Ole Miss Alumni Review - Summer 2026 by Ole Miss Alumni Association

OLE MISS ALUMNI REVIEW

A L U M N I

R E V I E W

SUMMER 2026

Setting the Stage

ALUMNA LEAVES HER MARK AT ESPN EVENTS

New graduates highlighted in special series

SUMMER 2026

Ole Miss shapes Navy captain’s distinguished career

Rebel Hope Alliance aims to support former student-athletes

VOL. 75 NO. 3

Contents

VOL. 75 NO. 3 | SUMMER 2026 A L U M N I

R E V I E W

Urrutia secures First-Team All-America in 200-meter dash

Television windows announced for football season

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

Features

22 | Launching Leaders

New graduates highlighted in special series Contributors: Marisa C. Atkinson, Jennifer Parsons, Christina Steube

28 | S etting the Stage

Alumna leaves her mark at ESPN Events By Annie Rhoades

32 | C alled to Serve

Ole Miss shapes Navy captain’s distinguished career By Brian Hudgins

36 | H ope Beyond the Game

Rebel Hope Alliance aims to support former student-athletes By Jeff Roberson

ON THE COVER

As an events supervisor for ESPN Events, alumna Whitley Simmons (BBA 12) enjoys coordinating high-energy sporting events, including bowl games and basketball tournaments. | Submitted photo

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 ART DIRECTOR Amy Howell CONTRIBUTORS Sasha Ambrose, Marisa C. Atkinson (JD 03), Kevin Bain (BA 98), Jacob Batte (BAJ 13), Srijita Chattopadhyay, Bill Dabney (BA 89), Don Feitel, Brian Hudgins, Jordan Karnbach, Mary Knight (BA 00, MA 13, MFA 19), Thad Lee (BA 96), Hunt Mercier, Michael Newsom (BA 05), Annie Oeth, Jennifer Parsons (MA 05, EdD 19), Jeff Roberson (BA 83), Christina Steube (BAJ 11, MA 16), Daniel Svoboda, Clara Turnage (BAJ 17), Rachel Vanderford (BS 19), L.A. Warren ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS Charles White (BBA 82) president Gail Pittman (BAEd 72) president-elect Bruce Ware (BBA 99) vice president Jennifer Calhoun (BBA 96) athletics committee member Zach Scruggs (BAccy 96, JD 00) athletics committee member ALUMNI AFFAIRS DIRECTORS Kirk Purdom (BA 93), chief executive officer Joseph Baumbaugh, assistant director for information services Sunny Brown (BSFCS 09, MA 11), assistant director Clay Cavett (BBA 86), associate director, campaigns and special projects Michelle Coughlin (BAccy 93, MAccy 94), senior director of alumni affairs/ chief financial officer Savannah Dye (BS 21, MS 23), assistant director Olivia Harris (BS 20), assistant director Jessica Lynch (BSES 05), assistant director Steve Mullen (BA 92), associate director, membership and marketing Annie Rhoades (BBA 07, MBA 09), assistant director for communications Mary Kate Skelton (BS 18), alumni fundraising director Scott Thompson (BA 97, MA 08), associate director, engagement Jim Urbanek (BA 97), associate director, communications and marketing Rusty Woods (BBA 01), senior director of alumni affairs Ole Miss Alumni Review (ISSN 30652707), Copyright © 2026 by the Ole Miss Alumni Association is published quarterly by Kirk Purdom/Ole Miss Alumni Association. All offices are located at 651 Grove Loop, University, MS 38677. Call 662-915-7375 to subscribe. Periodicals postage paid at Oxford, MS 38655 and Jackson, MS 39201. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 1374, Oxford, MS, 38655-1374.

A LU M N I R E V I E W

from the Chancellor Dear Alumni and Friends, Each May at Commencement, a new class of graduates steps out into the world, carrying the University of Mississippi with them wherever they go. It was an honor to celebrate more than 5,800 graduates in Oxford and 992 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. This issue of the Alumni Review takes you inside a few of their stories, and together they show just how different and meaningful the road to a degree can look. Madison native Yasmine Ware, a Stamps Scholar and Truman Scholar, spent her time here preserving history through a documentary project and a podcast built on the idea that everyone’s story is worth telling. Channing Foster Allen and Will Allen came to Oxford as student-athletes — one in soccer and the other in baseball. They found each other here, got married here, and now they’ve graduated together from our School of Law. Sydney Ben is a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw. She is on her way to becoming the first tribal member ever to earn a pharmacy license. She credits the achievement to her mother, who taught her that once you start something, you finish it. Sydney’s future in pharmacy is a reminder of how well we prepare our state’s health care workforce. Our Medical Center is expanding that work further into north Mississippi, adding a Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Oxford alongside its growing nursing programs and plans for additional medical programming. UMMC also opened a new psychiatric emergency unit in Jackson this year to better serve patients in crisis, and its Pediatric Intensive Care Unit earned the Society of Pediatric Nurses’ highest distinction, the Diamond Award. Our student-athletes demonstrated excellence as well. The men’s golf team won its first SEC Championship in 41 years. Baseball advanced to the College World Series for the seventh time in program history. And department-wide, our student-athletes posted the highest cumulative GPA in program history. That same drive shows up in all corners of campus. Junior Aminata Ba, a first-generation student from Southaven, was recently named our 21st Truman Scholar. And nine current and former Ole Miss researchers were named among this year’s winners of the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, one of the field’s most prestigious honors, for their work measuring subatomic particles. Yasmine, Will, Channing and Sydney are just four of the thousands of graduates who crossed our Commencement stages with bright futures ahead. Thank you for once sitting where they did, and for everything you’ve done to carry our institution forward since. We’re anticipating another record-breaking year for private support, proof of how strongly our alumni and friends believe in what’s ahead. I hope to see you back on campus soon. Hotty Toddy! Sincerely,

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

from the President Dear Alumni and Friends, If you had a reason to attend, you will remember this well: On a beautiful, sunny May 9 in the Grove, the University of Mississippi held Commencement, attended by over 5,800 graduates and their families. It was an incredible day of celebration for all of us, especially after an ice storm that did so much damage a few months earlier. It is days like this that remind you what Ole Miss means to so many people, as the atmosphere of all of Oxford was absolutely transformed by happy families from literally all over the United States. As promised in the last letter, we kicked off their future as alumni with a (very) well-attended champagne social on the Alumni Center’s front lawn to celebrate their achievements. By the time you read this, your Alumni Association will have co-sponsored, with the Grove Collective and Ole Miss Athletics, the Rebel Road Trip in six cities: Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Pascagoula, Jackson and Memphis, to reconnect, celebrate yet another College World Series appearance, and turn our attention to what promises to be one of the most memorable fall seasons in Ole Miss history. Many thanks to all who attended. Rest assured, your Alumni Association board and staff are ready for a busy run back to the College Football Playoffs! Behind the scenes, work continues apace on the new Triplett Alumni Center, bringing together design, construction, legal and financial components to ensure a center worthy of our name and your contributions. Given the complexities involved and the many construction projects on campus, we will stay in our existing building this fall, so make sure you come by a few times this year before it’s all gone! Look for more tangible updates on the new building soon. Again, many thanks to all who have contributed and to those who will contribute, as the center promises to be a place enjoyed by many generations. I hope your summer is going well and look forward to seeing you in Nashville in less than a month! Hotty Toddy,

Charles White (BBA 82) President, Ole Miss Alumni Association OFFICIAL OLE MISS ALUMNI FASHION AND GIFTS olemissalumni.com/shop

Scan to Save!

A LU M N I R E V I E W

from the Circle

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

Chancellor Glenn Boyce (left) invites Ole Miss alumnus Brett Young to the Grove stage during the university’s 173rd Commencement on May 9. Young, a country music singer and former Ole Miss baseball pitcher, advised graduates to follow their dreams and be unafraid to pivot. | Photo by Kevin Bain

Country Music Keynote

BRETT YOUNG INSPIRES NEW ALUMNI TO CHASE EVERY DREAM

ore than 6,000 graduates gathered in the Grove on May 9 as the University of Mississippi celebrated its 173rd Commencement. Former Rebel baseball player and country music star Brett Young (00) returned to campus as keynote speaker, encouraging graduates to embrace changing dreams and unexpected opportunities. Chancellor Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) reminded graduates that leadership is a choice and challenged them to make a difference. “Students, you have earned a higher education, and you are prepared to enter the world as Ole Miss graduates ready to build legacies of excellence,” he said. Young reflected on how his own path 6

A LU M N I R E V I E W

evolved after his baseball career ended. “You don’t only get one shot at a dream,” he said. “You get a lifetime of them. “Your dream does not have to make sense to anyone else. Because it wasn’t given to them. It was given to you.” He encouraged graduates to embrace uncertainty rather than fear it. “What I’ve come to realize is this: Your dream isn’t limited to one version. It can grow. It can change. It can expand into something even greater than you first imagined.” For graduate McCala Kilpatrick (BA 26), of Oxford, who earned a degree in psychology, the day marked both an academic achievement and a family

milestone as she graduated alongside her sister, Anna Grace (BA 26), who earned a degree in sport management. “It’s really special to be graduating alongside my sister,” she says. “Growing up together and then reaching this milestone at the same university at the same time is something I know we’ll always remember.” Matthew Clark, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who has applied to graduate with a marketing degree in August and plans to attend Coast Guard Officer Candidate School, says Ole Miss left a lasting impression. “Saying ‘Hotty Toddy’ is just a way to show the love for the school and the community,” he says.

from the Circle

Growing Leaders

UM PRINCIPAL CORPS EXPANDS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS

he University of Mississippi Principal Corps is partnerMore than 175 alumni of the program serve schools and ing with the Mississippi Charter Schools Association communities across Mississippi. to open its leadership development program to charter The partnership allows charter school educators to learn school educators. alongside peers from traditional public schools while The collaboration expands a program that has building statewide professional networks. prepared school leaders across Mississippi for “Principal Corps has a proven track record more than 15 years and aims to strengthen of preparing effective leaders, and expanding the pipeline of principals serving public access to this program strengthens the talent schools statewide. pipeline serving charter school students “Strong public schools begin with and communities across our state,” says strong leadership,” says Braxton Stowe John H. Dixon (PhD 24), executive (SPEd 14), the program’s director. “The director of the Mississippi Charter Schools Principal Corps prepares leaders for the Association. real demands of school leadership on day Ambition Preparatory Charter School one. has been selected as the first charter school “Expanding this program to include charhost site. ter school leaders strengthens public education “As a proud University of Mississippi alumnus, statewide and ensures more schools are led by I’m excited to see this respected program partner Braxton Stowe highly prepared, mission-driven principals.” with the charter school community,” says DeArchie Participants earn either a Master of Education or Educa- Scott (MEd 11, SPEd 13), founder of Ambition Preparatory tion Specialist degree while completing graduate coursework, Charter School. “Principal Corps has a proven track record, a full-time administrative internship and mentorship from and this collaboration expands access to high-quality leadership experienced principals. preparation for charter educators across Mississippi.”

Members of this year’s Principal Corps class celebrate their May graduation at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. The Principal Corps, which has prepared more than 175 school leaders across Mississippi, has partnered with the Mississippi Charter Schools Association to expand access to the program for charter school educators statewide. | Photo by Don Feitel S U M M E R 2026

from the Circle

Heat Signals

STUDY REVEALS HOW PLANTS SENSE, ADAPT TO RISING TEMPERATURES

s global temperatures rise, University of Mississippi researchers are studying how plants detect and respond to heat, work that could help scientists develop more resilient crops. In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers examined the molecular mechanisms that help plants adjust growth and survival strategies in warmer conditions. “Plants are the foundation of our food system, but unlike animals, they cannot relocate to escape high-temperature conditions,” says Haibo Xiong, postdoctoral researcher in biology and co-author of the study. “If we understand how plants sense and adapt to elevated temperatures, we can better predict these changes and develop strategies to maintain crop productivity in a changing climate.” Associate professor of biology Yongjian Qiu and his team spent five years studying how plants respond to warmer environments. Common responses include stem elongation, earlier flowering and leaf repositioning to reduce heat stress. The researchers focused on PIF4, a protein long believed to act as a key controller of plant temperature responses. Ranjeeta Odari, a doctoral student in biology at the University of Mississippi, waters plants in one of the growing labs in Shoemaker Hall. | Photo by Hunt Mercier

University of Mississippi postdoctoral researcher Haibo Xiong works with samples in the labs of Shoemaker Hall, where he and other researchers are studying how plants respond to heat at a molecular level. | Photo by Hunt Mercier 8

A LU M N I R E V I E W

“The reason we say PIF4 is important is because if you get rid of PIF4, the mutant plants cannot respond to temperature,” Qiu says. PIF4 was expected to function by binding directly to DNA and activating genes. Instead, researchers found plants continued responding to temperature even when those functions were disabled. “The surprising thing is we mutated PIF4, got rid of the DNA binding feature or the recruitment feature, put it back into the mutant plants, and it worked,” Qiu says. The findings suggest PIF4 acts more like a coordinator that recruits other proteins to perform critical tasks. “This finding shows that plant systems are highly adaptable at the molecular level,” Xiong says. “Other partner proteins can compensate and carry out similar roles.” Researchers believe the discovery could help guide future efforts to develop crops that maintain stable growth under warmer conditions. “Instead of focusing only on individual genes or specific biochemical activities, it may be more effective to prioritize proteins that act as organizers,” Xiong says. “This may ultimately make it easier to develop crops that maintain stable growth under warmer conditions.”

from the Circle

Photo by Kevin Bain

Feeding the Future

BIOLOGISTS STUDY INCREASING FOOD PRODUCTION FOR GROWING WORLD

ith the global population projected to approach 10 billion by 2050, University of Mississippi researchers are examining technologies that could help increase food production while reducing environmental impacts. Sixue Chen, chair and professor of biology; Hajra Maqsood, biology research associate; and a team of student researchers reviewed emerging agricultural innovations in a study published in Food and Energy Security. “These are challenges that humanity is going to face,” Chen says. “If we don’t start thinking about this now, there are a lot of people who are going to go hungry.

Hajra Maqsood

“In this paper, we wanted to ask, ‘What are the new, state-of-the-art technologies that can help us solve food insecurity?’” The review highlights technologies including gene editing, hydroponic farming, cultured meat, artificial intelligence and drought-resistant crop development. One area of Chen’s research focuses on helping crops conserve water by borrowing traits from desert plants. “Many crops open these stomata during the day, taking in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and releasing oxygen and water, but desert plants open the stomata at night to conserve water,” Chen says. His lab is exploring how crops such as soybeans, rice and wheat might adopt similar traits during drought conditions. Researchers also point to hydroponic farming as a way to reduce land and water use while maintaining yields. “One of the most important constraints to the agricultural industry is land,” Maqsood says. “Hydroponic gardening uses no soil. Instead, the plants get nutrients from water-based solutions.” The team also examined cultured meat, which is produced from animal

Sixue Chen

cells and could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption associated with livestock production. “We are excited about the prospect of cultured meats,” Chen says. “But the biggest hurdle for implementing it is public acceptance.” While many of the technologies remain emerging solutions, Chen says food insecurity is already a pressing concern. “In Mississippi, one-fourth of children go to bed hungry,” he says. “So, this is a future problem, but this is a problem now, too.” S U M M E R 2026

from the Circle

Enthusiastic Fundraisers

MBA STUDENTS USE SKILLS TO HELP FELLOW STUDENTS

niversity of Mississippi MBA students turned business skills into community impact this spring, raising thousands of dollars for campus causes while gaining hands-on fundraising experience. Students in MBA 622: Business Planning and Entrepreneurship designed and led campaigns supporting the Rebel Relief Disaster Fund, Ole Miss Opportunity Scholarship and Grove Grocery. Working through the university’s Ignite giving platform, they managed outreach, messaging and donor engagement. “The idea is the application of both analytical and social skills to sell,” says Clay Dibrell, chair of entrepreneurial excellence, co-director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and professor of management. “The most exciting thing was to see them figure it out. They chose a project, and they either do well or they must figure it out when they don’t.” Since 2016, MBA students have launched more than 20 fundraising projects, generating nearly $48,000 through more than 1,300 gifts. This year, each team exceeded its goal of raising $1,800. “Teaching students specifically about giving is important because you can often think your money goes nowhere, or that

you have to give thousands of dollars to make a difference,” says Rachel Sanders, assistant director of annual giving. Students supporting Grove Grocery found that personal outreach resonated with donors. “Ole Miss is serious about lifting others up, and it’s a point of pride for all,” says Jarrid Moore, of Cotton Plant. Jake Warren (BBA 25), of Sacramento, California, says the campaign demonstrated the university’s culture of generosity. “People are willing to give; they just need to be aware of the need and how they can make an impact.” Students working with the Ole Miss Opportunity Scholarship learned the value of personal storytelling. “We saw that people have strong emotional ties to Ole Miss, especially when they feel like their gift is directly helping students,” says Chloe Payne (BBA 25), of Dallas. The team supporting the Rebel Relief Disaster Fund exceeded its goal by highlighting students affected by January’s winter storm. “Storytelling drives action,” says Omobola Obasanjo (BBA 25), of Greenwood. “Community was our biggest helper.” For Kennedy Burkhall (BBA 25), of Mineral Wells, Texas, the lesson was simple. “We show up for each other.”

University of Mississippi MBA student Madison Mills (third from left) talks about efforts to raise funds for the Rebel Relief Disaster Fund during a presentation in MBA 622: Business Planning and Entrepreneurship. Students in the class design and lead fundraising campaigns that benefit campus causes. Over the past 10 years, they have raised more than $48,000 for projects that benefit fellow students. | Photo by Mary Knight 10

A LU M N I R E V I E W

from the Circle RICH GENTRY NAMED DEAN OF BUSINESS SCHOOL

he University of Mississippi named Rich Gentry dean of the School of MBA 15). “He has helped create real opportunities for students to Business Administration, pending approval by the state Institutions learn, explore ideas and grow.” of Higher Learning board of trustees. He assumed the role July 1. Gentry’s research examines executive leadership, corporate A faculty member since 2010, Gentry serves as professor governance and entrepreneurship. He also collaborates and chair of management and holds the FNC Founders on the world’s largest open-source database of CEO Chair of Entrepreneurship. He helped create several turnover and dismissal. of the school’s signature programs, including Looking ahead, he sees artificial intelligence the entrepreneurship major and minor, study reshaping business education. abroad opportunities and the general busi“AI changes the kind of work students ness curriculum. will do, but it also raises the bar for what we “The School of Business Administration should ask of them,” Gentry says. “If these will build stronger ties to industr y, in tools can handle more of the routine work, Mississippi and beyond, so students leave then we need to push students toward harder with clearer career pathways and stronger thinking, stronger judgment and the kind of professional connections,” Gentry says. real-world learning that helps them stand out As co-director of the Center for Innovation when they enter the workforce.” and Entrepreneurship, Gentry has helped advise Provost Noel Wilkin says Gentry’s combination more than 1,000 student entrepreneurs, support more of innovation, leadership and student focus made him Rich Gentry than 80 student-led startups and award more than the right choice. $607,000 in cash prizes and $137,000 in scholarships. “Rich Gentry has been involved in some of the School of Business “If you look at what Rich has done with the Center for Innovation Administration’s most significant growth and development in recent and Entrepreneurship, you can see the direct impact he has had on years,” Wilkin says. “I am confident his leadership will help the students,” says alumnus and entrepreneur Blake Dubinski (BBA 13, School of Business Administration build on that momentum.”

