New grads highlighted in special series Alumna thrives in TikTok communications role
The Grove: More than tailgating, more than tradition
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), Hayden Carroll, Srijita Chattopadhyay, Rebecca Lauck Cleary (BA 97, MS 18), Bill Dabney (BA 89), Joe Ellis, Nicole Ethridge (BAJ 14, MS 24), Jay Ferchaud, Stefanie Goodwiller (MA 17), Thomas Graning (BAJ 17), Marvis Herring, Will Jones (BFA 25), Robert Jordan (BA 83, MA 90), Jordan Karnbach, Buck Martin, John McCustion, Lee Meek (BBA 71), Hunt Mercier, Jennifer Parsons (MA 05, EdD 19), Zach Schultz, Clara Turnage (BAJ 17), Rachel Vanderford (BS 19)
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
Jeff Hubbard (BBA 80, JD 83) president
Charles White (BBA 82) president-elect
Gail Pittman (BAEd 72) vice president
Todd Sandroni (BSPh 92, PharmD 97) athletics committee member
Zach Scruggs (BAccy 96, JD 00) athletics committee member
ALUMNI AFFAIRS DIRECTORS
Kirk Purdom (BA 93), chief executive officer
Joseph Baumbaugh, assistant director for information services
Sunny Brown (BSFCS 09, MA 11), assistant director
Clay Cavett (BBA 86), associate director, campaigns and special projects
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.
In May, we celebrated more than 5,500 graduates in Oxford and 964 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. It’s always a joy to welcome new members to our community of 170,494 living alumni. Whether you graduated decades ago or just walked across the stage, you’re an essential part of the Ole Miss community.
I’m pleased to share a few university updates as you remain engaged and connected to this special place.
In Oxford, faculty members continue to explore issues that affect our daily lives and probe our most profound mysteries. UM-based scientists recently investigated how one of our most common spices, cinnamon, reduces the effects of some medications. As part of a 17-year international collaboration known as Fermilab’s Muon g-2 experiment, physics researchers have made record-breaking measurements of subatomic particles. And Ann Fisher-Wirth, a retired English professor who taught here for 34 years, has been appointed Mississippi’s poet laureate.
This spirit of discovery extends to our students. A fourth-year doctoral candidate is researching a sugar compound found in sea cucumbers that may halt the spread of cancer. Five undergraduates have been selected for prestigious David L. Boren scholarships, which will enable them to study critical languages abroad. We’re thrilled to celebrate Yasmine Ware as the 20th UM student to ever receive a Harry S. Truman Scholarship, recognizing her dedication to pursuing a career in government or public service.
At UMMC, we continue to serve Mississippians and seek new ways to offer health services. Officials recently cut a ribbon to recognize the opening of the UMMC Mississippi Burn Center care unit, one of only a handful of new burn centers created nationwide in the past two decades.
On June 30, we concluded Now & Ever, the largest fundraising campaign in Mississippi history. I’m grateful to all our donors and look forward to sharing details about the campaign’s remarkable impact this fall. Additionally, during our sixth annual Giving Day, we received over 3,200 gifts totaling more than $1 million, including support for the “Let’s Book It” campaign to provide textbook stipends for qualified Mississippi students.
Our student-athletes are succeeding on and off the field. NCAA Academic Progress Rates, a metric evaluating student-athlete classroom performance, indicate our multiyear average of 993 is nine points higher than the national average, with 10 teams posting perfect scores of 1,000. Summer highlights included Michael La Sasso capturing the NCAA Division I Individual Golf Championship and softball reaching its first Women’s College World Series, finishing as a consensus top-10 team nationally. Hotty Toddy!
Reflecting on another extraordinary Commencement ceremony in May, it was touching to see how A.J. Brown, NFL wide receiver, Ole Miss alumnus and this year’s Commencement speaker, deeply connected with our students. It was especially inspiring when he shared, “Ole Miss gave you the playbook. Now it’s your job to call the plays and lead the drive.” As we head into fall, I hope you’ll return to campus to experience once again the energy and spirit that make our community so special. Thank you for your passion for Ole Miss!
Sincerely,
Glenn F. Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) Chancellor
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from the President
Alumni and Friends,
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
— Ben Franklin
It is a great time to be an Ole Miss Rebel. A quick report card:
• Enrollment and retention continue to break records year after year.
• The Now & Ever Campaign was an incredible success, with the results to be announced in September.
• Our sports teams are continuing to enjoy historic success.
• Our students’ academic performance continues to gain national attention. Students have been awarded six Harry S. Truman scholarships in just the last five years, and 27 students have been named Rhodes scholars over the years.
This is a direct result of our outstanding faculty and the resources Ole Miss offers, such as the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, the new Duff STEM building and our top-10 nationally ranked School of Accountancy (14th consecutive year).
This listing does not scratch the surface of what our university offers, and we haven’t even mentioned any of our graduate programs, including our remarkable medical school, nursing school and law school.
But the real proof is in how our students are faring in obtaining great jobs after graduation. Lisa and I recently helped represent Ole Miss at Mississippi on the Mall in Washington, D.C., and Mississippi in the Park in New York City. We also attended alumni club events in both cities. I am pleased to report that we were amazed by the Ole Miss students and alumni we met.
First, in D.C., we can confirm that the so-called “Mississippi Mafia” on the Hill is real. We met graduates working not only with our Mississippi senators and representatives, but also for congressional delegations from Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri and Tennessee, including the Speaker of the House. Others worked for the Republican and Democratic parties, various cabinet members and congressional committees.
In NYC, we met students interning for Vogue magazine and at Cornell in biomedical statistics, and graduates attending New York University — one in medical school and one in graduate school studying anthropology. We also met alumni working for ESPN, HarperCollins Publishers, big four accounting firms, financial firms and mental health therapists, and teaching at-risk students, to name just a few.
Simply remarkable people, with one thing in common — they all love Ole Miss. With apologies to Frank Sinatra: “If they can make it there, they’ll make it anywhere …”
Finally, it has been my honor to join the unbroken line of alumni since 1852 who have served as president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. However, the real work has been done by CEO Kirk Purdom, his wonderful staff and the board of directors. At homecoming, Charles White will take over as president and be a great leader for our Alumni Association. Thanks for a truly great year.
Hotty Toddy!
Jeff Hubbard (BBA 80, JD 83) Ole Miss Alumni Association President
f rom the Circle
THE LATEST ON OLE MISS STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS
Super Bowl champion receiver A.J. Brown advises graduates to take control of their futures and trust God’s timing during the university’s morning Convocation on Saturday, May 10, in The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. |
Leading the Drive
A.J. BROWN ADVISES NEW CLASS OF REBEL ALUMNI
With the shift of tassels and a familiar rousing refrain, the University of Mississippi graduated more than 5,500 students at its 172nd Commencement exercises on May 10 in a packed Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss.
Early morning showers moved the ceremonies indoors, but the Pavilion was packed with smiling faces and excitement. Before an overflowing ocean of navy gowns, Chancellor Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) ensured the Class of 2025 and their loved ones that they are ready to build legacies of excellence.
“You are poised to contribute to the world in meaningful ways,” he said. “Your education and experience at the University of Mississippi have prepared you to live a life full of purpose.
“As you go forward in life, I know you will be outstanding and passionate ambassadors for Ole Miss through your example, continuing your trajectory of accomplishment and fulfilling your dreams in the process.”
It has been said that “one never graduates from Ole Miss.” Super Bowl champion, philanthropist and former Ole Miss standout wide receiver A.J. Brown lived that saying when he returned to the “spot that ever calls” as Commencement speaker.
Brown has faced off against some of the most fearsome linebackers and safeties in both the SEC and NFL, and he’s competed on football’s biggest stage. Still, he tells the graduates that delivering the keynote speech was intense.
“Standing here, trying to impress your grandma, your
professors and your group chat all at once — this might be the real pressure,” he said.
As the “offensive coordinator” of the ceremonies, Brown shared his story of disappointment when he was traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Philadelphia Eagles. But he trusted God’s timing, and that disappointment turned into a blessing.
He coached those in the crowd to do the same, encouraging graduates to become the play callers instead of the players in their game of life.
“You’re stepping into a new season,” he said. “You’re holding the ball. Ole Miss gave you the playbook. Now it’s your job to call the plays and lead the drive.”
Likening the graduates as their own operation and brand, Brown offered that their habits equaled investments, and that no one can rescue or build success for them — except them.
“Success isn’t owned,” he said. “It’s rented — and rent is due every single day.”
Every day, you’re either investing in your purpose or wasting it, he said.
Brown emboldened graduates to stay focused on their future and be their own playmakers with three simple rules:
• Run your own route. Comparison kills potential faster than failure ever could.
• Watch film on yourself. Self-awareness is a form of leadership.
• Think bigger than today. Real greatness is built when nobody’s watching.
Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay
Talking Faulkner
UM STUDENTS CREATE AUDIO TOURS FOR ROWAN OAK VISITORS
Visitors to Rowan Oak, home of William Faulkner, can immerse themselves even more into the world of the Nobel Prize-winning author with a new series of audio tours, developed and recorded by students in a University of Mississippi exhibition design course.
These recordings help engage visitors to the house and deepen their understanding of how Faulkner lived and worked there.
Kariann Fuqua, director of museum studies and instructional associate professor of art, developed the project for 11 students in her exhibition design course. She worked with the staff at Rowan Oak, operated by the university as a museum, and Bryce Heesacker, assistant professor of art, to give the class a real-world assignment.
“My students were tasked with researching and writing a one- to two-minute audio tour of a specific room in Rowan Oak,” Fuqua says. “The goal was to add to the level of interpretation that was already on site in a different format.”
The audio tours provide historical context for five areas of Rowan Oak: the parlor, office, stable, Estelle Faulkner’s bedroom and a house where enslaved workers lived during the property’s antebellum history.
Once the scripts were ready, eight students from Heesacker’s Sonic Arts class used their technological expertise to help record and mix the audio tours.
I may have never met otherwise and to go into a sound booth for the first time,” Miller says. “I’m glad the museum studies minor gets to interact on such a meaningful level with our local historical institutions.”
The finished audio tours exceeded expectations, Fuqua says.
“The students did a fantastic job researching, writing and editing the scripts, working well as teams, a necessary skill in the museum world,” she says. “From their feedback, the students really enjoyed the project and felt like they gained practical experience in the field that could be applied to future endeavors.”
“Sonic Arts is a new course that explores recording technologies, electronic music production, film scoring and sound art,” Heesacker says. “Teaching students about the challenges related to technology and communication that come with recording for voice was a really good experience.
“It was exciting to see the museum studies students break out of their comfort zones as they went from writers to narrators.”
The students gained valuable experience in developing a concept into a usable resource for the museum, says Mei Miller, a sophomore international studies and Arabic major from New Orleans.
“I appreciate getting the chance to collaborate with students
The recordings are available online, and the Rowan Oak staff has placed placards with QR codes to access them throughout the house and relevant outbuildings.
“It’s already been quite popular,” says Rachel Hudson, Rowan Oak’s assistant curator. “We don’t have the technology or budget yet for something like headsets for each individual visitor — Rowan Oak sees nearly 15,000 visitors a year — so the QR codes are a great and simple way to incorporate these tours.
“Not only will these audio tours give visitors extra information and insight to the history of the home, but it, of course, will make tours more accessible to those who may have visual impairments.”
Bill Griffith (left), curator of Rowan Oak, talks to art professor Kariann Fuqua (second from left) and students in her exhibition design course about the history of the property. The students developed a series of audio tours that visitors to the home can access using QR codes posted inside. | Photo by Hunt Mercier
High Honor
OLE MISS JUNIOR NAMED TRUMAN SCHOLAR
Yasmine Ware walked into Chancellor Glenn Boyce’s (BAEd 81, EdD 96) office thinking she would speak with a prospective donor. Instead, she walked out as the University of Mississippi’s 20th Harry S. Truman Scholar.
Boyce surprised the junior with the news on April 10. Unbeknownst to Ware, her mother, father and younger brother, who traveled from their hometown of Madison, were waiting in Boyce’s office.
“You have so much to be proud of,” Boyce told Dr. Terrance Ware and Zandrea Ware, Yasmine’s parents. “You have an amazing daughter.”
Winners were formally announced on April 18 by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. Established as a tribute to the 33rd U.S. president, the foundation awards merit-based scholarships annually to students dedicated to careers in government or public service.
“I don’t know what to say,” Yasmine Ware says, wiping tears from her eyes. “Thank you so much to all of you. This has been a stressful process, but in such a wonderful and rewarding way.
“I couldn’t have done it without you. I cannot overstate how much this means to me.”
Ware is an interdisciplinary studies major with concentrations in international studies, Chinese and global security. Over the last three years, she has interned in Congress, studied abroad with the United Nations and researched Japanese heritage in Kyoto, Japan.
She was awarded as a Model United Nations delegate at
international conferences in New York City and Washington, D.C.
On campus, the Stamps scholar serves as president of the Undergraduate Black Law Student Association, served in the Associated Student Body president’s cabinet and is one of 30 students chosen campuswide to be in the Columns Society. She has also served on the senate of both ASB and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
Through her studies and extracurriculars, Ware has focused on elevating the stories of others.
Ware produces an award-winning podcast, “Yasmine’s Warehouse” and through this role was invited to the White House as press and won The New York Times’ fourth annual Student Podcast Contest.
She is also the inaugural recipient of the James H. Meredith Community Transformation Award, which helped fund her documentary, “The Mound Bayou Memoirs,” telling the story of one of America’s first all-African American towns.
“Those experiences combined really inspired me to want to work in the security sector, but specifically finding ways to tell stories as well,” she says. “I see myself eventually working for the United Nations, specifically UNESCO, so that we can work to secure peace and build peace using cultural heritage as an avenue.” Ware was selected among 700 applicants nationwide for the scholarship. She will receive up to $30,000 toward completing her graduate degree and will gain access to internship and employment opportunities in the federal government.
Christian Boudreaux (back row, left), the university’s 2024 Truman scholar; Fred Slabach, dean of the School of Law; Terrance and Zandrea Ware, Yasmine Ware’s parents; Chancellor Glenn Boyce and Whitney Dedmon-Woods, assistant director of the Office of National Scholarship Advisement and (front row, left) Jacob Ware, Yasmine’s brother, gather in the Lyceum on April 10 to surprise the Truman scholar. Yasmine Ware (front row, right) was selected from more than 700 students nationwide for the award. |
Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay
Teaching With Heart
HONORS PROFESSOR WINS UM’S HIGHEST TEACHING AWARD
From using artificial intelligence programs that bring the streets of Syria to Oxford, to near-daily lunches with students on campus, Allen Clark does everything in his power to make learning Arabic not only accessible but fun for his students.
Clark, director of the Arabic Language Flagship Program at the University of Mississippi, is the 2025 winner of the Elsie Hood Outstanding Teacher Award. The honor is the highest teaching recognition the university bestows on faculty members.
“Allen Clark epitomizes the ideals of higher education,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) says. “His attentive and engaging presence in the classroom has made him a fixture within one of the most unique academic programs on our campus.”
When Clark arrived on campus in 2008, he dreamed of building an Arabic program that would prepare students to use their language skills not only for work but for life.
“I was the entire program for a little while, you know,” Clark says. “Every year, we would do a search committee and then add a new person, and then all of a sudden, as you see, it’s a whole program.”
The Ole Miss Arabic Language Flagship Program is one of just three programs of its kind across the country. It offers students opportunities to study abroad multiple times throughout their college years.
Clark collaborated with multiple other professors on campus and abroad to write Ahlan Wa Sahlan: Functional Modern Standard Arabic for Beginners (Yale University Press, 2021). The virtual reality program he helped create lets students interact with characters mentioned in the book to
advance their language skills.
“So, in the book, you meet several characters, and in the program, if you ask questions, you can learn more about them,” he says. “They each have a backstory.”
Ahlan Wa Sahlan is the second-bestselling Arabic textbook in America and has been entered into the Library of Congress.
Clark also spends nearly every weekday hosting a language learning table at Rebel Market, where Arabic students of any level can sit down, eat and practice their speaking.
“I think one of the most beneficial aspects of this program is being in touch with the language,” he says. “All of the different functions that we have — from the cooking club to the reading club to the journalism club — are helping students use the language functionally outside of the classroom.”
Along the way, Clark has developed a community where students know they can always go to him for help.
“If a concept isn’t being understood by the class, he’ll answer any and all questions with seemingly infinite patience and come up with all sorts of examples until the students understand,” says Kathleen Summers (BA 24), a graduate from the Arabic program from Katy, Texas. Summers also recommended Clark for the award.
When asked about the inspiration behind his passion, Clark smiles.
“I get my inspiration from my students,” he says. “I really think of them as my kids.
“During those four formative years, you see them grow and change and become the person they’re going to be. And you get to have a hand in that.”
Allen Clark (right) shares a laugh with students in his Arabic class. Allen, director of the university’s Arabic Language Flagship Program, works to create an environment where learning Arabic is fun. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay
The Power of Sleep
LACK OF REST LINKED TO NEGATIVE BODY IMAGE IN TEENS
Poor sleep quality is often tied to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, but new research from the University
Sarah Bilsky
of Mississippi suggests it may also be related to how teens feel about their appearance.
A new study published in Child Psychiatry and Human Development found an association between sleep quality and symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder, a condition that involves obsession over perceived defects in one’s appearance.
