,” Wilson says. “We aren’t just replacing teeth. We are replacing bone and soft tissue, as well. How we go about replacing those components plays a significant role in our ability to successfully replace the teeth.”

The first time all those moving parts were tested in Tennessee was on April 26, 2024, at Methodist University Hospital near the UT Health Science Center campus. James Wynn, a 17-year-old Memphian, had received a benign tumor 34

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diagnosis. Despite the noncancerous nature of the tumor, its increasing size was severely damaging both his facial bones and teeth.

Some specific factors worked in Wynn’s favor to make him a strong candidate for the Jaw in a Day operation. He was 17 and enjoyed good overall health before the benign tumor appeared. Surgeons first removed the tumor, the upper jaw and the bottom of the eye socket before they cut the fibula to provide a new jaw structure.

Brooks and Wilson placed corresponding dental implants into the bone. After surgeons attached the fibula to Wynn’s face, Brooks attached the prosthetic teeth to the dental implants. The team moved through each part of the surgery without complications. The result: Wynn returned home less than a week after surgery.

When the surgery is a complex jaw reconstruction, Brooks points out that the biggest benefit is the impact on a patient’s quality of life. Jaw in a Day helps people regain facial structure, speech and the ability to eat much sooner than previous methods.

“Beyond the functional benefits, there is also a profound psychological impact,” Brooks says. “Restoring someone’s face and smile in a single stage can be life-changing.”

Brooks with his wife, Robin (DMD 88), in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

MISSISSIPPI IS HOME

Brooks credits his eight years at Ole Miss — as an undergraduate in Oxford and dental student at UMMC — as the building blocks that put him in position to perform complex procedures.

“The university fosters a culture where relationships with faculty members and mentors truly matter,” Brooks says.

“Several professors took a genuine interest in my development, and those conversations helped solidify my desire to pursue a career in health care.”

The School of Dentistry provided the clinical and scientific foundation that led Brooks to oral and maxillofacial surgery.

“The institution places a strong emphasis on clinical competence,” he says. “That exposure to patient care early in

Brooks (right), with his wife, Robin, son Travis (BAccy 13, MAccy 14) and daughter-in-law Nicki (BAEd 14) on a football game day in front of the Triplett Alumni Center

training is incredibly valuable. I had the opportunity to work alongside surgeons and faculty who demonstrated the level of precision and commitment required in surgical practice.”

The lessons learned inspired Brooks to embrace continuous learning and innovation. Academic and clinical training helped him develop the confidence to adopt new technologies and push the boundaries of what is possible in surgery.

For Ole Miss undergraduates interested in pursuing health care or dentistry careers, Brooks notes two necessities: Focus on building a strong academic foundation and seek out mentors early.

“The relationships you build with faculty and advisers can shape your career in meaningful ways.”

Remaining open to opportunities is another key.

“Many students begin with one idea of what they want to do and later discover a specialty that excites them even more,” Brooks says, adding that health care is ultimately about service.

“Technical skill is important, but compassion, integrity and dedication to patients are what truly define a successful career.”

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE

Wilson has witnessed Brooks’ work daily and how it helps shape future leaders in medicine.

“Dr. Brooks has helped establish a high level of excellence within our program,” Wilson says. “His leadership and guidance are the very reasons I am the program director of the residency program today. As chairman of our department, he has ensured that I continue to have everything at my disposal to train our residents. The ability to implement advanced surgical techniques directly impacts my ability to do exactly that.”

Wilson cites Brooks’ work more than a decade ago as a

main reason why the University of Tennessee Health Science Center was able to stay ahead of the curve on technological advances. The clinic used 3D printers in planning long before the current trend.

“We were performing our own virtual surgical planning for complex facial trauma, pathology and reconstruction cases,” Wilson says. “We would use our planning to 3D print patients’ skulls and jaws to expedite treatment in the operating room and ultimately improve patient care.

“The crazy thing is we didn’t have biomedical engineers or third-party companies doing our planning and printing.

It was all done entirely within our clinic and directly through Dr. Brooks. When it comes to these incredibly complex cases, experience is something that you just cannot buy.”

In addition to his academic leadership, Brooks serves as service head for the oral and maxillofacial surgery team at Regional One Health’s Level I trauma center, where he and his team routinely treat complex facial injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents, violence and other traumatic events. The trauma center serves as a regional referral hub for patients throughout north Mississippi, west Tennessee and east Arkansas.

The path from Ole Miss to surgical innovation underscores the lasting impact of strong surgical foundations and the opportunities they can create — both in advancing surgical care and serving communities of the Mid-South.

When Brooks is not on call, he still has a second home in Oxford, so he and his family keep ties to Ole Miss strong.

“Both Ole Miss and UMMC have played significant roles in my development, and I feel a responsibility to represent those institutions well,” Brooks says. “Mississippi produces exceptional professionals across many fields, and I hope my work in oral and maxillofacial surgery reflects the quality of education and mentorship these institutions provide.”

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Ole Miss Sports Rifle Wins Team Smallbore TEAM FINISHES THIRD OVERALL IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

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or the first time in program history, Ole Miss’ fifth-ranked rifle team claimed team gold in the smallbore event at the NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio. First-year head coach Will Shaner capped an impressive inaugural season at the helm by guiding Ole Miss to its historic finish, as well as its first title in the smallbore event.

Gracie Dinh and Audrey Gogniat led the way for the Rebels, scoring 593 and 592, respectively, both earning a spot in the final round of individual action.

Ole Miss was one of three programs with a pair of athletes in the final round of competition and two athletes with scores north of 590.

Gogniat finished second overall

Audrey Gogniat | Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics 36

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behind Kentucky’s Braden Peiser, who has won the smallbore individual title in back-to-back years. Gogniat is the first Rebel to ever medal in smallbore at the national tournament, as she’s now collected two in her career as only a sophomore. Dinh finished eighth, marking the highest placement of her collegiate career.

Gogniat paced the way through, kneeling and prone, missing only two combined shots through 40 attempts. In doing so, she had a perfect prone score.

In standing, Gogniat faltered but still scored a solid 592 in the event. Regan Diamond was on track for a personal record when she reached the standing position but settled for a 588. Her tally was the third best by a Rebel for the day.

Dinh stole the show in the second relay with a 593 performance. She did one better than Gogniat by having a 399 through 40 shots, missing a bullseye only once. She finished the day with a 593 in the event to punch her ticket to the individual medal round. Her score was tied for the third best of the entire field for the day in the 60-shot round.

Jordan de Jesus would finish with a 583, securing Ole Miss’ top spot in the standings after day one.

In the final individual round, both Gogniat and Dinh got off to hot starts to build their points. The pair looked solid through kneeling and prone, as they did in the qualifying rounds. The standing position once again struck as Dinh was the first competitor out of the medal round on the 41st shot.

However, Gogniat kept her momentum. She built her points up to surpass the round’s longstanding leader, Kentucky’s Elizabeth Probst, as well as West Virginia’s top shooter Griffin Lake. She outlasted Probst to earn a spot on the podium, then shot a 10.7 to beat Lake for at least a silver, which she earned in the following shot.

Gogniat also defended her air rifle individual title, and No. 5 Ole Miss rifle reached the podium of the NCAA Championships for the second time in its history, finishing third overall with a 4738 aggregate.

Gogniat made individual history by shooting her fourth career 600 in air rifle, tying Ole Miss all-timer Lea Horvath for the most by a Rebel in program history. In doing so, she also became the second woman and third-ever student-athlete to achieve perfection four times at the NCAA level. She’s gone back-to-back years shooting a perfect score at both the Patriot Rifle Conference and NCAA tournaments.

Your

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The Ole Miss Family has outgrown the Triplett Alumni Center.

The time to build — and to give — is now. Add your name to the Ole Miss story and help build a new center that will echo with Rebel pride for generations. Naming opportunities are available.

For more information, visit give.olemiss.edu/triplett or contact Mary Kate Skelton at 662-915-2377 or marykate@olemissalumni.com.

Ole Miss Sports

Outpacing the Competition TRACK AND FIELD CLAIMS THREE SEC INDOOR SEASON AWARDS

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le Miss track and field has won three season awards from the SEC for the indoor season, with Alicia Burnett (Women’s Co-Runner of the Year), Akaoma Odeluga (Women’s Field Athlete of the Year) and Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan (Men’s Field Athlete of the Year) each honored in the SEC’s awards.

Burnett is the first Ole Miss woman to win the SEC Runner of the Year award in program history (indoors or outdoors), the first indoor winner in combined team history, and she joins outdoor winners Barnabas Kirui (2007, 2010) and Isiah Young (2013) as the lone honorees in program history.

Burnett — who is in her first year at Ole Miss after transferring from Missouri — won the first women’s 60-meter dash title in program history, breaking Olympian McKenzie Long’s 2023 record with a winning time of 7.08. That time ranks Burnett tied for the NCAA lead heading into the national meet, and in collegiate history it stands tied for 10th all-time.

Odeluga is one of only two women in Ole Miss history to win SEC Field Athlete of the Year indoors, joining Olympian

Brittney Reese’s win in 2008. Odeluga won a share of the SEC Cliff Harper Trophy after scoring 16 points for the Rebel women, taking silver in both the shot put and weight throw.

Odeluga qualified for the national meet in both events, with her SEC runner-up shot put heave of 18.69m/61-4 ranking 13th in collegiate history indoors.

This is the third SEC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year award for Robinson-O’Hagan, who is now the first three-peat winner in conference history. Robinson-O’Hagan won his third consecutive Cliff Harper Trophy after completing his third straight sweep of the shot put and weight throw at the conference meet. The three-time NCAA champion and 12-time All-American qualified for his fourth consecutive double at the indoor national meet, entering this week as the NCAA leader in the shot put at his career-best 21.18m/69-6 — No. 2 in SEC history — and his season-best 23.78m/78-00.25 in the weight throw.

See page 39 for track-and-field individual award winners.