Poring Over Answers

RESEARCHER STUDIES NANOSCALE REACTIONS FOR CLEANER FUELS

University of Mississippi researcher has received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to study how tiny structures called nanopores could make clean energy production more efficient. Vignesh Sundaresan, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, earned the NSF’s premier award for early career faculty. His research focuses on understanding electrochemical reactions at the nanoscale and finding ways to improve the efficiency of renewable energy technologies. The project examines how chemical reactions occur inside nanopores — microscopic openings that can influence how molecules move and react. “We’ll be using microscopes to identify regions of interest for the molecules themselves, but we’ll also be using luminophores, which emit light whenever they go through a chemical reaction,” Sundaresan says. “With my luminophore, I should see the image in the microscope of the reaction, but I should also see a light happening as well. It’s like a twofold visualization.” Using advanced imaging tools, the team will study which pore sizes and configurations produce the most efficient reactions. The CAREER program also requires a significant educational component. Sundaresan plans to develop a video

game-style virtual platform that teaches students how to operate sophisticated scientific instruments. “I’ve selected the top five instruments that are heavily used in industries and that industry personnel are expecting that students know how to use,” he says.

Vignesh Sundaresan (left), assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and doctoral student Shubhendra Shukla study nanoparticles in Sundaresan’s lab. | Photo by Kevin Bain S U M M E R 2026

from the Circle

Current and former Ole Miss researchers Byunchgul Yu (left), Baisakhi Mitra and On Kim stand above the 50-foot electromagnet that is the heart of the Muon g-2 experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. | Photo by Daniel Svoboda

Physics’ Oscar

UM RESEARCHERS RECOGNIZED WITH BREAKTHROUGH PRIZE

n international team of researchers that includes sev- of the muon particle to a precision of 127 parts per billion,” says eral from the University of Mississippi has earned the Breese Quinn, UM professor of physics and astronomy and 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, one director of the Center for Multimessenger Astrophysics. “That’s of the field’s most prestigious honors. Often called the highest precision measurement of anything that the “Oscars of Science,” the prize recognizes the has ever been achieved at a particle accelerator Muon g-2 collaborations at CERN, Brookhalaboratory. ven National Laboratory and Fermilab. “That precision gives us the most strinThe Fermilab experiment includes gent tests ever of the Standard Model of more than 270 scientists, postdoctoral particle physics, which holds all we know researchers and graduate students from about the fundamental building blocks of 34 institutions, including nine current our universe and allows us to make the and former Ole Miss researchers. deepest searches yet for new physics.” “This recognition highlights the The prize recognizes all members of extraordinary work being done by our the collaboration, including students and researchers and their collaborators around early career researchers. the world,” says John C. Higginbotham, vice “The University of Mississippi group is chancellor for research and economic development. now using that ultra-high precision data to make Breese Quinn The project sought to measure the movement new physics discoveries,” Quinn says. “We are of muons — subatomic particles similar to looking to see if there are hints of breakdowns in electrons — with unprecedented precision. The results help the fundamental symmetries of the universe, any cracks in the test the Standard Model of particle physics and could reveal foundations of relativity and quantum mechanics. evidence of previously unknown physics. “We’re also searching for dark matter in ways that no one “This award was given for measuring the magnetic properties has ever attempted.” 12

A LU M N I R E V I E W

from the Circle

Breaking Barriers

FIRST-GEN STUDENT EARNS NATIONAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

ix years after arriving at the University of Mississippi as the first in her family to attend college, Victoria Amari (BSBE 25) has earned one of the nation’s most competitive graduate research awards. Amari, a first-year doctoral student in biomedical engineering from Hayden, Alabama, received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, which supports outstanding graduate students pursuing research careers in science and engineering. The fellowship will fund three years of research in Nikki Reinemann’s (BS 13, BSChE 13) laboratory, where Amari studies how the cytoskeleton — the internal framework of cells — senses and responds to its environment. “For something like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s — all of these diseases happen because something has gone wrong,” Amari says. “So, in order for us to know how it’s going wrong, we have to know how it functions when it’s right. “We understand these conditions on a bigger scale, but what is happening in the individual cytoskeleton pieces? We don’t know what’s happening there nearly as well.” “The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is one of the most prestigious awards a graduate student can receive in the United States,” says Reinemann, associate professor of biomedical engineering. “This recognition affirms what those of us who have worked with her already know: She has the drive, perspective and ability to make a lasting impact as a scientist.” Amari’s path to graduate research was not straightforward. A

first-generation college student, she worked from age 15 to help support her family and overcame significant health challenges, including cancer, while pursuing her education. Those experiences strengthened her determination to pursue research that could improve lives. The fellowship recognizes both her academic accomplishments and her potential as a future researcher.

University of Mississippi doctoral student Victoria Amari (left) and Nikki Reinemann, associate professor of biomedical engineering, work in Reinemann’s lab. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay

STUDY FINDS MAJOR GAPS IN DEMENTIA CARE ACROSS MISSISSIPPI

University of Mississippi-led study finds that 80% of Mississippi counties lack adult day service centers and that even counties with centers cannot meet demand from people with dementia and their caregivers. Keith Anderson, professor and chair of social work, and Ruaa Al-Juboori, assistant professor of public health, published the findings in the Journal of Applied Gerontology. They estimate Mississippi would need 910 additional adult day services operating at full capacity to meet demand. “It’s largely known or theorized that there’s a shortage of adult day services nationally,” Anderson says. “Yet it’s really hard to quantify the shortage and also to identify areas of the country where those shortages exist.”

Adult day services provide health care, nutrition, socialization and supervised daytime programming for older adults and those with cognitive impairments. They also offer critical support to caregivers. “Adult day ser vices is one of the largest community services for persons with dementia,” Al-Juboori says. “It’s also, unfortunately, one of the least known options within home- and community-based services.” According to the Alzheimer’s Association, at least 63,000 Mississippians live with Alzheimer’s disease, while 92,000 people provide care for someone with dementia. If only 10% of those living with dementia sought adult day services, the state would need 91 additional centers.

“We found that there’s a shortage across the state of Mississippi, whether that was in a populous area like the Jackson area, or in rural communities where there’s a general lack of health care access,” Anderson says. The shortage affects both caregivers and older adults, who may face isolation and limited opportunities for engagement. Funding remains one of the largest barriers to expanding services. “Adult day services do not have access to the wider array of government funding that’s available for other programs that serve older adults,” Anderson says. “If we could open access to additional funding streams, whether that’s through Medicaid, Medicare or another way, that would make a big difference for adult day centers.” S U M M E R 2026

from the Circle WHY GOUT HITS HARDER IN THE SOUTH — AND WHAT CAN BE DONE

out is often dismissed as an occasional nuisance, but rheumatologists say the painful form of inflammatory arthritis can lead to serious health problems if left untreated. Drs. Rachana Marathi and Hanan Ibrahim, assistant professors in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, say gout begins with a buildup of uric acid in the bloodstream. “Uric acid is a waste product formed from the breakdown of

Illustration courtesy of UMMC

purines,” Marathi says. “Unlike some other species, humans cannot effectively eliminate uric acid from their bodies.” When uric acid levels become too high, crystals form and accumulate in joints. “During a gout attack, needle-shaped crystals of monosodium urate form in and around joints,” Ibrahim says. “When immune cells encounter these crystals, they trigger a cascade of inflammatory signals.” The result is sudden pain, swelling, warmth and redness. While gout can affect nearly any joint, it most commonly strikes the big toe. “Cooler temperatures prevent the dissolution of uric acid crystals,” Marathi says. “That causes them to crystallize in cooler areas of the body.” If untreated, gout can progress to tophaceous gout, in which crystal deposits accumulate in joints and surrounding tissues. It can also contribute to kidney stones and kidney damage. Risk factors include age, genetics, obesity, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, alcohol use and diets high in red meat, seafood and high-fructose corn syrup. African American men have a higher incidence of gout, and the burden is especially high in Mississippi and across the South. “Obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes are more common in the South,” Marathi says. “Socioeconomic disparities, poor health literacy, limited access to medical care and poor dietary habits increase the incidence of gout.”

Neonatology Advice

NEWBORN JAUNDICE: COMMON, TREATABLE, IMPORTANT TO WATCH

yellow tint to a newborn’s skin can be alarming for new parents, but jaundice is one of the most common conditions affecting babies after birth. Jaundice occurs when bilirubin, a substance produced as red blood cells break down, builds up in a baby’s bloodstream. Because a newborn’s liver is still developing, it can take several days to remove bilirubin efficiently. Most cases resolve on their own, but neonatologists monitor bilirubin levels closely because untreated jaundice can lead to serious complications, including cerebral palsy, hearing loss, cognitive disabilities, and vision or dental problems. “We test every infant at approximately 24 hours of age,” says Dr. Billy Mink (MD 90), professor of neonatology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. “Once we obtain the blood level of bilirubin, we use experience, formulated graphs and scientific guidelines to 14

A LU M N I R E V I E W

determine if that number is high enough to treat.” A blood sample from a baby’s heel allows physicians to measure bilirubin levels and determine whether treatment is needed. The most common treatment is phototherapy, in which an undressed infant is placed under special blue lights that help lower bilirubin levels. Treatment can take place in the hospital or at home. Breastfed babies who are not getting enough milk may face a higher risk of jaundice. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends mothers experiencing breastfeeding difficulties seek help from a pediatrician or lactation specialist. In rare cases, very high bilirubin levels become a medical emergency requiring intensive care and, sometimes, a blood transfusion. “If the bilirubin level is too high, it can cause kernicterus, a disease that affects the brain,” Mink says. “That is what we are preventing, so we are very focused on finding out if an infant has a higher bilirubin level.” Photo courtesy of UMMC

from the Circle

Cosmic Seeds

NASA FUNDS OLE MISS STUDIES OF PLANET-FORMING SPACE DUST

University of Mississippi researcher is studying both Mars. Any place where you have rocks, this process will hold the earliest stages of planet formation and the chemi- because the fundamental chemistry is the same.” cal abundance of the universe through two new NASA A second grant supports work with Vincent J. Esposito, Astrophysics Research and Analysis grants. Receiving two assistant professor of chemistry at Chapman University, grants from the same program cycle is rare, says to develop molecular models that help interpret Ryan Fortenberry, associate professor of chemJames Webb Space Telescope data on polycyclic istry and biochemistry. aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. These carOne project focuses on cosmic dust, bon-rich molecules are common throughthe building block of planets, rocks and out the universe and can act as spectral moons. Fortenberry is investigating how fingerprints, but identifying individual simple metal-containing molecules react molecules has proven difficult. with water to form tiny solid clusters that “When you synthesize PAHs in the may serve as the earliest “seeds” of dust laboratory and you put them out on grains and, eventually, planetary bodies. something, they absorb all wavelengths of “But the thing that I’m really excited light,” Fortenberry says. “They’re black — about is the reverse,” he says. “It’s the they’re the reason tar is black — and they’re same physics. It’s the same stuff, and it’s also sticky. pertinent to NASA, but for completely different “We know what they look like in a group, but Ryan Fortenberry reasons, and that’s making water out of rocks. It’s we don’t know what they look like individually. the same physics; it’s just in the reverse direction.” It’s like we know what the forest looks like, but we If scientists can better understand that process, it could can’t see the individual trees.” have practical applications for future space travel. Using Webb’s enhanced capabilities, the researchers hope “The benefit of turning rocks into water is that if you have a to distinguish between different PAHs and better understand source of hydrogen, you have as much water available to you as the universe’s chemical makeup. you have hydrogen,” Fortenberry says. “Hydrogen is light. You “This gives us information about the chemical abundance can transport it much more easily than anything else. of the universe,” Fortenberry says. “If we understand how “Now we can have, effectively, a source of water wherever much carbon is actually out there, we know how much is availwe need to go, whether that’s desert regions of the Earth or able for life. We know what materials could form in space.”

Ryan Fortenberry (left), associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Mississippi, speaks with students in his astrochemistry lab. | Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay S U M M E R 2026

from the Circle

Warning Signs

WHEN BACK OR NECK PAIN NEEDS A CLOSER LOOK

ack and neck pain are among the most common reasons people seek medical care, but surgery is not the answer for most patients. “Most patients with neck or back pain will improve with conservative treatment,” says Dr. JR Woodall, assistant professor

Illustration courtesy of UMMC

of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. “A good physical therapy program that leads to consistent exercise and healthy movement habits is often the foundation of spine care.” Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and lifestyle changes often provide relief. When a specific source of pain can be identified, image-guided injections may also help reduce inflammation and symptoms. Some symptoms, however, warrant evaluation by a spine specialist. “Anytime neck or back pain is accompanied by radiating arm or leg symptoms — including pain, weakness or numbness — that should be a red flag,” Woodall says. Pain that interferes with sleep or persists longer than six weeks is also a reason to seek care. Thes e sy mptoms may indic ate

pressure on spinal nerves or the spinal cord. Untreated nerve compression can lead to permanent damage and loss of function. “Loss of strength, sensation or coordination in the arms or legs are warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored,” Woodall says. Determining whether surgery is appropriate is one of the most important aspects of spine care. “This is the most important duty of being a spine surgeon,” Woodall says. “Surgery is appropriate when a patient’s clinical symptoms are perfectly explained by imaging findings and confirmed with diagnostic testing.” For long-term spine health, Woodall recommends maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, strengthening core muscles, practicing good posture and avoiding nicotine.

RESEARCHERS FIND WAY TO DETECT DISEASES BEFORE SYMPTOMS APPEAR

niversity of Mississippi researchers have developed a technology that could one day help detect diseases such as Type 1 diabetes and chronic traumatic encephalopathy before symptoms appear. The research team, led by Joshua Sharp, professor of pharmacology, developed a method that allows scientists to examine how proteins fold and interact rather than simply measuring how much of a protein is present.

Joshua Sharp 16

A LU M N I R E V I E W

“It is widely practiced in medical diagnostics and disease research to look for how quantities of a particular molecule change to diagnose disease or understand how particular biological processes work,” Sharp says. “However, we know that for many diseases, the early steps are not necessarily changes in how much of a particular molecule is around but what that molecule is doing.” Using a chemical reagent and UV light, researchers can observe protein behavior in blood samples and identify structural changes associated with disease. “In order to work, proteins have to form these intricate, folded, three-dimensional structures,” Sharp says. “How those folded proteins interact with other things is the key behind how they work. “With this technology, we can see how the protein’s folding and interacting with other things, and how that changes in a diseased versus healthy cell.” Researchers hope the approach will reveal structural biomarkers that appear before traditional signs of disease.

James Stewart

For patients, the long-term potential is earlier diagnosis and more precise monitoring of disease progression. “In the future, this could translate into blood-based tests that detect disease earlier, monitor progression more accurately and help guide treatment decisions,” says James Stewart, associate professor of pharmacology.

Your

OLE MISS HOME

Let’s build it together! The Ole Miss Family has outgrown the Triplett Alumni Center. The time to build — and to give — is now. Add your name to the Ole Miss story and help build a new center that will echo with Rebel pride for generations. Naming opportunities are available.

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

from the Circle

Daffodils grow in the ruins of Greenfield Farm, which was once William Faulkner’s mule farm. The flowers are evidence that there was once abundant life on the dilapidated property, which the university plans to renovate into a writers’ retreat. | Photo by Thad Lee

Fields of Inspiration

EXHIBITS, LECTURES HIGHLIGHT FAULKNER’S GREENFIELD FARM

wo exhibits and a summer lecture series at the Univer- feature a companion exhibit of paintings by Mississippi Delta sity of Mississippi are highlighting Greenfield Farm, artist Church Goin Mule. William Faulkner’s former mule farm that is being “Thad’s work bridges the gap from contemporary photransformed into Mississippi’s first writers residency. tography by Martin Dain in the 1960s to the writers Over the past year, photographer and docuresidency, which will revive the property,” says mentarian Thad Lee (BA 96) has chronicled Melanie Antonelli (MFA 13), museum curator the 15-acre property northeast of Oxford. and collections manager. His work anchors “Unvanquished Soil: A “The interiors of the farmhouse also Year at Greenfield Farm,” on display at the reveal interesting aesthetic choices such as UM Museum through Aug. 1. paint colors or wallpaper. Whether Faulk“Mississippi’s story is the American ner ever wrote on the property or not, no story,” says Mary Wise Conaway, project doubt this refuge provided inspiration and manager for the Mississippi Lab. “We rejuvenation that fueled his work.” hope these works become a part of how Lee says the property’s blend of history current and future generations of Missisand landscape inspired the project. sippians understand our past: where we’ve “I encountered mystery, history, beauty been, what we’ve inherited and how this heritage and decay when walking Greenfield Farm,” he shapes our collective identity.” says. “The property is a strange marriage of ruins Thad Lee A second exhibit opened May 26 in the and Mississippi woods.” Gammill Gallery at Barnard Observatory and pairs Lee’s “I hope viewers experience the same awe and reverence for photographs with historic images by photographer Martin J. the beauty of this land so masterfully captured through Thad’s Dain. It remains on display through Aug. 11. Rowan Oak will lens that I have felt,” Antonelli says. 18

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Calendar

AUGUST

Through Sept. 5 Exhibit: “Chronicles of Luster Willis’ American South.” UM Museum, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. TuesdayFriday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Visit olemiss.edu/museum. Through Sept. 5 Exhibit: University of Mississippi Art Department Faculty Show, UM Museum, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Visit olemiss.edu/museum. Through March 20, 2027 Exhibit: “Theora Hamblett: Children’s Games.” UM Museum, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Visit olemiss.edu/museum.

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Samford exhibition. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Alumni Clubs: Twin Cities Summer Send-Off. The Twin Cities Ole Miss Club invites fellow alumni, parents, students and friends to its Summer Freshman Send-Off. 6501 Biscayne Blvd., Edina, Minnesota, 4-6 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.

Communiversity: Lifelong Learners Expo. Learn about the activities and social opportunities available for adults throughout the community. Jackson Avenue Center, 9 a.m.noon. Visit outreach.olemiss.edu.

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. ULM. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 2 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Murray State. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

22 23

Freshmen: Future Alumni Network, Build the M. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 7 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Memphis. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Southeastern Louisiana. Gillom Center, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

Outreach: Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Training. Designed for seventh grade and up. Jackson Avenue Center, Auditorium B, 1-5 p.m. $75. Visit outreach.olemiss.edu.

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Northern Arizona. Gillom Center, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

30 30

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Loyola Marymount University. Gillom Center, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

SEPTEMBER

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. South Alabama. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Southern Miss. Gillom Center, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Belmont. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Central Arkansas. Gillom Center, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

Future Alumni Network, Build the M AUG. 23

Photo by Bill Dabney

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Calendar

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Clemson. Gillom Center, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

Performance: Larry, Steve & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers, Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit olemiss. edu/fordcenter.

, 16, 23, 30 Communiversity: Beginner East Coast Swing and Intermediate Salsa. No partner is necessary. Residence Hall 2. Swing, 6-7 p.m.; salsa, 7-8 p.m. $60 each, $20 discount if registering for both. Visit outreach.olemiss.edu.

Ole Miss Alumni Kickoff on the Lawn: Free to active members. Triplett Alumni Center front lawn, 6-8 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Football: Ole Miss vs. Charlotte. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 6:45 p.m. Visit olemissgameday.com/football.

Concert: Ella Langley: The Dandelion Tour. SJB Pavilion, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports.evenue.net/events/EL

Football: Ole Miss vs. LSU. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemissgameday.com/football.