“We found that adolescents who report lower quality sleep also tend to report higher levels of body dysmorphia symptoms,” says Sarah Bilsky, assistant professor of psychology and author of the research.
“Sleep difficulties are really strongly associated with anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms. Those are strong, well-established relationships. But the literature about associations between sleep and body dysmorphia is small, and
the results have been mixed.”
Body dysmorphic disorder affects an estimated 5 million to 10 million people in the United States, and symptoms most commonly arise during adolescence. The teenage and preteen years are also when many people experience sleep disruptions, the researchers say.
“Adolescence is a key time in development in which sleep difficulties are common,” says Kayce Hopper (MA 24), a fourth-year clinical psychology doctoral student from Summerville, South Carolina. Hopper is a co-author of the study.
“Sleep during adolescence is not only affected by dramatic biological changes but can also be impacted by increased social pressure. It is important to examine the relationship between sleep and symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder within this vulnerable population.”
VISION LOSS, DAMAGE COULD BE TIED TO EYE PRESSURE, STUDY FINDS
One of the world’s leading causes of irreversible vision loss could begin with elevated eye pressure, according to a recent study published in Ophthalmology Science
Yi Hua, a biomedical engineering professor at the University of Mississippi, partnered with researchers at the University of Pittsburgh to study how ocular hypertension elevated eye pressure affects the eye.
“We wanted to see how intraocular pressure changes and deforms the blood vessels in the eye,” Hua says. “If we can understand that, we can inform drug delivery to improve blood flow in the back of the eye. That can slow down the progression of glaucoma.”
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, leading to irreversible vision loss. It is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Glaucoma is sometimes called the “silent thief of sight,” with symptoms often not becoming apparent until the damage is extensive.
“This can lead us to a new way to diagnose glaucoma earlier,” says Yuankai Lu, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pittsburgh and co-author of the study.
Yi Hua
“If this finding holds true, then we can use blood flow supply to predict the development of this disease.”
Pressure inside the eye can increase when aqueous humor a clear fluid produced by the eye does not properly drain. The buildup of fluid increases pressure on the lamina cribrosa, a mesh-like structure in the optic nerve head, which can constrict blood vessels, reducing oxygen flow to nerve cells and other parts of the eye.
Without oxygen, these cells can die, leading to loss of sight.
“We want to understand this problem so we can develop new drug pathways for patients,” Hua says. “We still do not have an efficient way to slow down the progression of glaucoma. The only way is to reduce eye pressure.
“But for some patients, even though we’ve reduced the eye pressure, the damage progresses, and they still lose vision. So, we need better methods.”
Marine-based Cancer Therapy
SEA CUCUMBERS COULD HOLD KEY TO STOPPING CANCER SPREAD
Sea cucumbers are the ocean’s janitors, cleaning the seabed and recycling nutrients back into the water. But this humble marine invertebrate could also hold the key to stopping the spread of cancer.
A sugar compound found in sea cucumbers can effectively block Sulf-2, an enzyme that plays a major role in cancer growth, according to a University of Mississippi-led study published in Glycobiology
“Marine life produces compounds with unique structures that are often rare or not found in terrestrial vertebrates,” says Marwa Farrag, a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the UM Department of BioMolecular Sciences.
“And so, the sugar compounds in sea cucumbers are unique. They aren’t commonly seen in other organisms. That’s why they’re worth studying.”
Human cells, and those of most mammals, are covered in tiny, hairlike structures called glycans that help with cell communication, immune responses and the recognition of threats such as pathogens. Cancer cells alter the expression of certain enzymes, including Sulf-2, which in turn modifies the structure of glycans. This modification helps cancer spread.
“The cells in our body are essentially covered in ‘forests’ of glycans,” says Vitor Pomin, associate professor of pharmacognosy. “And enzymes change the function of this forest — essentially prunes the leaves of that forest.
“If we can inhibit that enzyme, theoretically, we are fighting against the spread of cancer.”
Using both computer modeling and laboratory testing, the research team found that the sugar — fucosylated chondroitin sulfate — from the sea cucumber Holothuria floridana can effectively inhibit Sulf-2.
“We were able to compare what we generated experimentally with what the simulation predicted, and they were consistent,” says Robert Doerksen, professor of medicinal chemistry. “That gives us more confidence in the results.”
Unlike other Sulf-2 regulating medications, the sea cucumber compound does not interfere with blood clotting, says Joshua Sharp, UM associate professor of pharmacology.
As a marine-based cancer therapy, the sea cucumber compound may be easier to create and safer to use.
“Some of these drugs we have been using for 100 years, but we’re still isolating them from pigs because chemically synthesizing it would be very, very difficult and very expensive,” Sharp says. “That’s why a natural source is really a preferred way to get at these carbohydrate-based drugs.”
Unlike extracting carbohydrate-based drugs from pigs or other land mammals, extracting the compound from sea cucumbers does not carry a risk of transferring viruses and other harmful agents, Pomin says.
“It’s a more beneficial and cleaner resource,” he says.
But sea cucumbers — some variants of which are a culinary delicacy in the Pacific Rim — aren’t so readily abundant that scientists could go out and harvest enough to create a line of medication. The next step in the research is to find a way to synthesize the sugar compound for future testing.
“One of the problems in developing this as a drug would be the low yield, because you can’t get tons and tons of sea cucumbers,” Pomin says. “So, we have to have a chemical route, and when we’ve developed that, we can begin applying this to animal models.”
Photo illustration by Stefanie Goodwiller
Marwa Farrag, a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the Department of BioMolecular Sciences, works with sugar compounds from sea cucumbers in the laboratory. | Submitted photo
VETERAN COMMUNICATOR TAPPED TO LEAD UM MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS
The University of Mississippi has named Lisa Stone (MA 97), a trusted leader who has shaped the university’s communications for nearly three decades, as its vice chancellor for marketing and communications. Stone has served as interim vice chancellor since September 2024.
“For nearly three decades, Lisa Stone has been a valued member of our campus community,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) says. “She has led award-winning communications campaigns, managed major initiatives, developed purposeful communication strategies and built strong stakeholder relationships.”
Before serving as interim vice chancellor, Stone spent seven years as director of strategic communications in University Marketing and Communications. She led universitywide messaging, guided crisis communications and strengthened the institution’s public profile and communications.
As vice chancellor, Stone takes the lead in guiding the university’s internal
A Life in Verse
and external communications, shaping its public image and coordinating its integrated marketing efforts.
“The impact of marketing and communications is visible across every corner of this campus,” Stone says. “From news stories and social media posts to websites and branding, each of our talented marcomm team members has their fingerprints indelibly cemented in the successes of this very special place.”
Although Ole Miss has experienced multiple record enrollments in recent years, higher education nationally is facing a looming enrollment cliff. Stone is charged with leading the university’s marketing and communications strategy through that time.
Ryan Whittington (BA 09, MA 11), assistant vice chancellor for marketing, has worked alongside Stone for nearly a decade. He says no one is better suited for the position than her.
“When I think of the person who best reflects our university’s personality, I think
of Lisa Stone,” Whittington says. “Her commitment to and passion for our university, our brand and our people is second to none.”
ANN FISHER-WIRTH APPOINTED STATE POET LAUREATE
Alover of poetry since childhood, retired University of Mississippi
English professor Ann Fisher-Wirth has been named the new Mississippi poet laureate.
Gov. Tate Reeves appointed her as the
Ann Fisher-Wirth
official state poet for a four-year term.
“I am confident that Ann will represent our state with grace and dedication, fostering a deep appreciation for poetry and literature throughout Mississippi,” Reeves says.
She has always been enamored with poetry; as a teenager, her favorite poets were T.S. Eliot, e.e. cummings and Robinson Jeffers. That love was fostered following the death of her father.
“Poetry and literature in general became a great source of companionship for me,” Fisher-Wirth says. “Great literature — poetry as well as fiction — has to be truthful about things like suffering and death as well as happy things. And I don’t think that our culture is generally very truthful about those things.”
After graduating from Pomona College in 1968, Fisher-Wirth taught English at the International School of Liège,
Belgium, for three years. She also taught at Pomona College and Scripps College in California and at the University of Virginia.
In 1988, she and her husband, Peter Wirth, moved to Oxford, where she taught at UM for 34 years. Until retiring in 2022, she directed the minor in environmental studies and taught workshops and graduate seminars for the master’s program in creative writing.
Her first book of poetry, Blue Window (Archer Books), was published in 2003.
“And since then, it’s been what I’ve done.
“Poetry can’t make people do things, but it can give them pleasure, give them comfort, increase their awareness of beauty, awaken the heart, awaken the imagination,” she says. “It can make us live more abundantly.”
Lisa Stone
Top Students
UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZES 2024-25 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
The University of Mississippi inducted 10 seniors into the 2024-25 Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors given to Ole Miss students.
The group was introduced on April 4 during a ceremony at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts.
“I’m incredibly proud of this year’s Hall of Fame inductees,” says Brent Marsh, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students. “They have accomplished so much during their undergraduate years, and I fully anticipate many future success stories.
“These students join a long line of distinguished Hall of Fame honorees.”
Here are this year’s honorees:
• Jana Lynn Abdrabbo, from Madison, majored in international studies. Abdrabbo served as president of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College Minority Engagement Council and principal of external affairs for the Associated Student Body.
• Jack Baker, from Madison, majored in biological science. Baker served as vice president and new member educator for the Columns Society.
• Christian Boudreaux, from Oxford, majored in biology and received prestigious Marshall, Truman and Goldwater scholarships.
• Aashish Dhakal, from Ilam, Nepal, majored in computer science. Dhakal served as president of Tech Jam: The Coding
and Interview Preparation Club and co-founder and director of operations for Ole Miss Hacks.
• Jesse Lamar Gordon, from Lucedale, majored in multidisciplinary studies with minors in biological sciences, chemistry and mathematics. Gordon served as vice president for Gamma Beta Phi honor society and founder of UM Tooth Fairy.
• Madeline Paige Mueller, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, majored in psychology. Mueller served as executive director of Ole Miss Ambassadors and co-president of Special Olympics Ole Miss.
• David Michael Phillips Jr., from Hattiesburg, majored in biology. Phillips served as a senator in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and a member of the Columns Society.
• Ethan Cole Robertson, from Mantachie, majored in political science. Robertson served as principal of First Year Encounters for the Associated Student Body and president of men’s club volleyball.
• Justice Colbert Rose, from Madison, majored in journalism. Rose is a Stamps scholar who served as opinion editor for The Daily Mississippian
• Hannah E. Watts, from Hattiesburg, majored in secondary English education and public policy leadership. Watts served as president of the Associated Student Body.
The ceremony also included 200 inductees into Who’s Who Among Students at the University of Mississippi.
The university’s 2025 inductees into the Hall of Fame are (from left) Jack Baker, Christian Boudreaux, Justice Rose, Aashish Dhakal, Madeline Mueller, Jana Abdrabbo, David Phillips, Hannah Watts, Jesse Gordon and Ethan Robertson. | Photo by Bill Dabney
from the Circle Ribbon Cutting
UMMC MAKES BURN CENTER OPENING OFFICIAL WITH CEREMONY
The University of Mississippi Medical Center hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 2 to celebrate the establishment of the Mississippi Burn Center’s new dedicated unit, which opened in May.
Kenneth Clark of Waynesboro made the trip back to UMMC to join the celebration.
Clark was severely injured when a vehicle struck his tractor from behind and caused it to tip, crushing his pelvis, leaving him with broken ribs, a collapsed lung, broken bones in his face and a severe burn on his leg. He spent more than four weeks at the Medical Center, where he was treated collaboratively by multiple specialists.
“I wouldn’t have missed this event for the world,” Clark says. “I’m so glad to come back and see everyone who took care of me. These people feel like my family now, and I wouldn’t be where I am without the care I got at UMMC.”
UMMC faculty, staff and administrators gathered with state officials and former burn center patients to honor the achievement — being one of only a handful of new burn centers nationwide to be created in the past two decades. This major development comes after the Mississippi State Department of Health designated UMMC as a state burn center in 2023.
“When we heard that the state’s only burn facility was closing, we jumped into action,” says Dr. Alan Jones (MD 99), associate vice chancellor for health affairs. “I started a meeting with Dr. (Peter) Arnold, and basically in no time, we put together a plan to fill a void for the state of Mississippi that is so important.”
“We are the place that takes care of these patients with these very complex issues, whether they are young, old, pediatric or adult,” says Dr. LouAnn Woodward (MD 91), vice chancellor for health affairs. “To be able to open this unit today and now to extend and to grow our burn care for the patients in Mississippi that need it, that’s what we’re all about.”
Staffed by a multidisciplinary team that includes experts in emergency medicine, trauma and plastic surgery, critical care, laboratory services, rehabilitation and mental health, the unit offers both acute and long-term support. This integrated model of care ensures that burn
long time coming, and it feels like I’m birthing a baby, but it’s what we are here for — Mississippi and beyond.”
The unit features a hydrotherapy suite designed for wound debridement, equipped with a shower table, temperature controls and a television to help ease
Cutting the ribbon on June 2 for the opening of the new burn unit are, front row, from left, Kayla Hubbard, of Magee; Dr. Juvonda Hodge, director of the Mississippi Burn Center; Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs; Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs; Kenneth Clark, of Waynesboro. Behind them are Dr. Daniel Edney, state health officer; Dr. Peter Arnold, chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery; Al Rankins, IHL commissioner; Sherry Riser, nursing director; Gee Ogletree, IHL president; and Sen. Walter Michel. | Photo by Joe Ellis
patients receive not only lifesaving treatment, but also the physical and emotional rehabilitation needed for a full recovery.
“You have to understand how much coordination and collaboration it takes to bring something like this together,” says Dr. Juvonda Hodge, the center’s director. “It was truly a team effort. I could not have asked for a better team to put this center together. It’s been a
patient discomfort during procedures. These treatments support healing and reduce the need for surgery. However, when operations are necessary, patients benefit from having OR suites located in the same tower.
Spacious patient rooms also allow care teams to perform dressing changes and bedside procedures with greater efficiency and comfort.
OLE MISS BOOKS!
The Dean: Memoirs & Missives
By Sparky Reardon
“As someone who works in the visual arts, I could see Sparky’s words come alive. I went from laughing to tearing up as I longed for my days at Ole Miss.”
TATE TAYLOR, director The Help, Get On Up, The Girl on the Train
“Affable, humble, wise, and a touch sly. . .. Pull up a rocking chair, pour a splash of something brown — you won’t want to miss a word.”
BETH ANN FENNELLY, poet laureate of Mississippi, 2016-2021
“Sparky Reardon proves a wise and funny witness to the virtues and foibles of college students and the adults they grow up to be.”
JOHN T EDGE, host of TrueSouth
Hardcover n 348 pages n 6” x 9” n ISBN: 978-1-949455-69-4 n $34.95
Stories from Ole Miss Baseball
By Chase Parham & Jeff Roberson Foreword by Archie Manning
Great stories from many of the greatest players and coaches throughout the years of Ole Miss Baseball. Chase Parham and Jeff Roberson interviewed countless former Rebel players and coaches to compile this collection of tales. Contributors include Archie Manning, Curtis Wilkie, Rick Cleveland, Chuck Rounsaville, Don Whitten, Glen Waddle, Tim Climer, David Magee, Jake McGraw, and a host of former players.
n 160 pages n 9” x 9” n ISBN:
On the Clock
EFFORTS TO REDUCE TIKTOK SCREEN TIME OFTEN INCREASE USAGE
Efforts by social media platforms to encourage users to take breaks from screen scrolling may actually lead to some of them spending even more time online. That’s according to research co-authored by University of Mississippi professor Christopher Newman (BBA 05).
Newman and Emma G. Galvan, assistant professor of marketing at Georgia Southern University, assessed TikTok users’ daily activity to determine whether built-in reminders and daily time limits affected app usage. Their findings are published in the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing
“Our research was the first to document a novel phenomenon (that) we termed the ‘digital detox paradox,’” says Newman, professor of marketing and the King Self Chair of Free Enterprise in the UM School of Business Administration.
“Findings showed that digital detox intervention efforts from TikTok ironically led its users who were less skeptical of advertising to open TikTok more and use it longer. These less skeptical users viewed TikTok as more authentic when it voluntarily offered detox interventions and, in turn, responded positively to TikTok by paradoxically using its app more.”
These findings offer new insight at a time of heightened focus on screen time and mental health, particularly among younger users who are often more susceptible to social media addiction.
Studies have found links between excessive screen time and manic symptoms in preteens as well as other mental health risks such as depression.
Newman says this research suggested that well-intended efforts to curb usage may backfire, strengthening user
engagement for less skeptical TikTok users.
In stark contrast, people with more skepticism toward advertising showed no significant change in behavior, largely ignoring the app’s break reminders.
“This research is particularly timely, given ongoing legislative efforts aimed at curbing problematic social media usage, such as the Social Media Addiction Reduction Technology Act,” Newman says. “We identified a vulnerable consumer segment — less skeptical consumers — that policymakers and nongovernmental organizations should acknowledge when crafting initiatives aimed at regulating social media usage.”
People looking to “unplug” from endless screen time may find more success through self-imposed limits rather than relying on app-driven detoxes, he says.
But most college student participants spent a consistent six to seven hours per day glued to social media apps, sometimes clocking 10 hours. Paired with the study’s findings, the observation underscores the demand for more understanding of how digital interventions affect user behavior on any social media platform, Galvan says.