Photos courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

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Ole Miss Sports 2026 MEN’S SEC INDOOR TRACK-AND-FIELD AWARDS Men’s Runner of the Year: Kayinsola Ajayi, Auburn Men’s Field Athlete of the Year: Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan, Ole Miss Men’s Newcomer Runner of the Year: Jordan Pierre, Arkansas Men’s Newcomer Field Athlete of the Year: Kimani Jack, Georgia Men’s Freshman Runner of the Year: Jonathan Simms, Georgia Men’s Freshman Field Athlete of the Year: Temoso Masikane, Florida Men’s Coach of the Year: Doug Case, Arkansas

2026 WOMEN’S SEC INDOOR TRACK-AND-FIELD AWARDS Women’s Co-Runners of the Year: Alicia Burnett, Ole Miss; Emmi Scales, Kentucky Women’s Field Athlete of the Year: Akaoma Odeluga, Ole Miss Women’s Co-Newcomer Runners of the Year: Alexis Brown, South Carolina; Tyla Lumley, Vanderbilt Women’s Newcomer Field Athlete of the Year: Jathiyah Muhammad, South Carolina Women’s Freshman Runner of the Year: Adaejah Hodge, Georgia Women’s Freshman Field Athlete of the Year: Janie Ford, Vanderbilt Women’s Coach of the Year: Mike Holloway, Florida

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Ole Miss Sports

Winners off the Field OLE MISS PLACES 48 STUDENT-ATHLETES ON SEC FALL ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL

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orty-eight Ole Miss student-athletes earned a place on the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

Ole Miss Athletics posted a department semester record 3.29 GPA last fall, with 17 of 18 teams and 63% of student-athletes registering at least a 3.0 GPA. A total of 1,514 student-athletes from the 16 SEC schools were honored in the fall list released Feb. 11, which covers cross country, football, soccer and volleyball. For Ole Miss, those 48 student-athletes include all who finished their respective seasons on their competition rosters during the 2025 fall season.

Student-athletes who participate in a Southeastern Conference championship sport or in a sport listed on their institution’s NCAA Sports Sponsorship Form are eligible for nomination to the Academic Honor Roll.

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

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A LU M N I R E V I E W

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Renew your membership during our Spring Drive and you’ll be entered to win the ultimate fall football weekend: WIN Two club-level tickets to Ole Miss vs. Auburn Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026 PLUS a two-night stay at The Inn at Ole Miss Oct. 30-31, 2026

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Ole Miss Sports

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

On to Greatness TRIO OF REBELS BECOME SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS WITH SEATTLE

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s the confetti fell on Feb. 8, bringing a close to the 2025 NFL season, three former Rebels realized their lifelong dream of becoming a Super Bowl champion. Linebackers Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr. (24) and Jared Ivey (BBA 24), both rookies, joined the Seahawks just one year after being a part of the No. 1 scoring defense in America. Seattle claimed safety A.J. Finley (BBA 22) in November 2024. Ole Miss has now had 18 Rebels win a Super Bowl, with 22 total Super Bowl wins among those players.

SUPER BOWL WINNING REBELS Brandon Bolden (11), RB, New England – XLIX, LI Alundis Brice (BSW 01), DB, Dallas – XXX A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia – LIX Allen Brown (66), TE, Green Bay – I, II Jim Dunaway (BSHPE 63), DT, Miami – VII A.J. Finley, S, Seattle – LX Larry Grantham (59), LB, New York Jets – III Willie Green (91), WR, Denver – XXXII, XXXIII Paul Hofer (BSHPE 84), RB, San Francisco – XVI Jared Ivey, LB, Seattle – LX Eli Manning (BBA 03), QB, New York Giants – XLII, XLVI Jim Miller (BPA 86), P, San Francisco – XVI Michael Oher (ND 08), OL, Baltimore – XLVII Chris Paul Jr., LB, Seattle – LX Breeland Speaks (BSCJ 19), DE, Kansas City – LIV Wesley Walls (BE 91), TE, San Francisco – XXIV Nate Wayne (BPA 98), LB, Denver – XXXIII Barry Wilburn (86), DB, Washington – XXII

Finley played at Ole Miss from 2019 to 2022, finishing with 245 career tackles, eight interceptions and four fumble recoveries. In the 2021 season, he accumulated 91 tackles, seven passes defended, one forced fumble and three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. For his efforts, the Associated Press named Finley second-team 42

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All-SEC. He signed with the Los Angeles Chargers after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft, where he stayed until November 2024. After being waived by the Chargers, Finley was claimed by Seattle the next day.

Paul Jr. and Ivey joined forces in 2024 as part of a dominant Ole Miss front seven. With Ivey playing at defensive end and Paul at linebacker, the Rebel defense would finish the season ranking first in points allowed, first in tackles for loss, third in sacks and 13th in total yards.

After playing three seasons at Arkansas, Paul transferred to Ole Miss before the 2024 season. He led the team with 88 total tackles, 50 of them solo, while adding 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. In his final career game, the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State, Paul secured six tackles, one tackle for loss, which was a sack, and brought down his first career interception.

Despite only being in Oxford for one season, Paul made his presence felt, bringing home a plethora of awards when the season was over. He was named a first-team All-American by USA Today, second-team All-American by College Football News and a third-team All-American by the Associated Press and Phil Steele.

Paul was drafted in Round 5, pick 172 by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2025 NFL draft. After being waived in late August, he signed with Seattle on Aug. 28, 2025.

After playing two years at Georgia Tech, Ivey transferred to Ole Miss before the 2022 season. In the 2023 Peach Bowl against Penn State, he was named defensive MVP after finishing the game with five tackles, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery in the Rebels’ 38-25 victory. CFN named him to its 2023 All-SEC first team.

In 2024, Ivey would conclude the season with 42 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and two forced fumbles, earning him third-team All-SEC honors as voted on by the coaches. After being invited to the NFL combine, Ivey was signed to Seattle on April 29, 2025, as an undrafted free agent.

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Just Published

Dear Ole Miss by Samuel Walton Owen

(BBA 64), 110 pages (paperback, also available in Kindle and hardback), Crippled Beagle Publishing, ISBN: 978-1965334287 Laugh and learn from Sam Owen’s love letter to Ole Miss, the southern institution that gave him an education, life lessons and friendships. From the vantage point of almost 65 years, Owen shares hilarious tales of his days as a freshman football recruit. Meet fabulous musicians in stripes and chains at a 1961 Christmas dance. Learn from worldclass coaches, teachers and mentors from a time gone by. Navigate campus turmoil during integration in 1962.

Cheer as the Rebels win the Sugar Bowl and a national championship with Owen as left guard. No matter your background, Owen’s love letter to Ole Miss will resonate, enlighten and entertain.

Owen graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. His love for Ole Miss shines through the pages of this story and immortalizes his experience in the Ole Miss canon.

The Football Prophecy: The Future Patrick Willis: Journey to the of College Football by Christopher Hall of Fame by Patrick Willis (BSCJ Lomax (BA 04, JD 09), 305 pages (Kindle, Apple Books), Lamar Park Ventures College football was built on rivalries, passion and tradition. For decades, it was a game of communities — where a Saturday in the fall felt like a sacred ritual.

But today, the sport stands at a crossroads.

Conference realignment has shattered regional identities, television contracts dictate the fate of entire programs, and the rise of NIL and the transfer portal has unleashed chaos that can’t be undone. The game that once felt like home is becoming unrecognizable to many fans who have announced the end of college football.

In The Football Prophecy, long-suffering Ole Miss fan Christopher Lomax unpacks the seismic shifts shaking the sport, weaving together its history, his personal fandom and a bold vision for what comes next.

Lomax graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, as well as a J.D. from the UM School of Law. He loves growing, cooking and socializing with good food, running, drinking a cup of coffee and spending time outdoors.

07), 36 pages (paperback, also available in Kindle), Blue Hat Publishing, ISBN: 979-8895140598 This is a children’s book about Patrick Willis — an NFL legend and one of the greatest linebackers in history.

It’s also a story of strength in the face of adversity, optimism through hard times, and a drive to set, achieve and create new goals. Willis’ journey is a reminder that where you start doesn’t determine where you finish. Only you have the power to create your future. When we listen too closely to the opinions of others, we sometimes forget to listen to ourselves.

Willis is an award-winning football player who played for the San Francisco 49ers for his entire eight-year professional career. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024, was a seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro selection, and the recipient of the 2007 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. This is his first children’s book.

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.

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A LU M N I R E V I E W

The Future Alumni Network is the student level of membership in the Ole Miss Alumni Association.

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

Get special gifts & perks: • Free printing and Scantrons in Triplett Alumni Center Sponsored by Rose Business Equipment

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

Memberships are only $25 annually, or $75 for four years for undergrads!

Join today!

Join online at olemissalumni.com/join

Rebel Traveler

T

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

Offerings and itineraries are subject to change or cancellation. OMAA strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance.

For a brochure or more information on a trip, contact the Alumni office at 662-9157375 or email travel@olemissalumni.com.

Loch Ness Overlook, Inverness, Scotland 46

A LU M N I R E V I E W

KENYA SAFARI: THE BIG FIVE JULY 1-11, 2026

Tour Operator: Orbridge Venture into the hear t of Kenya’s wilderness during this epic 11-day 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 AND 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

2026

perspective 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

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

2026

Rebel Traveler

for whales, sea lions, seals and raptors, even foraging bears and moose along the shoreline. — From $6,495

PACIFIC NORTHWEST DISCOVERY: SAN JUAN ISLANDS AUG. 24-29, 2026

Tour Operator: Orbridge Join us on this meticulously crafted journey through the San Juan Islands — an exclusive small-group sojourn offering an immersive exploration of one of North America’s most spectacular marine ecosystems. From the rugged coastlines of remote islands to the tranquil beauty of old-growth forests, each day unfolds with extraordinary wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes and unique cultural discoveries. Come experience the raw beauty of the Pacific Northwest in a way that few travelers ever do. — From $5,895

BLACK HILLS, BADLANDS AND MOUNT RUSHMORE AUG. 26 – SEPT. 1, 2026 Ollantaytambo, Peru

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, the 1620 ship reproduction. 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.