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Texas. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

OCTOBER

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Missouri. Gillom Center, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt. Gillom Center, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

Communiversity: Digital Photography 101 & Photo Walk. Camera techniques and composition and lighting tips with Robert Jordan, former UM director of photography. The Depot. $99, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Visit outreach.olemiss.edu.

through April 13, 2027 Exhibit: “Leticia Bajuyo: Horizon Ad Infinitum.” UM Museum, 10 a.m.5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Visit olemiss.edu/museum.

, 21, 28, Nov. 4 Communiversity: Beginner Rumba and Intermediate East Coast Swing. No partner is necessary. Residence Hall 2. Rumba, 6-7 p.m.; swing, 7-8 p.m. $60 each, $20 discount if registering for both. Visit outreach.olemiss.edu.

through March 13, 2027 Exhibit: “24 Hours of Wonder 5,” UM Museum, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. TuesdayFriday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Visit olemiss.edu/museum. Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Concert: Gavin Adcock: The Day I Hang It Up Tour 2026. SJB Pavilion, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports. evenue.net/events/GA

UM Museum: Harvest Supper is one of the most anticipated fall events in Mississippi. Admission to the event is available through sponsorship. Individual tickets are not available. Rowan Oak, time TBD. Visit rowanoak.com. Distinguished Alumni Awards: The Inn at Ole Miss. Reception, 6-7 p.m.; dinner, 7 p.m. Ticket required. Call 662-915-2345 for more information.

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Missouri. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 7 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Georgia. Gillom Center, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.

Alumni Association Annual Meeting: Triplett Alumni Center, time TBD. Call 662-915-7375.

Football: Ole Miss vs. Missouri. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemissgameday.com/ football.

Young Alumni: Happy Hour and Homecoming Parade Watch Party. The Oliver Hotel, Oxford, 5-7 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.

Soccer: Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma. Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, 3 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. South Carolina. Gillom Center, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

Performance: “Don’t Stop Me Now: A Celebration of Rock Musicals.” Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit olemiss.edu/fordcenter.

Performance: “CLUE, Live on Stage!” Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit olemiss.edu/fordcenter.

Performance: Dover String Quartet, Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit olemiss.edu/fordcenter.

Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. Gillom Center, time TBD. Visit olemisssports.com.

Football: Ole Miss vs. Auburn. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, time TBD. Visit olemissgameday.com/ football. 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. S U M M E R 2026

Launching

LEADERS

New graduates highlighted in special series Sydney Ben profile by Marisa C. Atkinson Yasmine Ware profile by Jennifer Parsons Will and Channing Foster Allen profile by Christina Steube

very spring, thousands of University of Mississippi students cross the Commencement stage, each carrying a story that extends far beyond a diploma. Some overcame extraordinary obstacles. Others discovered a calling, broke barriers or found purpose through experiences that forever shaped their lives. Since its launch in 2019, the Journey to Commencement series has captured those moments through an award-winning, collaborative storytelling project that celebrates the people behind the degrees. More than 40 communications professionals across the Oxford, Medical Center and regional campuses have contributed more than 330 student stories celebrating perseverance, innovation and service. This year’s collection highlights four members of the Class of 2026 whose paths are distinctly different but united by a commitment to serving others. Sydney Ben is poised to become the first licensed pharmacist in Mississippi Choctaw history. Truman Scholar Yasmine Ware (BA 26) is preserving overlooked voices through storytelling and public service. Will (BGS 14, JD 26) and Channing Foster Allen (BAccy 20, MBA 22, JD 26) discovered that the university that launched their athletic careers also became the foundation for their marriage and legal careers. Each reflects a different kind of legacy — one rooted in family, one in community and one in history. Together, they embody the resilience, purpose and service that define the University of Mississippi’s Class of 2026. The full Journey to Commencement collection is available at journey.olemiss.edu, where readers can explore hundreds of stories highlighting the determination, perseverance and accomplishments of Ole Miss students.

journey.olemiss.edu

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Trailblazing Tradition W

Historic first inspires future generations

hen Sydney Ben earns her degree from the University of Mississippi in August, she will reach a milestone no member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians had achieved before.

After completing the university’s early-entry pharmacy program, Ben is scheduled to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences and a minor in chemistry while simultaneously finishing her first year of pharmacy school. Upon earning her pharmacy license, she will become “Okish Atahli” — Choctaw for pharmacist — and the first member of her tribe to enter the profession. “I’m very proud of her on her personal achievement and grateful for her hard work and the ambition she has to overcome a barrier of being the first for our tribe in this field of study,” Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben says. “While we’ve had many tribal members become the first in many of their respected professions, pharmacy is an area that is much needed because science and health are an integral part of life.” The accomplishment almost took a different path. “We’re a Mississippi State family through and through, so for the longest time, I was going to State,” Sydney Ben says. At her mother’s suggestion, she visited Ole Miss during a junior preview day. A stop at the School of Pharmacy booth

Sydney Ben (right) wears Choctaw regalia and spends time with family friend Alice Keats. | Submitted photo

introduced her to a career that blended her love of science with a desire to help others. “We came for one of the junior preview days,” she says. “And that’s how I met some people in pharmacy because they had their own booth among the other majors set up. “I loved the science behind it, like figuring out how drugs interact in the body,” she says. Ben credits her mother for instilling the determination that carried her through the demanding program. “My mom’s always told me that once you start something, you have to finish it and always give it your all,” she says. “I’m excited for graduation because that’s a big milestone for me and for her; it just feels like it’s us accomplishing it because it’s just always been me and her, and she’s been able to do it all on her own to take care of me and to provide me the life I have.” Her commitment to serving others extended well beyond the classroom. Inspired by the loss of her great-aunt Louie to breast cancer, Ben founded Operation Cancer through the university’s American Pharmacists Association student chapter to raise awareness and connect people with resources. As president of PediaRebs, she also promoted children’s health through community outreach, experiences that reinforced her desire to pursue pediatric pharmacy. “I’m just very fortunate that I have more good memories (from my childhood) that weigh out the bad, and so I want to be able to do that for kids, especially when they’re in the hospital setting because they don’t feel great and then the parents are under a lot of stress,” she says. Ben also hopes to bring those experiences home to serve her tribe. “I’m hoping at some point that I can help at our Choctaw Health Center,” she says. “I’m hoping that becoming the

Sydney Ben shows off her personalized coat following the School of Pharmacy’s white coat ceremony last August. | Submitted photo

first Choctaw pharmacist that I can help contribute in any way to the pharmacy that we have.” She credits the tribe’s scholarship program with making her education possible and hopes her journey encourages younger Choctaw students to pursue ambitious goals. “Being the first Choctaw pharmacist for my tribe was something I never thought about, but I think it is a big motivator for the tribe to show the younger kids in the tribe that it is possible, especially because the tribe is so supportive,” she says. “I honestly would not be here right now without them, because of the tribal scholarship program.” Today, she carries a daily reminder of that support. “At my white coat ceremony, Cyrus gave me a pin that has our tribal seal on it,” she says. “I love it because every time I wear a white coat, it’s there and reminds me of why I’m doing this, why I want to do it, where I came from and all the people that I have at home; it’s just amazing.” S U M M E R 2026

Stories That Endure

Truman Scholar uses storytelling to preserve history asmine Ware came to the University of Mississippi knowing one thing: She wanted to lift the voices of others.

Yasmine Ware attends the awards ceremony for National Model United Nations in New York in April 2024. | Submitted photo

The interdisciplinary studies graduate leaves Ole Miss as a Stamps Scholar, Truman Scholar and the driving force behind a documentary project preserving the history of Mound Bayou. “Storytelling, peace, the weight of history and what we do with it,” says Ware, a Madison native. “That was my why.” As a child, Ware expressed herself through music, theater, show choir and dance. At 15, she won a state speech and debate championship and became a national semifinalist in dramatic interpretation and original spoken word poetry. What began as creative expression took on new meaning after she lost a classmate to suicide. Storytelling became a way to advocate for others and promote mental health awareness, leading to her involvement with the National Alliance on Mental Illness Mississippi.

Yasmine Ware (second from left) is congratulated by Zandrea Ware (left), James Meredith and Judy Alsobrooks for winning the James Meredith Community Transformation Award in 2023. | Submitted photo

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Those experiences, along with her parents’ stories of resilience growing up in the Mississippi Delta, inspired her to launch the podcast “Yasmine’s Warehouse.” What began as conversations about life evolved into a platform dedicated to preserving oral histories and elevating voices that are often overlooked. That commitment deepened when political science professor Timothy Nordstrom invited Ware to join his nuclear disarmament study abroad course in Geneva and Vienna. “I went, and I came back a different person,” Ware says. “Standing in the U.S. Mission to Geneva, a diplomat told our group that the most important thing a person, a state or a nation can have is their story.” An interdisciplinary studies major with concentrations in international studies, Chinese and global security, Ware has used storytelling to connect communities in Mississippi and beyond. During her sophomore year, she launched the Mound Bayou Memoirs project, documenting the history of one of the nation’s oldest all-Black municipalities, founded by formerly enslaved people and their descendants. Each interview reinforced the importance of preserving cultural heritage through individual voices and ensuring those stories endure for future generations. The project earned Ware the James Meredith Community Transformation Award. She says Meredith’s advice — “Stick with Ole Miss; they will take care of you” — continues to guide her work. Her commitment to public service also led to her selection as a 2024 Delta Scholar, where she researched legislation aimed at protecting cultural legacies and preserving the histories of underrepresented communities.

In 2025, that work earned national recognition when she was named Mississippi’s Truman Scholar. “I remember the moment Chancellor Boyce took my hand and told me I was Mississippi’s 2025 Truman Scholar,” Ware says. “I looked over and saw my parents and my brother, Jacob. I completely lost it. “They have been behind every single thing I have ever done, and seeing them in that room made it real in a way

nothing else could.” As a Stamps Scholar, member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and member of the Columns Society, Ware built a record of scholarship, leadership and service that reflected her commitment to others. “What has stood out most is the way she thoughtfully considers how to use her access, opportunities and experiences not just for her own benefit

but in service of those around her,” says Castel Sweet, director of community engagement and assistant professor of practice in community engagement. As she prepares for what’s next, Ware says everything traces back to the purpose she discovered at Ole Miss. “The university gave me my why,” she says. “My family gave me my foundation. And Mr. Meredith was right about all of it.”

Coming Full Circle

Former Rebel student-athletes return to Ole Miss to build a life together

or Will and Channing Foster Allen, the University of Mississippi has been far more than a university. It has been the backdrop for nearly every defining chapter of their lives. They describe it as the place that kept bringing them back. It was w here Will ar r ived as a baseball recruit. It was where Channing found a second chance after an injury changed her recruiting path as a soccer player. It was where they built standout athletic careers, met, got engaged, married and eventually returned as husband and wife to attend law school together. Now, they have graduated together. “I don’t think we would have met had it not been for Ole Miss,” Channing says. Raised in Gainesville, Florida, by two University of Florida graduates, Will assumed he would become a Gator.

One visit to Oxford changed everything. He became an All-American catcher, captained the Rebels to the 2014 College World Series and played professionally in the Detroit Tigers organization before beginning a career in medical device sales. Channing’s path to Ole Miss began after a knee injury during high school recruiting. The Rebels continued pursuing her through her recovery, and she found more than a place to compete. “It feels like you’re committing to a place that you’re going to be really

valued, not just coming here to play a sport for four years or just to get an education,” she says.

Channing Foster Allen competes for the Ole Miss soccer team, where she was a five-time All-SEC honoree and All-American. | Submitted photo

Will Allen served as team captain of the 2014 Ole Miss baseball team. | Submitted photo S U M M E R 2026

Will Allen proposes to Channing Foster Allen on the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. | Submitted photo

Will Allen and Channing Foster Allen got married in Oxford in December 2022. | Submitted photo

She earned accounting and MBA degrees while becoming an All-American, the SEC’s first five-time All-SEC soccer selection before playing professionally in the United States and Europe. Although their years as studentathletes never overlapped, Ole Miss still became the foundation of their relationship. Will first noticed Channing while watching an Ole Miss soccer match on 26

A LU M N I R E V I E W

television. They later connected through social media, and during her final season, he returned to Oxford with a surprise in mind. With help from the athletics department, Will proposed during a football game in front of thousands of Rebel fans. “I had no idea what was coming,” Channing says. “I just completely believed them, so I had no idea. I was shocked.”

“Just being back here at Ole Miss, it was just perfect,” Will says. After marrying in Oxford in 2022, the couple faced another decision. Law had long been part of both families, and when both were admitted to the Ole Miss School of Law, returning to Oxford felt like the natural next chapter. Their first wedding anniversary arrived during final exams. “We spent our one-year anniversary studying for a contracts final,” Channing says. She laughs about the timing. “What’s better for a marriage than learning how to argue professionally?” As former student-athletes, both gravitated toward sports and entertainment law, finding a new perspective on issues they had experienced firsthand. William B err y, associate dean for research, says their athletic backgrounds provided the discipline and perseverance to thrive in law school. Before Channing’s father, attorney Chuck Foster, died in December 2024 after battling multiple myeloma, both had the opportunity to shadow him in practice and learn from the profession he loved. “He had such a meaningful impact on us and so many others,” Will says. “He truly loved the profession and loved people, and he was incredibly proud that Channing and I would be following in both of our dads’ footsteps.” After graduation, the couple planned to return to Gainesville and join Will’s family firm, where they will begin practicing together. “We feel really grateful for the opportunity to step into a firm together like this,” Channing says. “Getting to learn from family and be part of something that’s been built over time, with people who are invested in us not just professionally but personally, is really special.” As they leave Oxford once again, they don’t see it as the end of their Ole Miss story. For Wi l l and C hanning Foster Allen, the university has already been the setting for three defining chapters: student-athletes, newlyweds and law school graduates. The next one, they will write together.

Introducing The Ole Miss Alumni Association Wine Club

Crafted in Wine Country. Rooted in Ole Miss.

ooted in the traditions that make Ole Miss special— from Saturdays in the Grove to the rallying spirit of “Hotty Toddy” and the enduring symbol of the Lyceum—this club invites alumni to raise a glass to the place that shaped us. Together with alumni-owned Krutz Family Cellars, The Ole Miss Alumni Association is curating small-lot releases worthy of your tailgates, watch parties, reunions and milestones. Choose the club that fits your cellar and your season: 3-bottle, 6-bottle, or 12-bottle case—each shipping twice per year. It’s an effortless way to stay connected to the Ole Miss family and toast the memories we share, from Oxford to everywhere.

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

Now shipping to Mississippi!

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

Sponsored By

WE SHIP THE SIP.

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Setting the Alumna leaves her mark at ESPN Events

By Annie R hoades

hen alumna Whitley Simmons (BBA 12) walks into a stadium, she doesn’t just see the field or the court. She sees months of planning, coordination and problem-solving as her work finally comes to life under the bright lights of ESPN. As an events supervisor for ESPN Events, she is responsible for coordinating high-energy sporting events including bowl games and basketball tournaments. “It’s been a long road to get here,” she laughs, reflecting on her career path. “I started out as a biology major at Ole Miss. I just knew I was going to be a pediatrician. I thought my path was set.” That path, however, took a sharp turn during the Brookhaven native’s sophomore year. After registering late for classes, she accidentally enrolled in a senior-level biology course and received her first F. “I realized this wasn’t for me,” she recalls. “I had to pivot.” Sitting in her residence hall room at Crosby Hall, Simmons scoured Yahoo.com for inspiration and stumbled upon an article with one simple message: You don’t have to be on the field to work in sports.

“That piqued my interest, because I’d always loved sports,” Simmons says. “I’d played growing up, but I never thought about it as a career. Once I read that article, I created a plan. I knew I’d found my calling.” Since Ole Miss didn’t offer a sports administration degree at the time, she designed her own path. “I decided I would major in marketing for my business degree and then get a graduate degree in sports administration. And that’s exactly what I did.” Simmons gained hands-on experience with the Ole Miss

Unless otherwise noted, photos courtesy of Whitley Simmons

S U M M E R 2026

Sports Marketing department, often working long hours on football and basketball game days. “I was doing everything from running the control room to picking fans for on-field contests,” she says. “I was able to learn what it took to make it in this industry — the long days and hours and being able to wear multiple hats and pivot on a dime. Getting to work behind the scenes and see the things that a lot of people don’t get to see and experience was invaluable.” She says seeing everything from video board operations to television production — and even rolling T-shirts for basketball games — gave her a realistic picture of the industry and prepared her for her career. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Simmons earned her Master of Education in Sports Administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati in 2013, where she interned with the University of Cincinnati’s student-athlete support services. That experience launched her career in minor league baseball. “I just packed up and moved without a job,” she says. “I thought, ‘If they meet me in person, they’ll hire me.’ And it worked. I knew North Carolina was a big state for sports, so I always had an interest in working there. In order to get my foot in the door, I needed to go where the most opportunities were, which was minor league baseball.”

Simmons worked with the Lexington Legends as a promotions ambassador and then with the Winston-Salem Dash as a ticket sales representative. “Minor league baseball is where I really learned the business of sports,” she says. “It’s competitive, and you have to be willing to do it all.”

On the job at the ESPN College Networks Studio. 30

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Simmons at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, July 23-Aug. 1, 2021.

Her persistence paid off, leading to multiple promotions managing ticket sales for the Atlantic Coast Conference football championship, women’s basketball tournament and baseball tournament. Each promotion expanded her responsibilities, but it also helped her discover where she ultimately wanted her career to go. She knew she didn’t want to remain in ticketing forever. In 2019, she transitioned into experiential marketing with GMR Marketing, joining the Procter & Gamble Olympics account. “I was going to help oversee their showcase pavilion at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for their sponsored athletes, fans and business partners,” she says. “Then, unfortunately, COVID hit, and everything was postponed.” After a six-month layoff, she returned as the Olympic assets manager to help oversee ticketing for Procter & Gamble. She traveled to Tokyo in 2021. “I was able to go to Tokyo and experience the scaled-down COVID version of the Olympics,” she says. “It was such an awesome experience that I’ll never forget.” Her position with the Olympics was seasonal so while still in Tokyo, she saw a job posting for ESPN and decided to take a shot. “I thought, what do I have to lose? And I got it.”

She joined ESPN’s Charlotte, North Carolina, office as an event supervisor in 2021. It was the culmination of nearly a decade spent working her way through every level of the sports industry — from college athletics and minor league baseball to Olympic marketing. Her role is as dynamic as the events she manages. ESPN owns and operates more than 34 competitions, including 17 college bowl games, football kickoff games, basketball tournaments, a college softball invitational and a gymnastics event.

Unlike licensing events, ESPN runs these internally, saving costs while generating revenue and providing more than 400 hours of live programming annually. “My typical day depends on the season,” Simmons says. “Right now is the planning phase — assigning events, reaching out to teams, working with venues, setting ticket prices, talking to sponsors. Later in the year, during event season, it’s all about execution: being first in the building and the last to leave. We’re in charge of everything up until the ball tips off. Once the game starts, then everything is pretty much in the hands of production.” Her favorite part? Seeing all of that hard work come to life and the unique experiences she enjoys along the way. “One of my favorites was the Armed Forces Classic in 2022,” she says. “We staged a college basketball game on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. Not a lot of people can say they put on a basketball event on an aircraft carrier.” Although her days often stretch long and travel is frequent — especially from November to February — she wouldn’t trade it for anything. “You have to love this to do it,” she says. “I wear many hats including everything from social media to content creation and sponsorships. It’s not glamorous. But the reward is seeing something you’ve built come alive.” Simmons’ creativity, adaptability and willingness to invest in younger colleagues have made her an emerging leader within the organization, says Stephanie Grant, director of events and basketball operations for ESPN Events and one of Simmons’ mentors. “She is a creative thinker and likes to find new ways or avenues to reach an outcome,” Grant says. “She is versatile and able to adapt to change, which makes her an asset to our team. She is an emerging leader in the sports industry and is very involved and vested in mentoring our interns.