“Children and adolescents typically do not pick up on ulterior motives as easily as adults, and are therefore characteristically less skeptical of advertising, promotions and similar offerings,” she says.
“The more screen time this group consumes throughout their younger years, the more vulnerable they become. So, parents just need to keep this in mind when monitoring their children’s screen time and their interactions with paid content on social media.”
Photo illustration by John McCustion
Calendar
AUGUST
Through Aug. 23 Exhibit: “By M.B. Mayfield.” Mayfield studied art as an unofficial student at the University of Mississippi while working as a janitor during racial segregation. UM Museum, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit museum.olemiss.edu.
4
Alumni Clubs: Twin Cities Summer Send-off. The Twin Cities Ole Miss Club invites you to our Freshman Summer Send-off Picnic. Walnut Ridge Park, Edina, Minnesota, 4-7 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
4
Alumni Clubs: Baton Rouge Summer Send-off. Join local alumni for a Freshman Summer Send-off. Uncle Earl’s, 3753 Perkins Road, Suite E, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
5
Alumni Clubs: Atlanta Summer Send-off. Join us at Dunwoody North Driving Club as we celebrate local incoming Ole Miss freshmen with their families and other local alumni. Dunwoody North Driving Club, Atlanta, 5-7 p.m. Visit olemissalumni. com/events.
8-9
M-Club Weekend: Golf on Saturday. Other events and times TBA. Email mclub@olemissalumni.com.
14
Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi Valley State. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
18
Future Alumni Network: Build the M. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 7 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/ events.
21
Soccer: Ole Miss vs. UAB. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
28
Soccer: Ole Miss vs. UT Martin. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
29
Ole Miss Alumni Land Rush: Free to active members. Triplett Alumni Center front lawn, 6-8 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
30
Football: Ole Miss vs. Georgia State. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 6:45 p.m. Visit olemissgameday. com/football.
SEPTEMBER
4
Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Louisiana. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
Football: Ole Miss vs. Georgia State AUG. 30
11
FCA Ladies Luncheon: Featuring D.T. Shackleford. Time TBD. Email mclub@olemissalumni.com.
12
Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Louisiana. Gillom Center, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
12
Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Auburn. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
13
Pharmacy Alumni Tailgate: Faser Hall lawn, three hours before kickoff. Email savannah@olemissalumni. com.
13
Football: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemissgameday.com/ football.
16
Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Memphis. Gillom Center, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
Photo by Hayden Carroll
Harvest Supper
OCT. 30
19 Young Alumni Happy Hour: Ole Miss vs. Tulane weekend. Funky’s on the Square, 5-6:30 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
20
Football: Ole Miss vs. Tulane. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemissgameday.com/ football.
21
Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Georgia. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
27Pharmacy Alumni Tailgate: Faser Hall lawn, three hours before kickoff. Email savannah@olemissalumni.com.
27Football: Ole Miss vs. LSU. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemissgameday.com/ football.
OCTOBER
3
Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Kentucky. Gillom Center, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
5
Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 2 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
5
Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Auburn. Gillom Center, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
8
Lecture: The music and early civil rights work of legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will be the focus of a fall program at the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics. Overby Center Auditorium, 5:30 p.m. Visit eventcalendar.olemiss.edu.
9Distinguished Alumni Awards: The Inn at Ole Miss. Reception 6-7 p.m., dinner 7 p.m. Ticket required. Call 662915-2345 for more information.
10
Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Kentucky. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
11
Alumni Association Annual Meeting: Triplett Alumni Center, 7:45 a.m. Call 662-915-7375.
11Football: Ole Miss vs. Washington State. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 11:45 a.m. Visit olemissgameday. com/football.
12Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. Gillom Center, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
16
Soccer: Ole Miss vs. LSU. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
24Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Texas. Gillom Center, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
25 Alumni Tailgate: Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma tailgate. Get ready to make history with us for our first-ever visit to Norman to play Oklahoma. The Railhouse, 102 West Eufaula, Norman, Oklahoma, 8-10:30 a.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
26Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M. Gillom Center, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
30 Harvest Supper: Harvest Supper, hosted by the Friends of the Museum, has become one of the most anticipated fall events in Mississippi. Admission to the event is through sponsorship. Individual tickets are not available. Rowan Oak, 6-10 p.m. Visit museum.olemiss.edu.
30Panel: The Student Alumni Council presents “Bridging the Gap.” Student Union Ballroom, 4 p.m. Email sunny@olemissalumni.com.
31Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Alabama. Gillom Center, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
For a listing of Ole Miss sports schedules, visit olemisssports.com.
For more Oxford events, news and information, go to visitoxfordms.com or call 662-232-2477.
Photo by Thomas Graning
Determination Degrees of
New grads highlighted in special series
Basha triplets profile by Jennifer Parsons
Shane Houston Stephens profile by Nicole Ethridge
Bay Merrell profile by Rebecca Lauck Cleary
Launched in 2019, the Journey to Commencement series was created to honor the culmination of each academic year by spotlighting the achievements and personal stories of University of Mississippi students as they transition from scholars to graduates. Since its inception, the award-winning, collaborative campaign has featured more than 220 student profiles.
Each year, the university’s graduating class reflects a broad range of backgrounds and experiences, with students bringing their distinct paths, challenges and triumphs to the Ole Miss story. From Shane Stephens, who is trading spreadsheets for stethoscopes, to Bay Merrell, whose family biscuit recipe became the heart of her thesis, and the Basha triplets, whose shared journey has taken them from Clarksdale to medical school, this series highlights the determination, creativity and purpose that define the university’s Class of 2025. Each story reflects the resilience and passion it takes to reach the graduation stage — and the exciting paths that lie ahead.
The articles are housed on the Journey to Commencement website at journey.olemiss.edu, which showcases the stories of Ole Miss students and their determination, perseverance and success throughout their time at the university.
Triple Honors
Basha triplets graduate from Honors College, set sights on medical school
Altogether, Elizabeth (BA 25), Michael (BA 25) and Sarah (BA 25) Basha weighed under 9 pounds at birth. That didn’t stop them from making a big impact at the University of Mississippi — and they’re not done yet.
The Basha triplets graduated in May: Elizabeth with a degree in biology, Michael in biochemistry and Sarah in psychology. All three members of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College will attend the UM School of Medicine in Jackson this fall.
They credit their success to God, their “hardworking” parents and their older sister, Michelle (BS 19), an Honors College graduate and UMMC alumna.
Born in Jackson, the siblings later moved to Clarksdale with their parents, Dr. Maha Wasef, an anesthesiologist, and Ashraf Basha, a civil engineer. The triplets graduated from Lee Academy in 2021.
Whether studying together in the Honors College kitchen or enjoying spaghetti night at St. John’s Catholic Church, the siblings often stick together.
They’ve even traveled to Egypt to explore their family’s heritage.
“Elizabeth has a killer smile and a very loving and caring personality,” says their mother. “Sarah has a quiet sense of humor and a peaceful personality. Michael is charismatic, compassionate and goal oriented.”
Those who know Elizabeth describe her as calm yet exuberant. Friend Abby Whaley says, “She is very smart and has many accomplishments, yet she is incredibly humble.”
Elizabeth has served as a biology lab teaching assistant, conducted honors research, volunteered over 500 hours, and helped lead intramural soccer and the Honors College Senate. Classmate Reagan Kurtz says, “She never ceases to love on those who need it most.”
Elizabeth’s advice to undergrads: “Get out of your comfort zone and try new things. … Do things you genuinely enjoy rather than just checking a box.”
Michael credits his sister for inspiring his involvement at St. John’s, where he also deepened his faith.
“Michael is one of those elusive all-arounders,” friend Michael Critz says. “He’s just as comfortable fixing something as he is discussing philosophy.”
A two-time ambassador for the Honors College and the Health Professions Advising Office, Michael is known for his dedication and sense of humor. Diagnosed with hydrocephalus at birth, he underwent surgery in first grade after a shunt malfunction — an experience that shaped his outlook and career goals.
Despite not playing contact sports, Michael ran track and now enjoys soccer
Elizabeth Basha
Michael Basha
Sarah Basha
and pickleball with friends and siblings.
“Michael — or to me, ‘Mikey’ — is one of the most loyal best friends I’ve ever had,” classmate Athan Gregory says.
Michael’s academic strengths are evident in his teaching and research.
Chemistry professor John Wiginton praises his professionalism and maturity: “He is consistently reliable and thoughtful in his interactions.”
Sarah shares many accolades with her siblings but carves her own path through art. Once interested in medical illustration, she continues to paint and draw for personal enjoyment.
“Sarah is the quietest of the triplets, but beneath the mystery, she is the coolest,” Gregory says. “She is extremely thoughtful and imaginative.”
Ole Miss senior Kyle Butcher, who met Sarah through the Catholic Campus Ministry, called that meeting a pivotal moment.
“Behind her mysterious wall is an incredibly smart woman, and the impact she has on her friends and family cannot be understated.”
Sarah has served as secretary of the Knitting Club, showcased her work in the Honors Art Showcase, and led marketing and design for Active Minds. One of her favorite memories is being serenaded with “Happy Birthday” in an honors class — a rare moment of solo recognition as a triplet.
When all three are together, the energy is light and joyful. Elizabeth is warm and encouraging, Michael brings humor, and Sarah’s reserved wisdom makes every word count.
“We have a deep connection, you know?” Michael says. “We started together in the womb, which is crazy to think about. I always joke that I need to get married, so I don’t have to live with them anymore.”
That day may come, but not yet — the trio will live together in Jackson as they begin medical school.
“You will hardly meet a student at Ole Miss who has not been positively affected by Elizabeth, Michael and Sarah,” says Catholic campus minister Alex Barfield. “There will never be another trio like them.”
From Ledgers to Lab Coats
Accounting school graduate forges unconventional path to medical school
After earning a bachelor’s degree in accountancy and a Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics from the University of Mississippi, Shane Houston Stephens (BAccy 24, MADA 25) is preparing for a new challenge: medical school.
The Greenwood native was accepted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he’ll begin classes this fall. Though his path may seem
untraditional, Stephens says his Ole Miss education has prepared him well.
He arrived on campus intending to major in accountancy with minors in
chemistry and manufacturing, keeping multiple career paths open — including medicine.
“The Patterson School of Accountancy
Triplets Elizabeth (left), Michael and Sarah Basha graduated with degrees from the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College — and all three are headed to the UM School of Medicine this fall. | Submitted photo
is nationally recognized as one of the top programs in the country,” Stephens says. “Being a part of such a competitive program broadened my horizons and deepened my understanding of business and finance — areas I hoped to use no matter what my career became.”
Toward the end of high school, Stephens began seriously considering medicine, inspired by his two older sisters: one a pharmacist, the other a plastic surgery resident. With his family’s encouragement, he pursued both business and health care.
A medical mission trip with Global Brigades to rural Panama during his sophomore year ultimately solidified his desire to become a doctor.
While the leap from debits to diagnostics might seem unexpected, Stephens spent years preparing. He completed all science prerequisites, shadowed physicians across the state and balanced rigorous coursework in both disciplines.
“I’m a firm believer that an accounting degree is one of the most versatile degrees offered today,” he says. “My accounting background gives me a solid understanding of financial literacy, which is crucial for understanding the
business perspective of medicine. I want to be part of teams that improve patient care and outcomes — skills I believe accounting can support.”
His nontraditional path required adaptability. Stephens credits Erin Ridout, assistant to the dean of the accounting school, for her advising support.
“When Shane Houston first came to me, I remember thinking, ‘What has this human dragged me into?’” Ridout says. “We did a lot of learning together, but he did the hard work. He never backed down from a challenge.”
Stephens was also a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Center for Manufacturing Excellence. He completed internships with Deloitte in Dallas and Milwaukee Tool, all while studying for the MCAT and applying to medical school.
He also embraced college life, winning eight intramural championships and cheering on the Rebels with friends.
“Not only is he wildly smart, but he is also incredibly kind and helpful,” Ridout says. “All these qualities will make him a great doctor. Our whole staff really grew to love him, and many of us hope he’ll come back to Oxford one day so we can be his patients!”
Stephens graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, earned a Marcus Elvis Taylor Memorial Medal, served as class marshal and as a graduate assistant for the Patterson School of Accountancy, and was selected for Who’s Who Among Students at the University of Mississippi. He credits his family — especially his parents and sisters — for their steady encouragement.
“I could not have done it without their love and support,” he says.
Though he hasn’t selected a specialty, Stephens is entering medical school with an open mind and a strong desire to serve Mississippi, especially underserved areas like the Delta.
“I think the No. 1 thing I am most excited about is being able to give back and provide quality health care to the people of our state,” he says. “I was born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, where inadequate access to health care is a real challenge. That perspective helped fuel my passion.”
He adds, “After meeting some of my future peers at UMMC, I’m confident that Mississippi’s health care is in good hands.”
As he prepares for this next chapter, Stephens reflects with gratitude.
“Leaving Oxford after five incredible years is not easy,” he says. “Looking back, I’m grateful for the challenges that led me here. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it the exact same way.”
Shane Houston Stephens
Shane Houston Stephens (center) celebrates with his family under the Walk of Champions after his undergraduate commencement. They include (from left) Janet Stephens, Shane Stephens, Kristen Stephens, Jane Carol Lirette (niece), Kelsey Lirette and Stephen Lirette. | Submitted photo
Biscuits and Family
Southern kitchens nourish Bay Merrell’s college experience
Warm, flaky, tender buttermilk biscuits inspired Bay Merrell’s (BA 25) undergraduate thesis — and the reason for her grandmother’s internet fame.
Merrell, a recent Southern studies graduate in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at the University of Mississippi, took assistant professor Annemarie Anderson’s S ST 401: Southern Studies Seminar last fall and completed her capstone on food traditions within her family — specifically, on Southern women who run online kitchens.
“I’m looking at Carlena Davis, an African American woman from North Carolina, and my own grandmother, Brenda Gantt,” Merrell says. “I’m exploring how online kitchen spaces have become places where women can share recipes, memories and skills — turning the kitchen into a space for connection rather than isolation.”
Davis is a cookbook author and creator of the food blog Spilling the Sweet Tea. Gantt launched her online kitchen during the COVID-19 pandemic to share her recipes with friends and
neighbors. A short video showing how to make biscuits quickly went viral.
Today, Gantt has 3.9 million Facebook followers, 264,000 on Instagram, and a YouTube channel with 146,000 subscribers.
“She didn’t know much about Facebook or social media, but she figured it out — now she even uses a little tripod,” Merrell says. “This gave her purpose after my grandfather passed away. It’s been a way for her to keep sharing her story.”
Last fall, Gantt featured her granddaughter in a video as they made zucchini lasagna and discussed Merrell’s interdisciplinary Southern studies degree.
“She was truly excited to be part of the experience and that I was focusing on family foodways in the South,” Merrell says. “The famous biscuit recipe has been passed down from her mother to her daughters and grandchildren.”
Merrell says S ST 401 and Anderson’s mentorship helped sharpen her interviewing and oral history skills.
“One thing that stuck with me was how important it is to really listen,” she says. “You can’t just follow a script — you have to build a conversation.”
Anderson praises Merrell’s thoughtful approach: “Bay truly wanted to understand how history informed contemporary food media influencers in the South. She tells a complex story through her research.”
Merrell’s connection to family traditions also extends outdoors. After a kayaking trip on the Buffalo River at age 12, she and her dad stopped in Oxford to explore campus.
“We wandered the Grove and sat on the balcony at Square Books,” Merrell recalls. “I just knew this is where I wanted to be. It’s the only place I applied. It felt like home then, and it still does.”
As an Alabama resident, she qualified for in-state tuition through the Academic Common Market — a tuition-savings program for students pursuing degrees not offered in their home state.
“I adore the South and loved growing up here, so it worked out perfectly,” she says.
Beyond academics, Merrell recently launched a creative venture called Old Soul Denim, where she reimagines vintage jeans using hand-sewn patches, buttons and embroidery — another skill passed down by her grandmother.
“She used to give us old bedsheets and embroidery thread, and we’d all sit around and work on them,” Merrell says.
This fall, Merrell plans to enroll in the one-year MBA program at the College of Charleston to expand her creative business.
And yes, she can make the biscuits. She smiles and nods: “I can make the biscuits.”
To read the full versions of the stories above, along with more on other Class of 2025 graduates, visit journey.olemiss.edu.
Bay Merrell
Bay Merrell (left) visits with her grandmother, Brenda Gantt. | Submitted photo
Photo: Justice Duraj | Shelby MS
Norton celebrates five years at TikTok. | Photos courtesy of Kellie Norton
Annie Rhoades the RisingAbove Rising
FAlumna thrives in TikTok communications role
By
rom the Louisiana bayou to the bustling energy of New York City, alumna Kellie Norton’s (BAJ 12) journey into the world of public relations has been nothing short of adventurous. Making waves as the global communications director at TikTok, her career reflects resilience, passion and an unwavering commitment to storytelling.
“I think it all started when I watched ‘You’ve Got Mail’ for the first time,” Norton recalls with a laugh. “That, combined with a fourth-grade American history project where I learned about New York City. Growing up in Baton Rouge, I fell in love with the idea of being this big girl working in a big city.”
Having spent most of her high school years in Baton Rouge, Norton graduated from Biloxi High School and set her sights on Ole Miss. With her parents being alumni, choosing the university felt like going home.
“Both my parents went there, and while my siblings chose different paths, I knew Ole Miss was where I belonged. The culture, the athletics — it was a dream come true,” she says.