With round-trip airfare included, we hope you can join us and agree that this is an amazing trip. — From $3,995, including airfare

STUNNING SCOTLAND AUG. 8-17, 2026

Tour Operator: Orbridge Join us as we explore the inspiring history, exuberant culture and fascinating sites of Scotland. 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

ALASKA’S GLACIERS AND THE INSIDE PASSAGE AUG. 15-22, 2026

Tour Operator: Gohagan On this unforgettable seven-night cruise from Juneau, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia, sail through the magnificent, pristine Inside Passage. Aboard Star Seeker, an exclusively chartered, deluxe small ship, immerse yourself in cultural traditions and eye-popping scener y. Mar vel at the spectacular vistas of forested hills, snow-capped mountains and calving glaciers. Look

Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery We invite you to experience the history and culture of the American West on this seven-day tour. Unpack only once and enjoy six nights in one hotel in historic Rapid City, South Dakota — the gateway to the Black Hills region. — From $3,995, including airfare

WONDERS OF PERU SEPT. 5-16, 2026

Tour Operator: AHI From majestic Machu Picchu nestled high in the Andes to the Amazon’s unspoiled beauty, revel in the very best of Peru on this incredible 10-night journey.

In cosmopolitan Lima, take in splendid colonial-era architecture, admire the Larco Museum’s exceptional pre-Columbian art, and relish a Peruvian dinner at a historic home. Delve into Inca history in the stunning Sacred Valley at fascinating sites including Ollantaytambo and the Maras Salt Mines and at Cusco’s remarkable ruins. Enjoy a scenic train ride through the breathtaking Andes and tour the temples, palaces and plazas of lofty Machu Picchu. Then, cruise for three nights through the Amazon rainforest S PR I NG 2026

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Rebel Traveler 2026

St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy

aboard the deluxe Delfin III, and set off on guided skiff boat rides for close-up views of the astounding biodiversity within one of Peru’s largest wildlife reserves. Keep an eye out for macaws, toucans, monkeys, capybaras, pink dolphins and much more. This active smallgroup experience features first-class and deluxe hotels, round-trip air between Miami and Lima, two round-trip flights within Peru and an ample meal plan with wine at dinner. — From $7,695

ETERNAL ROME AND ITALY BY RAIL SEPT. 7-15, 2026

Tour Operator: Gohagan Explore Rome and its environs during five nights in the Eternal City before embarking on a luxurious train journey aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express.

Visit Vatican City, including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica; the medieval towns of Castel Gandolfo and Palena; Matera, where ancient cave dwellings are still used today; and a stately villa for an exclusive wine tasting.

— From $13,495 48

A LU M N I R E V I E W

EASY COMPANY: ENGLAND TO THE EAGLE’S NEST SEPT. 7-19, 2026

Tour Operator: WWII Museum The HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers” brought the stories of Easy Company to millions of viewers. In the decades since its 2001 premiere, the men of Easy Company have become world famous, with their actions recounted and steps retraced from England to the Eagle’s Nest. Travel with an actor from the miniseries on this unforgettable bucket-list tour, and dive deeper into the stories of these men in the places where they happened. Join us on this personal journey to the beaches, bridges, cities and villages where the legendary Easy Company fought crucial battles and changed the course of history. — From $9,299

ARTIFACTS AND ANTIQUES, ROME SEPT. 14-26, 2026

Tour Operator: Go Next Embark on a timeless 12-night journey through the Mediterranean aboard

Oceania Cruises’ Allura. Embark in Rome, home to the iconic Colosseum, and set sail for Amalfi to marvel at the 12th-century Capuchin monastery or enjoy an Amalfi-style farm-to-table experience at a local family’s organic farm. Then, escape to Naples to see Pompeii, a preserved ancient Roman city once buried under the ashes of nearby Mount Vesuvius. Unwind on the pristine beaches of Cagliari, where golden sands meet crystal-clear waters.

Indulge in Sicilian cuisine in Trapani, and in Valletta see the celebrated St. John’s Co-Cathedral. Step into the mythical world of the Minoans as you explore Agios Nikolaos. Sample vintages at a renowned winery in Santorini, a city famous for its white-washed buildings and breathtaking sunsets.

Explore the well-preserved remnants of Kusadasi, including the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. Enjoy the charming villages of Skiathos, and finally before disembarking in Istanbul, explore the city’s spice markets or visit the Blue Mosque. — From $5,499

2026

IRELAND: RICHES OF THE EMERALD ISLE SEPT. 27 – OCT. 7, 2026

Tour Operator: AHI Ireland’s outstanding culture and breathtaking beauty take center stage on this effervescent nine-night journey, featuring stays in Ennis, Killarney and Dublin.

Get to know charming Ennis while listening to entertaining tales of banshees and magic. Savor exquisite views along the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, and enjoy ferry rides to explore the Dingle Peninsula and Inishmore in the Aran Islands. Continue to the scenic Ring of Kerry and learn about traditional shepherding during a border collie herding demonstration. At Killarney National Park, ride in a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car and cruise the beautiful Lakes of Killarney. Stroll Dublin’s historic streets, visit Trinity College and join a tour of Dublin’s famous food

Killarney, Ireland

culture. This well-rounded small-group program features a whiskey tasting, a special show in a musician’s home and a lively performance by a céilí band and dancers. Enjoy stays at deluxe and firstclass hotels and a generous meal plan with wine at dinner. — From $6,495

VILLAGE LIFE COTSWOLDS SEPT. 28 – OCT. 6, 2026

Tour Operator: Gohagan Journey through the charming Cotswolds, the “Heart of England” and home to some of the country’s most scenic landscapes, filled with picturesque villages, rolling green hills and winding country lanes. From your home base in the first-class Queens Hotel in Cheltenham, embark on daily excursions. Uncover highlights from prestigious Oxford University to charming Stratford-upon-Avon, from majestic palaces to rural vistas. — From $4,995

Rebel Traveler

CRUISE SPAIN, PORTUGAL AND MOROCCO OCT. 16-25, 2026

Tour Operator: Gohagan Join a one-of-a-kind, deluxe eight-night cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon aboard an exclusively chartered small ship.

Visit seven spectacular cities in four countries. Encounter Mediterranean Va l e n c i a , Mo o r i s h G r a n a d a a n d Tangier’s exotic Moroccan markets. Be awed by Cap Spartel, where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet, and witness the legendary Rock of Gibraltar. Explore the Andalusian cities of picturesque Lagos and alluring Seville. — From $7,695

EUROPE’S HISTORIC RIVERS OCT. 29 – NOV. 8, 2026

Tour Operator: AHI Europe’s incomparable history and heritage are yours to discover on this handcrafted nine-night cruise. Board your exclusively chartered, first-class ship in Passau, Germany, and sail away through the sculpted hill lands of the Main, Rhine and Moselle rivers. Daily excursions showcase ancient monuments and charming towns, UNESCO World Heritage sites and vine-laced slopes. Travel to romantic Regensburg to visit a Benedictine monastery and enjoy a brandy tasting in Miltenberg.

You’ll stroll through Trier, Germany’s oldest city; cruise through the Rhine Gorge, a winding stretch renowned for its beauty ; and stroll through lovely Koblenz, where the Rhine and Mos el le r ivers me et. In C o chem, admire half-timbered houses on cobblestone lanes and visit a stately castle high above town. Plus, in the ports of Nuremberg, Bamberg and Würzburg, choose included excursions that fit your interest, such as cultural experiences and culinary tours. Along the way, indulge in insights from experts, regional dishes and local wines. This heartwarming journey includes an ample meal plan, plus wine and beer with lunch and dinner. No single supplement for solo travelers. — From $4,295 S PR I NG 2026

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Alumni News Association Leaders NEW ALUMNI BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2026

T

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

JENNIFER CALHOUN (BBA 96), teacher

at Haven Studio in Tupelo, is vice president of the M-Club Alumni board of directors and has served on the Alumni Association’s board of directors. While at Ole Miss, she was a four-year letterwinner and captain on the women’s golf team. She is a member of Chi Omega Fraternity and served as treasurer. She and her husband, Bo, attend First United Methodist Church and have three children: Anna (BAccy 22, MAccy 23), Boather, and their youngest son, Hudson, who is a junior right-handed pitcher for Ole Miss baseball. She is actively involved in the Tupelo community, serving on the board of directors for Junior Auxiliary and North Mississippi Symphony League. She served as president for the Tupelo Ballet and Lee County Medical Alliance.

W. SANDERS CARTER (BBA 80, JD 86),

of Jackson, was first vice president at Trustmark National Bank from 1990 to 2023. He was manager of the corporate trust division and acted as custodian for the University of Mississippi Foundation, University of Mississippi and University of Mississippi Medical School investment accounts. While at Ole Miss, Carter was chairman of the Ole Miss Ambassadors, member of the Order of Omega and senior class vice president. He also served as rush chairman for Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and is active on its housing board. Carter is a member of the Fondren Renaissance Foundation and recently served as campaign chairman for Fondren Forward. He is married to Ann Runyon Carter (80) and has two daughters who graduated from Ole Miss, Kate Carter (BBA 10) and Rebecca (BS 12, MS 15), and a son, Ross (18), who graduated from Auburn University.

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JAY COOKE (BBA 82, JD 85), of Jackson,

has practiced real property law for over 40 years. Practicing for several years as Jack W. Cooke Jr., PA, he merged with Covenant Title in 2025. He is an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America and recently served as president of the Andrew Jackson Council BSA. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and served for seven years as chairman of the Campus Traffic Appeals Court. He was elected as chairman of the Union Program Council in 1981. Cooke and his wife, Martha, have three children, Jack (16), Campbell and Collins (BA 24).

EDWARD FRANCIS (BBA 88), of Grandby,

Colorado, is chief executive officer and president of InBankshares and InBank, which he founded in 2018. With more than 37 years of banking experience, he has led the bank’s growth from $320 million to over $1.4 billion in assets.

Previously, he served as executive vice president and chief banking officer at Hancock Whitney Bank. Francis holds a finance degree from the University of Mississippi and is a graduate of LSU’s Graduate School of Banking.

CAMP GEARY (BBA 19, MAccy 20), CPA,

is an MBA candidate at Harvard Business School. Before starting the MBA program, Geary worked for Boston Consulting Group in Nashville, Tennessee, where he focused on corporate transformation projects for health care and tech clients. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. Geary previously served on the Young Leaders Society board of directors for United Way of Greater Tennessee.

Alumni News MALLIE IMBLER (BA 19), of Tupelo, is

project manager for Toyota Mississippi’s Driving Possibilities program. She spent the first five years of her career as a legislative staffer for Sen. Roger F. Wicker (BA 73, JD 75) in Washington, D.C. Imbler served as a board member of the Lott Institute Alumni Advisory Board, the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Council and the Mississippi Society of D.C. She was chosen as a member of the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2026. While at Ole Miss, Imbler was inducted into the Student Hall of Fame and received a Taylor Medal. She served as president of the Student Alumni Council, vice president of Kappa Delta Fraternity and as an Ole Miss ambassador.