Simmons at the 2022 Armed Forces Classic aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

“Whitley’s event and industry knowledge, coupled with her ability to make time to teach and grow our newest team members, is putting her on a great track to becoming a thoughtful and intentional leader in the industry.”

2025 40 Under 40 Awards ceremony held on March 28 at The Inn at Ole Miss. | Photo by Bill Dabney Photography

Simmons’ advice for up-and-coming graduates is simple but powerful: “Be flexible, teachable and willing to go where the opportunities are. Sometimes you just have to take a leap and trust that it will work out.” Simmons credits the advice of her mentors as well as her time at Ole Miss for helping her prepare to work in the competitive, fast-paced sports industry. “When I started working with the Sports Marketing department, Connie Braseth hired me as an intern,” Simmons says. “She really helped me get the ball in motion with my career in sports. Also, my manager at GMR, Corrine Holman-Martin. She was always someone that I could go to and ask questions, as well as my mentor [at ESPN], Stephanie Grant.” Simmons’ hard work and dedication have already earned her recognition as a member of the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s 2025 40 Under 40 class. The program recognizes the personal, professional and philanthropic achievements of Ole Miss graduates under age 40. “I was in total shock when I got the call,” she says. “It was such an honor to be celebrated alongside other alumni and to see how far we’ve all come.” Looking ahead, she hopes to continue growing within ESPN and mentoring others in the sports industry. “I see myself moving up the corporate ladder and hopefully continuing to reach out and teach others about what I do in the sports industry and how to break into it,” she says. “There are so many different paths within sports. I didn’t always see myself here, but when I saw this opportunity, I knew it was perfect.” S U M M E R 2026

Capt. Thomas Bodine (BSEE 98), commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, gives a tour to distinguished visitors during a scheduled port visit aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), Dec. 30, 2022. The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by the U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests. | Photo by by Seaman Sasha Ambrose

A LU M N I R E V I E W

CALLED TO

SERVE Ole Miss shapes Navy captain’s distinguished career BY BRIAN HUDGINS

chance visit to a Navy recruiting office helped Capt. Thomas T. Bodine (BSEE 98) earn an ROTC scholarship to the University of Mississippi. What began as a practical way to pay for college became the foundation for a naval aviation career that eventually led him to senior leadership in the U.S. Navy. Bodine recently completed service as chief of staff for the Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Coronado, California. He is preparing to transition into his next assignment as chief of staff for Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, in Oeiras, Portugal. When Bodine was growing up in Decatur, Alabama, he imagined a future in science and math — most likely electrical engineering. College, however, would require financial assistance. “During my senior year of high school, I agreed to go with my best friend on his visit to the Naval recruiting center,” Bodine says. “I don’t remember much about that day other than [my friend] Lamar Horton turning to me while speaking with the recruiter and saying, ‘If that is what you want, you need to talk to my friend.’ As fate would have it, I ended up with an ROTC scholarship, and Lamar went on to success in the corporate world.” The scholarship brought Bodine to Oxford in the mid-1990s. What he expected to be an opportunity for an education quickly became something more meaningful. “Once I set foot on campus, I fell in love with the place,” he says. “Ole Miss instantly became my home.” Bodine (right) received his designation as a naval flight officer in 1999, which marked the beginning of a nearly three-decade career in naval aviation. Unless otherwise noted, photos courtesy of Thomas Bodine

S U M M E R 2026

s an electrical engineering major, Bodine benefited from professors who challenged him academically and helped shape his approach to complex problems. Among the most influential was the late Charles Smith, professor emeritus and former chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering. “Systematically working through complex engineering problems to achieve the desired result — that discipline, that mental rigor, has served me well in naval aviation and in the Navy,” Bodine says. Outside the classroom, Bodine found a close-knit community through both the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and the Ole Miss Rugby Club. Those experiences provided leadership opportunities, lifelong friendships and lessons that would follow him throughout his career.

Bodine (top row, second from right) served as president of the rugby club during his final two years at Ole Miss.

He served as president of the rugby club during his final two years on campus. The camaraderie, travel and competition became a defining part of his college experience. “I still see many of those folks,” Bodine says. “We had an informal reunion of sorts at the 2026 Sugar Bowl during the Rebels’ playoff run.” The friendships forged at Ole Miss extended beyond the rugby pitch. Bodine remains close to several members of his NROTC graduating class, many of whom entered naval aviation. The former classmates have remained connected despite decades of assignments around the world, and those relationships are among the reasons Bodine credits Ole Miss with helping shape his future. “The Ole Miss NROTC program — and the leadership principles the program is known for — set the course for my career,” he says. “The program’s active-duty staff heavily influenced my decision to pursue naval aviation. I would not have 34

A LU M N I R E V I E W

been able to achieve the things I have in my career without the foundation and mentorship provided by those individuals.”

A FOUNDATION FOR LEADERSHIP Ole Miss formally established its NROTC unit in 1946. The unit was housed in the historic Barnard Observatory for nearly five decades before that building became home to the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. The NROTC unit moved to Guyton Hall in 1991 and to its current home in Barnard Hall in 2004. For generations of students, the program has combined academic rigor with leadership development, preparing graduates for service in the Navy and Marine Corps. Capt. (Ret.) Ron Zaperach, president of the Ole Miss NROTC Alumni Chapter, has witnessed that impact firsthand. A member of the program as a student in the 1970s and later commanding officer of the unit from 2001 to 2004, he believes the experience provides students with opportunities that few undergraduates encounter elsewhere. “The training I received in the NROTC unit prepared me for my entry into our fleet forces,” Zaperach says. “The unit provides midshipmen leadership opportunities as they progress through the curriculum. The students are placed into positions that provide actual leadership decisions and actions — in a more benign environment — under the counsel and instruction of active-duty officers and senior enlisted.” According to Zaperach, the program’s influence extends beyond military service. “Without a doubt, the NROTC classes that were taught to our midshipmen students developed a sound leadership foundation,” he says, noting that graduates have gone on to careers in military leadership, aerospace, higher education and government service. “You will never learn everything you need to know before entering the fleet. The key is to keep building on that strong foundation established in the NROTC program so that when you graduate and head to the fleet, you are prepared for your next assignment.” The rigorous educational requirements call upon NROTC midshipmen to complete a specialized naval science curriculum each semester in addition to a full academic course load of at least 12 university credit hours. Navy option students typically complete eight naval science courses focusing on maritime strategy, leadership, engineering and navigation. All midshipmen also attend weekly leadership labs throughout the year, which focus on practical application of military drills, customs, policies, physical fitness and professional development. Midshipmen receiving an NROTC scholarship participate in annual summer training, including career orientation for first-year students, and shipboard operational training in their sophomore and junior years. Marine option midshipmen, those midshipmen selecting to enter the U.S. Marine Corps, attend the Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia, after their junior year. Upon graduating and satisfying all program requirements, students earn a commission as a Navy ensign or Marine Corps second lieutenant with a minimum five-year active duty obligation.

For Bodine, that preparation proved invaluable. After commissioning through the Ole Miss NROTC program in 1998, he began flight school and was designated as a naval flight officer the following year. It marked the beginning of a nearly three-decade career in naval aviation. During this time, he has served in combat operations, instructed at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (nicknamed TOPGUN), commanded operational fighter squadrons and an air wing, and held senior leadership positions responsible for thousands of sailors and aircraft. He has accumulated more than 3,500 flight hours, 900 carrier-assisted landings, 550 combat flying hours and 105 combat sorties. Along with the impressive résumé, Bodine repeatedly returns to the lessons he has learned in Oxford and beyond. “The naval aviation culture — transparency, honest self-assessment and correcting mistakes — is critical,” he says. “Naval aviation is an awe-inspiring profession. Executed with precision, there is nothing like it on the planet. But it is also an exacting and inherently unforgiving business in which preventable errors can lead to tragic outcomes. Thus, naval aviators must demonstrate the highest degree of professionalism and personal accountability to be successful.” His career eventually expanded beyond operational aviation assignments. As the first U.S. Navy Federal Executive Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Bodine explored strategic leadership from a different perspective. “I found it fascinating to understand the parallels between corporate strategies and military readiness production,” he says. Whether serving in the boardroom or aboard aircraft carriers, Bodine has found that success depends on teamwork. “Whether you are launching one aircraft or the entire air wing, everyone, from the engine room to the pilot, from the cooks to the aircraft mechanics, is required to successfully achieve the desired end states,” he says. “Carrier flight operations are a carefully choreographed ballet like no other.”

Bodine with his wife, Jenn, in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

Bodine holds an autographed Rebel football helmet.

LOOKING BACK — AND LOOKING FORWARD Of all the accomplishments from his years at Ole Miss, one memory remains especially meaningful. A fellow student nominated him for the Taylor Medal, the university’s highest academic honor for an undergraduate. “What humbles me is that there was somebody in my peer group who took the time and thought to submit my name,” Bodine says. “It’s an Ole Miss student looking out for another student, with the full knowledge that there is nothing in it for the person who made the nomination. It is a fact that I only fully appreciate now, given the benefit of time and reflection.” Today, he sees that same spirit throughout the Navy. “Seeing sailors look to the left and right and ask, ‘How can I help that person be successful today?’ That’s what keeps me in it after 28 years,” he says. Throughout all of his assignments, Bodine remains mindful of the larger purpose behind military service. “America, now in its 250th year, is a maritime nation. America’s story is the Navy’s story,” he says. “What does it mean to protect global commerce along international sea lanes, to defend the American way of life from those who threaten it, or to deter malicious actors from acting out? It is a calling and a privilege, and it is truly awesome.” Looking back, Bodine remains grateful for the experiences and relationships that began in Oxford — including earning his electrical engineering degree in 1998 and meeting his wife, Jennifer “Jenn” Bodine (BA 99). More than a quarter century later, Ole Miss is a defining part of their family’s story. Bodine sees a direct line from a college scholarship to a lifetime of service around the world. “Ole Miss gave me far more than an education,” he says. “It gave me lifelong friends, mentors and a foundation that has carried me through every stage of my career.” S U M M E R 2026

HOPE BEYOND THE GAME

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Image created with Adobe Firefly

Rebel Hope Alliance aims to support former student-athletes BY JEFF ROBERSON

he name of a new M-Club collaboration encompasses its mission in just three words: Rebel Hope Alliance.

With a kickoff event set for Oct. 18, efforts to meet the mental health needs of former Ole Miss student-athletes will already be underway. That’s what Rebel Hope Alliance is all about — helping former players who are struggling in this area of their lives. “The concept for a mental health initiative was started a couple of years ago for the M-Club by Cody Core (BBA 19), one of our board members and former football player,” says Jessica Lynch (BSES 05, MA 25), M-Club director and assistant director of alumni affairs. “Cody played in the NFL, and after sustaining an injury, he was able to take advantage of some of the benefits the NFL offered to their former players. One of these included assistance with mental health.” As conversations continued, Lynch and M-Club leaders explored how other colleges and universities were addressing the mental health needs of former student-athletes. They quickly saw an apparent, growing need to help athletes after their playing careers and student years had ended. “Through those initial conversations, Cody started making some phone calls on what that looked like from a clinical side, from a cost side, all of those components,” Lynch says. “And I started doing some work to talk to other partners and letterwinner clubs at other schools within the national association about how they got started.” Core, a sixth-round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, says the need is real. He saw the need during his playing career, and he saw the value of available help. “I spent six years in the league,” says Core, who played for the Rebels from 2012 to 2015. “I tore my Achilles when I was with the Giants (2019). We were one of the first teams to have an on-site sports psychologist. Dr. Lani Lawrence (director of wellness and clinical services) was a big difference maker as far as going through that. She gave me books to read. She checked in on me every week. It all made sense to me.” Core, now in Knoxville, Tennessee, coaching high school football, wants former players to have immediate access to assistance when they need it. “We’re trying to make it easier and have more resources,”

Cody Core | Submitted photo

he says. “This is a huge part of M-Club — continuous growth, continuous help, continuous family.” That sense of family resonates with many former student-athletes. “One of the things that’s so cool about this initiative is that it’s a part of the bigger game, and that’s the game of life,” says former baseball player JoJo Tann (BA 08), who played for the Rebels from 2005 to 2007. “These kids now playing SEC sports are under such pressure that it’s not even the same type of thing that I did. It’s all evolved so quickly. They need to use any of the tools available to become the best version of themselves. Mental health is foundational.” S U M M E R 2026

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is Rebel Hope Alliance?

Rebel Hope Alliance is a mental health support initiative offered through the Ole Miss M-Club to help former Ole Miss student-athletes and their immediate families connect with mental health resources and support services. The program provides personalized and confidential guidance to help navigate mental health care options, including counseling, telehealth therapy, substance use treatment and psychiatric services.

Who can use it?

Former Ole Miss student-athletes and their immediate family members.

How do I access it?

Contact Rebel Hope Alliance concierge services at 877-REBEL-103, email rebelhope@hopedesk.com or use the Mind Club America app.

Does it provide crisis services?

No. Rebel Hope Alliance is not intended to replace emergency services. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

Does Rebel Hope Alliance cost money?

No, the program is funded by the M-Club in partnership with the Magee Center, Craddock family and other private donors. Rebel Hope Alliance helps connect participants with appropriate providers and resources. The program itself does not pay for clinical treatment services but works with individuals to find care. Costs associated with treatment will depend on insurance coverage, provider fees and other factors.

Who provides the mental health services?

Rebel Hope Alliance works with a nationwide network of vetted mental health providers coordinated through The Hope Desk and its provider network. The program seeks to connect individuals with resources that are the best clinical, financial and geographic fit for their situation.

Scan the QR code to learn more about Rebel Hope Alliance.

If you are interested in how to support Rebel Hope Alliance, contact Jessica Lynch at jessica@olemissalumni.com. A LU M N I R E V I E W

Tann, an M-Club life member, knows many athletes arrive on campus expecting professional sports to be in their future. Most eventually find themselves pursuing different careers. “There was this TV commercial they had when I was there, and it says, ‘We’re all going pro, and most of us in something other than our sport.’ That’s true,” says Tann, a Jackson native now practicing law in the Phoenix area. Helping guide former athletes through those transitions is Ole Miss alumnus Ryan Cain (BBA 00). “I’ve been in the mental health field for about 15 years,” Cain says. “I started a program with the Pro Football Hall of Fame in C a nt on , O h i o, t o h e lp JoJo Tann | Submitted photo their Hall of Famers and families whenever they had any kind of mental health issues. That became a company called ‘The Hope Desk.’ We basically created a network of providers around the country that do really good mental health work in a variety of specialties. It could be substance use. It could be just talk therapy. It could be psychiatric medication. “So we created this network, and we knew it was too big of a network just for the NFL Hall of Famers. There are only like 200 living Hall of Famers. We knew we wanted to take it to other places.” One of those places was higher education. “LSU was our first client outside of the Hall in the collegiate space,” Cain says. “Their big problem was that most of their current student-athletes get a lot of help and have access to resources when they’re on campus. The issue was once they graduated and moved all across the country, most of them weren’t playing their sport anymore. There were a lot of changes and transition issues. They’re in a new town, a new career, the end of their sporting career. So, they found themselves struggling. “We ended up creating a program called ‘Tiger Legacy Care’ to support the student-athlete alumni and their families. From that point on, we’ve onboarded a number of other universities.” Today, similar programs operate at Michigan, Michigan State and Texas Tech, among others. “I’ve always had Ole Miss on my list, obviously because I went there and our connections,” Cain says. “This one is definitely more special. We will help anybody that calls, but having Ole Miss involved is really special. Our family has been involved there for such a long time.” Cain points out that today’s student-athletes have access to more support resources than ever before. Rebel Hope Alliance is designed to extend that support beyond graduation. “This shows they actually care about the well-being of their members,” Cain says of the M-Club effort. “And I think it also does a lot for the brand of Ole Miss to say we care about you, and we keep caring about you when you’re no longer playing.”

That commitment extends beyond the M-Club and reflects a broader philosophy within Ole Miss Athletics, says Keith Carter (BBA 01, MBA 16), vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics. “Our responsibility to our student-athletes extends far beyond their playing days,” Carter says. “Rebel Hope Alliance reflects our commitment to supporting athletes and their families with the same care and dedication they experienced while representing our university. “By providing confidential, personalized access to trusted mental health resources, Rebel Hope Alliance is helping to remove barriers to care and ensuring that members of our teams — past and present — can find support whenever and wherever they need it. This program is about honoring a lifelong bond and investing in the well-being of those who have given so much to Ole Miss.” More information on Rebel Hope Alliance is forthcoming, but several components are already in place. “The easiest way for people to access it will be an app called the ‘Mind Club America’ app,” Cain says. “Everybody will have access to that first, so even if you don’t want to call and talk to someone, every student-athlete, alumni and family member will have an access code.” The collaboration also includes the William Magee Center for AOD and Wellness Education. The center and the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing opened on campus in September 2019 to change and improve students’ lives through education, research and support. “There are so many overlaps with our center,” says Nicholas McAfee, director of the William Magee Center. “Not only will the athlete have access to this service, but our alumni who are a part of our collegiate recovery community will also have the same access to the call center through the Rebel Hope Alliance. It ties it all together. “William was a former athlete and a former student, but we

Ben Craddock | Submitted photo

didn’t have the collegiate recovery community when William was here. With him being a former student in recovery, a former athlete in recovery, a former athlete who needed mental health support after he graduated, this all ties together. Our opportunity to come in and partner makes so much sense.” The William Magee Center is focused on connecting people with resources and help. “Sometimes it’s tough to know where to start,” McAfee says. “That’s why services like our Rebel Hope Alliance will be really handy because the person on the other end of the phone can help you sort all of that out.” Recent Ole Miss graduate Kyla McLaurin (BBA 24), now living in Nashville, Tennessee, and working in medical device sales, says she is grateful for the support she received as a student-athlete and is pleased future alumni will have access to similar resources. A triple jumper for the track-and-field program, McLaurin arrived on campus during the height of the pandemic. “During COVID, everyone was secluded and stuck to themselves,” she says. “But as athletes, we had great support.” That support became even more apparent after graduation. “I was like, ‘Wait a minute … I have to do all this by myself.’ I realized how grateful I was for the staff around us in college. Rebel Hope Alliance will be something former student-athletes should take advantage of and use. After leaving Ole Miss, there will be something to turn to that will help. I’m excited about that.” Brothers Ben (BA 02) and David (BBA 94, MBA 96) Craddock have also played an important role in bringing the initiative to life. “I had told Jessica I wish there was something we could do where we helped former players, if it’s addiction or mental health or depression or whatever,” Ben Craddock, a former football player himself, says. “One day, Ryan Cain walked into her office, and that morning I had actually talked to Jessica a couple of hours before. Then she called me and said, ‘I know a way we can get this thing rolling.’ Then the Magee Center was involved, along with the M-Club.” Craddock has his own story of loss and understands how difficult those struggles can be. “My sophomore year, Carr Haskins passed away in a car wreck,” Craddock says of the Rebel golfer from McComb, also Craddock’s hometown. “He was my next-door neighbor. We grew up together. My best friend. I had people at Ole Miss to help me, but I needed more help. I carried that and still carry it with me today. I never dealt with it the proper way.” Craddock says his family is honored to be part of Rebel Hope Alliance. “The way it all came together is really cool. It’s 100% a God thing,” he says. “All the people associated with this truly have the best interest of the student-athlete, and that’s what I’m most proud of. Getting this done is one of the most proud things I’ve done. If we help one person, one athlete, we did our job.” Cain sums up his own path, but also that of others who see the need for initiatives like this and are grateful to help others along the way. “We were hurting at some point. We begin healing at some point. Then you become a helper.” S U M M E R 2026