Initially drawn to broadcast journalism, Norton quickly discovered a different passion. Inspired by her then journalism professor, Robin Street, who recognized her flair for writing and natural charisma, she pivoted toward public relations — a decision that would shape the trajectory of her career.
Norton was a “wonderful writer” whose tenacity and drive were prevalent from the beginning, says Street, adjunct
instructional assistant professor of integrated marketing communications for the School of Journalism and New Media.
“I first recall teaching her in a class about how to write feature articles,” Street says. “I was struck by her clear, excellent writing, her quiet poise and her organizational abilities. Being able to write well, organize and stay poised under pressure are three of the main qualities needed in a PR professional, so I thought she would make an excellent one.”
Breaking Into the Industry
After graduating with a degree in journalism, Norton ventured to New York City in summer 2012 for an internship at Mark Allen & Co., secured through a networking opportunity at the UM Magazine Innovation Center’s ACT2 Experience.
“I decided to sell my car to move to New York City and got my first apartment with two roommates in November 2012,” she recalls. “I had an unpaid internship, worked at a cupcake shop
on the side to afford my rent and used the money that I sold my car for to afford to just live life in New York City. After living there for three months, I got my first job.”
By early 2013, perseverance paid off with a role at EJ Media Group, a boutique public relations firm specializing in nightlife and celebrity PR. From red carpet events to working with reality television stars, this role was a masterclass in high-pressure, fast-paced communication.
“I was 22, working the red carpet with some of New York City’s hottest nightclubs, getting pictures of celebrities and pitching them to tabloids the next day,” she says. “It was honestly the coolest job I could’ve had at that age.”
But her curiosity and drive didn’t stop there.
Finding Her Footing
Seeking broader experiences, Norton joined Mission Media in 2014, handling PR strategies for brands such as Belvedere Vodka and J.Crew, gaining invaluable insights into brand storytelling and experiential marketing.
Reflecting on a standout moment, she says, “One of our biggest accounts was Belvedere Vodka, and the year that I worked on the account, Belvedere was the official vodka of James Bond and the movie ‘Spectre.’
“We pitched the idea to the client to throw a big party on top of the Freedom Tower in New York City. We had a red carpet with celebrities, two of the Bond girls from the movie and Belvedere Vodka bottles everywhere — it was an incredible event.”
In 2015, Norton pivoted to travel PR at 5WPR, managing
accounts such as JetSmarter and working with talent such as actress Vicky Jeudy from “Orange Is the New Black.”
Transitioning between industries taught Norton adaptability, with each role adding a new layer to her growing skill set. Following her desire to focus on a singular brand, Norton accepted a position in-house with Moleskine in 2016, managing PR for its tech innovations. The role served as a turning point, igniting her passion for tech-driven narratives.
“Moleskine is mainly known for their Italian notebooks, and it’s a heritage icon people love,” she enthuses. “But people don’t really think of them as a tech innovator, and they do have a lot of tech products and partnerships with companies like Adobe, Dropbox and Microsoft for digital notebooks. I worked on a lot of those tech partnerships, which made me realize I like the tech side of the industry.”
The TikTok Era
In 2019, intrigued by a platform her niece and nephew raved about, she discovered TikTok. Recognizing its growing popularity, she applied for a role on its communications team. By April 2020, amid a global pandemic, she secured a position as the company’s business-to-business communications manager. Norton embraced a role that combined strategic communications with dynamic industry challenges.
“I got my first job there right as the world was shutting down,” she recalls. “I’ve been there for five years now and worked on what we call the B2B side of the business on the communications team, so it’s public relations and communications for anything that touches our monetization partnership. It’s understanding how we can tell [TikTok’s] story as an innovator for the marketing and advertising industry.”
Managing teams across the U.S., United Kingdom, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, Norton’s role is strategic, focusing on public relations and storytelling that highlight TikTok’s unique appeal to advertisers and brands. From launching TikTok Shop to managing PR for major events such as the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Norton and her team are at the forefront of shaping how the world perceives TikTok.
“We all work together across anything that touches our advertising partnerships,” she says. “One of the biggest things that we work on globally is the Cannes Lions conference in France, where we all converge and tell our story as a platform and make our big pitch to media and advertisers about why we’re leading the way as a social entertainment platform, as a video platform, as a discovery platform, commerce platform — everything.”
Her typical day defies the conventional 9-to-5 mold. Her workday revolves around strategic planning, managing global teams, addressing media inquiries and crafting narratives that protect and promote TikTok’s brand. Despite the high stakes and fast pace, she emphasizes the importance of work-life balance — a lesson learned through years of navigating the demanding world of PR.
“I love it because every day is different, and every day brings a new, interesting challenge,” she says. “Public relations can be one of the most stressful careers, mainly because you
Norton and her father, Sandy Norton (BA 80), celebrate her OMAA 40 Under 40 award at the Walk of Champions.
Words of Wisdom
Norton’s advice is practical and encouraging for new graduates and aspiring PR professionals dreaming of big-city success. She says making your way in a new career will come with both challenges and successes.
“Don’t think that if you don’t have a job immediately waiting for you, that you’re behind or that you’ve failed,” she encourages. “I try to remind people that, especially when you’re graduating in PR, it isn’t something that hires super far out like some industries such as finance or accounting.
“You don’t have to have an entry-level job — (you) can look for internships in the city that you want to live in, so do whatever you think it takes just to physically get you there. Don’t take no for an answer, keep reaching out to people and don’t get discouraged. Don’t believe in negative self-talk that may creep into your head. You’ll make it. You have plenty of time.”
Norton also stresses the importance of authenticity and self-worth.
“I don’t have imposter syndrome, and that’s not to sound arrogant,” she says. “It’s OK to know your value, your worth, how hard you’ve worked and to know that you deserve to be there. I’ve never felt more content and happy in my life in terms of the work that I’ve put in and knowing that I’ve done it myself. I’ve been wanting to be here since I was little, and I like to say I almost manifested it because there was never once in my life where I didn’t see myself in New York City. I felt like it was meant to be.”
can’t control the outcome of any story that you want to tell, so I try to create balance between work and my personal life.”
Managing PR for a platform as dynamic as TikTok comes with its challenges, from navigating regulatory scrutiny to adapting to the ever-evolving digital landscape. Yet, it’s the victories — seeing a well-crafted story make headlines, witnessing the positive impact of a campaign, and receiving accolades like being named to the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s 2025 40 Under 40 class — that fuel her passion.
“Being named to 40 Under 40 was incredible,” she says. “I got to the ceremony and saw how many other incredibly smart and successful people were nominated, and I realized how special the nomination is. I’m very proud of my career and what I’ve done thus far, and it made me think differently about my accomplishments in a really positive way.”
Grace Theodore, a friend, former co-worker, and communications specialist at Mastercard, counts her friend’s “incredible passion and pride for everything she does” as keys to her success.
“She doesn’t settle for low-quality work and puts in the time and dedication required to do a project correctly,” Theodore says. “She also has an incredible ability to lift her team up and foster an empowering work environment, where everyone feels inspired to go above and beyond. Kellie has a natural intuition that is so well programmed to protect the brand/ company she works for, and it’s led her to be a decisive leader, which is invaluable.”
Established in her career, Norton embraces the future with optimism.
“I always believe in having goals for myself, but I never want to get caught up in thinking that I have a timeline,” she says. “We can so easily think you’re not where you should be. I think five, 10 years from now, I see myself still being very career-driven and hopefully still living in New York City. I want to follow my heart and my dreams, wherever that leads me, and stay open to what God has for me.”
Norton participates in client Allergan’s ‘Actually She Can’ campaign in New York City.
Chêne Gear co-founders Field Norris (left), Jeff Farmer, Jeff Jones and John Strange | Photos courtesy of Field Norris and John Strange
From PASSION to SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
Alumni changing outdoor industry with Chêne Gear
BY ZACH SCHULTZ & BUCK MARTIN
For many, choosing a college is a decision shaped by family ties, academic programs or career ambitions. For Field Norris (BBA 06), it was the ducks. For John Strange (BBA 82), it was an undeniable love for Ole Miss. With different backgrounds and decades between their first duck hunts, these two men would eventually come together to launch one of the most disruptive brands in the waterfowl industry — Chêne Gear.
A LIFELONG PASSION FOR THE OUTDOORS
Strange remembers his first successful hunt as if it were yesterday.
“I must have been 8 or 9 years old, and it took me two years before I finally killed my first duck,” he recalls. “Even today, I feel the same passion for it as I did then. That feeling never goes away.”
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Strange was drawn to the outdoors from a young age. Hunting became more than a pastime — it was part of his identity. His grandfather introduced him to the sport, and from that moment on, waterfowl hunting became a defining aspect of his life. Hunting also served as a way to build relationships, which would become a critical theme in his professional and entrepreneurial journeys.
Norris had a similarly deep connection to the outdoors. Growing up in Memphis, he was drawn to hunting and the land itself, thinking about conservation, land management and how to build businesses that connected people to the sport. By the time he was 14, he had already started a duck hunting guide service, turning his passion into an entrepreneurial venture.
“Guiding taught me that it wasn’t just about the hunt — it was about relationships,” he says. “That’s what kept people coming back.”
OLE MISS CONNECTION AND CAREER FOUNDATIONS
For Norris and Strange, Ole Miss played a pivotal role in shaping their perspectives on business, associations and leadership.
Strange’s journey to Ole Miss wasn’t a direct one, but once he arrived, he quickly fell in love with Oxford — a town fondly known as the Velvet Ditch for its irresistible charm and reluctance to let people go.
“I had friends that went there, and from the first time I stepped on campus, I knew it was home.”
Strange studied managerial finance as a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, with a clear focus on earning his degree and pursuing a career as a stockbroker, a profession that had fascinated him for years.
“I always thought stockbrokers lived the coolest life,” he says. “They bought and sold investments, built relationships and navigated high-stakes financial decisions — that’s what I wanted to do.”
One of the most valuable lessons Strange took from his time at Ole Miss didn’t come from a tenured professor but from a graduate student teaching a communications class.
“It wasn’t about the material — it was about the lesson in connections and negotiations. That lesson shaped how I approached every business deal and professional relationship for the next 40 years.”
That early understanding of the importance of leveraging connections became foundational in his career in finance and later in entrepreneurship.
Norris’ time at Ole Miss mirrored his entrepreneurial spirit. While studying finance and real estate, he juggled multiple leadership roles including Phi Delta Theta Fraternity president and Associated Student Body cabinet member.
“I learned about the power of community at Ole Miss, and that has been a common thread through everything I’ve done since,” he says.
One faculty member who had a lasting impact on Norris was Sue Hodge, who helped him structure his class schedule so he could take all his courses on Tuesdays and Thursdays, allowing him to spend the rest of the week hunting and working on entrepreneurial ventures.
“She didn’t just see me as a student,” he says. “She saw me as someone trying to build something and helped me make it work.”
Another pivotal figure in Norris’ time at Ole Miss was
John Strange (left) and Field Norris both give credit to Ole Miss for shaping their business and leadership perspectives.
Sparky Reardon (BAEd 72, PhD 00), longtime dean of students, who taught him the value of genuinely knowing people and building lasting bonds.
“Sparky knew everyone’s name and what they cared about,” Norris says. “That had a huge impact on how I approached business — I realized that success wasn’t just about numbers; it was about people.”
After graduation, both men pursued careers in finance, quickly realizing that affiliations were at the core of everything they did. Strange became a financial adviser, drawn to the profession by the idea of connections and negotiations.
“I built my business through networking and being able to communicate effectively — it was less about selling a product and more about understanding people,” he says.
Norris took a similar path, cold calling and knocking on doors to build his book of business.
“I learned how to quickly read the room and build trust,” Norris says. “It was all about asking for the opportunity to prove to someone that I could provide a higher level of service.”
THE BIRTH OF CHÊNE GEAR
Despite successful careers in finance, Strange and Norris saw an opportunity to disrupt the outdoor gear industry.
“We weren’t trying to build just another hunting brand,” Strange explains. “We wanted to create a company that combined service with the highest quality product on the market. Nobody in the industry was doing that.”
Norris recalls their approach: “We asked ourselves, ‘If we could build a bulletproof wader, what would it look like?’ And Jeff Jones, our product expert, immediately said, ‘Nylon. But no one uses nylon because it costs too much.’ We said, ‘Let’s do it anyway.’”
That mindset of quality first, cost second set Chêne apart from day one. Their flagship product, a high-performance wader, was 30% more expensive than the next closest competitor.
“People told us we were crazy — no one would buy a $1,100 wader,” Strange says. “But on launch day, we sold out of almost every size.”
The vision for Chêne wasn’t just about premium gear — it was about redefining what it meant to be a community-focused brand.
“We decided to only sell direct to consumers, no big-box retailers,” Strange says. “That meant our customers would know us, and we would know them. It created a connection you don’t get with other brands.”
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AND SCALING GROWTH
As with any fast-growing company, Chêne faced challenges.
“We were overwhelmed with demand early on and had to scale our teams, systems and processes quickly,” Norris explains. “But our commitment to customer service and quality helped us navigate those hurdles.”
Strange adds, “We wanted Ritz-Carlton-level service. No outdoor brand had ever focused on that before. We didn’t just
want satisfied customers — we wanted raving fans. And that’s what we built.”
That commitment to service and product excellence didn’t go unnoticed. Customers across the country began recognizing Chêne as a brand that stood for something more than just hunting gear.
COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY
Chêne Gear has been deeply involved in conservation and youth programs since the beginning.
“We don’t just talk about conservation — we put real money behind it,” Norris says.
The company’s Youth Wader Program helps equip young hunters, and its annual film festival has become a major event in the hunting world.
Strange also highlights Chêne’s commitment to product innovation.
“We’re constantly improving our gear,” he says. “Our original wader had five seams; today, it has two. That’s a 60% reduction in failure points. No one in the industry has ever done that.”
A LEGACY OF INNOVATION AND IMPACT
Chêne’s success has forced competitors to adapt.
“When we launched, one of the biggest companies in the industry immediately put out a statement trying to discredit our product,” Strange recalls. “Now, a few years later, those same competitors are making gear that looks more and more like ours. We changed the industry.”
But for Strange and Norris, success isn’t just about market impact — it’s about creating something lasting.
“In five to 10 years, we want Chêne to be a household name,” Norris says. “But more importantly, we want to keep setting the standard for consumer engagement. We want other companies to put a higher emphasis on building deeper connections with their customers.”
Strange echoes that sentiment.
“Even if someone doesn’t buy Chêne, we’ve made the industry better. We forced competitors to improve their products. We’ve changed the way people think about quality and service. That’s a legacy I’m proud of.”
From their early days at Ole Miss to reshaping the outdoor industry, Norris and Strange say they have built Chêne Gear on a foundation of quality, service and community.
“At the end of the day, we’re not just selling hunting gear,” Strange says. “We’re building something bigger. And we’re just getting started.”
For more information on Chêne Gear and its products, visit chenegear.com.
From the days when cars filled the Grove to today’s nationally recognized tailgating scene, families such as the Meeks have helped make the tradition what it is.
PhotobyRobertJordan
ColorphotoscourtesyofLeeMeek
More than tailgating, more than tradition The Grove
By Kayden Breedlove
Every year, as the summer greens fade into the golden amber hues of fall, the Grove in the heart of the Ole Miss campus revives and welcomes families back into a space that has held generations of Rebels.
It invites fans to remember, celebrate and, most importantly, tailgate. It’s not just a gathering spot but rather the heartbeat of the Ole Miss community, where history, tradition and community intertwine beneath the sprawling canopy of ancient trees.
The Grove’s history spans over a century, once a muddy field used for military drills in the 1860s during the Civil War. Since the 1950s, the Grove has grown into one of college football’s most cherished tailgating spots, its elegance and spirit unmatched by any other pregame ritual.
But beyond the tents, the food and the sounds of the Pride of the South marching band, alumni say the Grove is about family, chosen and inherited.
Lee Meek (BBA 71), of Oxford, arrives for each home football game and parks in the lot next to Meek Hall, a dedication to his relative Elma Meek (1897).
“That’s important to us,” Meek says, “that we’re at the building named after our great-great-great aunt.”
Like many, Meek’s family’s history with Ole Miss spans generations, but his family’s connection is unique. In 1896, Elma Meek won a contest to name the university’s annual yearbook. Her submission, “Ole Miss,” went on to name not only the annual but also became synonymous with the university itself.
“You’d be surprised at how many people don’t know how Ole Miss got its name,” Meek says. “I think that’s a big part, letting people know how the university and its traditions came about.”
In addition to naming the annual, Elma Meek hosted William Faulkner and his
wife, Estelle, at the Meek-Duvall-Doty house on University Avenue in 1929 after their marriage. Faulkner wrote A Rose for Emily and As I Lay Dying at the house before moving to Rowan Oak.
Elma Meek’s influence carries down through her family today. Lee Meek and his brothers attended Ole Miss in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. They show their dedication to her legacy and pay homage to their alma mater by continuing to return to the university for every home football game. Meek says his family members were the first fans to start regularly setting up a tent in the Grove following the ban on cars tailgating in the space.
For others, the Grove tradition started when they were young. The Comer and Yawn families have tailgated together for the past 50 years; their children and children’s children have grown up among the storied 10-acre plot. Both families started their tradition in 1961, the same year that Carl (BAEd 60, MCS 65) and Nannette (BAEd 61, MA 67) Comer married.