CATHY MILLER (BAEd 85, MAEd 86),

of Oxford, is the owner of A Little Happy LLC, a small business that creates and delivers “happies” to students and members of the Oxford community. Miller previously served for 30 years as a preschool director. She is actively involved in the Oxford Garden Club, the Book Lovers Club and is a member of the Rose Society of the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy. While a student at Ole Miss, she was a member of Chi Omega Fraternity and Reformed University Fellowship. Miller and her husband, Craig (BBA 85, MBA 88), enjoy attending Ole Miss sporting events and spending time with their children: Farris (BBA 14), Murray (BA 15) and Tate (BS 20).

SEMMES REILLY VAN BROCKLIN (BAEd

78), of Oxford, is the head of gardening at North Mississippi Regional Center. She traveled, working as a model in print, television and film, as well as raising a family, before settling in Atlanta for over 20 years. While in Atlanta, she was an Orton-Gillingham certified private tutor for kids of all ages with dyslexia. She is a proud member of the Ole Miss Women’s Council, serving as a mentor to Rose Society scholars. She spends time volunteering as a court-appointed special advocate for CASA-North Mississippi. While at Ole Miss, she was a member of Chi Omega Fraternity, Angel Flight and was named Phi Delta Theta Fraternity’s sweetheart. She attends Oxford University United Methodist Church. She has three children, Reilly, Carr and Alison.

JASON VARNADO (BBA 03, JD 11), of

Madison, is senior executive vice president, chief legal officer, chief risk officer and corporate secretary at BankPlus. Previously, he served as general counsel and chief compliance officer at Sanderson Farms Inc. and chief legal officer at First Bancshares Inc. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of the Mississippi Law Journal, Manfred Lachs Moot Court, Phi Kappa Phi honor society, Kappa Sigma Fraternity and a summa cum laude graduate of the Ole Miss law school. Varnado and his wife, Michelle (BA 07, JD 10), are the parents of two children, Eli and Allie.

STAN VINER (BBA 79), of Birmingham,

Alabama, is president of SJViner & Associates, past chair of the Ole Miss School of Business Advisory Board, and chairs the Banking and Finance Advisory Board. He has over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. Before founding his company in 2017, Viner spent 28 years with Jack Henry & Associates, serving as general manager/national sales of banking for 17 years.

Viner is a former instructor at the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (Boulder) and a past board member of InBank (Denver). He serves as a strategist/board adviser for the William Mills PR Agency and chairs the SRM/European International Advisory Board (London). He also serves in a sales advisory capacity at the Independent Community Bankers of America Accelerator and is a member of numerous fintech advisory boards.

BRUCE WARE (BBA 99), of Dallas, is

executive chairman and founder of One America Bank. A first-generation college graduate, Ware began his career in finance on Wall Street as an investment banker at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette after graduating from Ole Miss in 1999. He later served as an executive at DaVita Inc., leading growth and joint venture initiatives, before establishing One America Bancorp. Ware is actively involved in his community and education, serving as an independent director of AAON Inc. and Seneca Foods, and as a trustee of the St. Philip’s School and Community Center Foundation. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.B.A. in banking and finance from the University of Mississippi, where he was a distinguished student and leader. Ware and his wife, Rhondalynne, have been married for over 15 years.

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Alumni News OLIVER WILLIAMS (BAccy 06, MAccy

07), of Birmingham, Alabama, is executive vice president at Regions Bank, where he is responsible for risk management activities across the bank’s technology, operations and digital banking divisions. Before Regions, he was an audit manager in KPMG’s Memphis office. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, serving as treasurer and on the Interfraternity Council. He and his wife, Julia (BA 06, JD 09), have three daughters, Elizabeth Magee, Mary Thorne and Poppy.

MAX YATES (BBA 80), of Ridgeland, is

senior executive vice president and chief strategy officer of BankPlus. He serves on the board of directors of BankPlus and BancPlus Corp. During his 45 years in the financial services industry, he has served on the Mississippi Bankers Association board of directors, the Community Development Bankers Association board of directors and on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas Member Advisory Council. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and also served on the Committee of 82. Yates and his wife, Karen, live in Ridgeland, where he serves as an elder of Highlands Presbyterian Church. They have two sons, Logan and Price.

Class Notes ’50s

JIM TOM ATHERTON (BBA 59),

of Lenoir City, Tennessee, and his wife, Margie, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Their union has blessed them with three children, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

’60s

WILLIAM SCOTT GREENWELL

(BA 66, MA 70), of Terre Haute, Indiana, has retired from his positions as an Ivy Tech Community College sociology professor and as a correctional treatment specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice.

’90s

DEREK JONES (BPA 96), of

Knoxville, was named the University of Tennessee’s new cornerbacks coach.

MIKE KEEN (BBA 92), of Vicksburg, was

named co-chief executive officer by the RiverHills Bank board of directors.

CHRISTINE BREWER MCLEOD (BAccy 91), of

Highlands Ranch, Colorado, was selected to join Haynie & Co. CPAs as an equity partner.

JAMES MEREDITH (BA 63), of Jackson, was

DREW SANGUINETTI (BAccy 90), of Oxford,

’70s

’00s

honored with the Sales & Marketing Professionals Lifetime Achievement Award at the fourth annual Mississippi Pinnacle Awards.

DEBORAH W. HALL (BBA 77,

MBA 80), of Tupelo, was honored by the Southern Public Relations Federation with the 2025 Senior Practitioner Award. This award signifies that Hall’s peers recognize her as a veteran PR professional with high ethical standards.

’80s

MARK E. BYRNE ( BA 8 1 ) , of

Lacey, Washington, has retired after 45 years in law enforcement, journalism, sales, marketing and management.

He now turns his attention back to writing and landscape painting.

ROBERT P. CHAMBERLIN (BA 87, JD 90), of

Hernando, was selected by the U.S. Senate to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi.

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retired following 33 years of combined military and civilian service with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

’10s

RYAN ARTHUR ( B M 1 7 ) , o f

Houston, was awarded third prize at the National Oratorio Competition hosted by the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park.

HUNTER EVANS (BS 12), of Jackson, was

selected as a semifinalist in the 2026 James Beard Awards. The foundation annually recognizes exceptional culinary talent with semifinalist and finalist rounds of awards.

KRISTIN JOHNSON (BBA 12), of Benton,

Louisiana, was promoted to associate director at Tower Loan, advancing from her previous role as senior supervisor. In this position, she will oversee operations for 16 offices across Louisiana.

R. WILLIAM ANDERSON (BA 01),

DAVID MISENHELTER (BSCJ 10, MCJ 15), of

ROBERT SAVOIE (BBA 07), Solon, Ohio, was

EATHEN RAINEY (BBA 19), of Oxford, was

of Philadelphia, Mississippi, was hired as a sergeant for the Carthage Police Department. nationally recognized in the 2026 Chambers FinTech Guide in Band 1 of Payment and Lending. He is one of six attorneys recognized nationally in this category.

SUZY TUBB (BAcc y 06, MTax 07), of

Flowood, was recognized as one of Women We Admire’s Top 50 Women Leaders of Mississippi 2025. This honor reflects leaders whose expertise and community commitment help move the state forward.

Oxford, was awarded the Alan Ivy Community Service Award by the Oxford Police Department. named the recipient of the United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County’s 2025 Board Member of the Year Award.

GERALD “JESS” WALTMAN (BAccy 13, JD

16), of New Orleans, was elected as a member of Gordon Arata. Based in New Orleans, Waltman’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

The

only thing we overlook is the

Grove.

ACTIVE MEMBER DISCOUNT Active members of the Alumni Association receive 10 percent off hotel rooms.

At The Inn at Ole Miss, you’ll soon find staying footsteps from the Grove on America’s most beautiful college campus is more than an affordable luxury—It’s a

tradition

.

120 Alumni Drive • University, MS 38677 • Reservations: 662-234-2331 or TheInnAtOleMiss.com

Alumni News BIRTHS

Elbert Grady Jolly (BA 59, LLB 62), of Jackson, March 16, 2026

Gillet Quinn, son of Camille Bexley Beneke (16) and Robert Drake Beneke (BBA 19), Oct. 2, 2025

Robert Leo Koestler (52), of Greenville, March 8, 2026 Otho Thomas Kortz Jr. (BAEd 51), of Oak Lawn, Ill., Dec. 24, 2025

Lena Scott Cascio-McCall, daughter of Charles Cascio (BBA 08) and Graham McCall, Feb. 27, 2026

Bobby Farrell Linton (BBA 59), of Niceville, Fla., Feb. 8, 2026

Arch Gordon, son of Lindsey Morgan Coughlin Johnston (BS 20) and Nelson Johnston, Jan. 28, 2026

Anne Myer Mathers (BSC 55), of Gulfport, Jan. 13, 2026

Nicholas Oliver, son of Olivia McKee and Mark Evan Noggle (MBA 18), Dec. 18, 2025

Margaret Haley Merchant (59), of Vicksburg, March 13, 2026

Kent Emerson Lovelace Jr. (BBA 59), of Gulfport, Dec. 12, 2025 Joan French McKay (BSC 56), of Roswell, Ga., Dec. 15, 2025 Claiborne Eugene Miles (MEd 54), of Gulfport, Dec. 28, 2025 Dutch Milton Nichols (BBA 57), of Olive Branch, Dec. 31, 2025

WEDDINGS Elizabeth Gray duPerier (BA 23) and Miles Huff, Dec. 31, 2025 Jordan Pullen and Garrett Logan Clark (BAEd 11, MEd 13, SPED 19), Nov. 15, 2025 Mary Clare Vatterott (BBA 24) and John Maxwell Pokorny (22), Feb. 21, 2026

James Young Palmer (BBA 56), of Jackson, Feb. 18, 2026 Clarence Albert Pierce Jr. (BAEd 50), of Vaiden, Jan. 11, 2026 Robert Erskine Rosser III (BSPh 56), of Lafayette, La., Feb. 26, 2026 Frank C. Skuder (BSCvE 56), of Riverton, N.J., Dec. 15, 2025 James Myron Stockton (57), of Amory, Dec. 15, 2025 Forrest Travis Tutor (MedCert 53), of Pontotoc, Dec. 12, 2025 James Alexander Ventress III (BBA 58), of Woodville, Dec. 8, 2025 Glen Curtiss Warren Sr. (BSPh 53, MD 61), of Jackson, Dec. 18, 2025