Ole Miss Sports

Tuning In

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

TELEVISION WINDOWS ANNOUNCED FOR 2026 FOOTBALL SEASON

elevision windows and network assignments for the 2026 Ole Miss football season are set following the SEC and ESPN’s June announcement. Television start time windows for weeks 4-14 are defined as follows: — Early: 11 a.m.-noon CT start — Afternoon: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CT start — Night: 5-7 p.m. CT start — Flex: Games flexed between the afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.) and night (5-7 p.m.) windows For all listed windows (early, afternoon, night, flex), the exact start time within such window(s) will be confirmed no later than six days prior unless otherwise noted below. Four other start times have already been announced, as the Rebels will open the 2026 regular season against Louisville in the inaugural Music City Kickoff at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Sept. 6. The game is set for primetime on ABC at 6:30 p.m. CT. Start times for the Rebels’ home opener against Charlotte and matchup with LSU were previously announced. The Rebels host Charlotte on either ESPN2 or SEC Network on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 6:45 p.m. CT and face LSU on Saturday,

2026 OLE MISS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 6 vs. Louisville (6:30 p.m. CT – ABC) Sept. 12 vs. Charlotte (6:45 p.m. CT – ESPN2 or SECN) Sept. 19 vs. LSU (6:30 p.m. CT – ABC) Sept. 26 at Florida (flex – TBA) Oct. 10 at Vanderbilt (flex – TBA) Oct. 17 vs. Missouri (afternoon – TBA) A LU M N I R E V I E W

Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC. Additionally, the annual Battle for the Golden Egg against Mississippi State on Friday, Nov. 27 is set for 11 a.m. CT and will air on ABC. Week four at Florida on Sept. 26 is set for a flex window and will occur either in the afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.) or night (5-7 p.m.). Following a bye week, the Rebels’ game at Vanderbilt on Oct. 10 is also set for the same window. Both games have yet to be assigned a television spot. The Rebels will host Missouri on Oct. 17 in a game that is set for an afternoon slot at either 2:30 or 3:30 p.m. CT. The Rebels are set to face Missouri for the first time since 2019. The following week, the Rebels travel to Texas on Oct. 24 and will compete against the Longhorns during the flex window, in either the afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.) or at night (5-7 p.m.). The Halloween day matchup at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium against Auburn is set for the early window at either 11 a.m. or noon CT. From there, the Rebels host Georgia on Nov. 7 in the flex window and follow that up by traveling to Oklahoma for a Nov. 14 showdown in the afternoon window of 2:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. CT. The Rebels will conclude nonconference action by hosting Wofford on Saturday, Nov. 21. That matchup is slated for 11 a.m. CT and will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.

Oct. 24 at Texas (flex – TBA) Oct. 31 vs. Auburn (early – TBA) Nov. 7 vs. Georgia (flex – TBA) Nov. 14 at Oklahoma (afternoon – TBA) Nov. 21 vs. Wofford (11 a.m. CT – SECN+) Nov. 27 vs. Mississippi State (11 a.m. CT – ABC)

YOU ARE PART OF OUR PAST.

BE A PART OF OUR FUTURE.

he Ole Miss Alumni Association allows you to have the connection with the place and people that share your past, while securing Ole Miss’ future with funding for student outreach, scholarships, reunions, alumni communications and athletics support. Lend us your voice by remaining an active, duespaying member. Renew at olemissalumni.com/join and encourage family and friends to remain active. Thank you for being an active part of the Alumni Association.

Ole Miss Sports

Speed to Spare

URRUTIA SECURES FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA IN 200-METER DASH

le Miss track-and-field sophomore Jordan Urrutia earned First-Team All-American honors in the men’s 200-meter dash, capping the 2026 outdoor season for the men’s team at the NCAA Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on June 12. Urrutia’s one point in eighth place marked the first points in the event for Ole Miss since Olympian Isiah Young was national runner-up in 2013. Urrutia took to the blocks in lane two, crossing the finish line at a wind-legal personal record of 20.33 (+1.5), narrowly missing his all-conditions personal best by two-hundredths of a second, to help earn his First-Team All-American status. This caps an excellent 2026 season for Urrutia, who has stamped his name across the Ole Miss record book during his sophomore season. Indoors, Urrutia took down Ole Miss records in the 200-meter (20.60) and 300-meter (33.06). He was the anchor on the school record 4x400-meter relay (3:06.69), while outdoors he has run the fastest 200 (20.31) since Young’s 2013 record of 20.12 and scored the highest SEC finish (sixth) in the event since Young’s title that same season. That doesn’t include Urrutia’s exploits on Ole Miss’ 4x100-meter relay, which concluded its historic 2026 campaign on June 10 with a Second-Team All-America finish in 11th place.

Jordan Urrutia | Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

FISCHER, TANKERSLEY EARN GOLFWEEK ALL-AMERICA HONORS

onors continue to roll in for the Ole Miss men’s golf team as Tom Fischer earned Golfweek Men’s College Golf All-America Second Team recognition and Cameron Tankersley landed on the third team. Since 1999, Golfweek has selected All-Americans in addition to Players and Coaches of the Year in men’s and women’s college golf.

Cameron Tankersley (left) and Tom Fischer | Photos courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics 42

A LU M N I R E V I E W

The tradition of honoring the best in college golf continues this year. Fischer has earned even more recognition for his incredible senior campaign, including PING All-Region honors, a spot on the finalist list for the Haskins Award and a spot on the All-SEC First Team. He wrapped the 2025-26 season with a career-best 70.06 stroke average, the fifth-best mark in a single season in school history, with 28 rounds at par or better, tied for the third-most in a single season at Ole Miss. This marks the second All-America honor for Fischer after earning an honorable mention nod a season ago, making him the sixth golfer in program history to earn the award multiple times. The 14th All-American in school history, Tankersley added to his trophy shelf this season, which already includes PING All-Region and All-SEC honors. He capped off his senior season with a second-place finish at the NCAA Winston-Salem Regional, shooting a 16 under par to mark the second-best three-round tournament performance in school history. Tankersley continued his success at the NCAA Championship, advancing to the fourth day of stroke play to compete for an individual national title. His 70.43 stroke average ranks among the best single-season performances in school history, while his 15 rounds in the 60s this past year are the fourth in an Ole Miss season.

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 30 Sgt Prentiss Dr Natchez, MS 39120 601.442.6292

You’ve worked hard to achieve success. You deserve financial advisors who work as hard for you.

Not FDIC or NCUA Insured | No Financial Institution Guarantee | May Lose Value Ameriprise Financial, Inc. does not offer tax or legal advice. Consult with a tax advisor or attorney. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2024 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

Mississippi’s Only College Campus Bar & Grill Active OMAA Members Enjoy 10% Off Food and Beverages.

Show your app membership card Sh to receive the discount.

120 Alumni Drive 662-234-2333

olemissalumni.com/mccormicks

S U M M E R 2026

Just Published

The Offering by John Powell (BAccy

83), 307 pages (paperback, also available in Kindle and hardcover), independently published, ISBN: 979-8270063276 In 1993, Laurel, Mississippi, a church offering vanishes, igniting whispers that threaten to unravel a family legacy and divide a community. Insurance investigator Clayton Harris is called to uncover the truth, but finds himself tangled in small-town grudges, hidden pasts and the shadow of the Sons of Jones. At the heart is a clash between Archie Moore, a fourth-generation patriarch desperate to preserve his family’s business, and Virgil, a son determined to forge a new path. In a town that needs to let go of the past, secrets collide with pride and ambition. Read the story to find out who stole the offering — and why. Powell is an aspiring fiction author, bringing a unique blend of financial expertise and vivid storytelling to his novels. A certified public accountant, he draws on his background as a chief financial officer and controller to infuse realism into his stories.

Don’t Cut the Grass on Sunday: A M o n d a y C o n ve r s a t i o n f o r Non-Christians & Skeptics Alike b y K . Stephen Jumper (BBA 85), 182 pages (paperback , also available in

Kindle and hardcover), Ink Founders, ISBN: 978-1970435108 Does Christianity seem like nothing more than a list of rules designed to take the joy out of life? Does the Bible really say you can’t cut the grass on Sunday? In Don’t Cut the Grass on Sunday, Jumper clears away misconceptions and offers a direct, accessible look at what the Bible actually teaches. This book explains the basics in a straightforward, nonreligious way. Designed so readers may review chapters that interest them most, this book invites them into an open, honest conversation about faith. A resource section is available for further exploration. Whether you are curious, skeptical or simply seeking clarity, Don’t Cut the Grass on Sunday is the perfect place to start. Jumper is a North Carolina native who graduated from Ole Miss with a business degree in marketing. His 40-year business career in technology and financial services gave way to a life-changing passion for mission work. After his first trip to Russia in 2011, he traveled to the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia before earning a master’s degree in ministry from Piedmont International University in 2016.

Race, Riot and Romance: A Coed’s Diary of James Meredith and the 1962 Ole Miss Riot by Donna Judd (63), foreword by James Meredith (BA 63), 195 pages (paperback, also available in Kindle), independently published, ISBN: 979-8242090996 What’s it like to be 17, far from home, and unexpectedly caught up in the 1962 explosive civil rights conflict? Race, Riot and Romance is a vivid memoir by Judd told through the lens of her 1962 diary. It offers a rare ground-level view of racial tension intermixed with normal collegiate life — from being the only Meredith supporter in her dorm or running through the Grove dodging tear gas canisters to “real-life” struggles of balancing boyfriends and a serious marriage proposal, playing varsity tennis and failing French. More than 60 years later, Judd looks back on her experiences with wisdom and humor, adding depth and context to the raw intimacy of her younger voice. After her year at Ole Miss, Judd earned a B.A. from the University of Idaho and an M.A. from Whittier College. A retired teacher and tennis coach, she has visited 83 countries. Judd has written over 200 magazine articles, children’s books and photography books. She lives in Southern California.

Information presented in this section is compiled from material provided by the publisher and/or author and does not necessarily represent the view of the Alumni Review or the Ole Miss Alumni Association. To present a recently published book or CD for consideration, please mail a copy with any descriptions and publishing information to: Ole Miss Alumni Review, Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1374, Oxford, MS 38655. 44

A LU M N I R E V I E W

The Future Alumni Network is the student level of membership in the Ole Miss Alumni Association. Becoming a member is the first step in beginning students’ lifelong relationship with Ole Miss.

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

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

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

Join today! Join online at olemissalumni.com/join

Rebel Traveler

2026-27

Miltenberg, Germany

he alumni travel program is a service the Ole Miss Alumni Association offers as part of its mission to unite alumni and keep them connected to Ole Miss and one another. OMAA has partnered with several tour operators that specialize in alumni travel to offer a broad selection of educational tours. Alumni and friends obtain group rates and discounts. Listed prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and pricing and dates are subject to change until booking. Airfare is not included unless noted. Visit olemissalumni.com/ travel for a complete listing and the most up-to-date information. Offerings and itineraries are subject to change or cancellation. OMAA strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance. For a brochure or more information on a trip, contact the Alumni office at 662-9157375 or email travel@olemissalumni.com. 46

A LU M N I R E V I E W

ETERNAL ROME AND ITALY BY RAIL OCT. 12-20, 2026

Tour Operator: Gohagan Experience Italy’s rich history and timeless beauty from Rome to Matera aboard the luxurious La Dolce Vita Orient Express. Spend five nights exploring Rome, including Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, with free time to discover the Eternal City at your own pace. Venture into the hills above Rome to visit Castel Gandolfo, the Abbey of Santa Maria di Grottaferrata, and enjoy a tasting of renowned Frascati wines. Then travel through the Italian countryside by rail to Matera’s ancient cave dwellings and the charming medieval town of Palena before returning to Rome. — From $13,495

MACKINAC ISLAND OCT. 16-25, 2026

Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery Discover the beauty, history and culture of the Great Lakes region on this unforgettable journey through Michigan and Niagara Falls. Explore American innovation at the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village and the historic River Rouge Plant before enjoying a two-night stay at the iconic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Tour the island by horse-drawn carriage and stroll charming Frankenmuth, “Michigan’s Little Bavaria.” Conclude with two nights at spectacular Niagara Falls, featuring a Maid of the Mist cruise, Journey Behind the Falls tour and farewell dinner atop Skylon Tower overlooking the illuminated falls. — From $4,299, including airfare

2026 -27

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

Tour Operator: Gohagan Join a one-of-a-kind, deluxe, eight-night cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon aboard an exclusively chartered small ship. Visit seven spectacular cities in four countries. Encounter Mediterranean Valencia, Moorish Granada and Tangier’s exotic Moroccan markets. Be awed by Cap Spartel, where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet, and witness the legendary Rock of Gibraltar. Explore the Andalusian cities of picturesque Lagos and alluring Seville. — From $7,695

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

Tour Operator: AHI Europe’s incomparable history and heritage are yours to discover on this handcrafted, nine-night cruise. Board your exclusively chartered, first-class ship in Passau, Germany, and sail away through the sculpted hills and lands of the Main, Rhine and Moselle rivers. Daily excursions showcase ancient monuments and charming towns, UNESCO World Heritage sites and vine-laced slopes. Travel to romantic Regensburg to visit a Benedictine monastery and enjoy a brandy tasting in Miltenberg. You’ll stroll through Trier, Germany’s oldest city; cruise through the Rhine Gorge, a winding stretch renowned for its beauty; and stroll through lovely Koblenz, where the Rhine and Moselle r i v e r s m e e t . In C o c h e m , a d m i re half-timbered houses on cobblestone lanes and visit a stately castle high above town. Plus, in the ports of Nuremberg, B a m b e r g a n d Wü r z b u r g , c h o o s e included excursions that fit your interests, such as cultural experiences and culinary tours. Along the way, indulge in insights from experts, regional dishes and local wines. This heartwarming journey includes an ample meal plan, plus wine and beer with lunch and dinner. No single supplement for solo travelers. — From $4,295

CHRISTMAS SEASON IN VANCOUVER AND VICTORIA DEC. 3-9, 2026

Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery This seven-day holiday tour showcases the festive charm of Vancouver and Victoria, Canada. The trip begins with three nights at the luxurious Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, featuring a city tour of iconic landmarks such as Stanley Park and Grouse Mountain, and visits to the Vancouver Christmas Market and Shipyards Market. Travelers then journey to Victoria via a scenic BC Ferry ride, staying three nights at the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel. Highlights include the Butchart Gardens’ magical holiday light displays, a guided city tour, High Tea at the Empress, and visits to Victoria’s Christmas Market and a festive lights tour. The final day offers leisure time to enjoy Victoria’s amenities or explore the city. The trip concludes with a return to Vancouver, featuring the VanDusen Festival of Lights and a farewell dinner. This

Rebel Traveler

package includes six deluxe hotel nights, nine meals, guided tours and round-trip ferry rides, offering a perfect mix of relaxation and holiday festivity. — From $4,295, including airfare

CHRISTMAS MARKETS OF AUSTRIA AND GERMANY DEC. 4-12, 2026

Tour Operator: Gohagan Discover captivating settings where colorful lights twinkle over cheery market stalls brimming with handmade glass ornaments, fine wooden toys and irresistible holiday goodies on this heartwarming tour of some of Europe’s most beloved Christmas markets. Revel in a joyous winter sojourn along the Danube River from Nuremberg, Germany, to Vienna, Austria, on an unforgettable, carefree, seven-night cruise aboard an exclusively chartered, first-class riverboat. Throughout your journey, you’ll delight in the timeless, cherished traditions of the Advent season at centuries-old markets in Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau

Inner Harbour, Victoria, Canada S U M M E R 2026

Rebel Traveler 2026 -27 magnificent creatures that call the park home. Visiting Yellowstone in winter is an experience that transcends words. The air is crisp with the scent of pine trees and the promise of adventure. A serene hush envelops the snow-covered landscapes, providing the perfect backdrop to nature’s drama unfolding before your eyes. — From $5,995

EGYPT AND THE NILE VALLEY JAN. 23-29, 2027

Pyramids of Giza, Cairo, Egypt

and Vienna. In the port of Linz, choose between two fascinating excursions, a Salzburg tour or a “Silent Night” tour, that wonderfully combine history, culture and music. Take in some of Europe’s most noteworthy landmarks, including the imperial monuments of the Habsburgs in Vienna and the 900-year-old Melk Abbey. You’ll also observe graceful Lipizzaner stallions practicing at the Spanish Riding School, an iconic Austrian institution. — From $3,495

LEGENDS OF THE NILE DEC. 5-16, 2026

Tour Operator: AHI Thrill to Egypt’s eternal allure on this exciting 10-night adventure. Revel in the magnificence of ancient Egypt guided by a licensed, expert Egyptologist who accompanies you on all excursions. Enjoy five nights in Cairo, one night in Luxor and a four-night Nile cruise aboard the deluxe Sanctuar y Nile Adventurer on this small-group experience. You’ll wonder at the majestic Great Pyramids of Giza and step inside atmospheric tombs in the Valleys of the Kings and Queens. Stroll through the awe-inspiring Temples of Luxor and 48

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Karnak, take in glittering treasures at the renowned Egyptian Museum, and marvel at the colossal Great Temple of Ramses II carved out of a mountain in Abu Simbel. In Cairo, visit its venerable mosques, Coptic churches and colorful bazaars. You’ll also learn how antiquities are preserved at the Luxor research center of the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures of the University of Chicago. This active program features four flights within Egypt, including round trip to Abu Simbel; deluxe and first-class hotels; and an ample meal plan with wine at dinner. — From $7,245

WOLVES AND WILDLIFE OF YELLOWSTONE JAN. 23-29, 2027

Tour Operator: Orbridge Embark upon a thrilling wintertime expedition to Yellowstone National Park for a unique opportunity to witness packs of wolves in their pristine natural habitat. Aboard specially equipped vehicles that allow for both comfort and proximity to incredible wildlife, you’ll have a chance to view wolves, bison, elk, an array of bird species and other

Tour Operator: Orbridge Join us for a historical and cultural immersion into Egypt’s ancient treasures and timeless wonders. From iconic landmarks to architectural marvels that have captivated the world for millennia, this land of pharaohs and pyramids is undeniably a crucial part of human history. Among the countless highlights — you’ll embark upon a private dahabiya sailing the tranquil Nile River, gaining rare access to ruins and temples during less occupied times. On land, stay at five-star hotels, each a sanctuary of comfort and luxury. This unhurried journey reveals Egypt’s monumental historical events, staggering technological achievements and compelling human stories. — Price TBD

GREAT TRAINS AND GRAND CANYONS MARCH 7-12, 2027

Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt said the Grand Canyon is one of the great sights that every American should see, and that is exactly what you will do on this exciting travel program to Arizona. This travel experience combines American West highlights with the scenery of Grand Canyon National Park and the red rocks of Sedona, Native American history at the Montezuma Castle National Monument, and the Old West nostalgia of two train rides and five nights at a picturesque property in Sedona. Just north of Phoenix, Sedona is known for its upscale resorts, artist galleries and breathtaking red rock scenery, and is the perfect “home base” for this six-day adventure. — From $4,295, including airfare