Karen Comer-Matthews (BSCS 85) says that it felt like coming home when it came to returning to Ole Miss each year, either for a new Rebel to be initiated into the family through their education or to enjoy their time-honored tradition of tailgating in the Grove.
“Ole Miss is like one big family,” Comer-Matthews says. “Seven generations of my family attended Ole Miss. It feels as though I knew everyone, and my parents knew their parents. When my children went to Ole Miss, it was the same way.”
Though their family is from Fulton, the Comers found their second home at the university. They’ve occupied the same spot in the Grove for years.
“You don’t sit in a different church pew every Sunday,” she says.
Grove Evolution
The 1980s saw the “Save the Grove” movement, which involved several of the university’s students and instructors. Their mission was to preserve the beauty of the Grove after three trees had to be cut down due to root asphyxiation from the pressure of the cars weighing down on them. They spread blankets and stationed themselves around some of the Grove’s trees to prevent vehicles from parking too close.
“They’re ruining our trees,” one student told The Clarion-Ledger in September 1982. “People who wouldn’t park on their own front lawn are parking here.”
In 1985, Coach Billy Brewer (BSHPE 64) began to take the same route through the Grove two hours before the game started so the players could revel in the crowd’s energy and excitement.
The O’Maras joined in the tailgating tradition in the mid-1980s.
“There was great anticipation by both the football team and the fans, and it generated great energy by both young and old alike,” Susan O’Mara (BAEd 70) says. “It set the tone and excitement for the day!”
O’Mara is a part of a group of fans called the Rebel Rousers. Each game day, they gather to cook mountains of food to provide hungry fans sustenance before and after the game.
“Every game we brought copper chafing dishes with barbecue brisket, pimento cheese sandwiches, artichoke dip, fried chicken, party mix, stuffed eggs and cheese pecan wafers, to name a few.” O’Mara enthuses. “I’ve said before, we’ll stay until the beer in the cooler and the wine run out.”
The popularity generated by the walk inspired the only squad in Ole Miss history to finish with a perfect record (10-0), the 1962 Rebel football team, to sponsor the Walk of Champions in 1988 on the path Coach Brewer took every game day.
The same year also saw the establishment of the Grove Society by the Ole Miss Alumni Association, a membership organization dedicated to preserving the Grove.
“Many lasting and meaningful friendships were born on campus, as we all enjoyed living together, spending time in the dorms and the sorority and fraternity houses,” O’Mara says.
Though she and her husband, Charles (BS 70), graduated from the university in 1970, they didn’t begin tailgating until the mid-1980s because they were busy with their children’s activities in school.
“Then, we mainly picnicked out of the back of our car in the parking lot next to the football stadium,” O’Mara says. “In the mid-1990s, we started setting up a table and chairs in the Grove, occasionally joining tables with another family. It was on a small scale but soon expanded.”
After several game days of heavy rainfall in 1991, the university reconsidered allowing cars on the Grove.
While there were plans to allow cars back during the 1992 season, the storms before the Sept. 5 Auburn game transformed the Grove’s acres into a muddy mess. Several fans still showed up to tailgate, carrying their supplies on foot rather than wheels.
The last time the Grove held cars for tailgating was on Oct. 26, 1991, for the game against Vanderbilt.
The Oxford Eagle reported on Sept. 11, 1992, that the Grove would be closed to cars ahead of the game against Tulane due to what school officials said “was an overwhelmingly positive response from alumni and football fans.”
Comer-Matthews remembers when the Grove transitioned from cars to tents in 1992.
“It was strange for a bit, and we had to get used to it, but it was very necessary,” she says.
So, the Grove adapted, as did the Rebel faithful.
Today’s Grove
The space is not just looked after; it is cherished and revered. From the moment people step under the shade of the towering trees, they’re no longer just visitors — they are family. Students find themselves instantly folded into circles of laughter and shared stories, even if they’ve never set up a tent before.
Alumni return, not just to relive the glory days but to extend a hand, to pass down tailgating secrets and share plates of fried chicken and deviled eggs with the next generation. And strangers, those without a tent or a team jersey, are not turned away but warmly welcomed to join, sit and eat — to belong.
Is it Southern hospitality, or is this environment unique to Ole Miss?
“I think it’s a bit of both,” Meek says. “You know the fans, all of us on the Grove, offer everyone something because that’s just part of it.”
Anyone passing by who looks a little lost is likely to be called over. An empty plate never stays empty for long, with another serving always ready. Those unfamiliar with the fight song will quickly find someone eager to share it. It’s not just about football, it’s about the community.
“It keeps us close,” Comer-Matthews says. “For at least seven Saturdays in the fall, my kids will see their grandparents.”
In the Grove, the barriers fall. It doesn’t matter if it’s their first game or their 50th, whether they are wearing pearls or jeans, whether from Oxford or the other side of the country. All that matters is that those gathered under the trees are part of something special. It is not just family but the evolving history of the Ole Miss family:
Hell yeah! Damn right!
Hotty Toddy, Gosh almighty, Who the hell are we? Hey!
Flim flam, bim bam, Ole Miss by damn!
Coach Billy Brewer leads the Rebels down the Walk of Champions. | Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics
Ole Miss Sports
Top Golf
LA SASSO SELECTED TO TEAM USA FOR 50TH WALKER CUP
Ole Miss men’s golfer Michael La Sasso will represent Team USA at the 2025 Walker Cup, the U.S. Golf Association announced June 20. La Sasso, along with Jackson Koivun and Ben James, earned places as the top Americans in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
They will compete in the 50th Walker Cup Match Sept. 6-7 at the Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, California.
The Walker Cup Match is a 10-man amateur team competition between the U.S., Great Britain and Ireland. Cypress Point Club previously hosted the 1981
Walker Cup, when Team USA defeated Team GB&I, 15-9, led by Corey Pavin, Jay Sigel and Hal Sutton.
La Sasso joins Braden Thornberry (18), becoming the second Ole Miss Rebel to earn a Walker Cup spot for the U.S.
The Raleigh, North Carolina, native claimed three tournament titles in his All-American 2024-25 campaign and led the squad with a 69.48 stroke average, marking the lowest in program history. He became the second Rebel to claim an NCAA individual championship, joining Thornberry, who won it all in 2017.
MALLOY NAMED GOLFWEEK ’S MEN’S COLLEGE GOLF COACH OF THE YEAR
Chris Malloy (BALM 01) was named Golfweek ’s 2024-25 Men’s College Golf Coach of the Year in June. Malloy is the first men’s coach at Ole Miss to receive the award and the sixth coach from the Southeastern Conference to be recognized since voting began in 1999.
He joins Kory Henkes, who received the
award on the women’s side in 2021.
Malloy guided arguably the best and most decorated Ole Miss team in program history during his 11th season. The team earned its first No. 1 ranking in program history on Oct. 23, 2024. The team also received its first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in program history.
The Rebels finished third at the 2025 NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. The third-place finish marked the best by an Ole Miss team in program history. Ole Miss took down the top-seeded Arizona State Sun Devils in the quarterfinals of match play before falling to No. 4 Oklahoma State in the semifinals.
Ole Miss finished second at the 2025 Tallahassee Regional, marking the best finish in a regional in program history. Michael La Sasso finished tied for second, which marked the second-best finish in a regional by an individual.
Ole Miss claimed three team titles in 2024-25, the most wins since 2016-17. La Sasso and Tom Fischer both tallied their first individual collegiate wins, and six players finished inside the top five at least once.
The team set a program record for the
most team rounds under par in a single season at 26 and the most team rounds of par or better. Ole Miss finished inside the top five nine times, the most since 1984-85.
Under Malloy’s guidance, La Sasso was named a PING & Golfweek First Team All-American, First Team All-SEC, a Haskins Award Finalist, a Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year finalist and a Ben Hogan Award semifinalist.
Malloy directed Tom Fischer to Second Team All-SEC honors, Golfweek All-American Honorable Mention and SEC Community Service Team recognition. Fischer broke through for his first individual win in the team’s regular-season finale at the Old Waverly Collegiate Championship. He carded a career-low 54-hole score of (203, -13), which tied the individual low-54 in tournament history.
Fischer, La Sasso, Kye Meeks and Cameron Tankersley earned PING All-Region Southeast Team honors. Five players set a career-low 54-hole score in 2024-25, with three players setting a career-low 18-hole score. Four players tallied at least 22 rounds of par or better during the season, with five players tallying under par scores in 15 or more rounds.
Michael La Sasso | Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics
Chris Malloy | Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics
Ole Miss Sports
TRIO OF FORMER PLAYERS JOINS NBA ROSTERS
Three Rebels from the 2024-25 roster have signed on with NBA teams before the Summer League’s start in July: Dre Davis with the Brooklyn Nets, Matthew Murrell with the Utah Jazz and Sean Pedulla with the Portland Trailblazers.
Starting in 34 games for Ole Miss last season, Davis averaged 10.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per outing as one of the team’s key members. The 6-foot-6-inch guard led the team in offensive rebounds and blocks in 2024-25, coming up clutch in key wins over No. 4 Tennessee with a double-double and a 15-point, eight-rebound performance against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. Davis received a Summer League invite from the Brooklyn Nets.
A five-year member of the Ole Miss program, Murrell signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Utah Jazz and will compete for a roster spot in training camp. The 6-foot-4-inch guard finished his time in Oxford with a mountain of accolades, including 1,788 career points
New Heights
for seventh in school history, the all-time leader in games and minutes played, and top five in Ole Miss history in made three pointers and steals. He was a consistent starter for the Rebels during his five seasons and helped build the program to new heights, culminating in the team’s Sweet 16 run this past year.
The team’s leader in scoring this past season, a National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District First Team member and Third Team All-SEC, Pedulla was a driving force for Ole Miss in 2024-25. He started in all 36 games for the Rebels, finishing with 87 makes from three, the eighth-most in a single season at Ole Miss, and 68 steals, the fifth-most in a single season. He scored 20 points in both NCAA Tournament wins for Ole Miss this past season and dropped 24 against Michigan State in the Sweet 16, tied for the second-most in a tournament game in school history. Pedulla signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Portland Trailblazers.
ARVESTA TROUPE WINS NCAA HIGH JUMP TITLE
Ole Miss track and field junior Arvesta Troupe made history on June 13, winning the first NCAA high jump title in school history to punctuate an all-time best team finish by the Rebel men at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The championship performance concluded a remarkable junior season for the Fulton native, who went from high school basketball star to surprise state champion high jumper, to
asking to walk-on to Ole Miss, to one of the best high jumpers in the U.S.
One year ago, Troupe was the first one out at the NCAA East Regional. With his national ticket in hand this year, Troupe did not waste his opportunity.
In addition to becoming the first national high jump champion in Ole Miss history, he is the first overall men’s champion in the jumps since Olympian Savante’ Stringfellow won the long jump outdoors in 2001, as well as the first Rebel overall since four-time Olympian Brittney Reese (BA 11) claimed the 2008 long jump title outdoors.
His new PR height improved his spot at No. 2 in Ole Miss history behind Olympian Ricky Robertson’s (BGS 14) 2.32m/7-07.25 from 2012. However, Troupe did something the splendid Robertson never could, with Robertson concluding his excellent Rebel career a decade ago with three NCAA runner-up finishes in the high jump across the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Troupe’s heroics served another crucial purpose: He helped propel the Rebel men to a top 10 finish and tie for the best national men’s finish in program history. No. 11 Ole Miss ended the meet with 22 points, which tied for eighth with No. 15 Florida and No. 23 Kentucky. That eighth-place showing by the Rebels ties with the 2013 men’s outdoor squad for the best by an Ole Miss men’s team, indoor or outdoor.
With the collegiate season now in the rearview for Ole Miss, the attention turns to the national and international stage of competition, which culminates at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, held this year in Tokyo, Sept. 13-21.
Coach Connie Price-Smith and Arvesta Troupe | Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics
Just Published
Vietnam: Fools in Charge by Col. William Bertram Hill (BA 56), 142 pages (paperback, also available in hardback), Palmetto Publishing, ISBN: 979-8822953024
Vietnam: Fools in Charge chronicles the life of Col. William Bertram Hill, who rose from humble beginnings to being promoted to general in the U.S. Air Force, a promotion he declined. His journey, encompassing 21 years of military service, is a testament to the perseverance, brilliance and leadership that defined his career. Known as “Mr. Targets,” Hill’s strategic acumen propelled him to the highest wartime commands, earning him the admiration of his peers and superiors alike.
Despite his remarkable achievements, Hill’s story is not without conflict. He bore a deep-seated disdain for the Vietnam War and the United States’ involvement in it. Nevertheless, he played a crucial role in its prosecution, leading to its eventual end. This memoir offers a unique perspective on a tumultuous time in history, revealing never-disclosed inside wartime activities that shaped the nation. It is a tribute to a man who remained committed to his beliefs and principles even in the face of adversity.
Hill, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in speech. At 90, he provides a well-documented
account of his relationships with fourstar-level commanders.
The
Magic of S.A.M.S. (Student Affairs Moms): Powerful Stories of Mothers Working in Higher Education by Alexandria White (EdD 19), 177 pages (paperback), independently published, ISBN: 979-8307835586
What began as a small Facebook group created by Alexandria White to communicate with other mothers she knew working in student affairs quickly blossomed into a global and vibrant community with over 8,000 members. The Student Affairs Moms (S.A.M.S.) Facebook page has become a sanctuary for academic mothers from diverse backgrounds to share stories, seek advice and celebrate victories. It has become a catalyst for change, a source of vital information and a wellspring of sisterhood.
White, CEO and founder of Alexandria White Consulting, has a proven track record of helping organizations create more diverse and inclusive workplaces. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, a master’s degree from Ball State University and a doctoral degree from the University of Mississippi.
Empire
of Commerce: The Closing of the Mississippi and the Opening of Atlantic Trade by Susan Gaunt Stearns, 314 pages (paperback, also available in
hardback and Kindle), University of Virginia Press, ISBN: 978-0813951249
Shortly after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1789, 22-year-old Andrew Jackson pledged his allegiance to the king of Spain. Before the Louisiana Purchase, imperial control of the North American continent remained an open question. Spain controlled the Mississippi River, closing it to American trade in 1784, and western men on the make like Jackson had to navigate the overlapping economic and political forces at work with ruthless pragmatism.
In Empire of Commerce, Susan Gaunt Stearns takes readers back to a time when nothing was inevitable about the United States’ untrammeled westward expansion. Her work demonstrates the centrality of trade on and along the Mississippi River to the complex development of the political and economic structures that shaped the nascent American republic.
Stearns is an assistant professor of history at the University of Mississippi. She received her doctorate from the University of Chicago in 2011. Stearns’ work focuses on how the trans-Appalachian west, the region encompassing the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys, came to be incorporated into the American union in the 1780s and 1790s, and the role that international trade played in questions of American settler expansion.
As an Ameriprise private wealth advisory practice, we have the qualifications and experience to help navigate your complex financial needs. Whether it’s investment management, tax strategies or legacy planning, we can work with you to grow and preserve what you’ve worked so hard to achieve.
Call us today and discover the personal service you deserve.
Forrest Johnson Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC
Embrace true community with us. We look forward to welcoming them home!
Rebel Traveler 2025-26
Cologne, Germany
The alumni travel program is a service the Ole Miss Alumni Association offers as part of its mission to unite its alumni and keep them connected to Ole Miss and one another. OMAA has partnered with several tour operators that specialize in alumni travel to offer a broad selection of educational tours. Alumni and friends obtain group rates and discounts. Listed prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and pricing and dates are subject to change until booking. Airfare is not included unless noted. Visit olemissalumni.com/travel for a complete listing and the most up-to-date information.
Offerings and itineraries are subject to change or cancellation. OMAA strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance. For a brochure or
more information on a trip, contact the Alumni office at 662-915-7375 or email travel@olemissalumni.com.