IN MEMORIAM

Ted Johnson Webb (BSPh 55), of Madison, Jan. 15, 2026

1940s

William Earl Webb (BSPh 55), of Forest, Feb. 13, 2026

Claire Aycock Brown (BAEd 49), of Ruston, La., Jan. 24, 2026

Allen Kenneth Whittington Jr. (55), of Tunica, Jan. 27, 2026

Mary Dixon Fuerst (49), of Ridgeland, Dec. 16, 2025 Betty McWilliams McMurchy (BA 48), of Duncan, Jan. 30, 2026

1960s

Julia Rucker Rosamond (BAEd 49), of Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 3, 2026

Vettra Glenn Alderson Sr. (BPA 63, JD 66), of Oxford, Dec. 12, 2025

Dorothy Mooney Rowland (BA 48), of Flora, Jan. 25, 2026

William Curtis Bailey (64), of Brandon, Feb. 4, 2026

Charlotte Ann Eddins Sims (47), of Springdale, Ark., Feb. 23, 2026

Joseph Bedent Baird Jr. (MD 65), of Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 8, 2026

George Taylor Tindall (BA 48), of Meansville, Ga., Nov. 21, 2025

Alfred Leist Barfield Sr. (MCS 63), of Vicksburg, March 6, 2026

Patricia Barrett White (BSHPE 48), of Gulfport, Nov. 30, 2025

Peter Hickman Barrett (BPA 68, JD 71), of Gulfport, Feb. 20, 2026 Roeland Tobin Bell (BBA 62), of Vicksburg, Dec. 5, 2025

1950s

Chet Bergalowski (BSHPE 67), of Pensacola, Fla., Jan. 10, 2026

Clyde Earl Bracken Jr. (BBA 52, LLB 56), of Dallas, Texas, Dec. 2, 2025

William Eugene Birdsong (MD 60), of Jasper, Ala., March 4, 2026

Irma Richardson Burguet (50), of Forest, Va., Feb. 4, 2026

Joe Alister Brady Jr. (BA 67, JD 70), of Highlands, N.C., Nov. 24, 2025

Janet Edgerton Chalk (BAEd 51), of Meridian, Dec. 23, 2025

Kenneth Daniel Bridges (BBA 69, JD 72), of Louisville, Feb. 6, 2026

Richard Demeyere Chotard Jr. (BBA 59, MS 60), of Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 26, 2026

Dell Dupriest Brown (MBEd 64), of Collierville, Tenn., Dec. 23, 2025

John Pettis Culpepper III (53), of Hattiesburg, Jan. 17, 2026

Nancy Reese Bush (BAEd 61), of Madison, Jan. 29, 2026

Robert Holmes Dunlap (BBA 51), of Batesville, Jan. 11, 2026

Neal Garver Clement (BA 67), of Killen, Ala., Jan. 27, 2026

Allan Percy Durfey Jr. (BS 59, MD 62), of Madison, Feb. 2, 2026

Freida Gunn Collins (BA 69, JD 72, MLS 75), of Ellisville, March 7, 2026

Edward Harold Fisher (BAEd 52, MEd 53), of Jackson, Dec. 10, 2025

Sigrid Andre’ Conway (BA 64), of Ridgeland, Dec. 4, 2025

George David Hightower III (BA 55), of Southaven, Dec. 29, 2025

Sam Phillip Correro (BSPh 67), of Madison, March 7, 2026

Charles David Hollander (BBA 52), of Newtown Square, Pa., Dec. 16, 2025

Thomas Alfred Cothran Jr. (BBA 67), of Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 1, 2025

William Norwood Huff (BBA 58, MBA 62), of Taylorsville, Feb. 10, 2026

Glenda Rogers Boone Cox (BS 60), of Jackson, Jan. 28, 2026

Olen North Hull (BA 57), of Chunky, Dec. 15, 2025

Danny Brown Dedmon (BSPh 69), of Dyersburg, Tenn., Jan. 6, 2026

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Robert Mitchell Browning (PhD 66), of Livingston, Mont., Feb. 9, 2026

Alumni News

J

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS John Warner Alford Jr., 1938-2026

ohn Warner Alford Jr. died March 26, 2026. Alford served as executive director of the Ole Miss Alumni Association from 2004 to 2008, overseeing significant growth in the club program and the addition of the tower to The Inn at Ole Miss.

Born April 26, 1938, in McComb, to John Warner Alford Sr. and Inez Chandler Alford, he was a three-sport athlete at McComb High School before earning a football scholarship to Ole Miss, where he met his future wife, Kay Swayze. A co-captain of the Rebels’ 1960 team, he helped lead Ole Miss to the FWAA national and SEC championships. The team was later recognized as the Team of the Decade. He graduated in 1961 with a B.B.A. and later earned a master’s degree in economics.

After a brief business career in McComb, Alford returned to coaching in 1965, beginning at R.H. Watkins High School in Laurel. He soon moved to the college ranks, serving as defensive coordinator at Davidson College and later as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech. He returned to Ole Miss in 1971 as defensive line coach, serving through 1973 before transitioning into administration.

In 1974, Alford was named assistant

director of athletics and director of Rebel recruiting. On Feb. 1, 1978, he became one of the nation’s youngest athletics directors.

During his 16-year tenure, Ole Miss advanced across competition, academics and facilities. He led the $10 million Drive for Athletics, which transformed Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with a new press box, skyboxes and lighting for night games, while also adding end zone seating and restoring natural grass. Major projects included construction of Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field, a tennis center, upgrades to the golf course and track, and a $3.5 million training center addition to the “Doc” Knight Field House. Under his leadership, the university expanded from eight total varsity sports to 15 and helped integrate women’s athletics into the SEC. Alford served in numerous national leadership roles, including the NCA A Council, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the College Football Association. He retired from Ole Miss in 1994, later working in the private sector and serving as athletics director at the University of Louisiana-Monroe before returning to Oxford.

Upon his return, he served as executive assistant for development for the UM Foundation, coordinator of external programs for the Trent Lott Leadership Institute and worked with the Ole Miss First Scholars program.

He was inducted into the M-Club Alumni Hall of Fame, Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame, and received numerous honors, including the Alumni Service Award and induction into the NACDA Hall of Fame.

Nancy Blankenship Durham (BAEd 67, MEd 68), of Smithville, Tenn., Dec. 2, 2025

Joe Phillip Hart (61), of Madison, Jan. 10, 2026

Guy Kenner Ellis Jr. (BA 63, JD 65), of Greenville, Jan. 15, 2026

Mary Alice Hearn Heard (MA 62), of Lexington, Ky., Jan. 17, 2026

Alford Russell Fenton (BBA 65), of Houston, Texas, March 15, 2025

Dixie Thomas Hines (BAEd 69), of Madison, Dec. 30, 2025

James Lloyd Flippin (BAEd 69, MEd 71, PhD 79), of Brandon, Jan. 17, 2026

Marion David Holman (BSCvE 66), of Flora, Feb. 26, 2026

Sarah Quackenboss French (BA 62), of Greenwood, March 1, 2026 William Thomas Gafford (BS 67), of Cypress, Texas, Feb. 26, 2026 Sidney Roger Gremillion (BSPh 64), of Long Beach, Jan. 18, 2026 Betty Jo Evans Gurner (BAEd 62, MLS 71), of Water Valley, Jan. 29, 2026 John McQueen Guttery III (BBA 65), of Germantown, Tenn., March 12, 2026 Judith Hooker Guttery (BAEd 64), of Germantown, Tenn., Dec. 14, 2025 Michael Hardin Guyton (BBA 69), of Tupelo, Jan. 31, 2026 John Daniel Habes Jr. (BBA 68), of Rochester, N.Y., Nov. 29, 2025 Imogene Mauney Hardon (MEd 63), of Booneville, Feb. 4, 2026 Michael Wren Hardy Sr. (BA 65), of Summerland Key, Fla., March 8, 2026

Nora Stevens Harvey (BSC 69), of Ocean Springs, Jan. 30, 2026

Guy Lee Hovis Jr. (BBA 63), of Oxford, Jan. 22, 2026 Linda Covington Howard (MEd 67), of Ridgeland, Dec. 3, 2025 Anne Cochran Jenkins (BS 62), of Corinth, Jan. 17, 2026 Jeanne White Johnson (66), of Jackson, Jan. 14, 2026 Judy Sherrill Johnson (BSC 66), of Huntsville, Ala., Jan. 13, 2026 Robert Edward Johnson (BAEd 60, MEd 61, AMEd 64), of Madison, Ala., Feb. 1, 2026 Lee Martin Jones (MS 69), of Seattle, Wash., Feb. 25, 2026 Robert John Kelly (JD 68), of Senatobia, Jan. 10, 2026 Wayne Terry Lamar (BA 62, MD 66), of Oxford, Dec. 29, 2025 David Luke Lane (BBA 65), of Brandon, Feb. 19, 2026 Lynda Gwen Lee (MD 66), of McComb, Dec. 14, 2025 S PR I NG 2026

55

Alumni News Zelma Forbes Lofton (MEd 63), of Gautier, Jan. 6, 2026

James A. Arvites (MA 73, PhD 79), of Northbrook, Ill., Dec. 30, 2025

John Robert Luposello (MEd 67), of Mount Dora, Fla., Nov. 14, 2025

Evelyn Anne Jaynes Asger (BAEd 70), of Oxford, Dec. 17, 2025

Robert Archie Lybrand (PhD 66), of Virginia Beach, Va., Feb. 2, 2026

Horace Daniel Atwood (MD 77), of Fayetteville, Ark., March 4, 2026

Maxwell Simms Maddox Jr. (64), of Dyersburg, Tenn., Feb. 7, 2026

Terry Lee Bailey (BPA 76), of Holcomb, Dec. 5, 2025

Barbara Bishop Marsalis (BAEd 67, MEd 73), of Byram, Dec. 18, 2025

Robert Eugene Barton (BA 75, JD 77), of Okolona, Jan. 21, 2026

Robert Leslie Mays (BSPh 65), of Ripley, Jan. 10, 2026

Patricia Pearce Bishop (MEd 76), of Fulton, Feb. 10, 2026

Anne Moore McGaha (BAEd 62), of Germantown, Tenn., Feb. 24, 2026

Robert Lee Bledsoe (BA 76), of Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 22, 2026