2026 -27

TANZANIA WILDLIFE SAFARI MARCH 9-20, 2027

Tour Operator: Orbridge Embark on a transformative 12-day wildlife safari through the heart of East Africa, where Tanzania’s sun-drenched savannas provide a breathtaking stage for some of nature’s most extraordinary spectacles. With exceptional access to renowned national parks and reserves, you’ll encounter vibrant local traditions, a rich diversity of wildlife and three of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. Gaze upon the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro rising above the horizon, descend into the vast Ngorongoro Crater — home to a thriving ecosystem within its ancient volcanic walls — and witness the awe-inspiring Great Migration, as thousands of wildebeests and zebras thunder across the Serengeti Plains. — From $8,995

GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS MARCH 13-20, 2027

Tour Operator: Orbridge Nestled in the Pacific Ocean — at the confluence of three ocean currents — the Galápagos Islands are a haven for explorers, nature enthusiasts and those seeking a profound connection with the natural world. Join us on a transformative expedition voyage through these enchanting islands to celebrate life’s diversity and witness firsthand the stunning display of nature’s endless wonders. — From $6,395

Ponte Vecchio. At one of the city’s oldest cafés, delve into the social rituals behind Italy’s passion for coffee. You’ll also set off to take in the medieval splendor of Tuscan hill towns San Gimignano, Colle di Val d’Elsa and Siena. Sip Italy’s renowned Chianti wine in the breathtaking countryside, plus watch and learn as a local chef whips up an authentic Tuscan lunch. On this small-group experience, enjoy enrichment from expert guides and lecturers as well as a generous meal plan with wine at dinner. — From $4,395

CHARM OF THE AMALFI COAST APRIL 7-15, 2027

Tour Operator: AHI Behold the splendors of the Amalfi Coast on this incredible seven-night journey. From ancient ruins to sunswept coasts and enchanting towns, let this alluring slice of Italy seduce your senses. From your base in charming Vietri sul Mare, venture out to explore Amalfi and Positano, endearing villages perched majestically above the sea. Admire unspoiled vistas while cruising azure waters, and delve into fascinating legends at Herculaneum and Pompeii, frozen in time by the mudflows of Mount Vesuvius. Unravel history amid Paestum’s Greek temples and savor the region’s sensational cuisine, including olive oil and cheese tastings during a rural

Rebel Traveler

farm experience. Whether visiting the renowned National Archaeological Museum or discovering Old Naples, your Italian daydreams will come to life. This handcrafted, small-group journey features first-class accommodations and an extensive meal plan. Along the way, local experts share their knowledge of the region. — From $4,695

HOLLAND AND BELGIUM ALONG THE DUTCH WATERWAYS APRIL 23-MAY 1, 2027

Tour Operator: Gohagan Marvel at the many beautiful sights — and the striking works of art they inspired — along the Dutch waterways. This nine-day, eight-night trip aboard t he ne w ly bui lt, deluxe Amade u s Mira includes visits to four UNESCO World Heritage sites — the leafy canals of Amsterdam, windmills of Kinderdijk, historic city of Bruges and iconic belfries of Belgium. Enjoy walking tours of Nijmegen — the Netherlands’ oldest city — and Antwerp — Belgium’s largest city. Admire an enormous collection of Vincent van Gogh’s ar t. Watch hardworking craftspeople create the renowned Delft Blue porcelain and hear from locals about their lives and culture. Visit Keukenhof, known as the “Garden of Europe” — a breathtaking tapestry of color and fragrance when its more than 1,000 floral varieties reach full bloom in April and May. — From $4,495

FLORENCE MARCH 19-27, 2027

Tour Operator: AHI Experience the true essence of enchanting Florence during a quieter time of year on this delightful seven-night journey. Simply unpack once at your deluxe hotel and savor la dolce vita. Stroll through the city’s romantic piazzas and intimate streets, a veritable outdoor museum of Renaissance glories, and appreciate Michelangelo’s David and the Uffizi’s incomparable art. Admire the striking Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, topped by Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome, and cross the Arno River by way of the famed

Galápagos Islands S U M M E R 2026

Alumni News Sustaining Life Membership Program

he 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

Platinum: $1,000+

Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Abington III Mr. and Mrs. Holmes S. Adams Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Bailess Mr. and Mrs. John L. Barker Mr. and Mrs. Murray Beard Dr. J. Steven Blake Mr. and Mrs. David E. Brevard Mr. and Mrs. Lampkin Butts Mr. J. Truman Channell Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Clark Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Coleman Jr. Drs. Frank A. IV and Ann D. Critz Mr. Fred de Roode and Ms. Diane Olson Mr. and Mrs. Carl D. Deweese Mr. Shelby B. Drummond Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Eby Dr. Michael Ederer Mr. Mac Elliott Mr. and Mrs. S. Lawrence Farrington Ms. Mary G. Fontenot Mrs. Carolynne K. Fooshee Mr. and Mrs. William N. Fry IV Dr. and Mrs. Yancey Gillespie Mr. and Mrs. William W. Gresham III Dr. Bruce R. Guerdan Mr. Robert Andrew Harder Mr. and Mrs. Chris Harrell Mr. and Mrs. Samuel B. Haskell III Mr. and Mrs. Joe D. Havens Jr. Dr. James S. Hicks Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Holloway Mr. and Mrs. D.B. Holstein Mr. and Mrs. Leslie B. Lampton III Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Lusco Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Lyons Jr. Mr. Michael J. Maslanka Mr. and Mrs. William T. Mays Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David O. McCormick Mr. Patrick McNarny and *Mrs. Judith Allen Hines McNarny 50

A LU M N I R E V I E W

of several tax-deductible levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Blue and Red. These contributions are used to support necessary programs to engage Ole Miss alumni and friends and to help create

future alumni leaders through student involvement, scholarship and leadership programs. Thank you for your generous support of Ole Miss and the Alumni Association.

FY 2026 MEMBERS Mr. Jeffery M. Michael Hon. and Mrs. J. Walter Michel Mrs. Dorothy H. Miller Mr. Mark C. Mooneyhan Mr. and Mrs. A. Bruce Moore Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Paul H. Moore Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Crymes G. Pittman Mr. and Mrs. John R. Pittman Mr. and Mrs. John K. Purdom Mr. and Mrs. William N. Reed Dr. Silas Karrel Richmond II Ms. Donna Ruth Roberts Dr. Newell B. Robinson Mr. and Mrs. Philip M. Salemi Mr. and Mrs. David Z. Scruggs Mr. John Douglas Self Jr. Mr. Michael R. Sweet Mr. and Mrs. William F. Tait *Mr. John Herschel Thames Jr. and Mrs. Suzan Brown Thames Mrs. Betty B. Veazey Mr. Larry D. Weeden Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey J. White Dr. and Mrs. Lynn K. Whittington Mr. Kenneth W. Williams

Gold: $500-$999

Mr. Hirschel T. Abbott Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Olen S. Akers Ms. Carol Jo Barnes Dr. and Mrs. John R. Barnes Mr. and Mrs. Bill H. Benson Mr. Larry H. Bryan Mr. Phillip C. Burnett Mr. and Mrs. James O. Carpenter The Hon. and Ms. Mark J. Chaney Jr. Ms. Kathleen Cottingham Ms. Pamela J. Cox Lt. Col. and Mrs. Bryan A. Culipher Mr. William M. Dalehite Jr. Mr. Charles Hyde Davidson V

Mr. and Mrs. Woods E. Eastland Mr. Brooke Ferris Mrs. Jacqueline Fawcett Fogel Mr. and Mrs. Russell H. Folk Dr. William B. French Jr. Dr. Jane T. Gaede Mrs. Candace S. George Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey R. Godwin Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Haley III Dr. Julia Oxner Hall Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Holmes IV Mrs. Patricia S. Hopson The Hon. C. Delbert Hosemann Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey P. Hubbard Mr. David A. Huey Dr. William F. Keeton Mr. and Mrs. Vernon R. Kelley III Mrs. Jane F. Kirkpatrick Mrs. Gwen B. Langhart Mr. James S. Lee Mr. Joe Macione Jr. Mrs. Rhoda N. Maloney Mr. and Mrs. B. Michael Mauldin Prof. Martin C. McWilliams Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Guy W. Mitchell III Mr. Terrence B. Mohr Dr. and Mrs. Markeeva Andre Morgan Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Nance III Mr. Robert Raymond Palmer Dr. Thomas H. Pearson Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Nat W. Prestage Mr. and Mrs. Lee W. Randall Mr. and Mrs. William S. Rhea Mrs. Mary Jane Ridgway Mr. and Mrs. David G. Roach Mr. and Mrs. Larry Rocconi Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Samuels Mrs. Carol C. Satterfield Dr. Maria S. Scurria Mr. and Mrs. David C. Shaw Mr. and Mrs. W. Marion Smith

Alumni News

Mr. Hubert A. Staley Mr. Gerald B. Stephenson Ms. Kimberly Anne Tanner Mr. M. Kerwin Trussell Dr. Benjamin O. Weeks Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Sandy Williams

Silver: $250-$499

Dr. and Mrs. George E. Abraham II Mr. Richard K. Alger Dr. John J. Arnold Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Ayers Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Belenchia Mrs. Julia S. Bell Dr. Kaye W. Bender Mr. and Mrs. Gene W. Bennett Mr. and Mrs. David B. Blackburn Mr. E. Josh Bogen Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Barry G. Bouchillon Mr. and Mrs. R. Rodgers Brashier The Hon. Cynthia Lee Brewer Mrs. Jeanne Bennett Brinson Bishop Dr. Thomas L. Brown Sr. Dr. Michael S. Bumagin Dr. David K. Carter Mr. David H. Chapman Mr. B. Craig Clemmer Mr. Jason J. Cobb Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Augustus L. Collins Mr. Giles A. Coors III Mr. L. Pepper Cossar Mr. and Mrs. Noel D. Crook Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Cunningham Mr. Randy L. Dean Dr. and Mrs. David N. Duddleston Mr. Eric T. Duncan Jr. Mr. Robert E. Duncan Mrs. Rebecca F. Ehrlicher Mr. Joe M. Enoch Mr. Alan J. Ferguson Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Flenorl Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin P. Folk III Mr. Charles H. Frederick Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Don L. Frugé Mr. Tommy R. Funk Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Garraway Mr. Bruce J. Gray Mr. and Mrs. Heyward Carter Green Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Gresham Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Ben Griffith Dr. and Mrs. David L. Guyton Dr. Nancy M. and Mr. Joel C. Hale

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald A. Haley Michael and Tracey Hall Ms. Alice L. Hammond Mr. and Mrs. Fred M. Harrell Jr. Mrs. Peggy Y. Harris Dr. John F. Hassell Mr. H. Richard Hemmings Dr. and Mrs. Frank S. Hill Jr. Mr. Harold E. Hill Jr. Ms. Carol A. Hobby Hon. and Mrs. David W. Houston III Mrs. Trentice G. Imbler Mr. James H. Ivy Mrs. Elizabeth Commer Jaramillo Dr. Larry H. Killebrew Mr. and Mrs. Jerry L. Lee Dr. and Mrs. George H. Leggett III Mr. James A. Lesemann Jr. Mr. and Mrs. William H. Linginfelter Mr. and Mrs. Randall G. Long Mr. and Mrs. Samuel E. Long III Dr. and Mrs. William E. Loper III Mr. and Mrs. Robert Y. Love Jr. Mr. Leonard Lurie Dr. Robert A. Magarian Dr. Gregory E. Maksi Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Maples Hon. John N. Martin Mr. and Mrs. James A. McCullough II Mr. and Mrs. John S. McIntyre Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Eric A. McVey III Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Meek Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Moore Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Morlino Mrs. Linda M. Newell Mrs. Phyllis H. Nuckolls Mr. and Mrs. Rush O’Keefe *Mr. Steven Robert Osso and Mrs. Janie Y. Osso Mrs. Rebecca G. Pace Mr. Charles G. Perkins Dr. and Mrs. James W. Rayner Dr. Jeff W. Rish III Mr. and Mrs. James W. Robertson 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. Hubert E. Spears Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Gordon L. Stanfield Dr. Kate Stewart Dr. and Mrs. John C. Stitt

Dr. and Mrs. John H. Sumners Mr. Lee F. Thurner Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Treppendahl Jr. Mr. Dennis James Troy Mr. Vincent M. Tsin Mr. Duane Van Fleet Jr. Mrs. Margaret J. Varshock Ms. Misha Wynn Vause Mr. Charles E. Warren Dr. James E. Warrington Mr. Cecil L. Watkins Mr. Nathan C. White Mr. James E. Williamson Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Witty Mr. James B. Wolf Mr. Michael W. Wright and Mrs. Vickie M. Cook Dr. and Mrs. Travis W. Yates

Blue: $100-$249

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Abernethy III Dr. 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 D. Aldridge Mr. and Mrs. Samuel F. Alexander Mrs. Julia M. Austin Mr. Gary A. Avery Mrs. Sheri P. Bankston Mr. and Mrs. Harris H. Barnes III Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Beecroft *Mr. Roeland Tobin Bell Mr. Robert A. Biggs III Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Boland Dr. and Mrs. Wiley N. Boland Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Todd A. Boolos Mrs. Suzanne Boone Mr. and Mrs. James I. Brady Mr. and Mrs. Louis K. Brandt Mr. William E. Brent Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Ronald D. Brooks Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Broun III Mr. Ernie H. Brown Mr. and Mrs. James L. Brown Dr. L. Michael Brunt Mr. James Heath Bryant Jr. Mr. Lee T. Burch Mr. Raleigh H. Byars Mr. Thomas L. Callicutt Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Callicutt Mr. and Mrs. John S. Case S U M M E R 2026

Alumni News Mr. and Mrs. Gary S. Childers Eric and Karan Clark *Dr. Neal Garver Clement Mr. Ronald D. Collins Mr. Henry D. Colotta Drs. Charles L. and Rosemary M. Conlon Dr. Ann Homer Cook Mr. and Mrs. R. Steven Cox Dr. Camille Fly Dautrich Mr. Don S. Davidson Mr. William Joseph Dennis Mr. Ted Denstel Mr. Kenneth D. Dill Sr. Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Drinkwater Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Brandon R. Dunn Mr. David A. Eagleson Jr. Mr. Richard M. Edmonson Sr. Mr. William H. Edwards Jr. Mr. Xavier Omar Edwards Hon. and Mrs. Robert W. Elliott Sr. Dr. and Mrs. Richard B. Ellison Mr. Larry E. Eubank Ms. Trese A. Evans Mr. Thomas C. Farnsworth Jr. Mrs. Jeanie A. Favret Mrs. Weba Coward Ferguson The Hon. and Mrs. Webb Franklin Mrs. Penny B. Frazer Mrs. Janie H. Frierson Dr. Donald K. Gaddy Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Gates Dr. Peter R. Generelly Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Gex II Dr. and Mrs. Randel C. Gibson Mr. James H. Gilmer Mr. and Mrs. Brian H. Glahn Mr. Karl D. Gottschalk Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Grant Mrs. Mary Ann W. Griesbeck Dr. Ed J. Grisham Mr. and Mrs. Lowell E. Grisham Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Aaron K. Halford Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jerry M. Hall Ms. Barbara K. Hammond Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Hancock Jr. Mrs. Susan S. Harrison Mr. Jack 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. James William Hodges 52

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Holland Mrs. Dana Dallosta Horner Mrs. Ann Phillips Hough Mrs. Rita S. Howard Mr. and Mrs. John S. Howie Sr. The Hon. and Mrs. John N. Hudson Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Hutchins Jr. Mr. Frank M. Irby Dr. William A. Ivy Mrs. Rebecca K. Jabour Mrs. Deborah T. Johnson Dr. and Mrs. Ray E. Johnson The Hon. Vernita K. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Augustus R. Jones Mr. Ted Jones Dr. Thomas L. 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 D. King Mrs. Joy F. Kirchhoff Mr. Roosevelt Kitchens Mr. Malcolm S. Kretschmar Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Aaron C. Lambert Jr. Mr. James D. Lancaster Mr. Larry J. Landry Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John B. Laney Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David L. Lawrence Mr. and Mrs. Preston H. Lee Jr. Capt. and Mrs. R.K. Leedham Jr. Mr. Calvin W. Leggett Mr. Charles P. Leonard Mr. Carnell Lewis Mrs. Barbera Hollowell Liddon Mr. Hubert S. Lipscomb Jr. Mr. Joe Macione Jr. Mr. Donald A. Malmo Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Martin Mr. and Mrs. Scott T. Matlock Dr. Olin B. Mauldin Jr. Mr. William T. May and Mrs. Brett Thompson-May Mr. Dale H. McDavitt Mr. and Mrs. Earl G. McDonald Jr. Mrs. Daisye R. McGee Mr. William A. McGinnis Jr. Dr. David W. McKinney Dr. William T. McLarty Mrs. Mary Eliza McMillan Mr. William H. McMullen Mr. and Mrs. Floyd M. Melton Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Meredith Dr. Vernon Miller and Ms. Sheral Cade

Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey C. Mitchell Mr. Sammy L. Moon Jr. Mrs. Elizabeth L. Morgan Dr. and Mrs. Lee D. Morris *Mr. William Howard Morris Jr. and Mrs. Camille Morris Mrs. Margaret P. Morse Mr. Christian S. Mueller Mr. Thomas Munoz Jr. Mrs. Priscilla P. Musgrave Mr. Sherman Muths Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Christopher Norwood Mr. Robert J. Notestine III Mr. Tommy C. Pannell Mrs. Dorothy J. Pennington Dr. Anna Hemer Perrault Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Pointer Mrs. Anne Biles Ponder Mrs. Camille S. Puckett Mr. and Mrs. Christopher S. Purser Mr. Jimmie Gerald Purvis Mrs. Lori L. Raines Mr. and Mrs. William M. Renovich Mr. and Mrs. Jim Ricks Mr. William Robert Roberts Dr. and Mrs. Gerald M. Robertson Dr. Tommie L. Robinson Jr. Mrs. Merrell Rogers Dr. Walter H. Rose *Mr. William James Ross III and Mrs. Anita Jo Ross Dr. Jerry M. Rowzee Mr. Bernard L. Royce Dr. Mark E. Schandorff Mr. Eugene R. Schnierle Mr. John Richard Schwalje Mr. Frank Seid Jr. *Mr. Robert Sydney Shaw and Mrs. Barbara G. Shaw Mrs. Lisa Puckett Sinders The Hon. Constance Slaughter-Harvey Dr. Patsy S. Sledge Mr. William K. Smith Mr. John A. Snyder Mr. Charles B. Sobers Capt. Jack F. Speed Jr. Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Spiers Jr. The Hon. and Mrs. S.R. Steckler Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Storey Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James E. Strawbridge Dr. and Mrs. William Strickland Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey B. Strouse Mr. Richard H. Sweat Mr. Stanley M. Swentkowski

The

only thing we overlook is the

Grove.