ENCHANTED HOLIDAYS IN AUSTRIA AND GERMANY
DEC. 9-19, 2025
Tour Operator: Anywhere Adventures Experience the magic of the holiday season on this unforgettable journey through the heart of Austria and Bavaria. Begin your adventure in Vienna with visits to grand palaces, festive Christmas markets and cozy coffeehouses, including hands-on fun with a Christmas cookie baking class and an evening Strauss concert. Discover the charm of Salzburg, where baroque architecture and “Sound of Music” sites meet private seasonal concerts and alpine traditions. Explore Oberndorf’s Silent Night Chapel, sip
glühwein at St. Wolfgang’s lakeside market and dine at Europe’s oldest restaurant. Then, travel through the scenic Tyrolean Alps to Innsbruck and Seefeld, enjoying a magical sleigh ride before arriving in Munich. Conclude your festive tour with a final exploration of Munich’s vibrant Christmas markets and a memorable farewell dinner. This curated holiday experience is the perfect blend of culture, tradition and yuletide joy. — From $5,543
HOLIDAY MARKETS CRUISE
DEC. 12-20, 2025
Tour Operator: AHI
Revel in the magic of the holidays in Germany and France on a seven-night Rhine River cruise. Celebrate yuletide traditions in festive, cozy markets aglow with twinkling lights and good cheer and overflowing with handmade
treasures. Savor the uplifting sounds of carolers and bells and the scent of fresh pine and roasted chestnuts in the air. Visit Heidelberg’s castle and enjoy a special musical performance in the romantic old town. Admire Cologne’s spectacular cathedral and stroll through Freiburg, a vibrant university city. In the ports of Breisach, Strasbourg, Rüdesheim and Düsseldorf, choose excursions that fit your interests, such as wine tastings, culinary tours or cultural experiences. Aboard your exclusively chartered, first-class ship, take in the scenic beauty of the Rhine Gorge and sip warm, spicy glühwein. This heartwarming journey includes an ample meal plan with wine and beer at lunch and dinner. There is no supplement for solo travelers. — From $2,695
ANTARCTICA
JAN. 11-24, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan Retrace sea lanes navigated by storied explorers Shackleton, Amundsen and Scott on a journey that includes two nights in vibrant Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a nine-night, five-star cruise to “The White Continent.” On this active program, set foot on this pristine
wilderness and enjoy guided excursions aboard sturdy Zodiacs, intricate ecosystems and abundant wildlife — including humpback whales and Adélie penguins. — From $10,995
CUBA DISCOVERY
FEB. 23-28, 2026
Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery
Located 90 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida, Cuba is an island brimming with vibrant art, soul-stirring music and villages cloaked in colonial charm. Cuba, once again accessible to American travelers, is a country begging to be explored. Travel with us to the largest Caribbean island nation and discover a country with a population as warm and scintillating as its tropical climate and colorful arts. Travel out of Havana and into the rural Cuban countryside to the Viñales Valley, located in the westernmost mountainous range in Cuba and declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. This region is known for its stunning scenery, a landscape of prehistoric-looking, flat-top mountains or “mogotes,” tobacco plantations, caves and rivers. — From $5,395, including airfare
D-DAY: INVASION OF NORMANDY AND LIBERATION OF FRANCE
MAY
7-13, 2026
Tour Operator: National WWII Museum
On June 6, 1944, the fate of Europe rested on the largest amphibious invasion in history. After years of planning, over 130,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, supported by 5,000 ships and preceded by paratroopers who seized vital bridges and roads. Adolf Hitler had fortified the French coast, hoping to repel any attack — but D-Day marked the beginning of the end for the Third Reich. Explore this pivotal moment in history with the National WWII Museum’s unforgettable tour of Normandy. With unmatched local knowledge and exclusive access to rarely seen sites, this expertly curated experience goes beyond traditional tours. You’ll spend a full week discovering the region’s profound wartime history while enjoying upscale accommodations, exceptional dining and the personalized attention that ensures a seamless journey. Walk the hallowed ground where history was made and gain a deeper understanding of the courage and sacrifice that changed the world. — From $5,750
CRUISE SICILY, MALTA AND AMALFI COAST
MAY
25-JUNE 2, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan
Bask in the glorious Amalfi Coast, Sicily and Malta on an exclusively chartered, seven-night, deluxe cruise brimming with picture-perfect vistas, intriguing history and tantalizing cuisine. Tour the UNESCO-inscribed ruins of Pompeii and Syracuse, plus savor the splendor of the Isle of Capri. Enjoy enriching excursions in Palermo, Taormina, Ortigia and Malta’s majestic capital city of Valletta, complemented by the expertise of local guides and lecturers. Choose to extend your stay with the Rome pre-tour and/ or the Valletta post-tour extensions. — From $6,995
Viñales Valley, Cuba
Rebel Traveler 2025-26
GREAT EUROPEAN JOURNEY
MAY 26-JUNE 6, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan
Embark on an exhilarating European adventure steeped in storied history, grand architecture and breathtaking scenery on this fabulous 12-day, 11-night itinerary featuring an unforgettable Swiss getaway plus a deluxe river cruise. Marvel at the sweeping grandeur of the Alps and Lake Geneva. Discover the timeless beauty of the Rhine and Moselle as you wind past storybook towns, terraced vineyards and forested hills crowned by castles. — From $5,995
CRUISE THE DALMATIAN COAST AND ITALY
JUNE 11-20, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan
Discover ancient civilizations on this eight-night, deluxe small ship cruise from Dubrovnik, Croatia, to Venice, Italy. Cruise aboard the World Traveller, calling at medieval villages, storied archaeological sites and small ports. Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the old city of Dubrovnik, old town Kotor and the remarkable Trulli of Alberobello. Your journey is complemented by the expertise of local guides and lecturers, including special guest speaker Darius Arya, archaeologist and
author based in Rome. Choose to extend your stay with the Dubrovnik pre-tour and/or the Venice post-tour extensions. — From $7,995
FLAVORS OF NORTHERN ITALY
JUNE 11-20, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge
Embark upon a cultural and gastronomic journey to the enchanting region of Northern Italy — an area renowned for spectacular landscapes, world-class wine and rich heritage. This meticulously crafted itinerary offers the unique opportunity to live like a local, featuring guided tours, private artisan visits and tastings, and the ability to deeply connect with the beauty of Northern Italy’s culture, cuisine and gracious hospitality.
— From $5,695
GRAND SEINE AND NORMANDY
JUNE 20-28, 2026
Tour Operator: AHI
Join an unforgettable seven-night Seine River cruise that showcases poignant wartime history, colorful Norman cities and majestic Paris, the City of Light. Unpack once on your exclusively chartered, first-class ship and sail round trip from Paris, passing bountiful countryside and ports brimming with antiquity. Stroll through centuries-old
towns, including Rouen, host to a well-preserved medieval quarter, and maritime Honfleur with its enchanting Vieux Bassin. Delve into the dramatic history of the D-Day invasion at Normandy’s beaches and the Caen Memorial Museum while expert guides add context to your visit. Walk through bountiful gardens at Claude Monet’s home, gaze in awe at majestic Versailles and explore timeless abbeys. While in Paris, experience the city’s charismatic districts and landmarks, from the NotreDame Cathedral to the Latin Quarter. This extraordinary journey features an extensive meal plan, including wine and beer with lunch and dinner. There is no single supplement for solo travelers. — From $5,295 if booked by Sept. 23, 2025
KENYA SAFARI: THE BIG FIVE
JULY 1-11, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge Venture with us into the heart of Kenya’s wilderness during this 11-day epic journey. Alongside expert guides, gain unparalleled access to Kenya’s national parks, reserves and conservancies with opportunities to witness the Big Five and a plethora of other wildlife in their natural environment. This adventure promises an unforgettable exploration of Kenya’s iconic landscapes, captivating
Basel, Switzerland
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 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
DISCOVER THE CANADIAN ROCKIES BY RAIL
JULY 22-28, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge
On board Rocky Mountaineer’s all-dome fleet, travel through otherwise inaccessible terrain to unlock the unparalleled beauty of British Columbia, Alberta and the Canadian Rockies. Journey through
breathtaking prairies and revel in the grand landscapes of some of Canada’s most mesmerizing mountain vistas. — From $6,995
CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS
JULY 25-31, 2026
Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery
“The Cape” — Cape Cod, located in eastern Massachusetts, is among New England’s favorite summer vacation destinations with beautiful ocean beaches and small unique businesses. Spend time in Boston and see Boston Commons, Old North Church, Beacon Hill and the ship “Old Ironsides.” Travel to Plimoth Plantation, a re-creation of the Pilgrims’ 1627 village, and learn of the journey that brought the pilgrims to the New World some 400 years ago with a visit to the Mayflower II, 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. — From $3,995, including airfare
DELIGHTFUL DOURO AND SOLAR ECLIPSE
AUG. 8-15, 2026
Tour Operator: Go Next
Immerse yourself in the enchanting beauty of the UNESCO World Heritagelisted Douro Valley on this unforgettable seven-night cruise aboard Emerald Cruises’ Emerald Radiance, culminating in the breathtaking spectacle of the total solar eclipse. Begin your journey in Porto, Portugal, where history meets modern charm, and set sail along the sun-dappled river toward Pinhao. Visit the beautiful Vega de Terron and discover the serene pace of western Spanish life with quiet streets and lush landscapes. Experience the captivating landscapes of Pocinho, a hidden gem nestled within the valley, and continue to Regua, where the ancient art of winemaking comes alive. Here, indulge in the rich flavors of port wine, crafted from grapes grown on steep terraces carved into the rugged hills, and experience the highlight of the trip — the rare opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring solar eclipse, a celestial spectacle that will enhance the region’s already breathtaking beauty. Spend your final day in Porto wandering through its maze of cobblestone streets and savor authentic Portuguese cuisine at a local eatery. — From $3,595
STUNNING SCOTLAND
AUG. 8-17, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge
Join us 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
Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
A lumni News
Sustaining Life Membership Program
The Sustaining Life Membership Program is a voluntary way for current Life Members to provide additional annual support to the Ole Miss Alumni Association at one of several tax-deductible levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Blue and Red. These contributions support necessary programs to engage Ole Miss alumni and friends and to help create future alumni
FY 2025 MEMBERS
Platinum: $1,000+
Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Abington III
Mr. and Mrs. Holmes S. Adams
Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Bailess
The Hon. and Mrs. Haley R. Barbour
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Barker
Mr. and Mrs. David E. Brevard
Mr. and Mrs. Lampkin Butts
Dr. and Mrs. Michael H. Carter Jr.
Mr. J. Truman Channell
Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Clark
Mr. Bradford Elton Cobb III
Drs. Frank A. IV and Ann D. Critz
Mr. Fred de Roode and Ms. Diane Olson
Mr. and Mrs. Vance P. Derryberry
Mr. and Mrs. Carl D. Deweese
Dr. Michael Ederer
Mr. Mac Elliott
Mr. and Mrs. S. Lawrence Farrington
Mr. and Mrs. James W. Granbery
Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Graves III
Mr. and Mrs. William W. Gresham III
Mr. Robert Andrew Harder
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel B. Haskell III
Dr. James Stowers Hicks
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey L. Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Lusco
Mr. Michael J. Maslanka
Mr. and Mrs. William T. Mays Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack McClanahan
Mr. and Mrs. David O. McCormick
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery M. Michael
Mr. Mark Clayton Mooneyhan
Mr. and Mrs. A. Bruce Moore Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Paul H. Moore Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Steven T. Mullen
Mr. and Mrs. John R. Pittman
Mr. and Mrs. John K. Purdom
Mr. and Mrs. William N. Reed
Mrs. Donna Ruth Roberts
Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Ross Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. David Z. Scruggs
Mr. John Douglas Self Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald S. Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Sneed
Mr. and Mrs. Leslie S. Sutherland
Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Sweet
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Tait
Mr. Larry D. Weeden Sr.
The Hon. and Mrs. AC Wharton Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey J. White
Dr. and Mrs. Lynn K. Whittington
Mr. Stephen H. Wilkinson
Gold: $500-$999
Mr. and Mrs. Hirschel T. Abbott Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Olen S. Akers
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Belenchia
Mr. and Mrs. Bill H. Benson
Dr. Otis J. Bouwsma and Ms. Lucilla Perez
Mrs. Bettye M. Butler
Dr. Bob Calcote
Ms. Angela Denise Carney
Col. and Mrs. Eugene N. Cartier
Mr. and Mrs. Harold N. Clark Jr.
Mr. B. Craig Clemmer
Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Cohan
Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Coleman Jr.
Ms. Pamela J. Cox
Mr. W.M. Dalehite Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Dixon Jr.
Ms. Trula Suzette Dixon
Mr. and Mrs. John A. Dupps
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Ehrlicher
Mrs. Jordan Lancaster Estes
Mrs. Weba Coward Ferguson
Mr. Brooke Ferris
Mr. and Mrs. Russell H. Folk
Dr. William B. French Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. William N. Fry IV
leaders through student involvement, scholarship and leadership programs. Thank you for your generous support of Ole Miss and the Alumni Association.
Dr. Jane T. Gaede
Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey R. Godwin Jr.
Mr. Thomas Alsop Griesedieck
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Haley III
Mr. James William Hodges
Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Holmes IV
Mr. and Mrs. D.B. Holstein
Mrs. Patricia S. Hopson
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey P. Hubbard
Mr. and Mrs. David A. Huey
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon R. Kelley III
Mr. Curtis Lee Kennedy Jr.
Col. Roy George Kennington (Ret.)
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Langhart
Dr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Love
Mr. and Mrs. Guy W. Mitchell III
Mr. Jimmy R. Mitchell
Mr. Terrence B. Mohr
Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Nance III
Mr. and Mrs. Crymes G. Pittman
Mr. and Mrs. Nat W. Prestage
Mr. and Mrs. Lee W. Randall
Dr. Silas K. Richmond II and Mrs. LeEthel Guillory
Mr. and Mrs. David G. Roach
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Rocconi Jr.
Mr. Marc Rosen
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Samuels
Dr. and Mrs. John H. Selby Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. W. Marion Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Speed Jr.
Mr. Hubert Arthur Staley
Mrs. Margaret J. Varshock
Mr. William Lynn Wallace III
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald L. White
Silver: $250-$499
Dr. and Mrs. George E. Abraham II
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Adcock
Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Ayers
Ms. Carol Jo Barnes
Mrs. Julia S. Bell
Mr. and Mrs. Gene W. Bennett
Ms. Kathryn B. Black
Mr. and Mrs. David B. Blackburn
Mr. and Mrs. R. Rodgers Brashier
Dr. Robin C. and Mr. Denny N. Buchannon
Dr. Michael S. Bumagin
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Carroll Jr.
Dr. David Key Carter
The Hon. and Ms. Mark J. Chaney Jr.
Mr. David Hugh Chapman
Mr. and Mrs. James W. Chiles
Mr. Jason Joe Cobb
Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Augustus L. Collins
Ms. Michaelene Johnson and Ms. Cheryl D. Conlee
Mr. Michael W. Wright and Mrs. Vickie M. Cook
Mr. and Mrs. Giles A. Coors III
Mr. L. Pepper Cossar
Dr. Collett Branch Cross
Lt. Col. and Mrs. Bryan A. Culipher
Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Cunningham
Dr. James Wilbur Davis
Mr. Randy Lee Dean
Mrs. Tis Neill Dean
Mr. Shelby B. Drummond
Dr. and Mrs. David N. Duddleston
Mr. Eric T. Duncan Jr. and Ms. Erin M. Duncan
Mr. Robert Ellis Duncan
Mr. and Mrs. Woods E. Eastland
Ms. Claire McDowell Elkin
Mr. Joe M. Enoch
Mr. and Mrs. Alan J. Ferguson
Dr. Waitus Malcolm Flanagan
Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Flenorl
Dr. and Mrs. Don L. Frugé
Mr. and Mrs. Tommy R. Funk Jr.
Mr. Bruce J. Gray
Mr. and Mrs. Heyward Carter Green
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Griffith
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry M. Hall
Michael and Tracey Hall
Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Harris
Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Heidelberg III
Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Hemenway
Mr. and Mrs. H.R. Hemmings
Dr. and Mrs. Frank S. Hill Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Hardy M. Hill
Mr. Harold E. Hill Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. George Hilliard
Ms. Carol Ann Hobby
Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Holloway
Hon. and Mrs. David W. Houston III
Mrs. Trentice G. Imbler
Mr. James Hollis Ivy
*Mr. Lawrence Bennett Johnson Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Ruben B. Jones
Ms. Jeanhee Kang
Dr. and Mrs. William F. Keeton
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry L. Lee
Dr. and Mrs. George H. Leggett III
Mr. James Austin Lesemann Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Randall G. Long
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Y. Love Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lurie
Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. Magarian
Dr. Elgene George Mainous
Dr. Gregory Earl Maksi
Mrs. Rhoda N. Maloney
Hon. and Mrs. John N. Martin
Mr. and Mrs. Scott T. Matlock
Mr. and Mrs. B. Michael Mauldin
Mr. William T. May and Mrs. Brett Thompson-May
Dr. and Mrs. Eric A. McVey III
Prof. Martin C. McWilliams Jr.
Mrs. Carole Lynn Meadows
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan L. Moore
Mrs. Elizabeth L. Morgan
Dr. and Mrs. Markeeva Andre Morgan
Mrs. Martha R. Morgan
Dr. and Mrs. Karl F. Morrison
Mrs. Linda M. Newell
Mrs. Phyllis H. Nuckolls
Mr. and Mrs. Rush O’Keefe
Mr. and Mrs. Steven R. Osso
Mr. Tommy Craig Pannell
Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Perkins
Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Peters
Dr. and Mrs. James W. Rayner
Mrs. Mary Jane Ridgway
Dr. Jeff Windham Rish III
Mr. and Mrs. F.D. Rolwing
Mr. and Mrs. Lenny Sawyer
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Seibels III
Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Sloan
Mr. and Mrs. Briggs Smith Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Gordon L. Stanfield
The Hon. and Mrs. S.R. Steckler
Dr. Kate Stewart
Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Stringer
Dr. Robert Dee Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis J. Troy
Mr. James S. Verplanck
Mr. Charles Edward Warren
Dr. James Edward Warrington
Mr. Cecil L. Watkins
Dr. Benjamin Otis Weeks Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. James E. Williamson Jr.
Mr. James B. Wolf
Dr. and Mrs. Joseph K. Wong
Dr. Kuo-Shien Yu and Dr. Dianna Yan
Blue: $100-$249
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Abernethy III
Dr. and Mrs. Richard S. Abney
Mr. and Mrs. Howard W. Acton
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Adams III
Mr. and Mrs. Claiborne D. Adcock
Mr. Jeffrey David Aldridge
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel F. Alexander
Mrs. Marian Sykes Alexander
Drs. Charles F. and Anne Hart Allen
*Mrs. Barbara D. Arnold
Mrs. Julia M. Austin
Mr. Gary Allan Avery
Mr. and Mrs. David W. Barkett
Mr. and Mrs. Harris H. Barnes III
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Beecroft
Mr. Roeland Tobin Bell
Maj. Charles Mitchell Boh
Dr. and Mrs. Wiley N. Boland Jr.