Susan Kile McMillan (Cert 67), of Oxford, Jan. 5, 2026

Candace Godfrey Blue (MCD 77), of McComb, Feb. 7, 2026

John Ralph McNeal Jr. (65), of Jackson, Jan. 28, 2026

Duaine Miller Boucher (BSHPE 74), of Amissville, Va., Dec. 19, 2025

Mary Blanche Mann McMullen (BAEd 69), of San Marcos, Texas, Jan. 19, 2026

Thomas Quitman Brame Jr. (JD 78), of Laurel, Jan. 14, 2026

John Stephen Metz (BA 65, MS 67), of Miami, Fla., Feb. 28, 2026

David Irwin Bridgers Jr. (BBA 71), of Vicksburg, Jan. 7, 2026

Ben Arthur Mistilis (BSHPE 67, PhD 78), of Winter Springs, Fla., Jan. 5, 2026

Malton Joseph Bullock Jr. (MD 75), of Austin, Texas, Feb. 8, 2026

Linda Rucker O’Bannon (BSPh 69), of Parsons, Tenn., Feb. 20, 2026 Robert Edmond Phay (BA 60), of Chapel Hill, N.C., Feb. 10, 2026 William Hall Poland (BA 69, JD 76), of Clarksville, Tenn., Feb. 28, 2026 Vivian Veazey Randall (BAEd 64), of Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 9, 2026 Winnie Sue Renta (MM 68), of Medford, Ore., Nov. 3, 2025 Marice Brown Richardson (MCS 68), of Americus, Ga., Jan. 30, 2026 William James Ross III (BBA 61), of Meridian, March 11, 2026 Charlotte Russell Schultze (BAEd 68), of Hattiesburg, March 7, 2026 Willie Boyer Shook (BFA 69), of Bulverde, Texas, Nov. 4, 2025 Bryce Moore Smith (BA 63), of Collierville, Tenn., Dec. 7, 2025 Thomas Richard St. Martin (BSPh 61), of La Place, La., Dec. 20, 2025 Jane Cosby Sutton (BSC 62), of Lufkin, Texas, Jan. 21, 2026 Regina Reese Symons (BAEd 68, MA 69), of Oxford, Jan. 7, 2026 Julia Fite Taylor (BSJ 61), of Water Valley, Jan. 21, 2026 Richard Smith Taylor (JD 66), of Frankfort, Ky., March 10, 2026 Daphne Dabney Terrill (68), of Crystal Springs, Dec. 24, 2025 Harold Lee Underwood (MCS 62), of Kingston, Tenn., Dec. 18, 2025 Oliver Lee Upchurch Jr. (BA 66), of Grundy, Va., March 6, 2025 George Dexter Walcott (BBA 65), of Greenwood, Dec. 14, 2025 Thomas Eustace Waller (MD 64), of Starkville, Jan. 27, 2026 Robert Lee Watkins Jr. (BBA 65), of Waynesboro, Feb. 16, 2026 Isabella Britton White (BAEd 69), of Birmingham, Ala., Feb. 1, 2026 Barbara Joan Woodbury (BAEd 68), of La Jolla, Calif., Dec. 27, 2025

1970s

Larry Thomas Bramlitt (BBA 74), of Merritt Island, Fla., Nov. 27, 2025

Rufus Robert Burnham Jr. (BAEd 75), of Marion, Ark., Feb. 22, 2026 Michael Emerson Carlisle (BA 71), of Sewanee, Tenn., Nov. 26, 2025 James Larry Carr (MEd 77), of Water Valley, Feb. 9, 2026 Winfield Ladd Chandler (BA 74), of Ocean Springs, March 8, 2026 Robert John Crechale (BBA 79), of Brandon, Dec. 24, 2025 Danny Francis D’Anella (BS 75), of Peachtree Corners, Ga., Feb. 23, 2026 Mary Dell Farmer Douglass (BSPh 73), of Murphy, N.C., Dec. 20, 2025 Timothy Edward Ervin (JD 73), of Amory, Feb. 11, 2026 Walter Henry Eversmeyer III (MD 70), of New Orleans, La., March 1, 2026 Laura Partlow Foster (MA 79), of West Memphis, Ark., March 9, 2026 Ronald Wayne Fulton (BSPh 70), of Philadelphia, March 15, 2026 William Max Grisham (MA 75, PhD 81), of Collierville, Tenn., Feb. 19, 2026 John Philip Gruchy Jr. (BS 78), of Starkville, Dec. 27, 2025 William Scott Guinn (BBA 74, MBA 75), of Monroe, La., Feb. 9, 2026 William Frank Harmon (76), of Batesville, Dec. 13, 2025 Barbara Powell Harris (BS 73, MEd 81), of Sarasota, Fla., Dec. 20, 2025 William Thomas Harris (BBA 70), of Vicksburg, Feb. 10, 2026 Ronnie Dale Hicks (BSME 72), of Brierfield, Ala., Jan. 6, 2026 Kenneth Lee Johnson (BBA 79), of Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 4, 2025 Mary Theresa Kremeyer Johnson (MSP 78), of Ridgeland, Feb. 17, 2026 Howard Leon Joy (BSPh 75), of Paragould, Ark., Dec. 15, 2025 Elliott Levine (JD 74), of Salt Lake City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2026 Frances Elizabeth Tindol Mabry (BSN 72), of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Feb. 5, 2026 Jack Jordan Mann Jr. (BA 78), of Carthage, Feb. 12, 2026 William Mark Martin (BBA 78), of Meridian, Jan. 8, 2026

Jimmy Glynn Albritton (MCS 73), of Madison, Feb. 23, 2026

Nancy Roberson McClure (MA 71), of Cleveland, Tenn., March 13, 2026

David Robert Ard (BPA 75, MCJ 78), of Oxford, Jan. 29, 2026

Leslie Allen McDaniel (BAEd 72, MEd 77), of Saltillo, March 13, 2026

Jane Diane Arnett (BSC 71, BBA 78), of Gulfport, Feb. 5, 2026

Floyd McGehee (BBA 72), of Batesville, Feb. 10, 2026

Donna Edwards Arrington (BAEd 73), of Castalian Springs, Tenn., Dec. 21, 2025

Lydia Hodges McIntosh (JD 79), of Mantachie, Dec. 17, 2025

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Alumni News Gerald Richard McLemore (JD 75), of Corinth, Jan. 28, 2026

Karen Johnson Swindol (BAEd 78), of Tupelo, Dec. 12, 2025

Gregory Alvin Merritt (BBA 77), of Meridian, Feb. 7, 2026

Vivian Dean Taylor (BS 72), of Clara, Feb. 16, 2026

Charles Edward Middleton Jr. (BA 71), of Flowood, March 6, 2026

Stephen Lee Thomas (BA 70, JD 73), of Madison, Dec. 5, 2025

Martha Karen Schultz Mosby (BAEd 72), of Canton, Dec. 7, 2025

Daria Amedee Thomassie (MBEd 70), of Larose, La., Jan. 24, 2026

James Patrick Nation (MBA 71), of Clinton, Dec. 19, 2025

Otis Ray Tims (BA 74, JD 85), of Tupelo, Dec. 12, 2025

Madge Freiler Noble (MCJ 78), of Canton, Dec. 7, 2025

Sarah Ann Turner (MEd 75), of Mantachie, March 7, 2026

Pete Joseph Nosser III (BBA 72), of Vicksburg, Feb. 3, 2026

Sara Thomason Wade (MEd 73), of Tupelo, Dec. 16, 2025

James Raymond Patterson Jr. (BBA 72), of Senatobia, Dec. 5, 2025

Stanley Arnold Watkins (BSHPE 73), of Abbeville, Jan. 29, 2026

Margaret Taylor Patton (BAEd 72, MLS 79), of Batesville, Dec. 19, 2025 Phillip Gavin Pitts (BPA 76, JD 79), of Crestview, Fla., Feb. 23, 2026

Kathryn Christine Dale Wilson (BAEd 75, MEd 80), of Hattiesburg, Feb. 27, 2026

James Eugene Poole Jr. (BBA 72), of Jackson, Feb. 8, 2026

Janette Womble (BA 72, MEd 76), of Water Valley, Jan. 8, 2025

Beverly Lightsey Powers (BBA 78), of Shreveport, La., Dec. 20, 2025

Ann Brown Wood (BAEd 72), of Booneville, Jan. 21, 2026

Eric Richard Pratt (PhD 76), of Lafayette, La., Feb. 20, 2026

Dennis Freeman Worley (BAEd 73, MEd 75), of Rienzi, Dec. 25, 2025

James Dee Richardson Jr. (BSME 72), of Canton, Dec. 20, 2025

Pearlene Jordan Wright (MEd 76), of Covington, Wash., Jan. 14, 2026

Claude Alan Ridge (72), of Hixson, Tenn., March 11, 2026

William Stacy Yarbrough (BBA 77, MBA 82), of Tupelo, March 10, 2026

Harmon Ray Seawel (MA 70), of Pocahontas, Ark., Nov. 30, 2025 Mamie Herron Shields (MA 74), of Coffeeville, Jan. 11, 2026

1980s

Lynn Miller Sloan (BAEd 72, MEd 96), of Oxford, Jan. 6, 2026

Carol Thomas Allen (BBA 89), of Booneville, Feb. 4, 2026

Margaret McCosker Smith (Cert 71), of McComb, Jan. 18, 2026

Jeffery Allen Aron (83), of Smyrna, Ga., Feb. 24, 2026

Anne Kerby Miller Stegall (71), of Sarasota, Fla., Jan. 31, 2026

Renee Manning Ballard (BBA 89), of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., Feb. 8, 2026

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Alumni News

Photo by Bill Dabney

Top 40 OLE MISS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HONORS 2026 40 UNDER 40 RECIPIENTS

T

he Ole Miss Alumni Association recognized its 40 Under 40 class for 2026 at a ceremony on March 27, which included a celebration event at Circle and Square Brewing. The program recognizes the personal, professional and philanthropic achievements of successful UM graduates under the age of 40.