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

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

tradition

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

Alumni News Mr. and Mrs. Denny Terrell Mrs. Mary Evalyn A. Thomas Ms. Pat Thomasson Mrs. Lucy M. Thompson Mrs. Rebecca Allen Thompson Ms. Julia H. Thornton Mr. and Mrs. James T. Threadgill Dr. Ancel C. Tipton Jr. Mrs. Pamelia T. Tisdale Mr. and Mrs. William C. Trotter III Mr. Bill P. Tucker Mr. Robert D. Underwood Lt. Col. and Mrs. Ronald J. Vaughan Mr. James S. Verplanck Mrs. Jeanine Ogletree Walker Mr. William L. Wallace III Mr. and Mrs. Gregory P. Ware Drs. Joseph W. and Andrea L. Wesley Mr. James H. Wheeler Jr. Dr. William E. Wheeler Mrs. Anne J. Wilbourne Mr. Dan S. Wilford Mr. Ned B. Wilford Mr. A. Thomas Williams

Mr. and Mrs. Vance L. Witt Mr. Neil B. Yarrington Mr. Patrick H. Zachary

Red: $1-$99

Mr. Ronald S. Anderson Mr. Alex Anthony Beene Mr. J. Michael Blackburn Mr. and Mrs. Bub Brannan Mr. Richard Malcolm Caldwell Ms. Wanda Lawrence Carmichael Mr. James E. Carr Mrs. Desiree P. Casey Mr. and Mrs. Danny M. Cayson Mr. George L. Chamberlain Jr. Ms. Sue C. Dabbs *Mr. Alvin Douglas Davis Dr. Mike L. Edmonds Dr. Thomas C. Evans Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Gray M. Fowler Mrs. Jeanne C. Gillis Mr. John W. Glenn Mr. J. Rush Hicks Jr. Mr. Dennis J. Hogan

MISSISSIPPI IN NEW YORK

Mrs. Vera Louise Jones Mr. Robert E. Leigh III Mr. and Mrs. Eddie K. Lindsey Mr. and Mrs. Irvin L. Martin Jr. Dr. Teresa Rowley McDaniel Mrs. Arda McMullan Mr. Rounsaville Smith McNeal Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Metzger Mrs. Ruth T. Murdock Mr. and Mrs. Glen A. Murphy Mrs. Meredith McBee Page Ms. Deborah A. Pierce Mrs. Bridgett Brannon Posey Mr. and Mrs. Jesse W. Quillen Mrs. Susan Stribling Sbarra Ms. Clark H. Taylor Dr. Dwight L. Tays Lt. Col. Billy B. Trimble, USAF (Ret.) Mr. Leon C. Tubbs Mr. James Allen Turner Mr. and Mrs. L.K. Watt Jr. Mr. Henry L. Wilson Mr. and Mrs. Jerome W. Wilson Jr. *Deceased

Submitted photo

Ole Miss alumni and friends in New York celebrated the 39th Mississippi in the Park on Saturday, June 6, in Hudson River Park. 54

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Alumni News

Class Notes

’60s

CHARLIE MERKEL (BA 64, JD

66), managing member of Merkel & Cocke PA in Clarksdale, was inducted into the University of Mississippi School of Law Alumni Hall of Fame. CHARLIE SWAYZE (BBA 66, JD 69), part-

ner at Whittington, Brock & Swayze PA in Greenwood, was inducted into the University of Mississippi School of Law Alumni Hall of Fame. WILLIAM G. YATES (BSCVE 63, JD 65), of

Philadelphia, was inducted into the Mississippi Top 100 Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a lifetime of outstanding service, leadership and dedication to Mississippi.

’70s

BARRY ALLEN (BBA 70), of Lou-

isville, Kentucky, retired as president and CEO of the Gheens Foundation Inc. in October.

MARK CHINN (JD 78), founding attor-

ney at Chinn & Associates PC in Jackson, received the Mississippi Bar’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the association’s annual meeting. DENNIS J. KEOUGH (JD 74), retired judge

in the Orange County Superior Court in Orange, California, was inducted into the University of Mississippi School of Law Alumni Hall of Fame. DAVID MCCORMICK (BBA 77, JD 80), mem-

ber at Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & McCormick PA in Pascagoula, was named the University of Mississippi School of Law’s Alumnus of the Year at its luncheon held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Mississippi Bar. DAVID NELSON (BBA 77), of Eau Claire,

Wisconsin, was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the

Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative and Hospital at the community cooperative’s annual meeting in June. DAVID NUTT (BA 70, JD 71), founder of

David Nutt & Associates PC in Ridgeland, was inducted into the University of Mississippi School of Law Alumni Hall of Fame.

’80s

ROD BARNES ( B BA 8 8 ) , o f

Itawamba, was named the new men’s basketball head coach at Itawamba Community College. DAVID CASE (BA 85, JD 88), professor of

law at the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, was named a fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.

MAJ. GEN. (RET) AUGUSTUS L. COLLINS

(BBA 82), of Madison, presented the keynote address at the 98th annual commencement of Jones College on May 8.

S U M M E R 2026

Alumni News SCOTT COOPWOOD (BA 84), of Cleveland,

was named to the 2026 class of the Mississippi Top 100, which recognizes leaders in business, government, culture and media in the state. MICHAEL FOUNTAIN (BS 85), of Springfield,

Virginia, retired after more than 40 years of service with the Defense Mapping Agency, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. KENNETH C. JOHNSTON (BBA 88, JD 91),

of Dallas, and his boutique litigation firm, Johnston Clem Gifford, joined the Dallas office of Phelps to support the business and litigation needs of financial services and corporate clients across Texas and the southwestern U.S.

’90s

JERRY BARTON (MAccy 95), of

Southaven, was appointed to the Transportation Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for a three-year term. He is vice president of corporate strategy, financial planning and analysis for AutoZone Inc. CHRISTOPHER COLA (BAccy 97, MTax 98),

of Houston, Texas, was named chief financial officer of Detmar Logistics.

TONY LAWRENCE (JD 90), judge on the

Managed Care Pharmacy’s Pharmacist of the Year for 2025-26 at a recent conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

also named a fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.

STEVE MONTAGNET (JD 95), partner with

with Bass, Berry & Sims PLC in Memphis, received the Leading Edge Award from the University of Mississippi School of Law.

McCraney Montagnet Quin & Noble PLLC in Ridgeland, was named a fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.

WINNYE WILKS (BPA 90), of Charlotte,

North Carolina, was promoted to vice president of human resources for North America at Allied Universal.

’00s

of Philadelphia, Mississippi, is retiring from law enforcement after 25 years of service.

PhD 05), of Oxford, was named interim superintendent of the Oxford School District, effective July 1. McConnell was the former executive director of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. ERIC MCKINLEY (BSPh 99, PharmD 01),

of Brandon, was named the Academy of 56

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Texas, won the Youth and Education category at the 2026 Austin Under 40 Awards.

appointed U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. MAJ. MAURTICE MILLS (BSME 16), of Bal-

Glover, Young, Hammack, Walton & Simmons PLLC in Meridian, was named a fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.

timore, was named Marine Corps Aviator of the Year. The award, also known as the Alfred Cunningham Award, honors the top Marine pilot for excellence and achievement.

ALEX DEAN JACKSON (BA 09), of St. Louis,

CHRIS PRESLEY (BA 12), of Dallas, grad-

KACEY BAILEY (JD 06), attorney with

Missouri, was promoted to senior managing director of development at Washington University.

ELI MANNING (BBA 03), of Summit, New

GERMAIN MCCONNELL (BSEE 97, MA 00,

15), of Traverse City, Michigan, was appointed county clerk of Grand Traverse County.

BAXTER KRUGER (BA 10), of Jackson, was

WILLIAM ANDERSON (BA 01),

BROOK LESTER (BAccy 96, JD 99), of Mem-

with Mayo Mallette PLLC in Oxford, was named a fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.

SAMUEL GEDMAN (MA 13, PhD

ASHLEY GLOVER (BSW 11), of Austin,

Madison, joined the law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. Williams is based in the Jackson office.

Mississippi Court of Appeals in Jackson, was named a fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.

JOHN MAYO (BSGE 98, JD 06), attorney

’10s

ROGER WILLIAMS (BAccy 93, JD 96), of

CLARK C. LUKE (BAccy 07, MTax 08, JD 10),

phis, Tennessee, was named president of Diversified Trust, effective Jan. 1, 2027. Lester has led the Memphis office as managing principal.

JORDAN THOMAS (BA 09, JD 21), associate

of Jackson, joined the law office of Bradley as a partner in tax and trusts and estates.

Jersey, was inducted into the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in June.

AUSTIN NEAL (BS 09), of Nashville, Ten-

nessee, received the Executive of the Year award at Billboard Country Power Players 2026. JAMIL NORTHCUTT (BSES 03, MA 04, PhD

13), of West Orange, New Jersey, was named executive director of the Players Alliance, a nonprofit organization composed of current and former professional baseball players. JOHN ROUSE (MBA 01), partner at Phelps

Dunbar LLP in Jackson, received the Mississippi Bar’s Distinguished Service Award at the association’s annual meeting. He was

uated with a Ph.D. in higher education administration from St. Louis University.

CHRISTINA SEANOR (BA 11, JD 14), senior

counsel at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLC in Jackson, assumed the office of president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar at the association’s annual meeting. JESS WALTMAN (BAccy 13, JD 16), member

at Gordon, Arata, Montgomery, Barnett, McCollam, Duplantis & Eagan LLC in New Orleans, was presented the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award by the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar at the association’s annual meeting.

’20s

CHANNING CURTIS (BA 20, JD

23), associate with Phelps Dunbar LLP in Jackson, received the Leading Edge Award from the University of Mississippi School of Law. MATTHEW LEMPKE (PhD 24), of Cairo, Geor-

gia, accepted a position as an assistant professor of history at Brewton-Parker Christian University in Mount Vernon, Georgia.

Alumni News BIRTHS

Della Rae, daughter of Savannah Nychole Dye (BS 21, MS 23) and Ryan Michael Dye, April 7, 2026

Anastasia Emmaline, daughter of Lauren Diane Flom (BGS 18) and Nicholas Flom, Oct. 30, 2025

WEDDINGS

Mary Helen Barber (BA 02) and Chad Harrison Stuck, Oct. 5, 2025

Macey Marith Crowder (BAccy 22) and Matthew James Howell (BSLS 22), April 11, 2026 Annette Sloan Feigler (BAEd 21, MEd 24) and Mason Thomas Givens, July 25, 2026 Stephanie Claire Mortimer (BS 22, MBA 23) and John Palmer Miles (BSME 22, MS 24), April 11, 2026

Katherine Elise Purdom (BA 21) and Michael Reid Fracchia (BA 20, MS 22), April 11, 2026 Bethany Grace Stanfill (BBA 12) and Kerry Neal Ricks Jr. (BGS 17), Dec. 13, 2025

Jamie Reed Taylor and Jordan Morrison Coopwood (BBA 18), June 13, 2026

IN MEMORIAM 1940s

Doris Johns Allen (BA 48), of Jackson, April 3, 2026 Jacqueleene Bowen Dobbins (BS 49), of Chapel Hill, N.C., April 17, 2026 Betty Bobo Pearson (BA 43), of Davis, Calif., May 26, 2026 Clarence Othello Turner III (44), of Memphis, Tenn., May 12, 2026

1950s

Betty Jane Adams (BSN 59), of Oxford, June 6, 2026 John Thomas Asters (59), of Martin, Ga., March 28, 2026 Baptist Frank Boetto (BBA 53), of Hoffman Estates, Ill., Oct. 5, 2025 Virginia Houston Buchanan (BSC 58), of Hickman, Neb., March 31, 2026 Ralph David Davison (BA 54), of Richmond, Va., March 17, 2026 Jo Ann Scott Denley (BAEd 57), of Bruce, March 29, 2026 James William DeRuiter (BA 56, BS 58, MD 60), of Lynn Haven, Fla., May 25, 2026 Joseph James Diefenbach (BSHPE 59), of Interlaken, N.J., April 2, 2026 William Robert Dyer (BA 59, MA 60), of Fort Edward, N.Y., April 12, 2026

BECAUSE DETAILS MATTER Precision printing that makes every impression count. At Hederman Brothers, the difference is never just ink on paper—it’s the details behind it. From color accuracy and sharp registration to paper selection, finishing, and consistency, every step matters. That’s why we approach every job with precision, process, and care—so your brand looks exactly the way it should, every time.

Whether it’s short-run digital, large-scale production, complex custom projects, or large format printing, our focus stays the same: quality you can see, reliability you can trust, and results that represent your business at its best. Because when your name is on it, the details matter.

M A D I S O N , M I S S I S S I P P I 39110

601-853-730 0

H E D E R M A N .COM

S U M M E R 2026

Alumni News

Fabulous Fan Base Ole Miss fans gathered in force for the College World Series tailgate party at the Blur Tailgate at Hilton Omaha.

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Alumni News David Warren Fay (BBA 57, MBA 57), of Springfield, Mo., April 10, 2026 Sarah Doss Fowler (BBA 50), of Hattiesburg, Feb. 26, 2026 Carl Bradley Gardner (BBA 59), of Harrison, Tenn., April 12, 2026 Alton Keith Gilbert (BSCvE 51), of Redmond, Wash., March 4, 2026 Martha Jean Norment Gould (BA 52), of Nashville, Tenn., March 14, 2026 John Allen Hall, USAF (Ret.) (BA 55), of Bainbridge, Ga., April 19, 2026 Barbara Marshall Lott (BSHPE 57), of Petal, May 2, 2026 Frank Anderson Love Jr. (BSChE 59), of Atlanta, Ga., May 5, 2026 Bettye Higdon McCay (51), of Jackson, June 21, 2026 Charles Richard McFadden Jr. (BBA 51), of Hot Springs Village, Ark., Jan. 23, 2026 Sara Murphey Megehee (BA 54), of Gulf Shores, Ala., May 4, 2026 Billie Anne Grigsby Moore (BA 52, MA 59), of Pascagoula, May 12, 2026 Anna Burch Wheeler (BA 53), of Fulton, June 24, 2026

1960s

James Larvis Baker (BBA 64), of Corinth, April 11, 2026 Jeptha Fowlkes Barbour III (BBA 62), of Yazoo City, June 20, 2026 Wiley Johnson Barbour (JD 67), of Benton, June 3, 2026 Thomas Cary Beane Sr. (LLB 64), of Jacksonville, Fla., June 13, 2026 Jerry Bonds Beck Sr. (BBA 69), of Holly Springs, April 6, 2026

Marilyn Zane Wood Black (BS 60), of Clarksville, Tenn., May 25, 2026 Suzanne Crosby Brown (BA 62), of Memphis, Tenn., April 17, 2026 Mary Abbott Caldwell (MCS 68), of Charleston, Tenn., May 13, 2026 Pomp Temple Carney (MD 68), of Baldwyn, May 26, 2026 Bennett Chotard (BBA 67), of Ridgeland, May 5, 2026 Hugh Lavon Cole (BSPh 62), of Gulf Breeze, Fla., June 16, 2026 Charles Louis Cottingham (BA 60, MCS 65), of Brenham, Texas, May 22, 2026 Mary Pat Coley Custer (BA 61), of Memphis, Tenn., April 5, 2026 Henry Joe Di Stefano (MEd 62), of Tampa, Fla., April 13, 2026 Virna Ruth Alexander Doyle (BA 65), of Memphis, Tenn., April 29, 2026 Alma Claire Gillis Dugger (BAEd 69), of Biloxi, May 29, 2026 James Russell Dumas Jr. (66), of Prentiss, April 9, 2026 James Harold Files (MS 63), of Houston, Texas, May 22, 2026 James Steveson Franks Jr. (MS 69), of Ocean Springs, April 15, 2026 Norma Winborn Garrett (MEd 69), of New Albany, June 21, 2026 Robert Alford Gilchrist Sr. (63), of Jackson, May 3, 2026 Fayrene Webb Gillespie (BAEd 68, MEd 74), of Oxford, April 27, 2026 Raymond Henry Gorman Jr. (MCS 62), of Palmetto Bay, Fla., Nov. 27, 2025 William Lee Helms (BSME 68), of Coldspring, Texas, June 9, 2025 Colquitt Keeling Hicks (BBA 61), of Germantown, Tenn., April 16, 2026

to p 2 5

MBA PROGRAM FOR

VET ERANS*

ONLINE MBA “The flexibility of the program allowed me to apply what I learned directly to my job daily, making the education immediately relevant and practical.” Dallas Coyne of Nashville Project Manager with Stansell Electric

Just two years to earn the advanced degree you need Flexible format designed for busy professionals in diverse industries. GMAT/GRE waivers for professionals with 5+ years work experience. Rolling admission for spring, summer, and fall cohorts.

ONLINE.OLEMISS.EDU/MYMBA mba@olemiss.edu | 662-915-5483 * 2026 U.S. News and World Report “Best MBA programs for Veterans.” S U M M E R 2026

Alumni News John Lewis Highsmith (MCS 62), of Jacksonville, Fla., April 12, 2026 Raymond Eugene Himes Jr. (BA 68), of Bradyville, Tenn., May 14, 2026 Bradford Weldon Hovious (BSHPE 69, MEd 70), of Nashville, Tenn., April 7, 2026 Homer Lamar Howard Jr. (BA 62), of Ridgeland, April 8, 2022 Evelyn Shaw Hurdle (65), of Oxford, April 9, 2026 Beth Boswell Jacks (MEd 67), of Cleveland, May 10, 2026 Jimmy Smith Jackson (BSPh 67), of Garner, N.C., May 19, 2026 William Henry Keener Jr. (BA 67), of Birmingham, Ala., April 19, 2026 Shirley Jeanne Sneed Keith (BAEd 62), of Farmington, N.M., June 5, 2026 Charlotte Ann Dossett Kinard (65), of Ridgeland, Dec. 8, 2025 John Major Kinard Sr. (BBA 66, JD 70), of Oxford, June 22, 2026 Nancy Stennis Kitts (69), of Alabaster, Ala., June 14, 2026 Ronnie Eugene LeMay (60), of Greenville, May 2, 2026 John William Lowery (BBA 67), of Jackson, May 20, 2026 Russell Ray Lyle (MD 69), of Ridgeland, June 29, 2026 James Stewart MacDonald (BPA 65, JD 72), of Denver, Colo., April 25, 2026 Velia Ann Mayer (BA 65, JD 68), of Madison, May 16, 2026 Thomas Joseph McDonald Sr. (MD 64), of Tupelo, May 31, 2026 James Gary Moore (BBA 66), of Brandon, May 5, 2026 William Howard Morris Jr. (BBA 64), of Jackson, April 21, 2026 Gladys Augusta Nelson (BA 64), of Madison, March 24, 2026 William Mayhew Nunley (BBA 67), of Laurel, May 22, 2026 Dennis John O’Callaghan (PhD 69), of Shreveport, La., March 30, 2026 Randolph Grant Pleasant (BBA 64), of Indianapolis, Ind., April 24, 2026 Otis Glenn Poole Sr. (63), of Hattiesburg, June 14, 2026 Barbara Camp Randle (BM 69, MEd 71), of Tupelo, May 30, 2026 Stephen Wales Rimmer (BBA 65, JD 72), of Madison, April 29, 2026 Karen Dawson Robertson (BSC 63), of Canton, Ga., March 6, 2026 Ann Pitts Rollins (BA 60), of Monroe, La., May 10, 2026 Louis Arnold Rubenstein (MD 67), of Ocean Springs, June 13, 2026 James Louis Rueff Jr. (BBA 63), of FPO, May 1, 2026 William Lee Sanders Jr. (BBA 63), of Columbus, April 12, 2026 Robert William Saul Jr. (BSME 63), of Montgomery, Ohio, April 12, 2026 Sherolyn Crook Smith (BAEd 61), of Manhattan Beach, Calif., March 21, 2026 Thomas Greene Smith (BBA 69), of Oxford, June 5, 2026 Jimmy Gray Smithson (MEd 67), of Johnson City, Tenn., March 12, 2026 Karen Luebke Stewart (BAEd 68), of Tupelo, April 27, 2026 George Lawrence Stone (MCS 69), of Rexburg, Idaho, March 20, 2026 Monroe David Tate II (BSCvE 62, LLB 63), of Picayune, June 28, 2026 Billy Gene Tatum (MS 61), of Cleveland, June 17, 2026 Emma Tramel Taylor (Cert 61), of Water Valley, March 26, 2026 Nancy Richardson Taylor (MFA 69), of Scottsdale, Ariz., April 27, 2026 John Herschel Thames Jr. (BA 65), of Ridgeland, May 26, 2026 Douglas Walter Tillery (63), of Laurel, May 11, 2026 60