Ms. Marylyle Lynn Boolos
The Hon. Cynthia Lee Brewer
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald D. Brooks
Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Broun III
Mr. Ernie H. Brown
Mr. and Mrs. James L. Brown
Dr. and Mrs. J. David Bullock
Dr. Vernon Miller and Ms. Sheral Cade
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Callicutt
Mr. and Mrs. Gary V. Cantrell
Dr. Ann L. and Mr. William R. Canty
Mr. and Mrs. John S. Case
Mrs. Hilda Louise Casin
Mrs. Nancy Dunn Chamblee
Mr. and Mrs. Gary S. Childers
Dr. Carlos R. Clark
Alumni News
Eric and Karan Clark
Dr. Neal Garver Clement
Mr. Henry D. Colotta
Drs. Charles L. and Rosemary M. Conlon
Dr. Ann Homer Cook
Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Cook
Mr. and Mrs. R. Steven Cox
Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Crongeyer Jr.
Dr. Camille Fly and Mr. Barry L. Dautrich
Ms. Mary Leslie Davis
Mr. Ted Denstel
Mr. Richard Mack Edmonson Sr.
Mr. Xavier Omar Edwards
Hon. and Mrs. Robert W. Elliott Sr.
Dr. and Mrs. Richard B. Ellison
Mrs. Beth Ashley Endom
Mr. Larry Eugene Eubank
Ms. Trese Ann Evans
*Mr. Harold Laverne Ferguson Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Gray M. Fowler
The Hon. and Mrs. Webb Franklin
Dr. and Mrs. Donald K. Gaddy
Mrs. Kathleen F. Gann
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Garraway
Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Gates
Dr. Peter Roger Generelly
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Gex II
Dr. and Mrs. Randel C. Gibson
Mr. Karl David Gottschalk
Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Grant
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Gresham Jr.
Mrs. Mary Ann W. Griesbeck
Dr. and Mrs. David L. Guyton
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron K. Halford Jr.
Mr. Bradley G. Hall
Ms. Alice Laird Hammond
Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Hancock Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Hanks
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Harrison
Dr. John Francis Hassell
Mrs. Catherine Anderson Hawkins
Mr. and Mrs. Van Elliott Hedges
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Henry
Mr. and Mrs. James C. Herbert Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy N. Herndon
Dr. Hartwell C. Herring III
Ms. Monica M. Hewes
Mr. Joseph M. Hinshaw III
Mr. Thomas Lee Hitchcock
Dr. Jerry Holmes
Mrs. Dana Dallosta Horner
Mrs. Ann Phillips Hough
Mr. and Mrs. John S. Howie Sr.
Dr. and Mrs. Harold K. Hudson
Dr. William A. Ivy and Ms. Eileen Kenney
Mrs. Rebecca Kay Jabour
Mr. and Mrs. Ted D. Jackson
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel E. Johnson
Ms. Mary Lou Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Johnston
Mr. and Mrs. Augustus R. Jones
Mr. Ted Jones
Dr. Thomas Lenville Jones Jr.
Mrs. Delia H. Kaigler
Dr. Gloria Kellum
Mr. Michael W. Kenney
Mr. and Mrs. William D. Kidd
Mr. and Mrs. Bobby J. Kidder
Ms. Leone Davis King
Mr. Roosevelt Kitchens
Mr. and Mrs. William D. Knight
Mr. Kim Henry Kreunen Sr.
Mr. and Mrs. John B. Laney Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Laughlin
Mr. and Mrs. David L. Lawrence
Dr. and Mrs. Albert C. Laws
Capt. and Mrs. R.K. Leedham Jr.
Mr. Calvin W. Leggett
Mr. Robert Elbridge Leigh III
Mr. Charles Phillip Leonard
Mrs. Barbera Hollowell Liddon
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Linginfelter
Mr. Hubert Slaton Lipscomb Jr.
Mrs. Cille McHenry Litchfield
Mr. John William Locovare
Mr. Joe Macione Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Maples
Ms. Meredith Veda Matthews
Mr. Dale Henry McDavitt
Mrs. Daisye R. McGee
Mr. William A. McGinnis Jr.
Dr. David W. McKinney
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd M. Melton Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Meredith
Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey C. Mitchell
Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Moore
Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Morlino
Dr. and Mrs. Lee D. Morris
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Morris Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. William R. Mott
Mr. Christian Stephen Mueller
Mr. Thomas Munoz Jr.
Mr. Sherman and *Mrs. Celia Carter
Muths
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Christopher Norwood
Dr. Rosemary Oliphant-Ingham
Mrs. Dorothy J. Pennington
Mr. Steve Pittman
Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Pointer
Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Ponder
Mrs. Elizabeth Loftin Pounds
Mrs. Camille S. Puckett
Mr. Jimmie G. Purvis
Mr. and Mrs. William M. Renovich
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Ricks
Mrs. Jane S. Riley
Mr. William Robert Roberts
Dr. and Mrs. Gerald M. Robertson
Mr. John William Robertson
Dr. Tommie L. Robinson Jr.
The Hon. Margaret Ellis Rogers
Mrs. Merrell Rogers
Dr. Walter H. Rose
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Ross III
Mr. Bernard Lockett Royce
Mrs. Carol C. Satterfield
Mr. Eugene R. Schnierle
Mr. and Mrs. John R. Schwalje
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Seid Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Shaw
Mrs. Lisa Puckett Sinders
Dr. Patsy Sue Sledge
Mr. and Mrs. Shelby B. Smith Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. William K. Smith
Capt. and Mrs. Jack F. Speed Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald B. Stephenson
Mr. Gary Dale Stewart
*Mr. John F. Stone
Mr. and Mrs. Brad Strong
Ms. Ruth P. Stroud
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey B. Strouse
Dr. and Mrs. John H. Sumners
Mr. Stanley M. Swentkowski
Mr. and Mrs. Barrett B. Teller
Mr. and Mrs. Denny Terrell
Mrs. Lucy M. Thompson
Mrs. Rebecca Allen Thompson
Ms. Julia Harmon Thornton
Dr. Ancel Cramer Tipton Jr.
Mrs. Lisa Hickman Tollison
Mr. Vicent Man-Suen Tsin
Mr. Bill P. Tucker
Mr. Michael Alan Upton
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Van Fleet Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin S. Vance
Mrs. Jeanine Ogletree Walker
Dr. Juliet H. Walton
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory P. Ware
Alumni News
Dr. and Mrs. Glen C. Warren
Drs. Joseph W. and Andrea L. Wesley
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Wheat
Mr. James H. Wheeler Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. R.Q. Whitwell Jr.
Mrs. Anne James Wilbourne
Mr. Dan Sewell Wilford
Mr. and Mrs. A.T. Williams
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Williams
Mr. Henry Leonard Wilson
Mr. Paul Laurens Wiseman
Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Witty
Dr. and Mrs. Travis W. Yates
Capt. and Mrs. Ronald W. Zaperach
Red: $1-$99
Dr. Jing-Yang and Ms. Liping Ai
Dr. and Mrs. Ty H. Barkley
Dr. Matthew Thomas Becker
Mr. James Michael Blackburn
Ms. Tyndale Brickey Bloom
Mr. and Mrs. William R. Bouchillon
Mr. James Heath Bryant
Dr. and Mrs. Wallace A. Burns Jr.
Class Notes
’50s JIM TOM ATHERTON (BBA 59), of Lenoir City, Tennessee, celebrated his 64th wedding anniversary with his grade-school sweetheart, Margie. They have three children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
’60s JIM RAYNER (MD 66), of Oxford, was named the 2025 Oxford Citizen of the Year at the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. This award recognizes individuals whose selfless service and contributions have had a lasting impact on Oxford, Lafayette County and the University of Mississippi.
’70sMICHAEL GRIFFITH (JD 74), of Pensacola, Florida, proprietor of Michael J. Griffith PA, was recognized as a 50-year member of good standing of
Mr. Raleigh Hill Byars
Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Byrd Sr.
Mr. Richard Malcolm Caldwell
Mrs. Desiree Petitjean Casey
Ms. Anne Clark Crader
Dr. and Mrs. William C. Cushman
Mr. William Joseph Dennis
Mr. and Mrs. R. Deryl Edwards
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Glenn
Dr. and Mrs. Robert F. Inman
Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Jurgensen
Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm S. Kretschmar Jr.
Ms. Carmen Elaine Lewis
Mr. and Mrs. Eddie K. Lindsey
Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Lucas
Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Martin
Mr. and Mrs. Irvin L. Martin Jr.
Dr. Suzanne M. McBride
Mrs. Leesa Crim McCharen
Dr. Teresa Rowley McDaniel
Mrs. Nell S. McMullen
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Metzger
Mrs. Cathie M. Moore
Mrs. Ruth T. Murdock
the Florida Bar at the annual Florida Bar Convention.
MATT HOLLEMAN (BBA 73), of Madison, was named executive director and chief financial officer of the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation and Robert M. Hearin Foundation. Holleman has been a trustee of the Hearin foundations for decades.
BOB SAWYER (BPA 79), of Gulfport, was elected chairman of the board of Memorial Hospital Gulfport, Merit Biloxi and Stone County Hospital, overseeing a workforce of 6,500 employees.
’80s GLENN BOYCE (BAEd 81, EdD 96), chancellor of the University of Mississippi, was named to the Southeastern Conference Executive Committee.
Mr. and Mrs. Glen A. Murphy
Mrs. Priscilla P. Musgrave
Mr. Spencer Lee Neff
Mrs. Rebecca G. Pace
Mr. Josh Patrick Parham
*Mr. Ray Pickering
Ms. Deborah A. Pierce
Mrs. Karen Preston-Morf
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse W. Quillen
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Sbarra
Mr. David L. Smith
Ms. Hannah Grace Steele
Ms. Clark Hairston Taylor
Lt. Col. Billy B. Trimble USAF (Ret.)
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Trotter III
Mr. James Allen Turner
Mrs. Debbie McCain Wesley
Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Williams Jr.
Mrs. Sandra May Williams
Mr. and Mrs. Jerome W. Wilson Jr.
Dr. Savan Wilby Wilson
Mr. Kenneth William Yerby
*Deceased
SCOTT COOPWOOD (BA 84), of Cleveland, has retired after a decade of service as a commissioner for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Coopwood served as chairman for two terms.
G. DEWEY HEMBREE III (BBA 83, JD 86), of Madison, was recognized in the 2025 Chambers USA Guide in the General Commercial Litigation category.
LAURA TENTLEY TODD (BBA 83), of Collierville, Tennessee, was appointed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to serve on the Tennessee Historical Commission representing the Western Grand Division.
’90s AMY HERRING (BS 95), of Durham, North Carolina, was appointed dean of natural sciences at Duke University.
JOHN A. JOHNSON (BAccy 92, MAccy 93), of Hattiesburg, was appointed chief operating officer of Hood Cos. Inc. He served as the company’s chief financial officer from 2009 to 2025.
RICHARD MEYERS (JD 94), of Brentwood, Tennessee, partner at Stites & Harbison PLLC, was named to the 2025 IP Stars list as a Patent Star for Tennessee by Managing IP magazine.
HOMER SLEDGE III (BBA 92), of Cleveland, celebrated the 98th year of business for his family-owned company, Nehi Bottling Co.
TRAE WIYGUL (BBA 96), of Tupelo, was appointed as assistant principal and volleyball coach of Red Bay High School.
DAVID ZANCA (JD 93), of New Orleans, received his M.A. in faith and culture from
the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. He wrote and presented his master’s practicum, “Thirty Days of Guided Meditations Based on The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis.”
’00s
BETSY KELLY BANCHIK (BFA 08), of New York, New York, launched GiveProsperly, a philanthropic consulting firm specializing in nonprofit development, giving management and auction consulting.
MILTON FLETCHER (BA 07), of Bakersville, North Carolina, was elected district court judge for five county districts in Western North Carolina.
ROBERT KRAUSE (BA 04, PhD 11), of Houston, Texas, was named partner and cultural resources program director for Cypress Environmental Consulting.
CHRISTOPHER M. POSEY (BBA 03, JD 06), of Philadelphia, was appointed to the Office of the Circuit Judge for the 8th Circuit Court District.
JOHN REVELLA (BA 00, JD 05), of Walden, New York, was appointed by the Montgomery and Newburg town boards to fill the Orange County Legislature District 17 seat.
ROBERT SAVOIE (BBA 07), of Solon, Ohio, was recognized in the 2025 Chambers USA Guide in the Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance category.
’10s
ANNE HALL BRASHIER (BSES 13), of Ridgeland, was named to the “Top 40 Under 40” list by the Mississippi Business Journal.
Six Generations Strong
THE HOLMES FAMILY LEGACY AT OLE MISS
At the University of Mississippi, tradition runs deep, but few families embody that tradition quite like the Holmes family. With six generations and counting, the Holmes family has built a legacy rooted in loyalty, service and a deep love for Ole Miss.
redirected with the onset of the Civil War when he was called to fight. After the war, he settled in DeSoto County, unknowingly planting the roots of a family tree forever intertwined with Ole Miss.
His son, Frank Clarke Holmes Jr. (BA 1890, LLB 1892), received his law degree
Just a decade after the university opened its doors, Francis Holmes (BA 1858), the family patriarch, dreamed of a medical career. However, history had other plans, and Holmes’ path was
from the university in 1892 and went on to practice law in Hernando. That set a precedent that would echo through the generations. His son, Frank Clarke Holmes Jr. (BA 37, LLB 39), served in
World War II soon after graduating and returned to Hernando to carry on the family’s legal legacy.
Frank Clarke Holmes III (BPA 68, MURP 71) continued the tradition, earning undergraduate and master’s degrees from Ole Miss. His career led him to Jackson, where he served nearly 40 years as CEO of the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District. His wife, Mary Jo (BSC 67), brought her Biloxi charm to Oxford and has proudly shared in the Holmes legacy ever since.
Next came Dr. Frank Clarke Holmes IV (BA 94, MD 98), who earned his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. After a fellowship in sports medicine, he returned to serve as an assistant professor in orthopaedic surgery at UMMC. He lives in Nashville, where he has an orthopedic and sports medicine practice.
Dr. Holmes and his wife, Christie, are the proud parents of Alex and Ella Kate — both students at Ole Miss and the sixth generation of Holmeses to walk the Grove, cheer in the Vaught and call Oxford home. Alex, a senior majoring in accounting, and Ella Kate, a psychology major, are immersed in Greek life, service projects and friendships that will last a lifetime.
While all the remaining family members reside in Nashville, their hearts remain firmly planted in Oxford. For the Holmeses, Ole Miss is more than a school — it’s a second home, a shared history and a bond that crosses generations.
It’s even possible that theirs is the longest continuous family surname in Ole Miss history. And while their story is unique in its length and consistency, the sentiment is something many Rebels share. In the words of Frank Everett Jr. (BA 32, LLB 43), “The University is respected, but Ole Miss is loved … one never graduates from Ole Miss.”
Holmes family members (front row, from left) Mary Jo and Clarke III, (back) Clarke IV, Ella Kate and Alex | Submitted photo
MICHAEL CROWE (BBA 15), of Meridian, was named to the “Top 40 Under 40” list by the Mississippi Business Journal
KIMBRELY DANDRIDGE (BAJ 13), of Fulshear, Texas, was named the North American head of legal for Lush Cosmetics.
KELSEY MCCARTY (BS 18), of Purvis, was promoted to branch manager at Raanes & Oliver Capital Advisors.
DAVIS PACE (BA 10), of Gulfport, was named to the “Top 40 Under 40” list by the Mississippi Business Journal
DREW POMERANZ (10), of Collierville, Tennessee, was acquired by the Chicago Cubs from the Seattle Mariners.
CHRISTIAN ROBINSON (BSPSC 15), of Columbia, South Carolina, successfully defended his dissertation at the University of Arkansas. His dissertation is titled “Exploring the Experiences of Black Senior Housing Officers at Southern PWIs.”
LASHAUNDA SMITH (BA 14), of Pearl, was named the 2025 Mental Health Advocate of the Year by the Best of Mississippi Awards.
BETHANY STANFILL (BBA 12), of Madison, was named to the “Top 40 Under 40” list by the Mississippi Business Journal
’20s
HUNTER ELLIOTT (BBA 24), of Saltillo, was named a 2025 NCAA Division I Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
TERRENCE HUNTER (JD 20), of Natchez, was named to the “Top 40 Under 40” list by the Mississippi Business Journal
ALUMNI FRIENDS
The University of Mississippi honored DEBBY AND ANDY PREFONTAINE , of Naples, Florida, with the dedication of its track and field stadium to their family for their generous support of the university’s athletics programs.
FOR REBELS WHO
Alumni News
MISSISSIPPI ON THE MALL
The Mississippi Society of Washington, D.C., hosted the 34th annual Mississippi on the Mall on Saturday, May 31, at Henry Bacon Ball Field. Participants enjoyed catfish, sweet tea and Southern hospitality.
BIRTHS
Adalyn Elizabeth, daughter of Katelyn Chisolm Carney (MEd 25) and John Taylor Carney (BBA 23), Dec. 11, 2024.
Jackson Emmet Duncan V, son of Brooke Swinney Duncan and Jackson Emmet Duncan IV, May 21, 2025.
Benjamin Edward, son of Jessica Reed Lampkin (BA 10, MEd 14) and Tim Lampkin, March 31, 2025.