The 2026 group of young alumni includes a news anchor, boot company founder, mental health therapist, deputy assistant to the U.S. president and a private jet charter CEO. “This year’s class of 40 Under 40 is outstanding, and we can’t wait to welcome them back to campus to honor their accomplishments,” says OMAA CEO Kirk Purdom (BA 93). “These talented individuals exemplify leadership in their industries and communities, and I am thrilled that we can showcase their achievements through this program of recognition.”

Nominations for 40 Under 40 were open from September to November, and hundreds of nominations were received for this year’s class. Honorees 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 demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a lifelong relationship with the university and the OMAA. “The Class of 2026 truly represents young alumni from Ole Miss with diverse careers in television, governmental affairs, health care and finance,” says Sunny Brown (BSFCS 09, MA 11), assistant director of alumni affairs who organized the awards. “It will be so special to award them in March and allow our current students to network with all that this class has to offer.”

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Members of the 2026 class of 40 Under 40 are: • Valencia Alexander (BSME 15), of Olive Branch, senior continuous improvement engineer, Milwaukee Tool • Autumn Barron (BS 17), of Kosciusko, clinical audiologist, MRG Exams and Jackson State University • Benjamin Bowen (BBA 17), of Oxford, founder and CEO, Double B Boot Co. •J asmine Carter (BA 10), of Brandon, regional vice president, Republic Finance •D illon Clark (BSPSC 12, PHMD 15), of New Albany, associate administrator, Baptist Memorial Hospital Union County •S onya Coleman (BS 09), of New Orleans, physician assistant, Ochsner Health • L aurin Dixon (BSPSC 10, PHMD 13), of Collierville, Tennessee, vice president and chief of staff, Centene Management Co. •N orris EJ Edney III (BA 11, MA 13, EdD 19), of Nashville, Tennessee, associate dean of students, Vanderbilt University •D onte Ferrell (BGS 17), of New Albany, social responsibility and engagement counselor, University of Mississippi •M argaret Garth (BAEd 10, MEd 12), of Brooklyn, New York, English faculty, The Nightingale-Bamford School •S amantha Porter Giunta (BAccy 08, MAccy 09), of Washington, D.C., chief financial officer, the BlackChamber Group •C aleb M. Herod (BA 12), of Chicago, director of income and assets, The Chicago Community Trust •M allie Imbler (BA 19), of Tupelo, project manager, CREATE Foundation/Toyota Mississippi’s Driving Possibilities •E lizabeth Joseph (BA 10), of Washington, D.C., professional staff member, U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations • T yler Kidd (BSCVE 09, MSESC 11), of Pass Christian, vice president of operational excellence, Senior Aerospace Group •A shley Knight (BS 17), of Tupelo, functional consultant, Workday Inc.

Alumni News • Brooks Krouse (BAccy 18, MAccy 19), of Oxford, chief financial officer, EquiPro Holdings LLC • Glenna Lusk (BBA 15, MCJ 17, JD 20), of Washington, D.C., attorney, Department of Defense • Carlos Maury (BBA 11), of Oxford, principal IT solutions partner, Cotality Inc. • Haley Mays (BSES 13, DPT 17), of Madison, director of clinical operations/physical therapist, Performance Therapy • Laney E. McNeer (BA 11), of Jackson, president and vice president of sales, Verve Influence Partners/Kinbro Inc. • Alex Meyer (BBA 15), of Arlington, Virginia, deputy assistant to the U.S. president, director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs • M. Craig Moffett (BS 11, BA 11, MS 12), of Mathiston, director/physician, North Mississippi Health Services • Chandler Morgan (BA 17), of Jacksonville, Florida, news anchor, Cox Media Group-Action News Jax • Briana A. O’Neil (BA 15), of Jackson, member/attorney, Watkins & Eager PLLC • Paris Pope (BS 16), of Palm Beach, Florida, founder and CEO, FLY CLOUD 9 • Caleb Pracht (BA 18, JD 21), of Canton, director of strategic partnerships, Mississippi Department of Mental Health • Martha Robertson (BBA 09), of Memphis, Tennessee, affiliate broker, Ware Jones Realtors

• Preethi Saint (BAccy 08, MAccy 09), of Charleston, South Carolina, chief financial officer/vice president for finance and business, The Citadel •C hristina M. Seanor (BA 11, JD 14), of Jackson, senior counsel, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani •A nish Sharma (BAccy 14, MAccy 15), of Athens, Georgia, assistant professor, University of Georgia • L aShaunda Smith (BA 14), of Pearl, mental health therapist, Rankin County School District •C asey Stafford (BA 12), of Alexandria, Virginia, assistant general counsel, the Heritage Foundation •S cott Stewart (BAccy 09, MTax 10), of Darien, Connecticut, international tax partner, Deloitte •C ourtney Still (BAccy 16, MAccy 17), of Memphis, Tennessee, vice president/financial controller, Bank3 •A rielle Hudson-Vinson (BAEd 20), of Decatur, Georgia, LDF Marshall-Motley fellow/attorney, Southern Poverty Law Center •C hristopher Waldron (BSPSC 18, PHMD 21), of Meridian, pharmacy manager/district immunization and medication therapy management lead, Walgreens •C ory Washington (BS 12), of Chicago, senior head of schools, KIPP Chicago Public Schools •M cDaniel Wicker (BA 09), of Washington, D.C., senior vice president, Babel Street •W illiam E. Wildman III (BA 17, MA 20), of New Orleans, associate attorney, Baker Donelson

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59

Alumni News

Current Calling TWO ALUMNI TAKE ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

T

wo University of Mississippi alumni, John Hardy (BA 82) and Pope Mallette (JD 94), got a big start on an extended paddling journey early last fall.

Pope Mallette (left) and John Hardy pause for a photo while on a canoe trip down the Mississippi River. | Submitted photo

Over Labor Day weekend, the two began a 40-day canoe trip down the Mississippi River, launching their tandem canoe near the river’s headwaters at Bemidji, Minnesota, and taking out — for now — at Chester, Illinois, a few hours north of their hometown of Oxford.

Hardy and Mallette are lifelong outdoorsmen who take a “now or never” approach to the expedition. The two have 60

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hunted and fished together in canoes for much of their adult lives. Hardy is president and a founder of Hardy Reed, a wealth management firm in Oxford.

Mallette is an attorney and founding member of Mayo Mallette PLLC. Over the years, they have recognized each other’s sense of adventure and willingness to forgo some comforts of home for time outdoors. Several years ago, their shared interests led to discussions about a “long canoe trip,” and they agreed there could be no better way to see much of the country than to paddle the Mississippi River from its source to the Gulf.

They set a start date of Aug. 31, 2025.

Over Labor Day weekend, they drove to northern Minnesota and began paddling downriver.

During the first leg of their journey, Hardy and Mallette paddled nearly 1,200 miles. Mallette, a part-time woodworker, built the paddles that pushed them downriver. Hardy estimates each man took about 450 strokes per river mile — more than half-a-million paddle strokes before they took out south of St. Louis some 40 days later, on Oct. 9.

They spent most nights in hammocks along the river or, farther south, in a tent on river sandbars. They portaged around dams and navigated lock systems, were chased off the river at times by lightning and high winds, and dodged barge traffic and other obstacles as they traveled from a narrow stream in northern Minnesota through a series of lakes formed by locks and dams along the headwaters and upper river. Eventually, they reached the wide river familiar to many who come to Ole Miss from west of Mississippi.

“Paddling the Mississippi River with Pope was really something special,” Hardy says. “Our days settled into a simple rhythm — wake up around 5:45, start paddling by 6:45, take three short breaks through the day — mid-morning, noon and mid-afternoon — then find a campsite around 5 p.m. We’d set up camp, eat supper and be in our hammocks or tent by 7:30.

The combination of our simple routine and hard work gave us time to really take in the beauty of the outdoors, the magic of the river, enjoy each other’s company and, just as importantly, to reflect.”

Mallette says his memories of the trip center on the ever-changing beauty of the river and the kindness of the people they met during the six-week journey. He finds one of the most rewarding aspects is the immediacy of decision making.

“In my work, decisions often don’t pay dividends until months or years later,” Mallette says. “On the river, we made decisions that would affect our comfort, or our lives, in the next few minutes or hours. And we usually knew right away when those decisions were right or when we needed to change direction, sometimes literally. This was rewarding and very different from the pace of my work.”

Both Hardy and Mallette say they are ready to continue their journey from Chester, Illinois, in October and complete what they call the “easy half,” without dams or locks to slow them and with added current from the Missouri and Ohio rivers to carry them through the final 1,000 miles or so.

Their 18-foot canoe, named the Ella B, was christened as a brand-new boat in northern Minnesota. After more than 1,200 miles, it bears fiberglass patches and visible wear — evidence of the miles traveled. Their waterproof bags remain mostly packed for the journey ahead this fall.

Hardy and Mallette agree that while the river’s power and beauty dominated their days on the water, it is the people they met at marinas, campsites and riverside saloons who left the greatest impression. They say they could not have completed the first leg without the support of their families and colleagues who held things together at home and work.

Both describe the trip as the adventure of a lifetime — so far — and say they look forward to completing the southern leg of their Mississippi River journey this fall.