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Thomas Haltom Walman (BPA 66, JD 69), of Oxford, April 4, 2026 Glover Chichester Warner (BBA 64), of Ridgeland, April 29, 2026 Kelly George Weems Jr. (BA 61), of Chapel Hill, N.C., April 19, 2026 Jesse Lamar White Jr. (BA 66), of Chapel Hill, N.C., April 17, 2026 William Rodney White (BSHPE 62, MEd 63), of Gainesville, Ga., May 24, 2026 Kenneth James Wiltshire (BSEE 65), of Palm Bay, Fla., April 21, 2026 Suzanne Rau Wolfe (BA 63), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., May 24, 2026 Camille Shephard Yahm (BA 60), of Decatur, Ga., May 28, 2026

1970s

George Thomas Adams (BBA 78), of Baton Rouge, La., June 1, 2026 Velma Lue Anderson-Randle (MEd 76, MEd 78), of San Mateo, Calif., May 7, 2026 Stephen Kenn Beeman (BA 77), of Starkville, June 7, 2026 Mary Louise Sartor Bell (MEd 79), of Oxford, June 2, 2026 Robert Michael Birrenkott (PhD 76), of Tampa, Fla., April 5, 2026 Glenda Louise Black (MA 71), of French Camp, March 29, 2026 Claude Hoke Burrow (MD 73), of Boulder, Colo., May 30, 2026 William Allison Busby III (BSEE 77), of Richmond Hill, Ga., May 11, 2026 Walter Scott Carter III (MEd 72, PhD 78), of Dadeville, Ala., March 28, 2026 Peter Kun-Hai Chiu (PhD 75), of Princeton Junction, N.J., April 19, 2026 James Russell Clark (BBA 78), of Clinton, June 5, 2026 Connie Darlene Coleman (MEd 73), of Lorman, May 10, 2026 Lee Sorrels Coleman (BPA 71, JD 73), of West Point, May 27, 2026 Rosemary Graham Comer (MLS 75), of New Albany, June 17, 2026 Catherine Burke Crews (BFA 79), of Oxford, May 18, 2026 William Howard Dawson Jr. (BSHPE 72), of Woodleaf, N.C., May 10, 2026 Grace Lehman DePoyster (MEd 79), of Corinth, May 23, 2026 William Fred Early II (BSChE 72, MS 75), of Cypress, Texas, March 29, 2026 Andrew J. Eaton (BBA 79), of Jackson, June 15, 2026 Jennifer Jane Fog (MA 74, PhD 79), of Claremont, Calif., April 26, 2026 Alan Oxford Friedman (BA 77), of Long Island City, N.Y., June 9, 2026 Holice Odell Gilliland Jr. (BAEd 77, MEd 79, SpecEd 83), of Franklin, Tenn., May 15, 2026 Samuel Dexter Givhan Jr. (BA 72, MA 81, PhD 88), of Monticello, Ark., April 16, 2026 Linda Diane Carver Greer (BS 78, MEd 93), of Holly Springs, April 19, 2026 Frederick Lee Ham (MCS 71), of Marshall, Mich., May 5, 2026 Robert Michael Hamric (BBA 74), of Germantown, Tenn., June 20, 2026 Lawrence Graham Hancock (BSHPE 72), of Tupelo, May 26, 2026 William Millard Hubbard (BA 79), of Port Gibson, June 1, 2026 Don Lee Huneycutt (DA 74), of Jackson, Tenn., June 2, 2026 Thomas Edward Ingram (MD 75), of Jackson, April 14, 2026

Alumni News Pamela Cummings Ivey (BM 74, MM 77), of Oxford, May 14, 2026 Larry Lee Jaques (EdD 73), of Athens, Texas, May 15, 2026 James Ronald Jenkins (MEd 73), of San Antonio, Texas, March 30, 2026 Marcus Claude Jennings III (BBA 72), of Rockledge, Fla., April 1, 2026 Mara Jean Johnson (BA 76), of Richland, May 26, 2026 Jerry Jones (72), of Franklin, Tenn., Feb. 24, 2026 Kerry Donald Jones (BAEd 75), of Mantachie, March 20, 2026 Billie Rhea King (76), of Inverness, May 21, 2026 Crane Davis Kipp (BBA 72, JD 75), of Jackson, May 21, 2026 Gaylon Ray Koon (BSHPE 78), of Brandon, May 12, 2026 James Riley Lane III (PhD 75), of Columbus, April 20, 2026 Douglas Edward Levanway (JD 79), of Jackson, May 24, 2026 Emery Hershel Lott (BSPh 72), of Greenville, March 26, 2026 Nina Dunnam Lott (79), of Mount Pleasant, S.C., April 15, 2026 William Niles Lovelady Jr. (BBA 70, JD 74), of Oxford, May 3, 2026 Beth Allen Lyon (BS 70), of Oxford, June 16, 2026 Robert Abide Malouf Sr. (JD 78), of Ridgeland, Dec. 26, 2025 Mary Margaret Mansour (BS 79), of Greenville, March 31, 2026 Jolly Walter Matthews III (JD 71), of Hattiesburg, June 25, 2026 Randall Whit Miller (BPA 75), of Ripley, June 19, 2026 Celia Diana Fowler Moen (MBEd 70), of Fargo, N.D., April 7, 2026 Madeline Phillips Morris (69), of Canton, March 16, 2026 Roland Edward Mullins Jr. (BSPh 73), of Biloxi, March 30, 2026 Laura Katherine Waren Newell (BAEd 75), of Brandon, March 30, 2026 Steven Robert Osso (BBA 76), of Greenville, May 16, 2026 Mary Rogers Owens (MEd 74), of Oxford, April 4, 2026 George Michael Ozborn (MD 75), of Hixson, Tenn., April 28, 2026 Richard Wayne Pitner (74), of Birmingham, Ala., May 13, 2026 William David Porter II (BSCvE 71), of Germantown, Tenn., June 24, 2026 John William Prewitt Jr. (BPA 75), of Vicksburg, May 4, 2026 Scarlett Windham Reeder (BAEd 73, MEd 78), of Atlanta, Ga., May 22, 2026 Thomas Avery Seeman (MCS 70), of Crystal Lake, Ill., May 28, 2026 Judson Don Sharp (BSME 76), of Ridgeland, June 2, 2026 Alva Larry Simmons (MD 77), of Little Rock, Ark., May 17, 2026 Louise Sanders Smith (BSC 73), of Rio Rancho, N.M., March 23, 2026 Eugene Carroll Stone III (BA 71, JD 74), of Seabrook, S.C., April 15, 2026 Dennis Casler Tool (BA 72), of Charlotte, N.C., March 25, 2026 Aza Lee Upton (MEd 76), of Itta Bena, April 16, 2026 Beverly Sanders Urbanek (BAEd 72, MLS 75), of Oxford, April 4, 2026 Julia Fancher Vickery (BSPh 75), of Ocean Springs, June 14, 2026 Allen West Vowell Jr. (BSPh 76), of Quitman, June 16, 2026 Vonda Fay Walters (BS 79), of Hattiesburg, April 24, 2026 Gwendolyn Sue Barlow Weeks (MEd 75), of Algoma, June 30, 2026 Jesse Glen Wilkerson (BBA 76), of Rogers, Ark., May 17, 2026 Wanda Partlow Williams (MEd 79), of Franklin, Tenn., June 20, 2026 Henry Wen Lung Wu (MS 74), of Houston, Texas, May 8, 2026 Wanda Denette Yarber (BA 78, MSP 79), of Murfreesboro, Tenn., March 18, 2026 Sidney Cecil Yates (BSPh 76), of Meridian, May 27, 2026

S U M M E R 2026

Alumni News 1980s

Abraham Aina Andero (SpecEd 85), of Leesburg, Ga., June 5, 2026 Cheryl Denise Conlee (BSCS 88), of Oxford, May 9, 2026 Sharon Paulette Courtney (BA 87), of New Orleans, La., May 21, 2026 Thomas Craig Derian (MD 81), of Chapel Hill, N.C., June 4, 2026 Rebecca Parker Fairly (BS 82), of Brandon, June 30, 2026 Juston Gaines Gates Jr. (BAEd 88), of Forsyth, Mo., April 23, 2026 Michael Gordon (BSCS 80), of DeSoto, Texas, April 27, 2026 Robert Brooks Helfrich (JD 85), of Hattiesburg, March 31, 2026 Laura Hollis Holleman (BAEd 82), of Gulfport, April 24, 2026 George Christopher Hurst (BSPh 81, PharmD 96), of West Point, June 19, 2026 Vera Parker Irving (MEd 84), of Lizella, Ga., April 6, 2026 Richelle Schroeder Kubicki (BSPh 81), of Georgetown, Texas, March 18, 2026 Deborah Duncan Mann (BSW 83), of Oxford, June 25, 2026 William Marion McGough Jr. (MD 81), of Reidsville, N.C., June 13, 2026 Lisa Kittrell Meeks (BS 85), of West Memphis, Ark., June 7, 2026 Donald Roy Miller (BBA 82), of Oxford, April 14, 2026 Francis Holt Montgomery Jr. (JD 85), of Oxford, April 3, 2026 Marianna Davis Nichols (BAccy 84), of Adamsville, Tenn., March 21, 2026 Marvin Ray Paseur (PhD 88), of Kosciusko, May 26, 2026 Robert Ray Pearson (BA 88, MA 95), of Kosciusko, May 20, 2026 Calvin Philip Poole Jr. (MD 80), of Brandon, May 19, 2026 Dicky Robertson (BBA 81), of Brandon, June 17, 2026 Gerald Byron Sanders Jr. (80), of Memphis, Tenn., April 8, 2026 David Paul Sirera (BBA 81, JD 84), of New Orleans, La., April 25, 2026 Chip Sullivan (BBA 87), of Metairie, La., March 20, 2026 James Vernor Sullivan Jr. (EdD 80), of Oxford, April 14, 2026 Gregory Levett Sykes (BBA 88, MAccy 95, MBA 95), of Grenada, April 25, 2026 Andrew Roane Townes Jr. (BBA 86), of Ridgeland, May 11, 2026 Ben Turbeville (BBA 83), of Jackson, April 26, 2026 Jerry Ray Walters (BBA 88), of Olive Branch, April 29, 2026

1990s

Carlos Remereious Clark (BA 93, MA 96, PhD 03), of Westtown, Pa., April 30, 2026 Robert Lloyd Cole (BSHPE 90), of Meridian, April 29, 2026 William Ned DeJournett (DA 99, MA 18), of Cookeville, Tenn., May 12, 2026 Curtis Lee Donald (BA 96), of Columbus, June 15, 2026 Charla Henry Gregory (BSFCS 96), of Oxford, March 16, 2026 David Wayne Holden (BA 91), of Miramar Beach, Fla., June 20, 2026 Rhonda Bryant Jackson Smith (MEd 96), of Blue Mountain, June 11, 2026 Steven Shea Jones (BSPh 97), of Durham, N.C., May 4, 2026 Vincent Craig Jordan (MEd 97, 11), of Dumas, March 21, 2026 Lisa Brown Martin (BSPh 93), of Memphis, Tenn., May 9, 2026 62

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Ruth Wilson Palmer (92), of Hamilton, Ala., June 21, 2026 Natalie Fields Phillips (MD 99), of Alexandria, La., April 8, 2026 Milton Benjamin Roach (BBA 91), of Jackson, March 15, 2026 Anna Catherine Hays Rowsey (BSPh 90), of Bartlett, Tenn., June 2, 2026 Jimmie Harold Short (BBA 91), of Baldwyn, June 8, 2026 Melody Brown Terrell (BBA 91), of Oxford, March 15, 2026 Brent Alan Walters (BBA 91), of Dallas, Texas, March 12, 2026 Robert Ray Wells (BSCvE 91, MS 95), of Water Valley, April 25, 2026

2000s

Suzanne McGrath Barichivich (MEd 08), of New Orleans, La., March 24, 2026 Jennifer Olivia Hall (08), of Oxford, May 14, 2026 Lisa Stanley Johns (JD 00), of Memphis, Tenn., June 1, 2026 Joseph Andrew Johnson (PhD 05), of Oxford, April 29, 2026 Jametric Latraile Judson (BSCJ 06), of Water Valley, June 24, 2026 Laura Elizabeth Rogers (PhD 05), of Collierville, Tenn., March 16, 2026 Michael Joseph Schneider (BBA 08), of Roswell, Ga., June 18, 2026 Jarrod Kyle Spencer (BBA 09), of Senatobia, March 21, 2026 Angela Lee Taylor (BSFCS 03), of Florence, Ky., May 1, 2026

2010s

John William Barringer III (BBA 18, MBA 19), of Nashville, Tenn., March 24, 2026 Robert Eugene Barton II (BBA 18), of Okolona, June 7, 2026 Dustin Richard Belk (BAEd 10), of Olive Branch, May 7, 2026 Jakeria Blount (18), of Jackson, March 20, 2026 Idarrious Iantron Tyrious Bowie (18), of Lena, June 5, 2026 Alec Michael Kitchens (17), of Vicksburg, April 9, 2026 Jeremey Arnez Nabors (11), of Tupelo, March 31, 2026 Fredrick Glenn Phillips (13), of Oxford, April 21, 2026 Danielle Lorraine Sims (11), of Jackson, June 9, 2026 Brian Embree Tucker (15), of Tunica, March 16, 2026

2020s

Hilary Elizabeth Asher (BSCJ 24), of Oxford, April 20, 2026 Anthony Ryan Brown (BA 24), of Alpena, Mich., March 20, 2026 Zachary Dayne Hillenbrand (20), of Rossville, Tenn., April 23, 2026 Lam Thi Bich Nguyen (BSPhSc 20, PharmD 23), of Madison, June 15, 2026 William Angelo Primos III (BBA 20), of Duluth, Ga., March 27, 2026

STUDENTS

Derrick Kwame Fatomey, of Accra, Ghana, June 29, 2026 Walker William Fendley, of Crozet, Va., May 15, 2026 Soosan Kamrani, of Oxford, May 7, 2026 Logan Matthew King, of Hickory Flat, May 31, 2026 Katherine Lowe, of Parker, Colo., April 16, 2026

Alumni News FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS

Jack Soloman Bass, of Raleigh, N.C., April 23, 2026 Jimmie Stripling Bridges, of Petal, March 18, 2026 Renee Brown, of Jackson, April 29, 2026 Ryan Bradley Brown, of Booneville, May 26, 2026 Denny Burns, of Lakeland, Tenn., April 20, 2026 Cynthia Mayer Nesmith Caldwell, of Tupelo, May 7, 2026 Michael Anthony Cramer, of Water Valley, May 18, 2026 Barbara Ferrell Creekmore, of New Albany, April 16, 2026 Ricky Stacy Darling, of Crystal Springs, April 27, 2026 Lucille Johnson Dillard, of Leland, June 21, 2026 Benjamin Franklin Fisher IV, of Oxford, June 12, 2026 Martha Richie Fritts, of Oxford, April 30, 2026 Laura Griffith Harper, of Oxford, June 24, 2026 Frances Halford Hassell, of Oxford, June 13, 2026 Stacy Vernon Holmes, of Oxford, April 26, 2026 Robin Lee Hudson, of Winona, April 21, 2026 Lillie Harrelson Jones, of Oxford, April 16, 2026 Douglas Jumper, of Booneville, March 31, 2026 Marcia Phillips Kugele, of Germantown, Tenn., April 22, 2026 Bill Larson, of Oxford, April 21, 2026

Charmaine Kuglar Magarian, of Norman, Okla., June 13, 2026 Judith Allen Hines McNarny, of Bonita Springs, Fla., March 2, 2026 James Clarence Owen, of Belden, June 29, 2026 Jesse C. Pennington, of Jackson, May 2, 2026 Edith King Polk, of Magee, May 3, 2026 Leigh Forbes Price, of Columbia, June 1, 2026 William Allen Reynolds, of Taylor, March 13, 2026 David Hay Rice, of Olive Branch, March 19, 2026 Dennis Harold Rowland, of Collierville, Tenn., June 24, 2026 Inarae Babes DePew Schiferli, of Jackson, Mich., March 26, 2026 Ronald Wayne Scott, of Ridgeland, May 6, 2026 Ronald Moncrief Thielman, of Wichita Falls, Texas, March 30, 2026 Craig William Thompson, of Brandon, April 2, 2026 Bobbie Singleton Travis, of Hattiesburg, April 18, 2026 Mavis Earnest Tubb, of Oxford, May 30, 2026 Mary Lee Waller, of Oxford, June 2, 2026 Pattye Walley Warren, of Gulfport, March 27, 2026 Collis Edward Wells, of Taylor, April 3, 2026 Barbara Spearman West, of Oxford, May 20, 2026 Robert Haskell Wilkins, of Brandon, May 4, 2026 Chadwick Heath Wrenn, of Water Valley, May 1, 2026

US ONLINE

olemissalumni

@olemissalumni

Ole Miss Alumni Association

olemiss/ole-miss-alumni

@olemissalumniassociation #HOTTYTODDY S U M M E R 2026

Alumni News

MISSISSIPPI ON THE MALL

Submitted photo

he Mississippi Society of Washington, D.C., hosted the 35th annual Mississippi on the Mall on Saturday, June 6, at Henry Bacon Ball Field. Participants enjoyed catfish, sweet tea and Southern hospitality.

Due to space limitations, class notes are only published in the Alumni Review from active, dues-paying members of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. To submit a class note, send it to records@olemiss.edu or Alumni Records Dept., Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1374, Oxford, MS 38655. Class notes also may be submitted through the Association’s website at olemissalumni.com. The Association relies on numerous sources for class notes and is unable to verify all notes with individual alumni.

SHOW YOUR PRIDE! If you live in Mississippi, get your Ole Miss affinity plate today! Affinity plates are $51 a year, $32.50 of which comes to the university to support student scholarships and keep the Grove and Circle vibrant.

olina! r a C th u o S in Now 64

A LU M N I R E V I E W

Ole Miss affinity license plates also are available in AL, GA, SC, TN, TX and Washington, DC. Scan the QR code to visit olemissalumni.com for more information.

It’s not like home. It is home.™

Senior Living with True Rebel Heart Just minutes from Ole Miss, our assisted living and memory care community offers personalized support in a warm, welcoming setting. Residents stay connected to the university they love, with access to campus events, educational programs, and Oxford’s cultural charm. Our engaging activities promote wellness, adventure, and meaningful connection each day. Serving the Oxford community with heart — and always ready to say, Hotty Toddy.

Fins Up to exceptional senior living. Call (662) 715-4023 to schedule your visit today. TheMagnoliaAtOxfordCommons.com | (662) 715-4023 110 Ed Perry Blvd. | Oxford, Mississippi 38655 ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE | RESPITE STAYS

Ole Miss Alumni Association P.O. Box 1374 Oxford, MS 38655 (662) 915-7375 olemissalumni.com

AN EXPERT" residential

commercial

CCm

CANNON CLEARY MCGRAW view our listings here!

662.371.1000

CCMOXFORD.COM

land