John Henry, son of Mikayla Johnson Pracht (BS 19) and Caleb Andrew Pracht (BA 18, JD 21), April 16, 2025.
WEDDINGS
Elizabeth Zellars Cleveland (BBA 22) and William Hunter Gholson (BBA 22), May 10, 2025.
Margaret Spencer White (BA 23) and Nathan Todd Hale (BBA 23), April 5, 2025.
IN MEMORIAM
1940s
Clemmie Womack Allison (BSC 45), of Lake Cormorant, July 23, 2024
Russell Edward Aven (BS 42, BSChE 44, MA 50), of Oxford, June 8, 2025
Wanda Nichols Doolittle (41), of Madison, June 16, 2025
Lillian Joan Beacham Harry (BSC 44), of Columbia, June 4, 2025
Bettye McGehee Jenkins (47), of Natchez, June 27, 2025
Malcolm Louis Miller (BSPh 49), of Lafayette, La., March 29, 2025
John Fred Stone Jr. (BBA 49), of Germantown, Tenn., April 11, 2025
Ygondine Walker Sturdivant (BA 48), of Glendora, June 1, 2025
William James Threadgill Sr. (BA 47), of Columbus, April 30, 2025
1950s
Barbara Daves Arnold (BS 58), of Yazoo City, May 28, 2025
Betty Harrell Baird (BSHPE 51), of San Rafael, Calif., Feb. 21, 2025
Noah Espy Blackwell III (BSChE 54), of Paris, Ky., July 2, 2025
William Richard Boyens (BSCvE 54), of Torrington, Conn., April 4, 2025
Lindy Gene Thomas Callahan (BSHPE 53), of Gulfport, April 23, 2025
Luther Martin Castleberry (BAEd 58, MEd 74), of Spring Hill, Tenn., April 17, 2025
James Lloyd Cole (BBA 55), of Buna, Texas, April 19, 2025
James Alvin Cooper Jr. (BA 52, BSPh 62), of Grenada, April 11, 2025
David Ronald Cox (BA 58), of Alexandria, Va., April 18, 2025
Minnie Corrine Taylor Cullen (BAEd 52), of Oxford, May 2, 2025
Harry Louie Eargle (MM 55), of Waxhaw, N.C., Sept. 1, 2024
Richard Beirne Ellison Sr. (MD 59), of Ridgeland, April 11, 2025
Oscar Thomas Feagin (BA 59), of Readfield, Maine, May 27, 2025
Carlos Barrett Greer (BSGE 57), of Lafayette, La., March 30, 2025
Ben Dorris Jaco (BA 50), of Knoxville, Tenn., June 17, 2025
Joyce Mounce Livingston (BBA 50), of Tupelo, April 17, 2025
Sara Rogers London (51), of Tupelo, May 22, 2025
Janie Conlee Luther (BAEd 57), of Pontotoc, June 1, 2025
Celia Carter Muths (BM 59), of Gulfport, May 3, 2025
Paul Thomas Nottingham Jr. (BBA 52), of Kingsport, Tenn., July 1, 2024
Marvin Moses Quaid Jr. (BA 59), of Paso Robles, Calif., Dec. 16, 2024
Submitted photo
Alumni News
Liona Russell Roberts Jr. (BS 58), of St. George, Utah, May 17, 2025
Donald Ray Rushing (BA 56, MEd 59), of Tylertown, April 13, 2025
George Marion Ryan Jr. (MedCert 51, BS 51), of Hot Springs National Park, Ark., April 25, 2025
Kathryn Robertson Strickland (BSC 54), of Oxford, June 17, 2025
Jane Katherine Sample Suddarth (BA 51), of Peoria, Ariz., Oct. 16, 2024
Billy Eugene Templeton (BSHPE 59), of Madison, March 29, 2025
John White Valentine (LLB 53), of Cleveland, Aug. 10, 2024
Billy Ruth Miller Van Brocklin (BA 51), of Memphis, Tenn., June 22, 2025
Jack Cannon Whites (MD 59), of Bessemer, Ala., April 3, 2025
Max Edward Williams (MBA 58, BBA 58), of Boca Raton, Fla., Nov. 23, 2024
Emma Vinson Wilson (BSC 51), of Pascagoula, May 23, 2025
Nancy Cason Zerbe (56), of Cartersville, Ga., June 21, 2025
1960s
Jackson Henderson Ables III (BA 69, JD 75), of Flora, May 14, 2025
William Harbert Bates Jr. (BBA 63), of Greensburg, Ky., June 13, 2025
Frank Oteri Batson Jr. (60), of Columbus, May 16, 2025
George Belchic Jr. (MD 66), of Shreveport, La., April 18, 2025
William Dean Belk Jr. (BA 60, JD 65), of Indianola, May 16, 2025
Claude A. Bell III (BBA 67), of Olive Branch, June 25, 2025
Richard Thomas Bennett (JD 65), of Magee, March 25, 2025
David Weikal Bickerstaff (62), of Mountain View, Ark., June 27, 2025
Simeon Alexander Box (BAEd 67), of Woodruff, S.C., March 28, 2025
Sylvia Davidson Briscoe (BAEd 63), of Biloxi, April 30, 2025
Mary Neal Foust Brown (BM 60), of McHenry, June 28, 2025
Richard Warner Carlson (61), of McLean, Va., March 24, 2025
Jesse Miller Chase Jr. (BBA 64), of Benbrook, Texas, March 21, 2025
Roger Travis Clark (BA 62, JD 70), of Gulfport, May 2, 2025
Cary Hartwell Cocke III (BBA 64), of Asheville, N.C., May 5, 2025
Michael Wallace Coleman (BA 69, MD 73), of Greenwood, April 7, 2025
Emma Flautt Crisler (BA 61), of Port Gibson, May 2, 2025
William Eugene Davenport (MCP 66), of Birmingham, Ala., May 1, 2025
James Edward Davis (BBA 60), of Athens, Ga., May 17, 2025
Thomas Kent Donovan (BA 62, MS 66), of Ooltewah, Tenn., April 12, 2025
Warren Candler Dorsey Jr. (BBA 66, JD 69), of Jackson, May 26, 2025
Marion Joseph Emmons (BA 69, MSS 74), of Coral Springs, Fla., Jan. 18, 2025
Janella Magee Evers (BSN 60, MN 73), of Jackson, May 5, 2025
Harold Laverne Ferguson Jr. (BPA 60), of Oxford, April 22, 2025
Charles Bailey Ferrill Jr. (BBA 61), of Berryville, Ark., June 28, 2025
Bobby Ray Franklin (62), of Senatobia, May 13, 2025
James Donald Fritz (MBEd 67), of Shreveport, La., June 20, 2025
Sam Hooper Gammill (JD 66), of Jackson, March 21, 2025
Carlton Garner (BSHPE 60), of Gulf Shores, Ala., March 21, 2025
Chester Anthony Glomski (MD 65), of Buffalo, N.Y., Feb. 3, 2025
Forrest Dale Goetschius (BA 63), of Coronado, Calif., Aug. 30, 2024
Linda Lunceford Gray (BAEd 69), of Oxford, June 1, 2025
Wentworth Vail Harned (MA 60), of Williamsburg, Va., March 30, 2025
Thomas Jones Herrin Jr. (MD 69), of Jackson, March 20, 2025
Charles Richard Hinton (66), of Brandon, June 21, 2025
Allen Braman Hoggatt (BAEd 67), of Gautier, July 4, 2025
Phyllis Faithe Boatner Howell (BAEd 69), of Carthage, April 11, 2025
Willis Hanks Jolly Jr. (BA 68, JD 70), of Oxford, March 27, 2025
Josie Marion Browning Keeton (MEd 67), of Booneville, June 23, 2025
Rebecca Linda Johnson Lambeth (BAEd 61, BAEd 61), of Germantown, Tenn., June 3, 2025
Howard Owen Leach (BA 63, JD 66), of Jackson, May 25, 2025
Glenn Louis Lusk (BBA 67), of Cumming, Ga., June 9, 2025
Peggy McClure Lyons (BAEd 65), of Shreveport, La., June 8, 2025
Gerald Cleon McMillan Jr. (BBA 66), of Dallas, Texas, June 22, 2025
Dale Thornton McWilliams (BSC 68), of Brownsville, Tenn., April 9, 2025
Joseph Robert Meadows (BBA 61, LLB 63), of Gulfport, June 29, 2025
Edward Owen Miller (JD 69), of Gulfport, April 29, 2025
Costas Vasilios Moutsatsos (MEd 67), of Tarpon Springs, Fla., March 31, 2025
Ronald Glenn Osborne (BS 63), of Virden, Ill., April 26, 2025
Ronald Giles Peresich (BBA 66, JD 68), of Biloxi, May 23, 2025
Mary Anne Oates Pike (BAEd 64), of Marion, Ark., April 20, 2025
James Allen Pittman (MD 64), of Gainesville, Va., May 29, 2025
Clyde Clement Porter Jr. (BSCvE 61), of Belden, June 3, 2025
James Gregory Prather (MEd 66, AMEd 70), of Waverly, Mo., April 29, 2025
Ralph Wood Pringle (BBA 69, JD 71), of Diamondhead, May 12, 2025
Felton Henry Ragar Jr. (BA 61), of Colonial Heights, Va., May 23, 2025
Seth David Reagan (BBA 68), of Tylertown, April 4, 2025
John Fitzhugh Repass (BBA 63), of St. Augustine, Fla., May 1, 2025
Minns Sledge Robertson Jr. (MCS 67, EdD 75), of Baldwin, La., July 7, 2024
Donald Thomas Scoggin (BSPh 62), of Ellisville, June 27, 2025
Rodney Franklin Simmons (JD 69), of Corinth, April 11, 2025
John Harold Smith (MEd 69), of Brandon, June 19, 2025
May Perry Deloach Smith (BAEd 64), of Oxford, June 27, 2025
William Earl Sowell III (BBA 63), of Spring Hill, Tenn., April 6, 2025
Bessie Sarphie Speed (BAEd 61), of Jackson, June 16, 2025
Steven Howard Stubbs (BBA 61), of Philadelphia, July 2, 2025
Robert Lee Swan (BBA 60), of Sarasota, Fla., March 27, 2025
Jerry Owen Terry (LLB 62), of Biloxi, June 6, 2025
Betty Ann Rooker Thornton (BAEd 62, MA 68), of Fulton, April 26, 2025
Travis Thomas Vance Jr. (LLB 64), of Vicksburg, April 6, 2025
Lewis Herman Walker Jr. (BBA 63), of Laurel, May 26, 2025
Jack Brown Wilkins Sr. (BBA 67), of Brentwood, Tenn., July 4, 2025
David Michael Williams (BA 67), of Elizabeth City, N.C., May 15, 2025
David Thomas Wilson Jr. (BA 64, JD 68), of Louisville, June 15, 2025
John Ronald Windsor (BA 65, JD 67), of Corinth, May 3, 2025
Yvonne Landen Zebauers (MA 64), of Golden, Colo., May 24, 2025
1970s
Edmund Jonny Adams (BA 78), of Charlottesville, Va., April 10, 2025
Frenchie Crystal Day Alderman (Cert 73), of Crystal Springs, May 10, 2025
Charles Henry Alexander Jr. (BAEd 73), of Southaven, June 9, 2025
David Kenyon Allen (BAEd 72, MEd 88, SpecEd 91), of Calhoun City, June 26, 2025
Thomas Perry Baker (73), of New Albany, June 5, 2025
MISSISSIPPI IN NEW YORK
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• Rolling admission for spring, summer, and fall cohorts.
“Joining the MBA program at Ole Miss was one of the best decisions of my life. Each class provided a lens through which I look at business, my career, and day to day life. The program provided further knowledge and confidence to excel in my career and start a business with my wife.”
John of Houston, Texas 2025 UM Online MBA Graduate Director of Software Engineering, Baker Tilly Accounting firm
Ole Miss alumni and friends in New York celebrated the 38th Mississippi in the Park on Saturday, June 14, in Hudson River Park.
Submitted photo
Alumni News
Reginald Eugene Barnes (BBA 70), of Memphis, Tenn., May 27, 2025
Ross Frederick Bass Jr. (JD 73), of Madison, May 29, 2025
James Olliney Batte (BS 70), of Huntsville, Ala., May 3, 2025
Mary Williamson Beasley (MEd 75), of New Albany, May 27, 2025
Gloria Eaker Bennett (MLS 75), of New Albany, April 4, 2025
Ever Osborne Burt (77), of Tupelo, June 9, 2025
John William Campbell (BPA 78), of Amory, April 3, 2025
John Robert Carson (BSPh 70), of Plantersville, June 8, 2025
Elsie Jenkins Cranford (BSN 71), of Gulfport, June 8, 2025
Brad Silvio Dantone (BBA 75), of Germantown, Tenn., May 30, 2025
Theodore Dear Jr. (BAEd 72), of Hazlehurst, April 4, 2025
Cayce DePoyster (AMEd 73), of Marietta, April 24, 2025
Jessie Katherine Smith Dye (MA 72), of New Albany, April 6, 2025
Elijah Eugene Emanuel (77), of Palm Coast, Fla., May 9, 2025
Frank Francis Fernandez Jr. (MEd 70), of Tampa, Fla., June 9, 2025
Gerald Patrick Fields (BS 76), of Navarre, Fla., March 22, 2025
Lane Douglas Foil (MS 75), of Baton Rouge, La., June 22, 2025
Jerry Keith Foster Jr. (BBA 71), of Woodville, May 12, 2025
Don Albert Gibson (MD 76), of Madison, May 19, 2025
Dale Goforth (BSPh 71), of Fairhope, Ala., June 20, 2025
Joseph Patrick Grace (MD 74), of Panama City, Fla., June 22, 2025
Cheryl Ann Alston Green (BBA 79), of Lambert, March 25, 2025
George Orlando Griffith Jr. (BBA 73, JD 76), of Alexandria, Va., March 25, 2025
Lue Metrie Harbin (BA 78), of Holcomb, April 20, 2025
Bonnie Kay Harkness (BA 76, JD 78), of Bethesda, Md., April 24, 2025
Clarence Edward Hendricks (MA 79), of Plant City, Fla., July 2, 2025
Jennifer Lee Simpson Campbell (BGS 18), of Grenada, June 7, 2025
Raviteja Chinnambeti (MS 18), of Selmer, Tenn., April 13, 2025
Kristin Hinton Cox (BSN 13), of Brandon, March 18, 2025
Nestor Karim Delgado Jr. (BA 18, JD 21), of Pascagoula, July 1, 2025
Mary Alice Rutherford Frierson (BSCJ 13), of Tupelo, June 7, 2025
Antonie Hilliard (BBA 14), of Water Valley, May 8, 2025
Mallory Dungan Richard (BS 19), of Madison, April 30, 2025
Cliff Edward Roser (BSCJ 15, MCJ 17), of Savannah, Tenn., Sept. 9, 2024
Whitner Claire Wise (BAEd 14), of Anderson, S.C., May 13, 2025
Alumni News
2020s
Lucas Maclain Edmondson (BA 21), of Guntown, June 24, 2025
Mason Ryan Levin (24), of Annapolis, Md., June 29, 2025
Anne Steakley Ream (BBA 21), of Dallas, Texas, March 22, 2025
Roxanne Marie Rhoden (BSW 20), of Spring Hill, Tenn., April 14, 2025
STUDENTS
Mallory Jayne Frazier, of Crystal Springs, April 14, 2025
FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS
Charles Everette Austin, of Cumming, Ga., March 29, 2025
James Thomas Baker, of Long Beach, May 17, 2025
Chalmers McNair Butler, of Clemson, S.C., June 10, 2025
Larry Morgan Carson, of Grenada, March 23, 2025
Annette Johnston Champion, of Oxford, May 16, 2025
Keri Amis Cosmich, of Madison, June 25, 2025
William Gordon Darby Jr., of Marks, May 19, 2025
Rex Marshall Deloach, of Okatie, S.C., May 7, 2025
Mary Abney Gammage, of Oxford, March 14, 2025
Jane Wilbanks Gowen, of Glen, June 3, 2025
William Love Hamric, of Owensboro, Ky., April 19, 2025
Tykaveon Deontrell Harbin, of Eupora, April 19, 2025
Kenneth Ward Hill, of Falkner, April 14, 2025
Jay Jacobs, of Oxford, April 12, 2025
Rex Jarrett, of Bruce, June 13, 2025
Otts Gordon Loposser Jr., of Gulfport, March 31, 2025
Joe Julian Maples, of Oxford, June 3, 2025
Larry Dale McCary, of West Point, May 17, 2025
Annie Pitre Nelson, of Brandon, May 12, 2025
Irvin Malone Nicholson, of Madison, May 22, 2025
Fletcher Veazey Powell Sr., of Nashville, Tenn., March 17, 2025
Donald Franklin Pringle, of Meridian, April 15, 2025
Katherine Robbins, of Vancleave, July 3, 2025
Denise Scott, of Brandon, May 26, 2025
Frederick Wallace Smith, of Memphis, Tenn., June 21, 2025
James Curtis Smith, of Madison, May 3, 2025
Dwight A. Sprayberry, of Raymond, June 16, 2025
Larry Terrell, of Kosciusko, April 14, 2025
Sarah Ann Milam Vanderburg, of Hernando, May 27, 2025
Ron Wong, of Memphis, Tenn., March 31, 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.