Alumni News David Ralph Brown (PhD 82), of Sun Prairie, Wis., Dec. 18, 2025

Charles Travis Swann (MS 85), of Coleman, Ga., Jan. 3, 2026

Jeffrey Allison Callaway (BM 86), of Water Valley, Jan. 10, 2026

Vivian Dale Tyner (BSN 84), of Grenada, Dec. 1, 2025

Leslie Howard Cantrell (BA 80), of New Roads, La., Feb. 22, 2026

Cynthia Wells Weldy (BS 83), of Philadelphia, Dec. 29, 2025

Penny Alexander Cochran (BA 85), of Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 2, 2025

Dale Whitlock (BA 89), of Nettleton, Dec. 18, 2025

Marlinda Ann Morgan Collins (BAEd 80), of Jackson, March 5, 2026

Bobbie Sullivan Whitt (BBA 82), of Nesbit, Dec. 3, 2025

Dorothy Josey Crocker (JD 84), of Baton Rouge, La., Dec. 12, 2025

Tracy Hugh Whitt (BBA 82), of Woodland, Jan. 4, 2026

James Dean Flessas (BSME 85), of Spring, Texas, Dec. 1, 2025

Mary Fancher Wicke (BSPh 82), of Jackson, Jan. 14, 2026

Patricia Spalding Gipson (MEd 89), of Decatur, Ga., Jan. 5, 2026

Barry Todd Wilburn (86), of Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 6, 2026

Reggie Dale Harvey Jr. (BBA 89, MBA 91), of Slidell, La., Dec. 2, 2025

Regina Earnetta Peairs Winbush (MS 89), of Olive Branch, Dec. 24, 2025

Lee Bennett Hazlewood (BA 84, JD 88), of Eupora, Feb. 15, 2026 Waymon Ray Hinson (PhD 82), of Denison, Texas, Jan. 22, 2026

1990s

Jack Lipp Hite Jr. (BPA 80), of Raymond, Feb. 6, 2026

Elizabeth Aileen Allen (BA 97), of Pensacola, Fla., Jan. 14, 2026

Gerald David Horton (BBA 80), of Mooreville, March 12, 2026

John Gibson Baylor Jr. (JD 93), of Mobile, Ala., Feb. 23, 2026

William Robert Humphrey Jr. (BA 80, MD 84), of Huntsville, Ala., Feb. 11, 2026

Dennis Lee Bubrig II (BA 96, MA 98), of Hattiesburg, Jan. 8, 2026

Mary McCauley Knight (BSW 84), of Bellmore, N.Y., Feb. 16, 2026

Mary Margaret Dill Case (MEd 99), of Oxford, Feb. 22, 2026

Mark Steven Lago (MEd 80), of Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 12, 2026

Matthew Kristian Eggleston (BA 94), of Greenbrier, Tenn., Nov. 28, 2025

Alissa Smith Lilly (BA 89), of Oxford, Dec. 3, 2025

Sandra Joiner Fraley (BSW 96), of Sheridan, Ark., Dec. 29, 2025

Lisa Carol Holliday Lindsey (BBA 84, BSN 02), of Booneville, March 9, 2026

Gara Homer Gillentine (BFA 94), of Tupelo, Feb. 15, 2026

Noel Henning Mayfield (PhD 84), of Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 9, 2026

Benjamin Franklin Burns III (BSPh 94), of Iuka, Feb. 12, 2026

Kimberly Alexander Grisanti (BAEd 91), of Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 28, 2025

Jon Stacy McDonald (BBA 82), of Lakeway, Texas, Dec. 20, 2025

Kenneth Eugene Hazlewood (BAEd 96, MEd 97, SpecEd 07), of Oxford, March 3, 2026

Deborah McGill McPherson (BS 84), of Tupelo, Jan. 26, 2026

Mary Dorsey Kizer (MEd 92), of Collierville, Tenn., Feb. 10, 2026

Daniel Joseph Mulholland (BA 82, JD 85), of Madison, Nov. 16, 2025

Steven Alton McDonald (96), of Lynchburg, Va., Feb. 1, 2026

Vickie Smalls Owens (Cert 83, BS 94), of Jackson, Dec. 12, 2025

David Paul Nanney (BS 91), of Whitwell, Tenn., Dec. 31, 2025

Cynthia Thompson St. John (BSB 83), of Southaven, Jan. 7, 2026

Douglas Paul Nanney (JD 91), of Knoxville, Tenn., Dec. 5, 2025

Elizabeth Shirley Stanton (MD 82), of Candler, N.C., Nov. 9, 2025

Beverly Taylor Pearson (MA 91), of Pope, Feb. 22, 2026

Cook

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Alumni News

Law Alumni Weekend Honorees 10 ALUMNI RECOGNIZED AT LAW ALUMNI HALL OF FAME CEREMONY

T

he University of Mississippi School of Law honored five distinguished attorneys by inducting them into its Alumni Hall of Fame during a March 28 ceremony as part of Law Alumni Weekend. This year’s inductees are the late E. Grady Jolly (BA 59, LLB 62), of Jackson; Dennis J. Keough (JD 74), of Newport Beach, California; Charles M. Merkel Jr. (BA 64, JD 66), of Clarksdale; David H. Nutt (BA 70, JD 71), of Flora; and Charles J. Swayze Jr. (BBA 66, JD 69), of Greenwood.

New this year, the Leading Edge Award allows the law school to recognize recent graduates who have demonstrated exceptional achievement, leadership and impact in the legal profession or related fields. The inaugural award was presented on March 28 during the Law Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony to Merritt Baria (JD 24), of Jackson; Channing J. Curtis (BA 20, JD 23), of Brandon; Taylor C. Davis (JD 25), of Nashville, Tennessee; Bobby E. Marsh III (JD 22), of Huntsville, Alabama; and Jordan Thomas (BA 09, JD 21), of Memphis, Tennessee.

Dennis J. Keough

David H. Nutt

Charles M. Merkel Jr.

School of Law Dean Frederick G. Slabach (JD 82) (right) and Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce Jr. (BAEd 81, EdD 96) present the Hall of Fame awards. James E. Keeton (BA 61, MD 65) accepts the School of Law Alumni Hall of Fame Award on behalf of his friend E. Grady Jolly.

Charles J. Swayze Jr.

Pictured (from left) are Channing Curtis, Taylor Davis, Merritt Baria, Jordan Thomas and Bobby Marsh, inaugural recipients of the Leading Edge Award.

Photos by Bill Dabney

62

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Alumni News David Allen Snellgrove (BSHPE 90), of Luverne, Ala., Jan. 24, 2026

Susan Dykes Rayner (MSN 10), of Laurel, Dec. 16, 2025

Ronald Alan Walton (BS 91), of Clarksdale, Dec. 1, 2025

Chad Woodson Russell (PhD 13), of Oxford, Jan. 29, 2026 Patrick Tyler Scroggins (14), of Oxford, Jan. 17, 2026

2000s

Elizabeth Jean Weathersby (BBA 19), of Greensboro, N.C., Dec. 15, 2025

Meagan Letteri Boykin (BA 09, BSPhSc 10, PharmD 13), of Conway, Ark., March 13, 2026

April Little Woods (BAEd 11), of Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 21, 2026

Daphanie Ann Corley (BAccy 06), of Okolona, Feb. 26, 2026

2020s

Tammy Kay Geiger (Cert 01), of Vicksburg, Feb. 21, 2026

Mary Cole Griffin (BUS 23), of Verona, Feb. 15, 2026

Gabriel Paul Grissett (BSCS 03), of Winona, Feb. 12, 2026

Jermaine Jackson (22), of Booneville, Feb. 1, 2026

Florence Rani Herod (BAEd 06), of Abbeville, Feb. 21, 2026

Mark Edward Sacra Jr. (20), of Houston, Texas, Feb. 28, 2026

Anna Elizabeth Knighton (BBA 02), of Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 22, 2026 Kevin Michael Oury (01), of Crestview, Fla., Jan. 28, 2026 Michael George Schumacher (PhD 03), of North Augusta, S.C., Dec. 6, 2025 Glenda Darlene Tedford-Hagood (BSW 02), of Courtland, March 2, 2026

FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS Carolyn Donnell Aden, of Brandon, Dec. 11, 2025 Dorothy MacKee Allen, of Oxford, Jan. 18, 2026 Charles Clarence Barlow Sr., of Madison, Dec. 3, 2025

2010s

Mary Reed Bowen, of Oxford, Jan. 5, 2026

John Adam Irwin (BSCJ 10), of Marion, Ark., Jan. 21, 2026

Charlotte Wells Brackeen, of Union, Jan. 28, 2026

Kristen Nicole Kaufman (BAPRM 11), of Oxford, Feb. 11, 2026

Thomas Larry Brunt, of Brandon, Feb. 23, 2026

Wesley Clayton McGee (12), of Myrtle, Jan. 5, 2026

Gerry Maria Lee Cruthird, of Picayune, Nov. 28, 2025

Michael Vincent Namorato Jr. (17), of Oxford, Feb. 7, 2026

William Keith Duncan, of Brandon, Feb. 1, 2026

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Alumni News Belinda White Evans, of Madison, July 18, 1954

Mildred Farrow Matlock, of Germantown, Tenn., March 14, 2026

Joseph Van Fenstermaker, of Brentwood, Tenn., Nov. 11, 2025

William Patrick McCluskey, of Madison, Feb. 26, 2026

Michael Richard Garrett, of Madison, March 7, 2026

Margaret Sue McCrory, of Terry, Jan. 5, 2026

Ann Gerache, of Vicksburg, Dec. 20, 2025

Jo Dale Slade Mistilis, of Oxford, Jan. 13, 2026

James Drew Gilbert, of Oxford, Dec. 31, 2025

Doug Moulds, of Columbus, Feb. 12, 2026

James Lester Gill, of Germantown, Tenn., March 4, 2026

Judy Hicks Murphy, of Brandon, Jan. 2, 2026

Gerry Lee Grant, of Clarksdale, Dec. 3, 2025

Susie Potts, of Water Valley, Dec. 7, 2025

William Shan Grisham, of Ripley, Feb. 16, 2026

Joseph Albert Pryor, of Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 13, 2026

Michelle Favrot Heidelberg, of Hattiesburg, Feb. 25, 2026

James Orman Ross, of Oxford, Jan. 21, 2026

Barbara Ann Hoffman, of Oxford, Jan. 15, 2026

Ann Baker Russell, of Thaxton, Feb. 4, 2026

Alvin Maurice Hudson II, of Greenville, Jan. 7, 2026

Andrew Soule Scott III, of Greensboro, N.C., Dec. 20, 2025

Brown Blair Jones, of Columbus, March 14, 2026

Kay Walker Southern, of West Monroe, La., Nov. 24, 2025

Catherine Powell Klipple, of Ridgeland, Dec. 24, 2025

Curtis Neal Thomson, of Green Cove Springs, Fla., Dec. 28, 2025

Peggy Coleman Lamb, of Oxford, Feb. 5, 2026

Jimmy Edward Towery, of Livingston, Tenn., Feb. 8, 2026

Michael Doyle Leech, of Franklin, Tenn., Feb. 16, 2026

Ann Tipler Watson, of Sacramento, Calif., Jan. 27, 2026

William Edward LeMay, of Iuka, Feb. 23, 2026

Hazel Ellynn Hare Whitt, of Woodland, March 3, 2022

James Michael Lightsey, of Madison, Jan. 9, 2026

Albert Lee Willingham, of Oxford, Dec. 16, 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.

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